Bobby Few

Bobby Few (October 21, 1935 – January 6, 2021) was an American jazz pianist and vocalist.

Early life Born Robert Lee Few Junior on October 21, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, "he was the son of Robert Senior, a maître d'hôtel at a white country club, and Winifred, an amateur violinist", and grew up in the Fairfax neighborhood of the city's East Side. On his mother's encouragement, Few studied classical piano, but later discovered jazz while listening to his father's Jazz at the Philharmonic records. His father became his first booking agent, and soon Few was doing gigs around the greater Cleveland area with other local musicians including Bill Hardman, Bob Cunningham, Cevera Jefferies and Frank Wright. He was exposed to Tadd Dameron and Benny Bailey during his youth, and knew Albert Ayler, with whom he played in high school. As a young man, Few also gigged with local tenor legend Tony "Big T" Lovano – Joe Lovano's father.

Career In the late 1950s, Few relocated to New York, where he led a trio from 1958 to 1964; there, he met and began working with many world-class musicians, including singer Brook Benton, and saxophonists Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson and Ayler.Wilmer, Valerie. In Uhuru Na Umoja [Musidisc-Europe LP liner notes]. Few played on several of Ayler's albums and also recorded with Alan Silva, Noah Howard, Muhammad Ali, Booker Ervin, and . In 1969, he moved to France and rapidly integrated the expatriate jazz community, working frequently with Archie Shepp, Sunny Murray, Steve Lacy and Rasul Siddik. From 2001, he toured internationally with American saxophonist Avram Fefer, with whom he recorded four critically acclaimed CDs.

Few played extensively around Europe and madeWhitehead, Kevin (April 4, 2002). "Avram Fefer & Bobby Few", Chicago Reader. regular trips back to the United States.Weaver, Arnold (January 6, 1994). "The return of a native legend", Call & Post, [Cleveland, Ohio], p. SH. Recently, he played with saxophonist Charles Gayle and led his own trio in Paris, France. He was working on a Booker Ervin tribute project called Few's Blues that featured tenor player Tony Lakatos, bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Doug Sides. Few was interviewed in a 2008 documentary, later released on DVD, on drummer Sunny Murray – "Sunny's Time Now".

Bobby Few died on January 6, 2021, at the age of 85.

Playing style Some of Few's various playing styles were described by Kevin Whitehead: "He can play delicate single-note melodies, roll out lush romantic chords, rap out explicitly Monkish close-interval clanks – though he's a busier pianist than Monk – or roil around in classic free style, using a sustain pedal to shape the density of his sound".

Discography

As leader or co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1973More or Less FewCenter of the WorldTrio, with Alan Silva (bass), Muhammad Ali (drums)1975Solos and DuetsSunSolo piano; most tracks are by Alan Silva and Frank Wright, without Few1975Solos and Duets Vol 2SunDuo, with Alan Silva; other tracks are by Silva and Frank Wright, without Few1977Few Coming ThruSunSolo piano1979Continental Jazz ExpressVogueSolo piano1979Diom FutaFree LanceTrio, with Jo Maka (soprano sax), Cheikh Tidiane Fall (percussion)1983Rhapsody in FewBlack LionTrio, with Alan Silva (bass), Muhammad Ali (drums)1992MysteriesMiss You Jazz1997Expatriate KinCIMPTrio, with Zusaan Kali Fasteau (cello, soprano sax), Noah Howard (alto sax)2000Continental Jazz ExpressBoxholderSolo piano; in concert2000Few and Far BetweenBoxholderTrio, with Avram Fefer (tenor sax), Wilber Morris (bass); in concert2002Let It Rain2002Live in New YorkBoxholder2004Kindred SpiritsBoxholderDuo, with Avram Fefer (tenor sax, clarinet)2004Heavenly PlacesBoxholderDuo, with Avram Fefer (tenor sax, clarinet)2004Lights and ShadowsBoxholderSolo piano2005SanctuaryCIMPwith Avram Fefer2007True WindHello World!with Sonny Simmons

As sideman Years in brackets refer to dates of recording.

With Albert Ayler Music is the Healing Force of the Universe (Impulse!, 1969) The Last Album (Impulse!, 1969) With Jacques Coursil Trails of Tears (Sunnyside, 2010) With Hans Dulfer El Saxofón (Catfish, 1970) With Mike Ellis What Else is New? (Alfa, 1985) With Booker Ervin The In Between (Blue Note, 1968) With Zusaan Kali Fasteau Sensual Hearing (Flying Note, 1994–95) Camaraderie (Flying Note, 1997) Making Waves (Flying Note, 2004) With Avram Fefer Few and Far Between (Boxholder 2002) w/ Wilber Morris Kindred Spirits (Boxholder, 2005) Heavenly Places (Boxholder, 2005) Sanctuary (CIMP, 2006) w/ Newman Taylor Baker, Hill Greene With Ricky Ford Songs for My Mother (Jazz Friends Production, 2001) With Noah Howard Space Dimension (America, 1971) Red Star (Mercury, 1977) Traffic (Frame, 1980) In Concert (Cadence, 1997) Live at the Unity Temple (Ayler, 1997) With Talib Kibwe Egyptian Oasis (Cryonic, 1986) With Steve Lacy Songs (hat ART, 1981) with Brion Gysin Ballets (hat ART, 1981) The Flame (Soul Note, 1982) Blinks (hat ART, 1983) Lift the Bandstand (1983) DVD Prospectus (hat ART, 1983) also released as Cliches The Condor (Soul Note, 1985) The Gleam (Silkheart, 1986) Momentum (RCA Novus, 1987) The Door (RCA Novus, 1988) Anthem (RCA Novus, 1989) Itinerary (hat ART, 1991) Live at Sweet Basil (RCA Novus, 1992) Associates (Felmay 1992) Clangs (hat ART, 1993) Vespers (Soul Note, 1993) Findings (CMAP, 1994) With David Murray Flowers Around Cleveland (Bleu Regard, 1995) With Sunny Murray Aigu-Grave (Marge, 1979) With Archie Shepp Pitchin Can (America, 1970) Coral Rock (America, 1970) With Alan Silva Seasons (BYG, 1971) H.Con.Res.57/Treasure Box (Eremite, 2003) With Marzette Watts The Marzette Watts Ensemble (Savoy, 1968) With Joe Lee Wilson Secrets From The Sun (Sun, 1977) With Frank Wright Uhuru na Umoja (Emarcy, 1970) One for John (BYG, 1970) Church Number Nine (Odeon, 1971) Center of the World (Center of the World, 1972) For Example – Workshop Freie Musik 1969–1978 (FMP, 1972) Last Polka in Nancy? (Center of the World, 1973) Unity (ESP-Disk, 1974)

References

External links [ AllMusic biography] All About Jazz