Sam Rivers (1923-2011) – Orlando
130 drummers
Sam Rivers (1923-2011) – Orlando
Sam Rivers moved to Orlando in the early 90s. The word spread about his arrival. He did a few gigs with some local players, but it was nothing like his records.
I had a regular Monday night gig and invited him to be the featured artist. There was no spontaneous improvisation. We just played standards. I didn’t know much about his discography. I’d heard he played with Miles. He was part of the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra when I attended a 80s concert, but it was rained out.
He started a rehearsal band at the Local Musicians Union Hall. I got a call from Sam to participate. His charts were like nothing I’d ever seen. Every week the members were different. It was an interesting sound. Tuba was playing the bass part. Sometimes Tuba and Bass Trombone doubled the bass part. The reeds and brass seats were always full with excellent players in the band. Many were employed at Walt Disney World or EPCOT in various groups. (Those gigs are dead) All very good reader’s which was required to play Sam’s music. Each--chart was several pages with difficult transitions in the style and form.
My visual cues came from watching Sam conduct. He’s a great conductor. I could tell if he was - moving and grooving - it was happening. I did the rehearsal band for a few months. Then got a call from him, he said he needed a better reader. I thanked him for the opportunity.
I could have become more acquainted with that music and hit the marks better. I don’t remember spending much time with it in the shed. I didn’t have copies. It was all sight-reading at the rehearsal.
There were definitely moments when I was driving the bus and the group sounded like Sam. It was a very interesting sound, compared to his future group with electric bass, occasional guitar in the rhythm section. Since then, I’ve heard many recording of those charts. I realize how I could have played differently.
In 2000, I played a concert featuring bassist Peter Kowald. Sam Rivers was a guest for this event. This was more my line of expertise at the time, free improvisation in a small group. It was a great experience to play with Peter and Sam. It was an intense, but musical session.
The Peter Kowald event was on the Rollins College campus. It was sponsored and promoted by a group of individuals. They formed a non-profit to curate concerts. (Civic Minded 5)
I played several concerts with Derek Bailey, Jon Rose, Peter Kowald, Frank Gratkowski, John Butcher, Elliot Sharp, Matt Shipp, Roscoe Mitchell, James Brandon Lewis and David Amram. A few of these concerts were co-op events with The Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach.
During Sam’s lifetime as a resident in Central Florida, he created a music scene for those interested in live music. He curated many regular gigs for his big band. It was a wall of sound at each concert. As a player and composer, he was unique, with his own identity.
As I type this, I’m listening to Sam’s 1964 Blue Note album, “Fuchsia Swing Song” with Tony Williams. (Amazing) I’m still listening to Sam’s vault of recorded history. Orlando and Central Florida became a hipper place to live because of Sam Rivers. (Rip Sam)