Dave Pike - Why Not (1961).

David Samuel Pike (March 23, 1938 – October 3, 2015) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. He appeared on many albums by Nick Brignola, Paul Bley and Kenny Clarke, Bill Evans, and Herbie Mann. He also recorded extensively as leader, including a number of albums on MPS Records. He learned drums at the age of eight and was self-taught on vibraphone. Pike made his recording debut with the Paul Bley Quartet in 1958. He began putting an amplifier on his vibes, when working with flautist Herbie Mann in the early-1960s. By the late-1960s, Pike’s music became more exploratory, contributing a unique voice and new contexts that pushed the envelope in times remembered for their exploratory nature. The Doors of Perception, released in 1970 for the Atlantic Records subsidiary Vortex Records, and produced by former boss Herbie Mann, explored ballads, modal territory, musique concrete, with free and lyrical improvisation, and included musicians including alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, bassist Chuck Israels and pianist Don Friedman. Pike moved to Europe and signed with MPS Records. With the collaboration of Volker Kriegel, J. A. Rettenbacher, and Peter Baumeister, he formed the Dave Pike Set. The group recorded six records from 1969-1972 that ran the gamut from funky grooves to free, textural territory. The group, though short-lived, created a unique identity and textural palette. Kriegel’s compositional and instrumental contributions to the group helped set the Dave Pike Set’s sound apart, organically incorporating influences from jazz, soul jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde music, and world music. He died in Del Mar, California of emphysema, aged 77. ___________________________________________ “Pike’s Peak“ is the second album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike which was recorded in 1961 for the Epic label. The Allmusic review called it: “An excellent if generally overlooked straight-ahead set“. ___________________________________________ This Portrait LP was vibraphonist Dave Pike’s second recording as a leader. Pike is joined by bassist Herbie Lewis, drummer Walter Perkins, and most notably pianist Bill Evans. It was one of the pianist’s first sessions after the tragic death of his bassist, Scott LaFaro, and gives listeners a rare opportunity to hear Evans this late in his career as a sideman. The music is fairly spontaneous, consisting of two ballads, “Besame Mucho,“ “Vierd Blues,“ and Pike’s “Why Not“ (inspired by Miles Davis’ “So What“). An excellent if generally overlooked straight-ahead set. (Review by Scott Yanow; AllMusic) ___________________________________________ Dave Pike - Pike’s Peak (1961). Tracklist: 1. Why Not (Dave Pike). ___________________________________________ Personnel: 1. Dave Pike - vibraphone 2. Bill Evans - piano 3. Herbie Lewis - bass 4. Walter Perkins - drums. ___________________________________________ Genre: Jazz/Cool Jazz/Hard Bop Recorded: New York City; November, 1961 . Label: Epic – LA 16025 Release: 1962 (US) Format: LP Liner Notes – Ira Gitler Photography By [Cover Photo] – Pete Turner, Chuk Stewart, Willem Schwertmann. Producer – Mike Berniker.