Thanks so much for this great piece on the mighty Donald Bailey. You might also check out his drumming and harmonica playing on the killer Harold Land side "The Peace Maker" on Cadet, and his drumming on "Trio" a 1989 side on Capri with Jimmy Rowles and Red Mitchell, and "Moment to Moment", a 1998 DIW side by bassist Greg Cohen with Teddy Edwards and Gerry Wiggins.
Although it's difficult to document - newspaper ads and stories rarely mentioned band members playing with the headliner - there's a good chance that Donald Bailey remained with Jimmy Smith until the end of 1963. One newspaper had him with Jimmy in California in August 1963, and this tour continued in California through September 1963. Billy Hart first played with Jimmy Smith in January 1964 and "officially" joined Jimmy in mid-March 1964.
Donald Bailey may have played a one-off date with Jimmy Smith at a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia in July 1967, if one newspaper story is correct. Bailey toured with Jimmy Smith in 1968 in the USA and Europe, and there is a live recording from Paris.
I don't believe your Part 1 comments indicated that Donald Bailey was the drummer on the LP "The Amazing Jimmy Smith Trio – Live At The Village Gate" Metro M 521. This was recorded in May 1963. The liner notes have no personnel details. Discographies incorrectly credit Billy Hart as drummer. Metro was a budget label of MGM and this slipped out in 1965, possibly never reviewed in Down Beat or elsewhere.
Thanks for the deep dive on this record, astonishing drumming & great vibe. It's wild playing, but I'm pretty sure there are no overdubs on "Muffin Man," if only because of the moments where his hand comes off the ride cymbal to go to a press roll or other double-handed figure, and that would be too hard & weird to coordinate/simulate over a long take? Unearthly coordination.
Exactly, that's the giveaway-- when Bailey's definitely playing two-handed rolls, the ride stops. Thanks for this comment, and glad you enjoyed the article!
Keep on swingin', Vinnie! There is an interview with Mr. Bailey's son on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYuK65r8as) that I'll be listening to later on. There were also some great videos of him playing on the street in San Francisco that I can't seem to find anymore. Will you cover his chromatic harp playing in the next installment?
Thanks for this! I don't know these records but will remedy that in short order. In the meanwhile, are there specific Jimmy Smith records with Bailey you'd recommend?
Hi Tom, thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed. My personal choices for Donald Bailey with Jimmy Smith are Home Cookin, Back At The Chicken Shack, and The Boss. I’ve yet to hear any Bailey with Jimmy Smith that I didn’t enjoy, those are just my go-tos.
So my question is this. I lived in Berkeley in the 1990's where Donald led a weekly jam session at a pretty funky bar. In my memory this was a fairly sad affair. I only went a couple times, and I had no idea who he was, I'm sorry to say. I had not done my research. He did not play drums when I was there. I'm not aware that he was a doing a lot of performing in the Bay Area. So...it seems like a long way down from these ascendant tracks. How did he end up there?
Great!!! FWIW "Muffin Man" is my favorite Hawes solo in a modal context. I keep meaning to transcribe it--maybe this post will push me there!
Yeah Ethan! Would love to see it if you do it…
Thanks so much for this great piece on the mighty Donald Bailey. You might also check out his drumming and harmonica playing on the killer Harold Land side "The Peace Maker" on Cadet, and his drumming on "Trio" a 1989 side on Capri with Jimmy Rowles and Red Mitchell, and "Moment to Moment", a 1998 DIW side by bassist Greg Cohen with Teddy Edwards and Gerry Wiggins.
Great recommendations, thank you! Glad you enjoyed the piece...
Although it's difficult to document - newspaper ads and stories rarely mentioned band members playing with the headliner - there's a good chance that Donald Bailey remained with Jimmy Smith until the end of 1963. One newspaper had him with Jimmy in California in August 1963, and this tour continued in California through September 1963. Billy Hart first played with Jimmy Smith in January 1964 and "officially" joined Jimmy in mid-March 1964.
Donald Bailey may have played a one-off date with Jimmy Smith at a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia in July 1967, if one newspaper story is correct. Bailey toured with Jimmy Smith in 1968 in the USA and Europe, and there is a live recording from Paris.
I don't believe your Part 1 comments indicated that Donald Bailey was the drummer on the LP "The Amazing Jimmy Smith Trio – Live At The Village Gate" Metro M 521. This was recorded in May 1963. The liner notes have no personnel details. Discographies incorrectly credit Billy Hart as drummer. Metro was a budget label of MGM and this slipped out in 1965, possibly never reviewed in Down Beat or elsewhere.
Welp, I got some revising to do! Thanks George...
A brilliant dive into the world of a most fascinating musician!! Thanks again, Vinny!
Thank you Richard and great to hear from you...
Thanks for the deep dive on this record, astonishing drumming & great vibe. It's wild playing, but I'm pretty sure there are no overdubs on "Muffin Man," if only because of the moments where his hand comes off the ride cymbal to go to a press roll or other double-handed figure, and that would be too hard & weird to coordinate/simulate over a long take? Unearthly coordination.
Exactly, that's the giveaway-- when Bailey's definitely playing two-handed rolls, the ride stops. Thanks for this comment, and glad you enjoyed the article!
i read hampton hawes semi autobiography 'raise up off me' that some might enjoy knowing about.. thanks vinnie.. great article..
Thanks James, glad you enjoyed...
Keep on swingin', Vinnie! There is an interview with Mr. Bailey's son on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYuK65r8as) that I'll be listening to later on. There were also some great videos of him playing on the street in San Francisco that I can't seem to find anymore. Will you cover his chromatic harp playing in the next installment?
Thanks Joel! That’s a good idea…I’ll have to get the records and get back to you..
Thanks for this! I don't know these records but will remedy that in short order. In the meanwhile, are there specific Jimmy Smith records with Bailey you'd recommend?
Hi Tom, thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed. My personal choices for Donald Bailey with Jimmy Smith are Home Cookin, Back At The Chicken Shack, and The Boss. I’ve yet to hear any Bailey with Jimmy Smith that I didn’t enjoy, those are just my go-tos.
So my question is this. I lived in Berkeley in the 1990's where Donald led a weekly jam session at a pretty funky bar. In my memory this was a fairly sad affair. I only went a couple times, and I had no idea who he was, I'm sorry to say. I had not done my research. He did not play drums when I was there. I'm not aware that he was a doing a lot of performing in the Bay Area. So...it seems like a long way down from these ascendant tracks. How did he end up there?