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View Full Version : Peter King, the master UK BeBoper playing Parker's Grafton

sanchophone
02-11-2007, 02:12 AM
On my first day in London 12 years ago, I was walking around and, surprise! the first thing that cought my attention in this amazing city was Charlie's Parker's saxophone at Christie's- the auction house- window.
I could no believe I could see this piece of history so close. Few days later it went for $144,500 (so Mark VIs for 10,000 on ebay are not so bad after all)

Tonigjht by chance I found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISadfOcJn3A

A great opportunity to see this Grafton in action again and, most importantly, to listen to one of the greatest alto saxophonists and beboper in the UK: Mr Peter King.

Enjoy!
Saxland
02-11-2007, 03:00 AM
Hey thats for posting that!!!! I watched the entire 8 minutes. What a gas watching it!!!! The collectors/bidders in the room must have been just licking their chops.

Any idea what mouthpiece and reed Peter King was playing? 8-)
alsdiego
02-11-2007, 03:06 AM
That's a great clip....... do you happen to know who won the auction, and where the horn is now?

Peter King is (relatively) unknown in the U.S. which is a shame, since's he's a true monster player......... is he still playing in the U.K.?? I understand he used to be quite a fixture at Ronny Scott"s??

Al
tjontheroad
02-11-2007, 04:10 AM
A great sax in a great player's hands. A thing of beauty for sure. I wonder if the tag on the sax says "Only $144,500" :)
SAXISMYAXE
02-11-2007, 06:38 AM
Wish I could get my Grafton to sound like that (the operator might have something to do with it.;) )!
gelliot2
02-11-2007, 07:46 AM
Peter King is indeed still playing in the U.K and blows a Yani these days I believe.

http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/45003/Peter_King_1.html

http://www.saxophones.co.uk/A9932Z.htm
LiAm84
02-11-2007, 02:34 PM
Peter King plays a very old otto link alto mouthpiece with a selmer metal lig. It might be a four**** or master link. Definatly not a tone master/stm.
SAXISMYAXE
02-11-2007, 02:56 PM
I have to say he did Parker's horn full justice and was the right man for the job with his wonderful performance. I'll have to check out his recordings now that I've been made aware of him. Excellent video, thanks for posting.
jamiejazz
02-11-2007, 03:05 PM
Did anyone in London check out that gig with Peter King and Bob Martin about 5 years ago at that club near Old Street (forgotten the name)? Jim Watson was on piano and it was so sweet. Bob is a great alto player who was with Buddy at the same time as Richie Cole-He has a monstrous 'Woods" type sound on a Meyer 6.

Peter is best known in the States through the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Band. Phil Woods is a huge fan of his, and if you join Phil's website, he's uploaded a recording of them playing together on a gig.
Jamie
Rackety Sax
02-11-2007, 04:57 PM
That's a great clip....... do you happen to know who won the auction, and where the horn is now?
...
Al, the horn was purchased by the City of Kansas City. I believe it is now on display at the American Jazz Museum (http://www.americanjazzmuseum.org/) in Kansas City though I couldn't find anything about it on their website.
rleitch
02-11-2007, 05:53 PM
Very Cool...maybe we can talk Pete Thomas into posting a vid of him playing his!

Is it just me or does the mere possibility of a decent sounding plastic sax throw into question alot of received opinion/knowledge about saxophone construction?

Rory
tbone
02-11-2007, 06:00 PM
Very Cool...maybe we can talk Pete Thomas into posting a vid of him playing his!

Is it just me or does the mere possibility of a decent sounding plastic sax throw into question alot of received opinion/knowledge about saxophone construction?

Rory

Nah! It's only the old plastic horns that sound good. The new ones sound like dookie! It has to do with the aging of the plastic and the planetary alignment at the time of construction. :shock: ;) :D 8-)
sanchophone
02-11-2007, 09:49 PM
I do not know who won the auction. This is probably confidential. But one can see some very enthusiastic Japanese guys in the video.

I have seen Peter King a couple of times and he's fantastic. It is incredible that he is not better known. By the way he is not only into bebop, he is a great composer of contemporary stuff. Check out this record if you can: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamburello-Peter-King/dp/B000007ZX3

The only good thing with the fact that he is not so well known is that one can see him in very small venues.
xax
02-15-2007, 04:04 AM
What a joy to see and hear but it was truly scary every time he took the thing off the straphook and casually waved it around...YIKES!!

Hmmm, a Link 4****. So I guess on alto, THE setup is to use a metal mpc on plastic horns and a plastic(rubber) mpc on metal horns...?
baylistenor
02-15-2007, 10:17 AM
Peter King plays a very old otto link alto mouthpiece with a selmer metal lig. It might be a four**** or master link. Definatly not a tone master/stm.

its a 6
hgiles
02-15-2007, 01:45 PM
I heard the mayor of KC went out there to get the saxophone and spent the city's money without permission. I don't think anyone objected, though. There was a special on TV (HISTORY channel) talking about it.
kryz
03-12-2007, 10:20 PM
Hi,
I knew this vid before but now a question came into my mind: When was that horn set up for the last time?
This can't be the original condition, can it?

Chris
newtenorsax
04-12-2007, 06:06 AM
How much do you think it would cost to produce a new version of the Grafton?
Rick Adams
06-19-2007, 11:34 PM
Stumbled across the same YouTube clip this evening - a very enjoyable performance!
littlemanbighorn
06-19-2007, 11:38 PM
I heard the mayor of KC went out there to get the saxophone and spent the city's money without permission. I don't think anyone objected, though. There was a special on TV (HISTORY channel) talking about it.

Maybe I should run for mayor of Vancouver. Then I can buy gear on the city's dollar.