Dave Pike, Bebopper

A few evenings ago, while browsing on YouTube, I decided to listen to some recordings of Dave Pike on vibes. My first acquaintance with Pike came through an old Downbeat review of Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver! on Prestige. I’ve never heard anything from the record, but the review was good and it made me keep him in mind through the years. Subsequently, Pike recorded straight ahead jazz, Latin jazz, fusion jazz, and even “psychedelic” jazz. I’m afraid this versatility (or commercialism, if you will) deterred me from doing a lot more listening, although a while back I did buy and enjoy his more recent Bophead CD. After listening to a variety of Pikeana that night, I thought I might need to explore his work further.

The next day, I dropped by the estimable Funky 16 Corners site, a crate diver’s paradise of obscure 60s and 70s soul, funk, rock, and mod jazz. That day’s headline? Dave Pike 1938‒2015. It gave me a strange feeling for sure. Larry, Funky 16 Corners’ proprietor, had dug up Sweet Tater Pie, a prime slice of 60s jazz funk from Pike’s Jazz for the Jet Set album on Atlantic, featuring Herbie Hancock (!) on organ (!!) Plus, how can you not love the album cover? 

I summed up my recent listening experiences from YouTube and Funky 16 Corners on my Facebook posting about Pike’s death: “So long to vibist Dave Pike, who created jazz, Latin, fusion, psychedelic, and other music but remained a bopper at heart.”

That comment leads me to Bluebird, originally recorded for the Dutch Timeless label and more recently reissued in Japan. The album lists Charles McPherson as co-leader, but McPherson lays out for half of the tracks, so it’s more Pike’s show. I really enjoyed Bluebird, which features tunes composed by or associated with Charlie Parker. If you like all-out bebop from masters of the art, this one’s for you. Given McPherson’s formidable  chops and creative assimilation of Bird’s music, I was afraid Pike might be a bit outclassed, but he proves himself to be an equal. Whether steaming through Anthropology and Scrapple from the Apple or playing beautifully on Old Folks, Pike demonstrates his unswerving allegiance to the bop verities. The only track that gave me pause was Embraceable You; everyone is fine, but I couldn’t get Parker’s masterpiece out of my head while I listened – some things are better left alone. Rein de Graaff plays Bud Powell to McPherson’s Bird and Pike’s Bags and more than holds his own (where is my Rein de Graaff LP? I’ll have to check). Koos Serierse on bass and Eric Ineke on drums provide solid support and solos (love Serierse’s tone). This CD is out of stock at Dusty Groove and pricy at Amazon, but it’s well worth seeking out. NOTE: Pike vocalizes quite a bit behind his solos; I don’t mind, but some listeners might).

Here’s Anthropology – enjoy!