Buddy Collette dies at 89; L.A. jazz saxophone player, bandleader

[Ignis]

Source: LA Times

Buddy Collette, a Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist, flautist, bandleader and educator who played important roles in Los Angeles jazz as a musician and an advocate for the rights of African American musicians, has died. He was 89.

(snip)

Collette's virtuosic skills on saxophones, flute and clarinet allowed him to move easily from studio work in films, television and recording to small jazz groups and big bands. He was, in addition, one of the activists instrumental in the 1953 merging of the then all-African American musicians union Local 767 and the all-white Local 47.

"I knew that was something that had to be done," Collette told writer Bill Kohlhaase for a Times story in 2000. "I had been in the service, where our band was integrated. My high school had been fully integrated. I really didn't know anything about racism, but I knew it wasn't right. Musicians should be judged on how they play, not the color of their skin."

Collette had already crossed the color bar before that in 1949 and 1950 by performing as the only African American musician in the orchestra for Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life" radio and television shows.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-buddy-collette-20100921,0,4622077.story

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Buddy was an amazingly influential musician, teacher, and leader in the LA jazz scene.

He will be sorely missed. :(

[MineralMan]

1. Yah. He was one of my favorites. He did an impromptu master

class that I attended while I was in high school with a couple of other sax players. Remarkable. It made me realize that I wasn't going to be a sax player as my life's work. He had something that I'd never have, despite my talent on the instrument. Something I knew I'd never be able to learn. I went in another direction, while playing at a more amateur to semi-pro level.

[Karenina]

2. Whenever I turned up, he asked me to sit in.

Fond memories of a great gentleman and consummate musician. :cry:

[MineralMan]

3. He was very kind to us and was happy to help us for an hour or so.

It was arranged by my high school band instructor, who knew him some. Three teenage boys with saxes and a master. We were just a bit awed, to say the least.

[Ignis]

4. He did great work to keep jazz alive in LA.

His work on JazzAmerica alone helped make jazz a living, breathing thing for many high school students.

There have historically been many great jazz musicians living in LA, but the trouble has been getting them out of the studio and into the life of the city. Buddy did a lot in that respect.

I'm incredibly proud to have known him.

[Ignis]

5. Here's the NPR Obit:

(It's only four paragraphs, so here's the whole thing.)

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Buddy Collette, an important presence in the Los Angeles musical scene for over a half century, has died. He was 89.

A childhood friend of Dexter Gordon and Charles Mingus, Collette never moved to New York like many of his peers. He helped introduce bebop styles to Southern California after World War II, and played an important role in West Coast-based jazz developments, including the celebrated quintet led by Chico Hamilton and the large orchestra led by Gerald Wilson. Collette was a great music educator, mentoring players like Eric Dolphy and Charles Lloyd; he held teaching positions at several local universities.

He was also a first-call studio musician, excelling on flutes, saxophones and clarinet. His talents allowed him to become one of the first African American musicians to play in ensembles for radio, television and film productions; with his access, he led a campaign to desegregate the local musicians union, and thus open up higher-paying jobs for black musicians.

In an interview for NPR's Jazz Profiles, Collette says his approach to music reflected his surroundings. "I didn't grow up in an area where they did that much — like, you know, in New Orleans, where they grow up and are all playing blues clarinet or something," he said. "I grew up where there was studio work, and classical , and I went to integrated schools. Even in Watts, all of our friends were everybody — lots of diversity, you know? So of course, you take on that."

- NPR @ http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2010/09/21/130018805/buddy-collette-california-jazzman-and-musicians-advocate-has-died

[KansDem]

6. A story...

When I was 15 or so (1968), I played baritone saxophone and was looking to study jazz. I was playing an old Martin at the junior high I was attending but wanted to have my own horn. One afternoon, my parents and I attended a jam session in a church on the Palo Verdes Peninsula in southern California. It was a benefit concert for the ACLU and Buddy Collette was playing.

Included in the session were fellow saxophonists Plas Johnson and Bud Shank. Also participating were Vic Feldman, piano, Red Mitchell, bass, and Shelly Manne, drums.
My mom and I were looking at different makes of saxophone, and after several months of research, one brand in particular kept coming up: Selmer. However, Selmers were very expensive.

Well, the jam session started with the musicians arriving sporadically (it was very informal) and in walks Mr. Collette and he starts to unpack his tenor to put it together. My mom nudges me and says, "Go over there and ask him which make he prefers." I think, "Ah, mom!" but realize if Selmer was to be taken seriously, I'd better do as she said.

So I walk over to Mr. Collette and, with the din of the rhythm section coming just a few feet away, I ask him, "Mr. Collette, which brand of saxophone do you prefer?" I could already tell since I saw his tenor as he was putting it together: it was a Selmer. He seemed startled at first but then replied, "Well, there are many fine makes of saxophone out there, but I've always preferred the Selmer."

I thanked him and walked back to my chair next to mom and reported what Mr. Collette had said. That seemed to be the final word as we were able to save enough for a Selmer baritone, which I still have today.

I went on to attend the Stan Kenton Clinics at the University of Redlands while in high school, and played with community college jazz ensembles in the area. I later majored in music.

Buddy Collette came through Kansas City several years ago and I wanted to attend his concert but couldn't. I wanted to go backstage and ask him if he remembered that meeting.

Although now that won’t be possible, I somehow believe he would have...

[MineralMan]

7. When my two sax-playing friends and our high school band director

met with him, he asked each of us to play something we liked. I was the alto player, so I played "Take Five," as closely to the Paul Desmond version as I could manage. After I was done, Collette said, very kindly, "That's not bad, kid. Now, work out your own version. There's only one Paul Desmond, and that's his version you're playing." That was 1962. I worked out my own version.

Later, I switched to the oboe, though.

[Ignis]

8. Heh, that's a great quote.

And great advice to any jazz musician, I'd say.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Wow. R.I.P.

I didn't even realize that he was still around. I still have one of his records that my father owned but I never got chance to listen to it. Need to pull it out and give it a spin.

R.I.P. sir.

[Ignis]

10. He had a stroke a few years ago, so he hasn't been performing.

But you should definitely give that record a listen. :)

If you look at the NPR obit upthread, there's a link at the bottom of the article to more of Buddy's music--part of a complete profile NPR did on him a few years back.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Just hauled out my box of records

and found it. It is his "Man of Many Parts" LP from 1956. Have it on right now. First song definitely sounds late 40's/early '50s style (sortof mini big bandish with the jazz). Listening to "Makin' Whoopie" now and singing along to it... LOL This record probably hasn't been played in almost 40 years.

[Ignis]

12. That's really cool.

I'm sure you've brought a smile to Buddy's face, wherever he is. :)

:toast:

[Ignis]

13. RIP, Buddy Collette.

:kick: