Just Jazz: Gene Ammons (1971, WTTW)

An episode of 'Just Jazz' from 1971, featuring the Gene Ammons Sextet. This comes from a recently discovered 2 inch dub from Canada.

[paulyricca]

Best period of modern music in 1971 I can listen to it all day

[MMS-fgio]

Absolutely loved Gene and miss him to this day, besides “mastering” the tenor sax, selling out clubs here in the U.S. AND Europe especially after he got out of prison in 1969, he was a GREAT human being, had a BIG HEART, sweet person, & absolutely loved my late sis Gerry (his 2nd wife also known as the original “red top” and “Jeru”😏), & was a loving stepdad to my niece Roz....AND, just days before he slipped into a coma and passed away my mom whom he soooo loved and respected, led him there in the hospital, to give his life to Christ, he Sincerely cried like a baby in gratefulness to God and mom and her prayer team from church prayed and ministered with and to him for a few hours, he was so very happy and at peace at that point.🙏🏽

[TyroneHines-gx]

So nice to hear “Jug” again with the group. And Wallace Burton was burning on the keys. I had a chance to play with Wallace for almost a year with Drummer Al Green at a club up in Highwood Illinois back in 1980

[setloholo]

I grew up listening to .Mr Ammons on Play Me. Each time I think of him that song comes up bringing back the good old memories.

Though almost 70 yrs of age now, I'm still hopeful that I shall be able to blow it on the horn I bought just to learn and play, Play Me like my old and late hero Mr Gene Ammons.

[arthurholloway-bugu]

Chicago talent!!! There's so much talent in this city that they throw it away!!!

[giovannisugonatoli]

Ammons (ts, varitone), King Kolax (tp), George Freeman (g), Wallace Burton (p), Chester Williamson (b) and Bob Guthrie (d)

[House]

My all time favorite tenor saxophonist. Love that hard driving Chicago style.

[bobblues]

I grew up playing with Gene and Sonny records. And can still go there when
the gig needs it and I am so thankful for coming up that way. Because this is
the music people danced to and partied to in the clubs where i worked. And it is art. The art of entertaining the people!!

[mag]

Great video! It is especially nice to see George Freeman in his prime, playing jazz guitar like nobody but George Freeman.

[tellitlikeitis-rgny]

One of my alltme greats gene ammons sublime

[davemusic]

Saw Gene in that small downstairs club in Boston opposite the Prudential Center. This was 1969 just after he and I had both just got out of Federal prisons, he on that trumped up Heroin charge and myself after trying to get the military draft declared unconstitutional.
We commiserated backstage after he played a great set!

[tommysaxman]

I saw this group play live at the Plugged Nickel on North Wells in Chicago around this time. I was blessed to have Mr Wallace Burton as my HS music teacher.

[stagrider]

Thanks so much for sharing this. As a budding sax player Gene Ammons is one of my major influences and this video is the 1st I ever viewed of him. Absolutely fabulous xx

[davidbloomberg]

Incredible! Such a thrill to have see live Ammons! And George Freeman!!! Thank you so much!

[Jazzznbluezzz]

Amazing! Love it! Gene Ammons was a giant. In fact all the musicians here are.

[tmat]

Wow! I am floored. What a thrill to see and listen to this! Thank you#

[Mustafasankofasankarasunra]

My grandfather and Jug were childhood friends. One of my greatest memory of my grandfather was being his DJ, playing Jug's albums back in the late sixties and early seventies. His favorite was the BLACK CAT.

[paulcombs-bomuse]

Jug one of the great interpreters of ballads. I think I wore out my copy of Boss Tenor, when I was younger. Thank goodness for CD reissues.

[ulrap]

This is the first video I have seen of Gene Ammons. My first records of his were Brother Jug and Boss Is Back, which were both from around the time of this video. I don't like the varitone much...but it's still wonderful to see this band performing. Thank you very much for uploading 🙏

[hankhirsh]

Jug!!! I have this concert on a bootleg vinyl. Varitone!.No info. I always thought it was Nat Adderley. Thanks for posting this. I was fortunate enough to see Jug live several times. This stirs up great memories. Strut.🙏