Sandwiched into the Yoshi's schedule between the week-long runs
from Pharoah Sanders Quintet and Charles Lloyd Quartet was the extra special
'All Star Benefit Performance for Drum Master Billy Higgins,' featuring
both of the aforementioned groups, together with special guests Bobby Hutcherson,
Kamau Daaood, and Julian Lage.
The plan at that time was to raise money to defray the cost of Billy's
medical expenses as he awaited a second liver transplant (the first transplant
place in March of 1996). Ultimately, several such concerts were held:
Unfortunately, Billy passed away at home on May 2, due to complications
from pneumonia before he could take delivery of his next liver.
As I arrived at the Yoshi's for the early show of the Benefit gig,
I was psyched to find that Billy was sitting in the booth just in front
of my table, attended to by a small retinue. A steady stream of friends
and admirer's came to pay their respects before the show began ... it was
quite the festive scene!
The show got off to a great start with a short two-song set from
the Pharoah Sanders Quintet, joined by Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, as they
burned through My Favorite Things and Save our Children.
Then Pharoah and his current vocalist, Dwight Tribble, left the stage,
while Bobby and the rest of Pharoah's group (William Henderson: piano;
Robert Hurst: bass; Ralph Pendlum: drums) played another tune.
With nary a pause, Charles Lloyd and his group (Tony Austin: drums;
and Larry Grenadier: bass) took the stage next. After Charles told several
stories, he launched the musical portion of his set by accompanying the
poet Kamau Daaood on three pieces: the first about a band with 9000 Tubas,
the second about Billie Holiday, and the third titled High Chair.
During the following break, Bobby Hutcherson reclaimed his vibes,
and the 13-year old prodigy Julian Lage joined the assemblage on guitar.
An unannounced tune was played, and then Master Higgins was enticed to
take the stage. Although too weak to take his usual seat at the trap set,
he was energetic enough to give us all a short speech of salutation and
thanks before launching into an impromptu scat vocal.
With time running short (it was probably 9:30 PM by now), Pharoah
Sander's Group returned to the stage for a group blowout on Charles Lloyd's
the
Prayer.
I'd hoped to be able to stay and hear the late show as well, but
one look at the overflow crowd waiting in the lobby convinced me that my
chances of getting back in were slim-to-none without a separate ticket
to the second set, so I set out into the night whistling the melody to
the
Prayer, grateful that I'd been privileged to attend such an outstanding
event.
In case you're interested in more info about Master Higgins, here
are a few links...
And a final tidbit of information that I found while trolling the net
for background on Master Higgins: According to an interview with MTV posted
on 5/24/01, Bob Dylan claimed to have had recorded sessions with Don Cherry
and Billy Higgins in the early 60's...that would be something to hear,
huh? Free-jazz Zimmerman! |
