Anyone can play a fretless

[basmansam]

Scott LaFaro died in 1961 after running his Corvette into the back of a truck shortly after those famous Village Vanguard Sessions with Bill Evans. He had his Prescott bass in the car with him; it is on display in NYC at a music store whose name escapes me right now. Fire damage and all.

He was a freak of nature. He played clarinet in HS for a bit, then took up bass. He had, at the time of that video, probably only been playing bass for about 4-5 years.

If you want to check out LaFaro, see:

1. Bill Evans at the VIllage Vanguard, and Waltz for Debby (from the same weekend gig)
2. Hampton Hawes - For Real!
3. Out there a bit - he played bass for Ornette Coleman in the "double trio sessions" that became Free Jazz.

There's much more...but not nearly as much as other players who lasted longer. Like a "select" few, LaFaro had so much that he just couldn't stay here for long.

I have the Bill Evans and Ornette. I'd love to hear the Hampton Hawes. I read that Scotty and Charlie Haden used to room togther and that Scotty would practice 8-12 hours a day.

[FretlessOnly]

It should be available. It's on OJC, from the Contemporary label, since Hawes was a west-coaster. It also features Harold Land, who could blow like the wind, and Frank Butler; in my mind, the best west-coast drummer, that most people who have heard of such people, have never heard of.

Highly recommended.