Comment: A Tale Of Revision

Very interesting (fascinating actually) subject, I think. Doug, I am thrilled that you are exploring the origins of the Jazz Messiahs and the emergence of Ornette Coleman. Pianist Don Friedman mentioned to me that this band played several gigs in the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver during this period, late 1957 (just prior to his joining a newly formed Buddy DeFranco group for an east coast tour). I have been searching many years for a possible recording made of the Jazz Messiahs from a CFUN Canadian Radio broadcast in late 1957. The group for this broadcast supposedly consisted of Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Don Friedman, Ben Tucker(filling in for Don Payne), and Billy Higgins. Another interesting tidbit as told to me by Don Payne....he recalls Scott LaFaro filling in for him on bass with this group on at least one occasion. I look very much forward to more of your writing on this topic.

Mark Ferrante, New York

If new information surfaces, we'll report it. For Don Payne's followup to the original posting, go here.