Rudy Van Gelder Yelled at Me Today

I think a lot of iconic musicians who recorded there got the same treatment. I read something once about a player who moved the mic a little bit after Rudy set it up. He got a similar treatment as you, with a "I don't touch your instrument, don't touch mine" kind of thing. And this was Coltrane or Sonny Rollins or similar giant. You're in good company.

 

Great story, great thread.

 

Rudy, time for your midday sponge bath...Yeah, we can play some Dexter Gordon.

 

All I gotta say is, I would love to be yelled at by Rudy Van Gelder! And his nurse!

 

I'm with you on this one! It's rude to show up at his door uninvited. For all he knew, the guy could have been some nut job looking to blow him away!

 

Got to agree.

(As a story it's interesting of course)

 

Great story; thanks for sharing... made me think of that Simpsons line "Release the Hounds..."

 

At least you didn't try that with Phil Spector!

 

They didn't have to open the door. I certainly don't open up for strangers.

 

I am just as obsessive with my heroes and would have done the same thing. Screw it, you only live once. You get yelled at, so what...lol.

 

You were told to GTFO by RVG. You could have had a worse day, so to that I say, glad you tried.

 

I forgot to mention that about one year ago, I did try calling the studio, to try and arrange for a possible tour. At this time, I wasn't too aware of Rudy and his reputation. A woman answered the phone and I asked if I could schedule a time to come over, I'd love to see the studio. She said hold on and I heard her call for "Rudy!" A man gets on the phone and yells "What do you want from me!?" This sort of threw me off, so I just said "I don't want anything from you, I just wanted to say thank you." He then seemed to soften a bit and said "Oh, well, OK, that's alright then." Then I said goodbye and that was it. So technically, Rudy and I had spoken on the phone before, so my unannounced visit a year later is justified.

 

NPR's Susan Stamberg interviewed Rudy in 1993,stating that it was indeed a pilgrimmage.She identifies the buliding as a shrine.It's available on the NPR archives.Interesting notes about the ground rules of the interview,including no questions about mikes or placement of mikes.Susan clapped her hands into her portable tape recorder to sample the studio's famed sound.Rudy grabbed the recorder and erased the sound,with Mr. Van Gelder needing time to calm down from the incident before the interview could continue.1993-Mr.Van Gelder not yet 70 and very much involved in his work.
One can type in the address of the studio,445 Sylvan Ave.,Englewood Cliffs,NJ,into Google Maps and see the building in the distance past the driveway. Simple signs posting of the "445"street number and"Personal Driveway.No Turn Around".And yet,for many here,the epicenter of modern jazz.No matter what criticism one may have about Rudy & his work,more jazz history took place there than in any place in the world.Throw in Rudy's work at his folk's house in Hackensack for good measure.

 

Is this the studio building?

Google Street View

It almost looks like a witch house, between all those office buildings, with the trees around.

 

That's it. I'm sure the area looked a bit different in 1959.

 

I prowl used bins for Rudy Van Gelder Remasters. I buy them when I find them usually with no idea what the music sound likes.

 

I'd like to see a thread titled "Buddy Rich Yelled at Me Today".

 

There is this film ...



By the way, great thread and good for you for trying to see the studio and Rudy! He should be glad that his studio and producing still matter to so many.

 

Meanwhile, back on the West Coast, another legendary engineer is upgrading his perimeter's cc TV ... just kidding!

 

its funny how people come down on one for asking for autographs from musicians one admires but then seem to think its cool to make an unannounced call on a 90 year old man in his home..

personally i think its cool you tried to visit him (not going to lose sleep on whether it was rude or not) but i don't want to hear one word about how terrible it is for me to ask a musician for an autograph at a show i've paid money to...

 

Next up time to call Lou Donaldson and speak in incomprehensible English

 

I sincerely hope that Rudy had EVERYTHING he knows written down while he still had the strength to do it, because I have a feeling that it may be too late now. It would be great if he surprised us with a big, big book. Or, maybe I'm just being selfish
Whatever he decided, I still love the man!

 

expecting somebody to pickup a car?