Recent Links :: November 30

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses the Louis Armstrong album, Thanks a Million at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (Purchase the CD, Thanks a Million, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Louis Armstrong: Jazz Lives praises the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, New York, and encourages readers to contribute to its first-ever gala celebration.
  
• Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Thelonious Monk: Jeff Tamarkin reviews the DVD, Jazz Icons 5, which includes performances by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Thelonious Monk, and others at JazzTimes. (Pre-order the DVD, Jazz Icons 5, at Mosaic Records.)
  
• Chick Corea: Chick Corea's November 18 performance at the Blue Note is reviewed by Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes.
  
• Miles Davis: Chris M. Slawecki reviews the Miles Davis album, Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Volume 1, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Volume 1, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Chuck Mangione: Chuck Mangione was the Jazz Musician of the Day on November 29, his birthday, at All About Jazz.
  
• Wes Montgomery: Mark Saleski reviews Pat Martino's tribute album to Wes Montgomery, Remember: A Tribute To Wes Montgomery, at Something Else. (Purchase the CD, Remember: A Tribute To Wes Montgomery, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• McCoy Tyner: Lawrence Peryer lists his iTunes playlist of McCoy Tyner tunes from 1960 and 1961 at All About Jazz.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Top Jazz Album for the Week :: November 28

Ted Rosenthal, Out of This World (Playscape)

For the entire top 50, see Elements of Jazz.

Happy Birthday, Chuck Mangione

American flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione was born on November 29, 1940, in Rochester, New York. He turns 71 today.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons says that Mangione "has come to represent the fusion of jazz with popular song writing and arranging. … [From] 1970 to 1973 Mangione auspiciously combined his natural melodicism with a talent for creating multistylistic orchestral backgrounds."

Lyons recommends Mangione's album, The Best of Chuck Mangione (Mercury), which is available only in vinyl. As Jim Determan (who updated the Lyons list for CD) points out, only half of the songs on that album have been released on CD. As an alternative, Determan recommends Land of Make Believe (Mercury), which is available from Amazon.com.

Mangione plays "And in the Beginning" — a composition that Lyons said "proved Mangione was a composer to be taken seriously" — here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Recent Links :: November 23

• Louis Armstrong: Elvis Costello urges fans to buy the Louis Armstrong boxed set, Ambassador Of Jazz for "this time of seasonal giving." (Purchase the CD set, Ambassador of Jazz, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Clifford Brown: So Killing, Man provides a transcription of the Clifford Brown piece, "The Blues Walk," from the album, Clifford Brown and Max Roach. (Purchase the CD, Clifford Brown and Max Roach, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Charles Mingus: Elements of Jazz provides an update on the Charles Mingus documentary, "Mingus on Mingus."
  
• Paul Motian: Drummer Paul Motian died on November 22, and Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen presents several musicians remembering the great drummer: saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh, guitarist Rez Abbasi, saxophonist Chris Potter, saxophonist Joe Lovano, and keyboardists Marilyn Crispell, Marc Copland, and Frank Kimbrough.
  
• Thelonious Monk: David Rickert reviews the new Sean McGowan album, Sphere, which features solo guitar interpretations of Monk's music, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Sphere, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Willie Smith: On the occasion of his birthday, NPR's jazz blog, A Blog Supreme, discusses the life of Willie "The Lion" Smith.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Happy Birthday, Willie "The Lion" Smith

Jazz pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith was born on November 23, 1893, in Goshen, New York. He was one of the great stride pianists.

Duke Ellington once said that "Willie The Lion was the greatest influence of all the great jazz piano players who have come along. He has a beat that stays in the mind."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album by Willie "The Lion" Smith and Luckey Roberts, Luckey and the Lion/Harlem Piano (Good Time Jazz S10035). The CD is available at Barnes & Noble.

Smith plays "Fingerbuster" here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Top Jazz Album for the Week :: November 21

Pat Martino, Undeniable: Live at Blues Alley (HighNote)

For the entire top 50, see Elements of Jazz.

Recent Links :: November 17

• Dave Brubeck: Stephan Moore writes about the new Dave Brubeck Quartet album, Their Last Time Out, at JazzWrap. (Purchase the CD, Their Last Time Out, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Chick Corea: Ian Patterson discusses the Chick Corea/Stefano Bollani album, Orvieto, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Orvieto, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Miles Davis: The Latin Jazz Corner looks at Miles Davis's classic album, Sketches of Spain. (Purchase the CD, Sketches of Spain, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Keith Jarrett: John Kelman reviews Keith Jarrett's new album, Rio, at All About Jazz. Orlando Bird does the same at All About Jazz. Jarrett himself discusses the album at NPR Music. (Purchase the CD, Rio, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Charles Mingus: Jazz Lives discusses the Charles Mingus documentary film that producer Valeria Rios is working on.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, James P. Johnson (1894-1955)

The great stride pianist James P. Johnson died on November 17, 1956, in Jamaica, New York, four years after retiring from performing, following a severe stroke.

Johnson composed a number of hit tunes, including "Charleston," and was one of the giants of the Harlem Stride piano style.

He plays his composition, "Snowy Morning Blues," here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Johnson's album, "The Original James P. Johnson" (Folkways).  Jim Determan also recommends his "Snowy Morning Blues" (Verve) and "Father of the Stride Piano" (Sony).

• "The Original James P. Johnson" (Folkways).  Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.
• "Snowy Morning Blues" (Verve).  Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.
• "Father of the Stride Piano" (Sony).  Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Top Jazz Album for the Week :: November 14

Christian McBride Big Band, The Good Feeling (Mack Avenue)

For the entire top 50, see Elements of Jazz.

Recent Links :: November 13

• George Benson: Jeff Winbush reviews the George Benson album, Guitar Man, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Guitar Man, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Chick Corea, John McLaughlin: Bill Milkowski reviews the performance of Chick Corea and John McLaughlin's Five Peace Band at the Blue Note at JazzTimes.
  
• Miles Davis: Miles Davis Online describes the two movie projects about the life of Miles Davis — Don Cheadle's and director George Tillman, Jr.'s.
  
• Miles Davis, Charles Mingus: Peter Hum discusses the George Tillman, Jr., movie project about Miles Davis and the documentary project about Charles Mingus at the Ottawa Citizen.
  
• Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk: GQ lists the most stylish musicians of all time, a list that includes Miles Davis at the # 1 spot and Thelonious Monk as one of the runners-up.
  
• Herbie Hancock: George Colligan reviews Herbie Hancock's concert with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra here and here.
  
• Charles Mingus: At The Jazzcat, LeRoy Downs provides a video about Charles Mingus's grandson and his efforts to make a documentary about the great bassist.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Happy Birthday, Mose Allison

Jazz singer and pianist Mose Allison was born on November 11, 1927, in Tippo, Mississippi. He turns 84 today.

Allison has, as Forrest Dylan Bryant put it in a review at All About Jazz, a "melting-pot piano style, which seamlessly combines the sounds of back country and big city; [a] carefree, everyman way of singing; [and a] sly cynicism."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Allison's Seventh Son (Prestige), but that album is only available in vinyl. Jim Determan recommends Greatest Hits (Original Jazz Classics) and The Best of Mose Allison (Atlantic) as alternatives.

• Seventh Son (Prestige). Purchase the vinyl record at Amazon.com.)
  
• Greatest Hits (Original Jazz Classics). Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• The Best of Mose Allison (Atlantic). Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
  

Allison sings "Your Mind Is on Vacation" here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, Carmen McRae (1920-1994)

Jazz singer Carmen McRae died on November 10, 1994, of in Beverly Hills, California from a stroke, following complications from respiratory illness.

Known as "The Singer's Singer," McRae was the winner of seven Grammy Awards and was best known for her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics.

McRae's early friendship with Billie Holiday led her to sing at least one song associated with Holiday at her performances. Here, she sings "Lover Man":

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album The Greatest of Carmen McRae (MCA). Unfortunately, the album is only available in vinyl, and Jim Determan, who updated the Lyons list, recommends the CD I'll Be Seeing You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae (GRC).

• Purchase The Greatest of Carmen McRae from Amazon.com.
  
• Purchase I'll Be Seeing You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae from Barnes & Noble.
  

Robert

Recent Links :: November 9

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi talks about Universal's 10-CD boxed set, "Satchmo: America's Musical Ambassador," at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.
  
• Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald: Christopher Loudon writes about a 1956 jazz concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, at JazzTimes. (Purchase the CD, Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner: Lawrence Peryer discusses the 1976 Atlantic album, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Miles Davis: George Varga reviews the Miles Davis Quintet album, Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Volume 1, at JazzTimes. (Purchase the CD, Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Volume 1, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Miles Davis: Marc Myers writes about the DVD, Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux DVD Collection: 1973-1991, at JazzWax. John Kelman reviewes the DVD at All About Jazz. (Purchase the DVD, Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux DVD Collection: 1973-1991, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Keith Jarrett: Peter Hum discusses Keith Jarrett's "staggering range of music" and looks forward to his new album, Rio, at the Ottawa Citizen. (Purchase the CD, Rio, at Barnes & Noble.)
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Recent Links :: November 6

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi writes about Louis Armstrong's November 1931 Chicago sessions at his blog, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.
  
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi writes about "Anatomy of an All Stars Concert - 1955-1959" at his blog, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.
  
• Clifford Brown: Clifford Brown was the Jazz Musician of the Day on his birthday, October 30, at All About Jazz.
  

• Chick Corea: Marc Myers has a fantastic three-part interview with Chick Corea at JazzWax: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
  
• Chick Corea: Nate Chinen writes about Chick Corea at his blog, The Gig.
  
• Chick Corea: All About Jazz also writes about Chick Corea, calling him "the jazz chameleon."
  
• Chick Corea: Peter Hum lists the various gigs that Chick Corea will be playing during the month of November at the Ottawa Citizen's JazzBlog.
  
• Miles Davis: Judy Carmichael interviews astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about his love of Miles Davis's music, among other topics, at JazzTimes.
  
• Miles Davis: Davis Online speculates about the possibility that Antoine Fuqua might direct the Miles Davis biopic.
  
• Bill Evans: Peter Hum interviews saxophonist Frank Lozano about his band's Bill Evans tribute at the Ottawa Citizen's JazzBlog
  
• Keith Jarrett: John Fordham reviews Keith Jarrett's album, Rio, at The Guardian. (Pre-order the CD, Rio, at Barnes & Noble.)
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, Art Tatum (1909-1956)

Jazz pianist Art Tatum died on November 5, 1956, at Queen of Angels Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, from complications resulting from kidney failure. He was just 47 years old. Tatum is interred in the Great Mausoleum of Glendale's Forest Lawn Cemetery, next to his wife Geraldine.

Tatum was nearly blind and yet was probably the greatest piano virtuoso that jazz has ever seen. Charlie Parker himself once said, "I wish I could play like Tatum’s right hand!" Pianist Teddy Wilson once observed, "If you put a piano in a room [and then] get all the finest jazz pianists in the world and let them play in the presence of Art Tatum. Then let Art Tatum play ... everyone there will sound like an amateur."

Jazz critic Leonard Feather called Tatum "the greatest soloist in jazz history, regardless of instrument."

Tatum plays "Someone to Watch Over Me" here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Tatum's album, Art Tatum: The Tatum Solo Masterpieces, Vol. 3 (Pablo). (Purchase at Barnes & Noble.)

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall