Just read an interview with Branford Marsalis talking about the importance of melody. He says he was playing in Art Blakley's band and they were playing a ballad at rehearsal. So, Branford starts playing jazz licks as fills. Art Blakey stops him and asks what are you doing? Branford says I'm making the tune sound more hip.
Blakely then says: Listen motherfucker, this tune was written by George Gershwin and he doesn't need your sorry ass to make him sound hip! It made quite an impression on Branford. He said he thought about that for a long time.
To answer the question in the title, hip just means to be knowledgeable or "in the know."
Blakeley is telling Marsalis to respect the music, a lot like Adam preaches respect for the blues tradition, while striving to create something new. Grafting jazz licks on to ye olde swing tunes doesn't necessarily make you smart - sometimes you're just a smartass - and ignorant of your place in music history.
A while ago I heard Howard Levy insert 3 popular references into a "Summertime" solo. Lacking respect or just having fun?
I take it to be Blakey saying "Play in the service of the song. It's - Dig this tune that I'm playing - and not Dig me as I play this tune. ---------- The Iceman
The Marsalis/Blakely story is wild. Many years ago I was witness to an exchange that was not quite verbatim, and not in reference to a Gershwin tune, but was essentially the exact same sentiment.
This was way back in the late 70’s when I was living in the New Orleans area. I was a dumb kid from San Diego. It’s its own story of how it happened, but I was naive to real racism and bigotry and had bumbled my way into renting a place in what turned out to be a pocket neighborhood comprised of dense ethnicity at the other end of the pigment spectrum from my own.
I came from the Southern California Navy town. At that time, a Navy town had the usual smack talk and racial references when bantering, but it wasn’t real. I’ve discussed this at great length with many old friends from back then and while we were different, nobody emphasized it. It’s different now. Race is leverage for the agenda d’jour. Sad but true. But back then at that time in that environmental cultural context we were all good with each other. It’s strange. Many of my darker friends that go way back to then are philosophical, wistful and unanimous that they miss it being less tense across race than it is today.
Anyway, as a twenty year old I found myself in my first rental of my own (no roommates)…..as pretty much the only person that looked like me in the neighborhood. I was too dumb to be aware of it at the beginning, but I was getting sideways looks and didn’t realize it for what it was. But, my next door neighbors were of those people that once you come across them in life, they are of the finest cloth. They were a family of music. A gathering epicenter of love, food, music, soul and bullshit. Bullshit is my word, “jive” was the translation of same.
I learned an eye opening life lesson that New Orleans was vastly different in regard ethnicity and race than San Diego. There was palpable racism applied to me on many many occasions. Whether it was resentment based or just simple ignorant application of the hatred of difference is immaterial in this relating. I’m sure Professor G and I could have all manner of deep conversation about it, but for this tale, what matters is that I was blessed in that the universe placed me in proximity to a family and associated social network that embraced me simply for what I was. And I them.
That’s the backstory. The porch and yard of that house were a musical and cultural pot of gumbo that boiled and melded genres, eclectic combos of brass, strings, tympany, voice, rhythm and the invariable percussion of whatever some fool picked up and used to join the conversation. It was awesome.
However, there would sometimes be the sharp admonition of being faithful to certain honor. That story about Marsalis taking the humbling from Blakely to be true to the original spirit, was something I saw a few times. When I read that posting it took me back. I totally get it.
Hvyj, thanks for that.
My two cents…….
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
Last Edited by Buzadero on Apr 05, 2018 8:39 AM
Love the Art Blakey story! There are some great Blakey stories out there so when I have more time I'll relate what Blakey said regarding Billy Cobhams two bass drums and another about a customer in a club acting up. ---------- Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time. Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark .
Blakey was full of stories and sure came up the hard way Supposedly he moved to drums when a club owner wanted errol garner on piano and threatened Blakey with a pistol . He also had a plate in his head from a run in with the Georgia Patrol
As a drummer I truly admire his press role and hi hat accents and for those who have never heard him With Lee Morgan no less THIS IS HIP
Blakey on Billy Cobham- "It's taken me an entire lifetime to master one bass drum and this mother#%* got two?!!"
Blakey to an obnoxious customer bugging people in a club where Blakey's is doing a gig- "I get payed for playin' the fool and you givin' it away for free?!" ---------- Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time. Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark .
Last Edited by MP on Apr 06, 2018 4:18 PM
Last Edited by 
