Born in Dallas, Texas, Giuffre (pronounced "Joo-fray") was a graduate of Dallas Technical High School and North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas). He first became known as an arranger for Woody Herman's big band, for which he wrote the celebrated "Four Brothers" (1947). He would continue to write creative, unusual arrangements throughout his career. He was a central figure in West coast jazz, cool jazz, and was a member of Shorty Rogers's groups before going solo. Giuffre played clarinet, as well as tenor and baritone saxophones, but eventually focused on clarinet.
His first trio consisted of Giuffre, guitarist Jim Hall and double bassist Ralph Pena (later replaced by Jim Atlas). They had a minor hit in 1957 when Giuffre's "The Train and the River" was featured on the television special The Sound of Jazz. This trio explored what Giuffre dubbed "blues-based folk jazz". This same special matched Giuffre with fellow clarinetist Pee Wee Russell for a leisurely jam session simply titled "Blues".
When Atlas left the trio, Giuffre replaced him with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. This unusual instrumentation was partly inspired by Aaron Copland. The group can be seen performing in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.
In 1961, Giuffre formed a new trio with piano player Paul Bley and double bassist Steve Swallow. This group received little attention when they were active, but were later cited by some fans and musicians as among the most important groups in jazz history. They explored free jazz not in the loud, aggressive mode of Albert Ayler or Archie Shepp, but with a hushed, quiet focus more resembling chamber music. The trio's explorations of melody, harmony and rhythm are still as striking and radical as any in jazz. Thom Jurek has written that this trio's recordings are "one of the most essential documents regarding the other side of early-'60s jazz."
Giuffre, Bley and Swallow eventually explored wholly improvised music, several years ahead of the free improvisation boom in Europe. Jurek writes that Free Fall, their final record, "was such radical music, no one, literally no one, was ready for it and the group disbanded shortly thereafter on a night when they made only 35 cents apiece for a set."
In the early 1970s, Giuffre formed a new trio with bassist Kiyoshi Tokunaga and drummer Randy Kaye. Giuffre added instruments including bass flute and soprano saxophone to his arsenal. A later group included Pete Levin playing synthesizer and replaced Tokunaga with electric bassist Bob Nieske. This group recorded three albums for the Italian Soul Note label.
During the 1970s, Giuffre was hired by New York University to head its jazz ensemble, and to teach private lessons in saxophone and music composition.
Into the 1990s, Giuffre continued teaching and performing. He recorded with Joe McPhee, and revived the trio with Bley and Swallow (though Swallow had switched to bass guitar, giving the group a different sound). Through the mid 1990s Giuffre taught at the New England Conservatory of Music. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease and in his last years he no longer performed. Giuffre died of pneumonia in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on April 24, 2008, two days short of his 87th birthday.
Goodbyes
Jimmy Giuffre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All them long and lonely nights i put you through
Somewhere in there i'm sure i made you cry
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
[Chorus]
But i recall all of them nights down in mexico
One place i may never go in my life again
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
I only miss you here every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin; up from the caribbean
Most novembers i break down and cry
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Jimmy Giuffre Paul Bley and Steve Swallow's song "Goodbye" recount a relationship that had its ups and downs. The singer remembers holding on to someone for long and lonely nights, but also acknowledges that he made her cry. The ambiguity in the song lies in whether or not they actually said goodbye. It is clear that they had a deep connection with each other, as evidenced by the choruses where the singer reminisces about the nights they spent in Mexico, which he may never go back to again. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and regret, with the singer missing his former partner only every now and then, but breaking down and crying most Novembers.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember holdin on to you
I have a vivid memory of holding onto you tightly
All them long and lonely nights i put you through
I caused you to endure many long, lonely nights
Somewhere in there i'm sure i made you cry
I know for certain that I made you shed tears at some point
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
Despite all this, I genuinely cannot recall whether or not we parted ways
But i recall all of them nights down in mexico
However, I possess clear memories of all the nights we spent in Mexico
One place i may never go in my life again
It's possible that I will never return to that location again
Was i just off somewhere just too high
I wonder if I was perhaps under the influence of drugs during that time
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
Regardless, I am still unable to recollect if we definitively parted ways
I only miss you here every now and then
Occasionally, I feel a sense of longing for you
Like the soft breeze blowin; up from the caribbean
This feeling is akin to the gentle breeze that wafts from the Caribbean Sea
Most novembers i break down and cry
Most Novembers, I am overcome with emotion and cry uncontrollably
But i can't remember if we said goodbye
Despite these intense feelings, I still cannot definitively remember if we parted ways
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raul macias
I love Paul Bley's Piano work! He, I may be mistaken, is generally not highlighted very much in Jazz Encyclopedias! This is a great piece of music! Bill Connors was very bold to leave the world of Jazz/Rock when he did in that it was very popular at that time. Connors realized Jazz/Rock was becoming cliched and commercial and left the scene before it became "Fusion"! This music is more aesthetic and eternal!!!
Florian Geyer
I have this record. When I listen to it, it seems still to be the best Jazzmusic ever made. What lovely improvisations.
Per Theander
Try to get the whole album - BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ALL THE WAY.
NativePulseLLC
Beauteous.
raul macias
It's ironic that as Bill Connors was about to leave Return To Forever, Chick Corea's music was becoming more commercial while Connors was getting into the world of Chick's prior Free Jazz Combo "Circle"! It would have been interesting to have seen Connors and Corea record music such as in the Circle mode!
Steve Cournane
Is this from Quiet Song the 1974 album? Thankyou for the post
Santiago de Inés
Steve Cournane Yes