bird's playing on the loverman session

[pepper]

this seems to create quite a difference of opinion, but i think his playing, although a bit rough for his standards, is great on these tracks.

the background is that he was on the edge of a nervous breakdown, badly strung out after being burned with bad heroin, and after the session went back to his hotel, set fire to his room and walked out into the street naked, before being sectioned and being sent to camirillo mental hospital.

obviously he was in pretty bad shape, but IMHO his solo of loverman is one of the prettiest things he ever recorded.

[BlueNote]

But didn't he blow the opening of his solo?

He had his cue from the piano player after playing the intro, and he missed it. That was part of the reason that Bird didn't want to release that take, but they kept it anyways.

[sw3119]

Is there more than one version of Bird playing Lover Man?

I have a Verve set with Lover Man on it but I'm not sure if it is
THE Lover Man that everyone talks about.

Was the version in the movie 'Bird' the original? (I know they used mostly original recordings in the movie)

I've always liked his solo in this tune, even before I heard the 'story'.

[gary]

Well, this is something I've usually kept a bit quiet about, 'cause I seem definitely in the minority, but I've always enjoyed his Lover Man; tortured, soulful. Sad but great.

I hear more indecision on "The Gypsy" from the same session than Lover Man. Also, regarding Lover Man, the pianist wasn't much help. On a lot of the solo he lays down some pretty clunky backing. But Lover Man - I'll keep it.

[citizn cane]

There are a few versions of Lover Man.

On the one where he doesn't quite sound his usual self, he was reported to have been very drunk on a gallon of wine after not being able to score herion, or in the midst of trying to kick it. He chose the wine instead to get him through, & to me, it makes sense, because he sounds drunk with respect to his coordination. The ideas were there, but he just couldn't get his fingers to execute them properly, with good timing.

Great track to listen to if you think you play better on excess alcohol.

[RS]

After a gallon of wine I would be talking to Ralph.