****let's talk about Jazz bassist...Was there anyone of significance prior to Scott LaFaro?****
You bet there was. Duke Ellington's bassist Jimmy Blamton was very influential . How about Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Milt Hinton, Charles Mingus, Wilbur Ware? And of course the already mentioned Pettiford. LaFaro was a pivotal figure in the bass world but hardly the first important bass player.
Re jazz musicians and money: don't know much about Grant Green the person, so I don't know about his particular situation. I do know that the lifestyle of jazz musicians does not promote good money-management habits. Being in the road all the time is very difficult and can lead to bad decision making that can affect your pocket book. Think about it: who is more likely to save his money and possibly even invest some of it? The guy who is on the road all the time and who is dealing with the endless temptations of life on the road or late-night gigs; or, the guy with the stable home life and family?
Re Mingus/Take The A Train:
Agree that Mingus had a very tight and well rehearsed band. But for the sake of perspective: I would bet anything that for that performance of A Train they probably did nothing more than talk about the order of the solos. No rehearsal. Not a criticism, but a testament to the experience and talent of the players involved. There's no arrangement to speak of and rehearse; just play the melody after the traditional piano intro, everyone takes a solo and there may be backgrounds made up on the spot. For guys like that, playing A Train is like a great chef making scrambled eggs; at a very very high level. Again, not a criticism at all, but simply to point out that it's pretty standard fare; a popular tune that everyone knows and can play in their sleep. Still, great music and great playing. Btw, that solo by Dolphy is deliciously strange.
Rok, Ghosthouse is exactly right; Anderson is conducting. Specifically, he is counting down the last couple of measures in the last chorus of the tenor solo so that the band can all come back in at the right time. While it would normally be Wynton's job to do that, Anderson is in the front of the band where he can be seen by all.
Glad to see so many great posts.
