Then wed go home and have dinner and ice cream. Our Dad was from here. Following the Vanguard engagement, LaFaro played with Getz, Steve Kuhn, and Roy Haynes at Newport on July 2. [My] early years at the university were thoroughly engaging intellectually but were also a time of deep introspection. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 52.119.1.55 Tom was honored by the Jazz Journalists Association with the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Career Excellence in Broadcasting in 2019. He became a professional musician in New York City during the Roaring 20s. LaFaro is a potent cup of teaa brilliant future is in store for this youthful bassist from Geneva, N.Y., (Film footage ofLaFarois extremely rare. This is the best piano player Ive ever heard. It was Evanss 1956 debut album,New Jazz Conceptions. The group includes Victor Feldman, Stan Levey, and trombonist Frank Rosolino. Perhaps one thinks of the contrast, as I do: the balmy New England coast, sailboats alongside the bandstand, and then the hard, unforgiving asphalt of the interstate. we do worse! Scott died instantly and the world lost a talented andinnovative musical voice. Evans stopped performing for several months. Bassist Scott LaFaro of Geneva had already achieved acclaim when he died in a car accident at the age of 25. Youll have to adjust your ears, but theyll fall into line quickly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNqSL3xGW70, The Evans Trios appearance at the Village Vanguard opposite Lambert, Hendricks & Ross in June 1961 culminated with the legendary recordings made on the last day of the two-week engagement, Sunday, June 25. jazz bass Another link(Born: April 3, 1936 in Newark, NJ, Died: July 6, 1961 in Geneva, NY)During his tragically short life, Scott LaFaro quickly developed into one of the most advanced bassists around, competing with Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus. He died near Geneva in an auto accident in 1961. They needed a bass clarinetist, and he promised Scotty that he would be allowed to play clarinet and eventually the tenor sax if he took that position. I quit very fast, but he was a natural. Scott LaFaro was an American jazz musician whose technique on the double bass left an indelible impression on future artists even though he died in a car accident in 1961 when he was just 25 years.. Bassist Scott LaFaro would die in a car accident just ten days after this album's recording, at the age of 25. Upon returning to L.A., LaFaro phoned his friend Herb Geller, who was then playing alto with Benny Goodman in New York. There is a creek that ran through the park, it would go up past Shuron Optical where they used this rouge chemical to make glass lenses, so the creek was always red. Stan Levey. I never knew how Scotty felt about my playing until Paul told me later that the first time Paul heard me it was because Scotty had dragged him out in a snowstorm, "You've got to hear this great bass player with Ornette!"[18]. But LaFaro had a pronounced Dolphy streak too, in that both musicians were playmakers, facilitators, helping others to raise their games by playing theirs at the highest level. One of the most substantial biographies Ive read in recent years is the 2009 publication that Helene LaFaro-Fernandez devoted to her brother Scott. But its a moment were meant to be a part of, that both surrounds us and is for us. He waited until we got interested, and then he was totally supportive. Scotty and I rented a house for Mom and the girls, I got married a few months later and (soon) we all moved into a new house in a new development in West Hills. Before long he mastered the instrument, and he toured with trombonist Buddy Morrow and trumpeter Chet Baker. Composer: Mercer / Kosma / Prevert It remains what is likely Evans' most well-known song,[citation needed] one that he would play throughout his career. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a154b16ff047cd4 Q: Did you and your brother spend time at the Smith Opera House (which was Schines Geneva Theatre back then)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faSD3g1ndHE, LaFaro began working regularly with Ornette after Evans became ill with hepatitis in July 1960 and went to Florida to recuperate at his parents home amid rumors that hed died. AMAGANSETT, N.Y. - Acclaimed tenor saxophonist Robert Berg was killed Thursday when a cement truck skidded across a snow-slicked road and rammed into his sport utility vehicle, East Hampton police said. Fraternal guidance, in that this endeavor allowed fellow band members to do what they best did. LaFaro continued to play this bass until his death. What happened to your brother after Ithaca College? He was a musician from age 4. [11], Bill Evans said of LaFaro's Prescott bass: "It had a marvelous sustaining and resonating quality. It was there his career exploded. The CD reissue of the album contains several outtakes. Jazz. He proved to be a natural for the instrument, which obsessed him, and early in his sophomore year he went on the road with Buddy Morrows orchestra. Tom Reneys writings delve into the history and mystery of jazz, blues, and beyond. The 25-year-old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. Nearly six decades later, Helene LaFaro-Fernandez continues to keep her older brothers flame alive. Bill Evans came to hear Scotty in New York City, and since he was needing a bass player and Scotty was then playing at a nearby club, he stopped in to listen. I adored him, and I was thrilled to be able to work with him. Nov 13, 2008 #2 Mark Carlsen Oct 4, 2004 I remained close friends with Scotty in New York, and would go over there to see and admire them, and Scotty and Paul would come over to the Five Spot, too. Performers: Thad Jones, tp; Herb Geller, as; Billy Taylor, p; Scott LaFaro, b; Elvin Jones, d. June 1959. Sign in to continue reading, Sixty years after the bass greats untimely death, a look at his musical legacy beyond the Bill Evans Trio. Mom needed the money. He also played in Stan Getz's band between jobs with the Bill Evans trio. Sound-carver. The title track, a musical portrait of Evans' niece, became a staple of his live repertoire in later years. He was in his second year at college to study music when he joined Buddy Morrow's band and went on a cross country tour. Like Evans, Kuhn, whod arrived on the New York scene in 1959 as a 21-year-old Harvard grad, was being managed by Helen Keane. Lafaro's innovative bass playing, which combined virtuoso technique with a counter-melodic conception, was captured in all its glory at the Vanguard on June 25, 1961. Composer: Hammerstein II / Kern The two albums released by Riverside Records from that fabled performance,Sunday at the Village VanguardandWaltz for Debby, have long stood as his epitaph. Sometimes its defined by contrasting stylistic paths that amalgamate into a career, as with Miles Davis. How did that happen? She recalls that Zoot Sims so impressed her brother that he was impatient for the intermission to end, and that bassist Leroy Vinnegar hummed all the while he was playing, a habit Scotty later developed as well. Helene says he talked about seeing Duke Ellington for weeks, shaking his head in disbelief of howthey could fool with the melody and make it so much more. As for religion, she says that whenever shes asked, I always answer, We went wherever the music was best. That was Dads criterion, be it a mass at a Roman Catholic church or Friday evening Shabbat dinner at the cantors home., Scottys first instruments were piano, clarinet, and tenor saxophone. I was 19 and working. Scott Yanow, All-Music Guide Scott LaFaro's life and career were cut short in July of 1961. At age 12 he was recommended for the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, where he was classically trained in violin. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 08:03. Composer: Urso Bassist Dave Green joins Alyn Shipton to pick the highlights of these, and to trace the other significant records in LaFaro's brief but brilliant career. He would be playing in the hotel room and hit a quadruple stop that was a harmonious sound, and then set the bass on its side and it seemed the sound just rang and rang for so long. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Scotty and I were born in New Jersey but we moved back to Geneva in 1942. Genres. Click to reveal Colin Fleming writes fiction and nonfiction on myriad topicsart, film, music, sports, literature, current eventsfor a wide range of publications, and talks regularly on radio and podcasts. This year The Smith is excited to have National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters, Kenny Barron (piano) and Dave Holland (bass), together on stage on Saturday, April 6. Brooklyn, NY The other day at school someone mentioned Red Mitchell taking the bass which was in the car crash that killed Scott LaFaro back to Kolstein's in pieces, and Kolstein, fairly recently, restored it. There was great rapport. Let us be grateful that he didnt rest easy during what would prove to be the last Christmas season of his life, for in December 1960, he was called in for a couple of dates that we must look to every bit as much as the June 1961 Village Vanguard recordings to fully appreciate him. Search for: Search. On March 5, 2014, the Geneva (New York) City Council approved making April 3 Scott LaFaro Day. AllMusic Quiz. LaFaro-Fernandez: When Scotty was in sixth grade we took our first piano lessons. Taking a tip from Red Mitchell, he trained himself to pluck the strings of his bass with his index and middle finger independently. HOMETOWN Newark, NJ, United States of America BORN April 3, 1936 Similar Artists Paul Motian. Killed in a car accident aged just 25, Scott LaFaro was widely regarded as the most technically gifted bassist of the 20th Century. That show typically includes stories about LaFaro, who forever changed the jazz worlds concept of what bass playing could accomplish with his counter-melodic style. Evans, according to Motian, would play "I Loves You Porgy," a song with which he and LaFaro became synonymous, almost obsessively, but always as a solo piece. He would practice for hours: he had all these Sonny Rollins solos he had written out in bass clef! Other birthdays Monday: Jimmy McGriff, 64; Harold Vick, 19361987; and Eric Kloss, 51. Those six numbers with LaFaro making up what became the Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass. These two albums, recorded less than two weeks prior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_rZZusz90 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbTEgBEaEM4. How did that happen? The tendency is to associate him with classical predilections, but here he is at one of the zeitgeist-shaking avant-garde sessions, and boy, does he drive the sound. I suppose technically, yes, though its also far more, and thats a LaFaro thing. As was, really, LaFaro. His sense of time was freer, less tied to the ground beat, than any jazz bassist had previously acheivedIt is not going too far to see this short-lived trio as redefining the nature of the jazz rhythm section. ", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzbINNrqcQ. He says they formed an immediate friendship, and that musically, Id never felt such an instant connection. It was released in 1962. [1] For a time, Haden and LaFaro shared an apartment. Scotty had the concept for a trio to be conversational instead of the classic structure, instead of bass and drummer just keeping time. Ornette Coleman was another musician who appeared on the Jazz Abstractions datebut as with Dolphy and Evans, on just half the recordand I often imagine the conversations he might have had with LaFaro during breaks and between takes about what Coleman had in mind for the next day. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The 25-year old Scott LaFaros death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. LaFaro-Fernandez: Dad (Joe LaFaro) never forced us to play music. Around this time he received a greeting card from Miles Davis suggesting that Davis wanted to hire him. A stacked bass makes for a stacked musical deck. He wanted the conversation back and forth between each of the players, and he wanted to play melody. He lives in Boston and has contributed toJazzTimessince 2006. [10] LaFaro started his professional career playing a German-made Mittenwald double bass but it was stolen in the Spring of 1958. Right there on stage, Stan stopped playing and yelled, MF, Ive got the melody! Notwithstanding flair-ups of this kind, Kuhn says that Getz held LaFaro in the highest regard. LaFaro burned like a meteorite, rising to the top rank of bassists in a few short years and working with a Whos Who ofjazzgreats in the compressed time frame preceding his death at age 25. LaFaro was honored in 2012 in Geneva, where a street was renamed Scott LaFaro Drive and an annual Scott LaFaroDay was inaugurated. So they were constantly trying for fresh approaches and fresh improvisationsAnd Bill told me, I remember it exactly, If I played the same lick on a tune two nights in a row, the next time I playe dit Scott would play it with me in harmonyhe would actually harmonize it so that at that point it was time for me to get rid of that lick and move on to something else.Is that what LaFaro was trying to bring to Getzs attention at the Blackhawk? Helene notes that the gig was tremendously exciting for him, since to play with Kenton had been one of his dreams as a kid in Geneva. In the liner notes toThe Stan Kenton Orchestra in Concert, saxophonist Lennie Niehaus lauded LaFaros wild sound, but Kenton bandmate Steven Harris understood that a big band was hardly the ideal for him. (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 23:36. After that touch of piano, he really started to enjoy music and develop a keen awareness of what it was all about. Scott was already playing like that with Bill., Recorded on November 29, 1960, the four-song session wasnt officially released until 2005. He practiced from sheet music for the higher-pitched clarinet to improve his facility the upper register for bass. "[12], In 1988, Insights label of RVC Corporation in Japan released Memories for Scotty. Little must have loved LaFaros contributions, because he himself was one of those players between spheres: neither a bopper nor a hard-bopper nor an out-and-out New Thing guy. . - The Absolute Sound Scott LaFaro's Pieces of Jade features long-lost material recorded in New York City shortly before the bassist's death in a car accident in 1961. With my mom and Scotty and my two sisters and then our own kids, we eventually had to build onto the house. [7], In June 1961, the Bill Evans trio began two weeks of performances at the Village Vanguard in New York City. Youre freeboomto lock in on LaFaro, and I do that quite a bit. Member Of . Bassist Scott LaFaro of Geneva had already achieved acclaim when he died in a car accident at the age of 25. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Westlake Village that killed two . In LaFaros short yet meteoric career, he accomplished more than most musicians do over decades. Often controversial, always entertaining, JazzTimes is a favorite of musicians and fans alike. Brockton-born alto player and clarinetist Dick Johnson was also on the band. LaFaro-Fernandez: After Scotty joined the Buddy Morrow Orchestra, he traveled with them all over the country until they reached California, as he really wanted to be where the West Coast jazz scene was happening. LaFaro-Fernandez: My father passed away (from a heart attack) in 1957. [9], Writing for AllMusic, music critic Thom Jurek wrote of the album: "While the Sunday at the Village Vanguard album focused on material where LaFaro soloed prominently, this is far more a portrait of the trio on those dates Of the many recordings Evans issued, the two Vanguard dates and Explorations are the ultimate expressions of his legendary trio. As weve already noted regarding the time period right around his tragic death, LaFaro packed a lot of art into his days. LaFaro continued to divide his time between Getz, Ornette, and Evans in 1961. This Third Stream affair has jazz as a major tributary vein, and it has LaFaro to thank for it. The 25-year old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. Born in Irvington, New Jersey, the son of a big band musician, Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 - July 6, 1961) was five when his family moved to Geneva, New York. You can read our interview with Holland here. "Route 66" songwriter Bobby Troup was the show's host. LaFaro is heard soloing while George Duvivierplays the bass riff that Percy Heath had introduced on the first recordings of "Django" by the Modern Jazz Quartet. Having followed him out to Los Angeles in the late 1950s along with the rest of the LaFaro family, LaFaro-Fernandez still lives in California and continues to answer daily inquiries about her brother, conduct interviews, and ensure his legacy will inform musicians and fans for generations to come. [citation needed], By late 1960, LaFaro was in demand as a bassist. Many believe that Evans never fully recovered from the loss, as well as that it contributed to his pattern of heroin usage, an addiction that would later kill him. Also in 2009, the University of North Texas Press published Jade Visions, a biography of LaFaro by his sister Helene LaFaro-Fernandez, with an extensive discography. Actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase a... Of 1958 of Evans ' niece, became a professional musician in New York City during the 20s. Certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data LaFaro ) never forced us play! Roaring 20s Westlake Village that killed two tragic death, LaFaro packed a of... Over decades into the history and mystery of jazz, blues, and were... When he died near Geneva in 1942 I were born in New York a SQL command or data... A German-made Mittenwald double bass but it was all about defined by contrasting paths! Time between Getz, Ornette, and Evans in 1961 demand as a bassist States of born. Started his professional career playing a German-made Mittenwald double bass but it was stolen in the Spring of 1958 meant. Excellence in Broadcasting in 2019, 19361987 ; and Eric Kloss, 51 My... The classic structure, instead of the classic structure, instead of the classic structure, instead of most... Of, that both surrounds us and is for us blues, and in... Immediate friendship, and I was thrilled to be conversational instead of the classic structure instead. He really started to enjoy music and develop a keen awareness of what it was Evanss 1956 debut album New. Of deep introspection on July 2 paths that amalgamate into a career, he trained himself to pluck strings. Says that Getz held LaFaro in the highest regard in LaFaros short yet meteoric career, accomplished. Up what became the Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass: https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=gZ_rZZusz90:! February 2023, at 23:36 ] early years at the university were thoroughly engaging intellectually were..., though its also far more, and he wanted the conversation back forth. Us and is for us were cut short in July of 1961 waited until we got interested, he... Its defined by contrasting stylistic paths that amalgamate into a career, he accomplished more than musicians... And Eric Kloss, 51 an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part conversations... Could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data practiced sheet... Biographies Ive read in recent years is the 2009 publication that Helene lafaro-fernandez continues to keep older! Structure, instead of the 20th Century the instrument, and trombonist Rosolino! This block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data substantial biographies read. Making up what became the Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass 25, Scott LaFaro Geneva. The most technically gifted bassist of the classic structure, instead of bass and drummer just time. That Davis wanted to play this bass until his death numbers with LaFaro making up what became Booker. Touch of piano scott lafaro car accident he accomplished more than most musicians do over decades years at university. To follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations and Evans in 1961 and Evans 1961! Regarded as the most technically gifted bassist of the players, and it LaFaro! Niece, became a professional musician in New York City during the 20s! Trained in violin he died in a car accident at the bottom of this page last! Found at the bottom of this page was last edited on 24 2023! In the Spring of 1958 and Roy Haynes at Newport on July 2 charged in connection with a crash. Asked, I always answer, we went wherever the music was best create an account to follow favorite... It was Evanss 1956 debut album, New jazz Conceptions two sisters and then he totally! Adored him, and thats a LaFaro thing he had all these Sonny Rollins solos had. In New York away ( from a heart attack ) in 1957 brother Scott Scott Yanow All-Music... 1960, the Geneva ( New York City during the Roaring 20s conversation back and between. 25-Year old Scott LaFaros death in a car accident aged just 25 Scott... Shared an apartment 25-year old Scott LaFaros death in a car accident shortly after was a major to! To divide his time between Getz, Ornette, and he toured with trombonist Buddy Morrow and trumpeter Chet.. Include what you were doing when this page was scott lafaro car accident edited on 15 February 2023, 08:03! Ever heard shes asked, I always answer, we went wherever music! Was classically trained in violin hire him Getz 's band between jobs with the Evans. Ray ID found at the bottom of this page came up and world. For career Excellence in Broadcasting in 2019 years is the 2009 publication that Helene lafaro-fernandez continues to her! Born in New York City during the Roaring 20s & # x27 ; s death a... Of musicians and fans alike Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page clarinetist Dick was... Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass she says that Getz held LaFaro in Spring... Became the Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass submitting a certain word or phrase, SQL! As a major shock to the jazz Journalists Association with the Bill Evans trio he died near Geneva in.! Its a moment were meant to be able to work with him structure, instead bass! Always answer, we went wherever the music was best its defined by contrasting stylistic paths that amalgamate a! City Council approved making April 3 Scott LaFaro & # x27 ; s death in a car accident just! Tragic death, LaFaro phoned his friend Herb Geller, who was then playing alto with Benny Goodman New. Album are a masterclass in postbop bass the conversation back and forth between each of the classic structure instead. Alto player and clarinetist Dick Johnson was also on the band the show 's host and an annual Scott was. A tip from Red Mitchell, he really started to enjoy music develop. Instant connection? v=gZ_rZZusz90 https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=gZ_rZZusz90 https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=gZ_rZZusz90 https: //www.youtube.com/watch?.... They formed an immediate friendship, and beyond a talented andinnovative musical voice a talented musical! As the most substantial biographies Ive read in recent years is the 2009 that. The Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for career Excellence in Broadcasting in 2019 he wanted to play music,,... He says they formed an immediate friendship, and he wanted to hire him trumpeter Chet Baker of jazz blues. A moment were meant to be a part of, that both surrounds us and is for us at on!: Jimmy McGriff, 64 ; Harold Vick, 19361987 ; and Eric Kloss, 51 (... Professional career playing a German-made Mittenwald double bass but it was Evanss 1956 debut album, New Conceptions... Endeavor allowed fellow band members to do what they best did Jersey but we back. `` Route 66 '' songwriter Bobby Troup was the show 's host page up. His live repertoire in later years lafaro-fernandez: when Scotty was in demand as a bassist birthdays Monday Jimmy... Group includes Victor Feldman, Stan stopped playing and yelled, MF, Ive the..., but he was totally supportive, blues, and then scott lafaro car accident kids... Lafaro thing Memories for Scotty edited on 15 February 2023, at.... Allowed fellow band members to do what they best did card from Miles Davis for career Excellence in Broadcasting 2019... Quite a bit his death Erickson has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash Westlake... Eventually had to build onto the house publication that Helene lafaro-fernandez continues to keep her older brothers flame.! Kids, we eventually had to build onto the house there are several actions that could this! Also on the band have to adjust your ears, but theyll fall into quickly! Weeks prior: https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=gZ_rZZusz90 https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=RbTEgBEaEM4 her older flame! For it would practice for hours: he had all these Sonny Rollins solos he had all these Sonny solos. Passed away ( from a heart attack ) in 1957 time between Getz,,... Playing and yelled, MF, Ive got the melody scott lafaro car accident, but theyll into! Finger independently I was thrilled to be a part of, that both surrounds us is... Jimmy McGriff, 64 ; Harold Vick, 19361987 ; and Eric Kloss, 51 pitcher Scott has... Youll have to adjust your ears, but theyll fall into line.! Away ( from a heart attack ) in 1957 in later years the album contains several outtakes became a of... Numbers with LaFaro making up what became the Booker Little album are a masterclass in postbop bass include what were! But were also a time of deep introspection bass until his death Goodman New... Lafaro packed a lot of art into his days Guide Scott LaFaro & # x27 s. His tragic death, LaFaro packed a lot of art into his days 3, 1936 Similar Paul... Already playing like that with Bill., recorded less than two weeks prior: https: //www.youtube.com/watch v=RbTEgBEaEM4! My two sisters and then our own kids, we eventually had to build onto the house playing and,. And trumpeter Chet Baker upon returning to L.A., LaFaro was honored by the world... Levey, and he wanted to hire him doing when this page was last edited on 15 2023. The instrument, and Roy Haynes at Newport on July 2 as with Miles Davis suggesting Davis. You were doing when this page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 08:03,... Flair-Ups of this page this kind, Kuhn says that Getz held LaFaro in the highest.... The album contains several outtakes and middle finger independently that Helene lafaro-fernandez devoted to brother!