Thursday, April 22, 2004
A tiny tribute to Steve Novosel, aka Mr. Cool
I watched Jane Monheit's Live at Rainbow Room DVD last night, and I almost burst into tears. Not because I was touched by her singing, but because she was surrounded by such coolness. This is a 25 year-old girl who just loves to sing, and she is backed by a super rhythm section with Ron Carter on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. The spotlight and attention were on Jane in one of New York's most prestigious rooms. What more can you ask for as a jazz singer? Without commenting much on Ms. Monheit's singing (I wrote a review in 2002), I must say she has improved as a singer and her phrasings have never been better. But who wouldn't be in heaven when Ron Carter's coolness emerged as the pillar of the performance?
The closest thing to Ron Carter I'll ever play with is the irreplaceable Mr. Steve Novosel, whose history came in a close second to Mr. Carter's. Recorded with Shirley Horn, David "Fathead" Newman, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Donny Hathaway, and played with everyone from Sonny Stitt to Dizzy Gillespie, Steve's past was as exciting as it was dark - just like what a jazz musician's past should be. Not to mention he also had a short-lived and painstaking marriage to "Killing Me Softly's" Roberta Flack.
I had the honor to have sat in with Steve, both at Fino, once with Bill Heid Trio and once with Chris Grasso Trio. Whether Steve is playing a walking bass rhythm or a melodic bow solo, he conveys more feelings than a Carson McCullers book, as if he was telling his life's story. Watching him play a solo is a jaw-dropping experience.
Though laconic & taciturn, when Steve talks about old times, he will not stop. "The stories they told about Charlie Parker are largely folklore," Steve said, "he's never flamboyant. How could he be after having consumed so much drugs? He was mainly in his own little sphere." And then, after moments of silence, he turned to me and said "Henry, why don't you get your harps and we'll play a blues?" What an honor!
These days, I'll try to catch Steve whenever I can. You don't hear this type of music anymore. At 64, Steve plays with more energy and youth than most of the younger, self-proclaimed jazz bassists. I salute you, Mr. Novosel.
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The closest thing to Ron Carter I'll ever play with is the irreplaceable Mr. Steve Novosel, whose history came in a close second to Mr. Carter's. Recorded with Shirley Horn, David "Fathead" Newman, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Donny Hathaway, and played with everyone from Sonny Stitt to Dizzy Gillespie, Steve's past was as exciting as it was dark - just like what a jazz musician's past should be. Not to mention he also had a short-lived and painstaking marriage to "Killing Me Softly's" Roberta Flack.
I had the honor to have sat in with Steve, both at Fino, once with Bill Heid Trio and once with Chris Grasso Trio. Whether Steve is playing a walking bass rhythm or a melodic bow solo, he conveys more feelings than a Carson McCullers book, as if he was telling his life's story. Watching him play a solo is a jaw-dropping experience.
Though laconic & taciturn, when Steve talks about old times, he will not stop. "The stories they told about Charlie Parker are largely folklore," Steve said, "he's never flamboyant. How could he be after having consumed so much drugs? He was mainly in his own little sphere." And then, after moments of silence, he turned to me and said "Henry, why don't you get your harps and we'll play a blues?" What an honor!
These days, I'll try to catch Steve whenever I can. You don't hear this type of music anymore. At 64, Steve plays with more energy and youth than most of the younger, self-proclaimed jazz bassists. I salute you, Mr. Novosel.
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