in memory of Carla Bley, here's the best live television performance ever filmed for American TV. this clip is from the NBC series Night Music, which was curated by Hal Willner and was by far the best regular music TV series ever done. the clip was originally broadcast in 1989 and consists of two of Carla's compositions, "Lawns" and "Healing Power," performed by a massive ensemble including Carla, Steve Swallow, the Night Music Band consisting of David Sanborn, Philippe Saisse, Tom Barney, Omar Hakim, Don Alias, and Hiram Bullock whose guitar solo is one for the ages, and several other people who performed on that episode including Carla's daughter Karen Mantler and members of her band, the rap/r&b vocal duo Pretty Fat who were a Bootsy Collins discovery, and a MC cameo by Bootsy himself at the end.
i want to particularly note the stunning quality of the shot blocking and camera work, which captures the players as individuals and the ensemble interactions, and the deep love and emotion in the playing and the way the musicians relate to each other...the way Tom Barney looks at Steve Swallow while he solos, and the way Swallow and Omar Hakim look at Hiram during his solo as they're framed in a three-shot when he hits a particularly outrageous lick.
Carla Bley, piano
Karen Mantler, Hammond organ
Steve Swallow, 1st bass
Tom Barney, 2d bass
Jonathan Sanborn, 3d bass
Philippe Saisse synthesizer
Hiram Bullock, electric guitar
David Sanborn, tenor saxophone
Pablo Cagolero, baritone saxophone
Steven Bernstein, trumpet
Omar Hakim, drums
Don Alias, percussion
Pretty Fat (Cynthia Owens and Sheila Ruth), backing vocals
Bootsy Collins, MC
Bernstein, Cagolero, and J. Sanborn were members of Karen Mantler And Her Cat Arnold, who performed on this episode, were active c.1989-90, and also included vocals by Eric Mingus. Karen Mantler is Carla Bley's daughter; Jonathan Sanborn is David Sanborn's son. Pretty Fat were discovered by Bootsy and worked on some of his album projects.
Last edited by dubkitty on Sat Oct 21, 2023 1:30 pm, edited 4 times in total.
In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
FIFTY YEARS OF SCARING THE CHILDREN 1970-2020--and i'm not done yet
a longer version of this clip which includes a utterly hilarious interview segment where Sanborn talks with Bootsy, who spins tales of taking acid on tour with James Brown, is available here:
"it's cool, it's over, you know...we still here" should be my motto.
the whole episode, which includes more Bley/Swallow, a song by Pretty Fat, Bootsy playing "Stretchin' Out," and two songs by Allen Toussaint, is here:
and while i'm on the topic of Night Music, here's NRBQ with Phil Woods playing one of the most delightful alto saxophone solos you'll ever hear on a rock and roll song. the beginning of the second chorus has been living in my head since 1990.
it was so amazing seeing what they came up every week. dig into the season lists and you'll lose yourself for days.
In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
FIFTY YEARS OF SCARING THE CHILDREN 1970-2020--and i'm not done yet