Boss Bostic
Enjoying the great Earl Bostic today, a pioneer of both Bebop and early 1950’s Rock & Roll. Earl was a master virtuoso of the saxophone, and loved to bring his spirited energy to audiences. While well-known as a master improvisor, he transcribed his own recorded solos note-for-note to please expecting audiences.
Saxophonist Lou Donaldson recalled seeing Bird get burned by Bostic at one of the infamous Minton’s Playhouse jam sessions. Papa Lou said Earl “was the greatest saxophone player I ever knew. Bostic was down at Minton’s and Charlier Parker came in there. They played ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ or something and he gave Charlie Parker a saxophone lesson. Now you’d see him, we’d run up there and think we’re going to blow him out, and he’d make you look like a fool. Cause he’d play three octaves, louder, stronger, and faster.”
A young John Coltrane had Bostic as a boss in an early 1950’s band, and the elder saxman is often referred to as a major influence on Trane. Coltrane told Downbeat magazine in 1960 that Bostic ‘showed me a lot of things on my horn. He has fabulous technical facilities on his instrument and knows many a trick.”
Listen to the following track and tell me his chorus of altissimo range doesn’t sound as sweet as some Sidney Bechet?
