“PERFORMANCE” 50 years old this year
In May 1974, at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs NJ, Pee Wee led the session for Esther’s newest recording, having been her conductor, arranger, and producer at CTI/Kudu as well as her band-leader for several years. He put together a stellar line up of top session musicians for her, Richard Tee, Bernard Purdie, Bob James, Gordon Edwards, Steve Gadd, Mike Brecker, Pepper Adams, Hubert Laws and Jon Faddis with BV’s Patti Austin & Deniece Williams. Pee Wee even weighed in on THE CHIMES. By all accounts it was a memorable session, not least due to Esther herself, always a force to be reckoned with both on and off stage.
This Juneteenth to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this landmark recording here are some of Bernard Purdie’s recollections from the session and thoughts on Esther, ’Performance‘ and Pee Wee, from jazz singer Ian Shaw, a good friend who worked with Pee Wee closely in his last years.
Bernard Purdie remembers recording ‘PERFORMANCE’
The band was smokin’- every musician had something wonderful to offer! Pee Wee’s selection of musicians was superb. It was one of the best recording sessions I can remember! The whole recording session was exceptional…. Every musician communicated with each other and gave their best performances to this album.
Everybody was into Esther Phillips – both sound and feel. Patti Austin was phenomenal. From what I recall this was Patti’s debut as a BG singer. She was like a golden songbird!! She was only 15 or 16 and just let go and gave it her all!!!
The recording was so successful because everyone loved Esther Phillips and her sound.
BERNARD PURDIE, NEW JERSEY, MAY 2024
Ian Shaw remembers ‘PERFORMANCE’
I was first aware of the remarkable Esther Phillips, when, as a twelve-year-old. ‘What A Difference A Day Makes’ hit the charts. It spun musical gold for me. I bought it from Woolworths for 49 pence and my dad gave me a few quid to ‘accidentally’ buy ‘Performance’ from Derek, the soul and jazz-enthusiast on Fflint market.
Fast forward to my twenties: an obsession with who played what, who produced and where. I fast realised the glory and the power of ‘Performance’ and Pee Wee’s name jumped out at me even then. Along with Thelma Houston (and Pressure Cooker) and Chaka & Co’s ‘Echoes of An Era’ my fascination with these awesome live studio gatherings was complete. It seemed that Pee Wee Ellis was a driving force – picking songs, arranging, conducting, playing – shaping many of these era defining records. Bernard Purdie marvels at Pee Wee’s knack of getting the right people together in the right room and just letting them play.
Please magic me back to the days of Pee Wee and Creed Taylor, Patti Austin, Deniece Williams, Steve Gadd, Bob James, Hubert Laws and, of course, the unique Esther Phillips; the memories of whom would bring tears of joy to my brilliant new bandleader (Pee Wee), the best boss on and off stage. ‘So what was Mike Brecker like on that sesh, boss?’ The stories poured forth PW-style: quiet fire, pin-prick memories and always, always funny.
Not in my wildest dreams did that twelve year old boy imagine that this dream world could become a reality (thanks to my Dad “Go on lad, get yourself a record!”) Almost fifty years later, on the road with the beautiful Pee Wee Ellis, effervescent China Moses and a killer line-up of European musicians, I was singing and larking about with someone who’d been a key spirit and co-creator of one of the greatest recording sessions in popular music.
Performance indeed.
IAN SHAW. PARIS. MAY 2024.
Happily, some of our conversations were captured with an audience of Pee Wee fans by Ronnie Scott’s Radio
Remembering Ernie Fields Jr.
So sad to lose another wonderful musician, renowned contractor, good friend and unforgettable character, Ernie Fields Jr., at the grand age of 90.
Here is Ernie; as he called it ‘back in the’ when he joined Pee Wee, Fred and the guys in Abu Dhabi in 2016 for the NYU project FUNK: Evolution of a Revolution.
‘I still cry’: Powerful Rochester mural captures what was lost in anti-urban destruction
Sisters of Pee Wee Ellis, pose for a portrait by the Clarissa Street Uprooted Mural underneath the I-490 Highway before it’s unveiling in Rochester, N.Y. on Aug. 17, 2023.
Georgia Pressley / Democrat and Chronicle
Please read the full article on democratandchronicle here.
Pee Wee Ellis & Esther Phillips • Black Eyed Blues
In July 1973 ESTHER PHILLIPS recorded the album BLACK-EYED BLUES, at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey. PEE WEE arranged and conducted the album, also playing alto sax on the title track. This was the third of seven records Esther and Pee Wee made together in the 1970’s, (five at KUDU/CTI, two at Mercury Records). Three of these albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. He was also Musical Director of her band, who toured widely in America and Europe, including an appearance at Montreux Jazz Festival in 1978. Pee Wee greatly admired not only Esther‘s artistry, but also her tenacity in sustaining a musical career through many setbacks.
Pee Wee Ellis & James Brown LIVE at the Apollo, 1967
During June of 1967 The James Brown Show appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for 10 days, playing 6 shows a day to sell-out audiences who had lined up on 125th Street and around the block for hours to see the hottest band in America.
The resulting record,“Live at the Apollo II“, broke all preconceptions about live albums when it was released in 1968, as a follow-up to the seminal 1963 recording „Live At The Apollo“. The Deluxe Edition “Live at the Apollo II“ released in 2001 by Universal Records contains extended material and great liner notes by Alan Leeds.
In 1967 Pee Wee, at the tender age of 26, was already Music Director, also playing alto sax and organ and co-writing and arranging for the James Brown Band. At that time the band would play a jazz set before Mr. Brown came on stage: here is a clip of Pee Wee strutting his stuff with an alto solo on Lee Morgan’s jazz standard “The Sidewinder“ at the Olympia in Paris the same year.
The Shoes of Our Lost Icons Are Still Full of Life
We would like to share this gorgeous article from December 23, 2021, published by The New York Times.
Sonny Rollins about Pee Wee Ellis
On the day of Pee Wee’s funeral in Rochester NY (Nov. 10, 2021), it’s a pleasure to share this message from Pee Wee’s mentor and dear friend Sonny Rollins.
The great Pee Wee Ellis has gone to a better place. I will miss him enormously. He and his lovely wife always visited with me when they came to the States. He always referred to himself as my student, and I felt great hearing him say that because he was one of our best players. “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud” came from Pee Wee, as he led James Brown’s band into their ultra-baaad music. See you later, man. – Sonny
George Benson about Pee Wee Ellis
Source: Mr. George Benson’s Facebook Post from October 2, 2021.
The name Pee Wee suggest small, but there was nothing small about Pee Wee Ellis. His talent was immense. For example, he co-wrote and arranged James Brown‘s “Papa’s Gotta A Brand New Bag.” From there, every thought and rhythm arrangement was his idea. In 1973 we recorded and wrote the song “Dance” for my BODY TALK record. I learned some lessons from him that are still with me today. His powerhouse approach to music will continue to energize the music industry forevermore. We remained good friends from the beginning of his days with James Brown until his passing. He will be missed.
Celebrating the Genius of Pee Wee Ellis
This livestream was aired on 13th Jan 2021 on M-XCLOUD. It focuses on the many musical facets of Pee Wee Ellis‘ career, from early recordings in 1963 right up to today. A very personal tribute from The Soul Preacher who has been collecting the music of Mr. Ellis in its immense variety for almost 40 years now. This tribute was impromptu and a labor of love, as is the official website of the legendary saxophonist:
www.peewee-ellis.info
I‘m sharing this program with the very important approval of Pee Wee Ellis, who also was listening live.
We hope you‘ll enjoy this musical trip!
photo & illustration: Pee Wee Ellis by The Soul Preacher