cedar Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Billy Childs is my latest entry for my list of underappreciated musicians. I've been aware of him for years, but for whatever reason, didn't give him enough attention. I think it may be because he seems to be a west coast guy, and also because he evidently has devoted considerable time to composing/arranging (inside and outside of conventional "jazz"). Here are some tastes: Smoking solo with Freddie Hubbard: [video:youtube] His solo is the first on the track (starting after about 30 seconds). Fast forward to his 2017 release, "Rebirth": [video:youtube] With the Calder String Quartet [video:youtube] This post is really just a thinly veiled request for recommendations for other albums, especially from his early days with Freddie Hubbard, JJ Johnson, and Nat Adderley, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Billy Childs is a spectacular musician, very high in my list and a big influence since his early albums for Windham Hill Jazz. He really gives importance to composition, texture and arrangement - *and* the right balance between composition and improvisation. Maybe just a tad too intellectual and understated to be a superstar, but who cares... he's a superior musician, and that's more than enough in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 This post is really just a thinly veiled request for recommendations for other albums, especially from his early days with Freddie Hubbard, JJ Johnson, and Nat Adderley, My favorite from his early days is "I've Known Rivers". A great artistic achievement in my opinion. Probably, a little less "jazz" than others, but I don't care, it's just beautiful music. The guy started his career playing for Allan Holdsworth, and that speaks volumes about his versatility and lack of purism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Long time fan of Billy Childs remember him back to playing a tiny club in Venice CA called The Comeback Inn regularly back in the 70's. Always so fresh sounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Quinn Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Another long time Billy Childs fan here. I saw him at the Newport Jazz Festival a few years ago and he was incredible! Quote www.alquinn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymb1 Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Saw Billy with Steve Wilson at The Kennedy Center, DC, a few years ago. An amazing player. Quote Casio PX5s, XWP1 and CPS SSV3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar Posted December 13, 2019 Author Share Posted December 13, 2019 Just found this. Billy interpreting "Ain't no sunshine." [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Billy Childs is my latest entry for my list of underappreciated musicians. I've been aware of him for years, but for whatever reason, didn't give him enough attention. I think it may be because he seems to be a west coast guy, and also because he evidently has devoted considerable time to composing/arranging (inside and outside of conventional "jazz"). Here are some tastes: Smoking solo with Freddie Hubbard: [video:youtube] His solo is the first on the track (starting after about 30 seconds). Fast forward to his 2017 release, "Rebirth": [video:youtube] With the Calder String Quartet [video:youtube] This post is really just a thinly veiled request for recommendations for other albums, especially from his early days with Freddie Hubbard, JJ Johnson, and Nat Adderley, Billy Childs is my latest entry for my list of underappreciated musicians. I've been aware of him for years, but for whatever reason, didn't give him enough attention. I think it may be because he seems to be a west coast guy, and also because he evidently has devoted considerable time to composing/arranging (inside and outside of conventional "jazz"). Here are some tastes: Smoking solo with Freddie Hubbard: [video:youtube] His solo is the first on the track (starting after about 30 seconds). Fast forward to his 2017 release, "Rebirth": [video:youtube] With the Calder String Quartet [video:youtube] This post is really just a thinly veiled request for recommendations for other albums, especially from his early days with Freddie Hubbard, JJ Johnson, and Nat Adderley,[/quo Very enjoyable. I really liked the jazz band with string quartet and harp. There were some odd time signatures in there too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Have known Billy for 40 years. I first met him at the Lighthouse playing with Freddie, where he was playing a beat up Rhodes. He lives fairly close by in Altadena and we see each other in the most unlikely places- we share the same ENT in Pasadena. And it seems like around this time at Christmas , we run into each other at the Glendale Galleria. He was thinking of buying my Yamaha S6 years ago but ended up passing. I believe he became a Bluthner Artist and got a deal on the Bluthner Model 2. The same piano Joey Calderazzo got an Artist deal on. A record that wasn't mentioned, and I couldn't find a utube on it was : Billy Childs Trio " Bedtime Stories" - A tribute to Herbie Hancock. With George Mraz & Billy Hart. It's on the 32Jazz label , which I believe is defunct and guessing the CD is out of print. It was recorded in 2000 in NYC. the track listing is: Ain't no sunshine Speak like a child Fragile Toys Tell me a bedtime story Jessica Oriental folk song Dolphin Dance Sophisticated Lady Maiden Voyage. An excellent session and worth tracking down. Quote 2005 NY Steinway D https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Just wanted to add as I ran out of time from the previous post - Billy has long been considered a "Local LA Treasure", and an elite figure in the LA Jazz, Classical and Arts world. His World Class Jazz playing, composing and affiliations aside - he's become largely known outside the Jazz world for his commissioning of pieces for the LA Phil, writing for other smaller Classical ensembles, and his own Jazz Chamber Ensemble with core members Bob Sheppard, Guitarist Larry Koonse, Harpist Carol Robbins and revolving Bass players and drummers. When he plays locally, which is infrequent, it's usually considered "an event". Most often at the Blue Whale downtown. Quote 2005 NY Steinway D https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Billy Childs Trio " Bedtime Stories" - A tribute to Herbie Hancock. With George Mraz & Billy Hart. An excellent session and worth tracking down. I've been trying to trace down this album for a few years, on and off, without success except for a couple of songs. I found a copy on Amazon once and ordered it, but something went wrong and it never arrived... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoMan51 Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Try Billy Childs Map To The Treasure. Reworking Laura Nyro songs with great singers and orchestrations. Devastating. The album is available on the basic Amazon channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malpaugh Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 My introduction to Billy Childs was,'Take for ExampleThis...' which I think he recorded back in he late 80"s on a label that was an offshoot of Windham Hill. Great post-bop compositions with a kind of Keith Emerson slant. Really unique stuff. The playing is stellar. I had it on cassette and it can"t be streamed or downloaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
re Pete Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Great player, writer and Grammy winner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Childs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedar Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 I've been listening to tracks from the album "Bedtime stories" on youtube. Great stuff. I think it's available to be downloaded on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newkeys Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I've been listening to tracks from the album "Bedtime stories" on youtube. Great stuff. I think it's available to be downloaded on Amazon. It"s on Amazon as a $6 mp3 album, under the name SPEAK LIKE A CHILD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I've been listening to tracks from the album "Bedtime stories" on youtube. Great stuff. I think it's available to be downloaded on Amazon. It"s on Amazon as a $6 mp3 album, under the name SPEAK LIKE A CHILD. Wow, thanks. I had no idea of the alternate name. I just bought it (it's 9.99 Euros from here, but I don't care) and downloading right now. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatoboy Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I love him, I have "Take For Example This" and I believe one other album somewhere at home... just amazing but I must admit, having studied and having been involved with more purely improvised jazz for a while now through Tristano/ Warn Marsh/ Sal Mosca/ Lee Konitz and my teacher Larry Bluth ..I prefer purely improvised jazz more than composed jazz at this juncture in my life....that doesn't just refer to Billy Childs ...Keith Jarret is more of a pure improviser than Billy for example , but I don't know all of Billy's works.. this could always change with me as time moves on, and this was just beautiful but it's where I'm at right now ... this is composition and it reminded of how composed a lot of his work was on the 2 albums I have.... if anyone knows any releases where he is more improved please let me know, I'd be curious to hear them.. this was not a put down of Billy Childs by any means ..a truly gifted cat! Quote SP6, CP-50,YC 73, FP-80, PX5-S, NE-5d61, XK-3, CX-3, Yamaha YUX Upright, '66 B3/Leslie 145/122 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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