When Rockers Hire Jazzers

[jake]

Finding this podcast here
http://straightnochaserjazz.libsyn.c...jazz-musicians
got me thinking - There are so many more cases where rock musicians have hired jazz musicians for recording sessions. Among those mentioned on the podcast are

The Mamas and the Papas - “California Dreamin’” – Bud Shank, alto flute.
The Doors – “Touch Me” – Curtis Amy, sax
Ian Hunter – “All-American Alien Boy” – David Sanborn, sax and Jaco Pastorius, bass
Lou Reed – “The Bells” – Don Cherry, trumpet
Steely Dan – “Aja” – Wayne Shorter, sax; Joe Sample, electric piano; and Larry Carlton, guitar
Sting – “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Branford Marsalis, sax; Kenny Kirkland, piano; and Omar Hakim, drums
The Rolling Stones – “Waiting On a Friend” – Sonny Rollins, sax

I thought in addition

Steve Hillage - Don Cherry on L (Lunar Musick Suite)
Lou Reed - although strictly speaking it was arranged by David Bowie and Mick Ronson - Ronnie Ross Baritone sax on "Walk on the Wild Side"
Steely Dan - Admittedly they probably used as many jazzers as rockers on their albums I would highlight, other than the aforementioned Wayne Shorter, the greats Chris Potter and Victor Feldman
Bill Laswell's memorable and weird pairing of as yet undiscovered Whitney Houston and Archie Shepp on Material's cover of the Hugh Hopper song Memories.

Any others come to mind......

[progeezer]

^^^^^ Sting – “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Branford Marsalis, sax; Kenny Kirkland, piano; and Omar Hakim, drums

I saw that tour ("Blue Turtles"), and in addition to the 3 mentioned, the band that toured that album included Daryll Jones on bass (Sting was going through his temporary guitar phase at the time), who had done a lot of jazz session work prior to "Turtles" and subsequent to "Turtles" took Bill Wyman's place in the Corpses. Janice Pendarvis sings backup on 3 or 4 Steely Dan albums that pre-date "Turtles" as well. They were flawless (not a word I use a lot) that night.

[Dana5140]

For Steely Dan, add Steve Gadd.

[mogrooves]

Charlie Mariano played with Embryo

[Scott Bails]

^^^^^ Sting – “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Branford Marsalis, sax; Kenny Kirkland, piano; and Omar Hakim, drums

I saw that tour ("Blue Turtles"), and in addition to the 3 mentioned, the band that toured that album included Daryll Jones on bass (Sting was going through his temporary guitar phase at the time), who had done a lot of jazz session work prior to "Turtles" and subsequent to "Turtles" took Bill Wyman's place in the Corpses. Janice Pendarvis sings backup on 3 or 4 Steely Dan albums that pre-date "Turtles" as well. They were flawless (not a word I use a lot) that night.

Man, I would have loved to have seen that band live. So much talent.

[walt]

Mal Waldron played on an Embyro session.

Henry Lowther(trumpet) played on a couple of Talk Talk albums

Curtis Amy played on Carole King's Tapestry album.

[Dave (in MA)]

Not sure how that list didn't end up beginning with Astral Weeks.

[progeezer]

Not sure how that list didn't end up beginning with Astral Weeks.

!! Me neither.

YUP!

I've gotten to know bassist Richard Davis a little (through local mutual friends) since he joined the UW-Madison faculty 30 years ago. We have the blessing in Madtown of him putting together combos for one or two-offs locally frequently, often with guests like (the late) Richie Cole, Joe Sample, Fareed Haque, Roscoe Mitchell, Hanah Jon Taylor & Ben Sidran (another local), among others.

I only recall that RD and Connie Kay, the Modern Jazz Quartet's drummer brought jazz backgrounds to Astral Weeks (always & still my #1 Van album). Am I missing any other jazz players on AW?

[pb2015]

Richard Davis also played with Bruce Springsteen and Janis Ian ("At Seventeen").

Phil Woods on Steely Dan's "Dr. Wu" and Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are"

[Reid]

Phil Woods played alto sax solos for Billy Joel and Steely Dan.

Lew Tabackin and Shelly Manne played on Waits's Small Change.

Bowie's Blackstar Ben Monder, Donny McCaslin David Live-David Sanborn

Joni Mitchell-Jaco, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny

James Taylor uses several jazz cats on tour

Zappa hired many jazz players. Duke, Ponty, Brecker Bros, Ernie Watts, Fowler bros

[simon moon]

Trumpet great, Kenny Wheeler played on:

Brilliant Trees, Gone to Earth, Alchemy, and Dead Bees on Cake from David Sylvian.

[polmico]

Mal Waldron played on an Embyro session.

I know and like Mal Waldron. Embryo I am unfamiliar with. Sounds interesting. I shall Google.

King Crimson hired Tippett and a bunch of his friends.

I forgot that was Wheeler on Dead Bees and Beehive. I just figured it was Isham (who is on Gone to Earth along with Torn--come to think of it, Torn also worked with Bowie).

[ronmac]

Hendrix hired one for his band: Mitch Mitchell.

[philsunset]

Members of The Wrecking Crew-----all over the place.

[No Pride]

Sonny Rollins played on The Rolling Stones' "Waiting on a Friend."

[Dave (in MA)]

Eberhard Weber was on at least one Kate Bush release.

[Zeuhlmate]

The Rolling Stones - Darryl Jones

Bill Bruford - Kenny Wheeler

Magma - Brecker Brothers (on a US tour)

Kraan - Gerry Brown : drums

[rcarlberg]

The practice is common. Jazz players have chops but not financial success.

[nosebone]

Bowies last band

Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker - Cream

[mogrooves]

Dannie Richmond was with Mark-Almond.

[FrippWire]

If I remember correctly Lou Reed hired an entire jazz group, ECM recording artists Everyman Band (minus David Torn), to be his backing band.

[JJ88]

Various British jazz alumni on The Nice's Five Bridges.

Ronnie Scott played the saxophone solos on both The Beatles' 'Lady Madonna' and Phil Collins' 'I Missed Again'.

[Trane]

Hendrix hired one for his band: Mitch Mitchell.

Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker - Cream

Wouldn't this be like citing everyone in Weather Report, Mahavishnu or RTF??

I mean Mitchell, Baker & Bruce were not hired or invited ... they were full-blown members.

[iguana]

The practice is common. Jazz players have chops but not financial success.

to quote (who?), ‘jazzers play 3000 chords to three people while rockers play three chords for 3000 people’.

steven wilson > theo travis

[davis]

Brian Setzer and Orchestra