Greatest Show Offs in Jazz

Technique is always being talked about, who has more, chops are highly prized, solos that are a display of chops

Who are the greatest Showboaters in Jazz, which musicians are the most show offs ? Could be on any instrument

 

I nominate Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson.

 

Rahsaan Roland Kirk -- still love him, though

 

Buddy Rich (jazz? More orchestral I suppose)...

 

Jaco Pastorius.

But god knows he good reason to be a showoff.

 

And he was good at and while doing it.

 

Cat Anderson's high note trumpet with Duke Ellington might qualify as an example.

 

This is the first name I thought of BR, drum solos are often a showcase for technique, but his were mega chops fests

Some good examples in this thread

I suppose if we could actually play like Art Tatum, then showing off would be the norm !

 

"It ain't bragging if you can back it up"

 

This guy:

 

The listeners, probably

 

Showing off his hair, mega bubble perm ?

 

Apparently he has amazing breathing technique. Can sustain uninterrupted playing (without taking a breath) longer than anyone else. I can do that with a didgeridoo using circular breathing technique. But Mr. G is peerless.

 

I saw an Art Ensemble Of Chicago show where they did a jokey song at the end where Roscoe Mitchell sang and held a note for a very long time. My guess is that he can do that on the sax too.

 

Diz!

 

…or Cab!

 

...... and Bird

 

Maynard Ferguson was a bit of a show-off...

 

And of course:

 

Artie Shaw,with his roster of wives.

 

Good choice I think...jazz big band.....quick story...One time BR was playing a show and was walking towards stage....he was fond of turtlenecks...comfortable clothes...but the other players had to be dressed to the nines. He started onstage, and was detained, and was told "Sir, you cannot go on the stage, its only for the band," to which BR replied, "Mister, I AM the band."....sounds about right for BR....great drummer....he was fond of himself!

 

I guess if we want to look at it that way, most jazz soloists are showing off, it goes with the territory really....
It doesn't mean it isn't musical.
Often in rock, there is this whole argument about feel over technique, and to me it is a nonsense, when we talk about jazz, at least the well rehearsed players are given the respect of people appreciating their playing.

It is probably not considered jazz by some, but to me it is.
Friday Night In San Francisco, with John McLaughlin, Al DImeola and Paco de Lucia has all the hallmarks of showing off, and a sort of technical competition, but I think it is still musical and entertaining.

 

There's an excellent HBO doc on his career. Can't begrudge him his success. One of the original investors in Starbucks, too.

 

This is exactly what I was about to post with this thread, all virtuosos in jazz were show offs to some extent, such super facility leads to it

It's whether you think it has any musical value or entertainment value, does it add anything, is it making art or ego ?

the artists themselves may have thought the audiences demanded it, a technical display in a live concert it usually has people applauding wildly.

 

Yea, I totally understand why some folks don't like it, but personally I love hearing a top class instrumentalist stretch out.

Hiromi on the Move dvd concert is pretty stunning too.

It's all music. We can rationalize that it's too much, not enough, warranted or indulgent, but it just comes down to whether you enjoy it or not.