Recent Links :: 28 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong, King Oliver: Michael Steinman speculates on how King Oliver's pyorrhea played a role in Louis Armstrong's career at Jazz Lives.
• John Coltrane: New Jazz United shares a clip of Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane performing "Why Was I Born?" (The piece is on the album, Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: New Jazz United shares a video of the Miles Davis Quintet playing "Freedom Jazz." (The song is from the album, Miles Smiles, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Duke Ellington: John Weatherman discusses Duke Ellington's album, Black, Brown & Beige, at the head in. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Keith Jarrett: John Fordham reviews Keith Jarrett's February 2013 London concert at The Guardian.
• John McLaughlin: Nenad Georgievski reviews John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension's album, Now Here This, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 24 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's final tapes as well as the great artist's last days.
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses two Louis Armstrong covers, "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Congratulations to Someone," at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (Both songs are available on the album, Satchmo Serenades, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: According to JazzTimes, the July 1991 Miles Davis concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival will be released on DVD in March.
• Sonny Rollins: Larry Appelbaum shares part 1 of an interview with Sonny Rollins at Let's Cool One.
• Wayne Shorter: Josef Woodard reviews the February 2013 performance by the Wayne Shorter Quartet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at JazzTimes.
• Wayne Shorter: Let's Cool One has part 2 of the Larry Appelbaum interview with Wayne Shorter.
• Wayne Shorter: The latest podcast at In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond, features a cut from the new Wayne Shorter album, Without a Net. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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RIP, Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)

Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk died of a stroke on February 17, 1982, in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 64 years old.  Monk is buried in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. In 1993, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2006, he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.

Monk was one of the greatest jazz pianists ever, a founder of bebop, and according to some sources, the second most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington. In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends three albums by Monk:

• The Complete Genius (Blue Note), available only on vinyl. (Purchase at amazon.com.)
  
• Brilliance (Milestone), available only on vinyl and hard to find at that.
  
• Pure Monk (Mileston), available only on vinyl. (Purchase at amazon.com.)
  

Jim Determan, who has updated the Lyons list, recommends these alternatives in CD format:

• The Genius of Modern Music, Volume 1 (Blue Note) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  
• The Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2 (Blue Note) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  
• Brilliant Corners (Riverside) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  
• Five by Five by Monk (Riverside) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  
• Alone in San Francisco (Original Jazz Classics) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  
• Thelonious Himself (Riverside) (Purchase at Barnes & Noble)
  

Monk plays "Round About Midnight" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 16 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses the Louis Armstrong song, "That's For Me," at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, An American Icon, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter: John Weatherman writes about the collaboration between Wayne Shorter and Art Blakey at NextBop.
• Dave Brubeck: Downbeat Magazine shares a 1957 Ralph Gleason interview with Dave Brubeck.
• Ella Fitzgerald: Open Culture shares a video of Ella Fitzgerald singing "Summertime" in Berlin in 1968.
• Benny Goodman: New Jazz United shares a clip of Benny Goodman playing Igor Stravinsky's 1945 composition, "Ebony Concerto."
• Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter: Don Heckman discusses a master class at UCLA with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter at JazzTimes.
• Charles Mingus: Christopher Carroll reviews Charles Migus's The Jazz Workshop Concerts: 1964-1965 at The New York Review of Books. (Purchase the album from Mosaic Records.)
• Wayne Shorter: R.J. DeLuke reviews the Wayne Shorter album, Without a Net, calling it his "best in a while," at RJ on Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 12 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Jazz Lives shares a clip from the 1950 film, "Here Comes the Groom," which features Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby on the song, "Mister Cristofo Colombo."
• Chick Corea: Chick Corea won two awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, according to JazzTimes, The Ottawa Citizen, The International Review of Music, and several others:
  • Best Improvised Jazz Solo for his album with Gary Burton, Hot House. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Best Instrumental Jazz Composition for "Mozart Goes Dancing," which appears on Hot House.
• Miles Davis: Tim Niland reviews Miles Davis Quintet - Live In Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2 at Music and More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter: John Weatherman discusses the Wayne Shorter album, Speak No Evil, at the head in. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter: Jonathan Wertheim reviews the new Wayne Shorter album, Without a Net, at NextBop. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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RIP, Eubie Blake (1887?-1983)

The American composer, lyricist, and jazz pianist Eubie Blake (1887?-1983) died on February 12, 1983, in Brooklyn, New York. He was 96 years old. (He claimed that he was 100 years old, but the official government documents of his birth record his birth year as 1887.) He was interred in the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, with a head stone,engraved with the musical notation for his composition "I'm Just Wild About Harry."

Blake was known both as a composer and lyricist for many Broadway shows in the 1920s and, in his later years, as the last living link to ragtime. He and singer Noble Sisser wrote songs for "Shuffle Along," the first all-black musical, in 1921, and his song, "I'm Just Wild About Harry," was used by Harry Truman in his 1948 Presidential campaign.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the 1969 Eubie Blake album, "The 86 Years of Eubie Blake" (Columbia), which led to a revived interest in Blake's music. Unfortunately, that album is only available in vinyl, usually used from Amazon.com.

Blake's Memories of You, available from Amazon.com, may be the best alternative on CD.

Blake plays "Charleston Rag" at the age of 98 here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 11 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi talks about finding the last recorded tape of Louis Armstrong, made in July 1971.
• Count Basie: Marc Myers shares a video of Count Basie's band in a BBC-TV broadcast in September 1965 at JazzWax.
• Art Blakey: Blank on Blank shares an interview with Art Blakey on "How to Build a Band."
• Dave Brubeck: New Jazz United shares a video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet playing "All the Things You Are."
• John Coltrane: Rob Armstrong discusses John Coltrane's Philadelphia house and efforts to restore it at All About Jazz.
• John Coltrane: Rob Armstrong profiles John Coltrane's early days in Philadelphia at All About Jazz.
• Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter: The latest podcast from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond features a set by Wayne Shorter as well as "Litha," by Chick Corea.
• Oscar Peterson: According to JazzTimes, Oscar Peterson's wife has filed a $1 million lawsuit against vocalist Hilary Kole, claiming that the singer violated copyright by giving four unreleased recordings to an Internet radio station.
• Wayne Shorter: George Colligan discusses the Wayne Shorter album, High Life, at Jazz Truth. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter: Larry Appelbaum interviews Wayne Shorter for the Smithsonian/NEA Jazz Masters Oral History Series at Let's Cool One.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 8 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan: Groovenotes shares a list of the 50 most popular jazz vocal recordings of all time, as determined by the listeners of NPR Music, Jazz24.org, and KPLU in Seattle. Among the top 50 are several songs by artists followed on this site:
  • Billie Holiday, whose "Strange Fruit" topped the list. Other songs on the list by "Lady Day" include “All of Me,” “Autumn in New York,” “Fine and Mellow,” “God Bless the Child,” “Good Morning Heartache,” “Lover Man,” and “My Man.”
  • Ella Fitzgerald: “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “Blue Skies,” “How High the Moon,” “Mack the Knife,” “Someone to Watch Over Me," and “Summertime.”
  • Sarah Vaughan: “Lullaby of Birdland” and “Misty.”
  • Louis Armstrong: “You Go to My Head,” “Black and Blue,” and “What a Wonderful World.”
• Eubie Blake: On February 7, his birthday, Eubie Blake was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Miles Davis: John Fordham reviews the Miles Davis Quintet's album, Live In Europe 1969 The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2, at The Guardian. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans: Marc Myers shares a video of Bill Evans playing at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway in September 1980 at JazzWax.
• Wayne Shorter: Several reviews of the new Wayne Shorter album, Without a Net, have appeared. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Nate Chinen at The New York Times.
  • John Eyles at All About Jazz.
  • Peter Hum at The Ottawa Citizen.
  • Mark F. Turner at All About Jazz.
• Wayne Shorter: According to Peter Hum at The Ottawa Citizen, a Wayne Shorter documentary is being planned.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 7 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Mahogany Hall Stomp" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Swing You Cats" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: Doug Collette reviews the Miles Davis Quintet's album, Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• James P. Johnson: Marin Alsop recounts his quest to find and restore James P. Johnson's orchestral music at NPR Music.
• Charles Mingus: New Jazz United shares a video of Charles Mingus playing piano on "Myself When I Am Real." (The song is available on the album, Mingus Plays Piano, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Oscar Peterson: At the head in, John Weatherman discusses the Oscar Peterson Trio's album, A Jazz Portrait Of Frank Sinatra. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sun Ra: The William Grant Still Arts Center in Los Angeles has an exhibition entitled "Arkestry of the Cosmos: The Universe Language of Sun Ra," according to The Jazzcat.
• Wayne Shorter: George Colligan responds to recent criticism of Wayne Shorter at Jazz Truth.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Eubie Blake

The American composer, lyricist, and jazz pianist Eubie Blake (1887?-1983) was born on February 7, 1887 (or 1883, depending on which source you believe), in Baltimore, Maryland.

Blake was known both as a composer and lyricist for many Broadway shows in the 1920s and, in his later years, as the last living link to ragtime. He and singer Noble Sisser wrote songs for "Shuffle Along," the first all-black musical, in 1921, and his song, "I'm Just Wild About Harry," was used by Harry Truman in his 1948 Presidential campaign.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the 1969 Eubie Blake album, "The 86 Years of Eubie Blake" (Columbia), which led to a revived interest in Blake's music. Unfortunately, that album is only available in vinyl, usually used from Amazon.com.

Blake's Memories of You, available from Amazon.com may be the best alternative on CD.

Blake plays his composition, "Memories of You," here:

Robert
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RIP, Luckey Roberts (1887-1968)

Jazz pianist Charles Luckeyeth "Luckey" Roberts died on February 5, 1968, in New York. He was 80 years old and had been in poor health for a number of years, having suffered two strokes and been injured in an automoibile accident.

Along with James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith, Roberts developed stride piano in the years following World War I. He is reported to have had very large hands, which allowed him to span 14 keys on the piano. He had incredible dexterity as well and his right hand was particularly fluid. He played for the Vanderbilts, Astors, and other wealthy families in New York.


In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, Luckey and the Lion: Harlem Piano (Good Time Jazz S10035). (Buy the CD at Barnes & Noble.)

Roberts plays his own composition, "Junk Man Rag," here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 4 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Basin Street Blues" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Honey, Do!" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Snow Ball" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• George Benson, Wayne Shorter: According to All About Jazz, the 2013 Montreal Jazz Festival will feature George Benson and Wayne Shorter.
• Keith Jarrett: At JazzTimes, Jeff Tamarkin reports that Keith Jarrett will return to the Umbria Jazz Festival for the first time since 2007.
• Wayne Shorter: Tim Niland reviews Wayne Shorter's new album, Without a Net, at Music and More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter: NPR Music has an interview with Wayne Shorter.
• Wayne Shorter: Jeff Tamarkin reviews the Wayne Shorter Quartet's performance with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall at JazzTimes.
• McCoy Tyner: NPR Music features McCoy Tyner, live at the opening of the San Francisco Jazz Center.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 2 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "High Society" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "He's a Son of the South" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1933 recording of "Some Sweet Day" at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The song is on the album, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings, which is available from Amazon.com.)
• Dave Brubeck: Open Culture shares a video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's appearance on BBC TV in 1964.
• Miles Davis: Chris Barton reviews the Miles Davis Quintet's album, Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2, for The Los Angeles Times. Tom Moon reviews the album at NPR Music. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Charles Mingus: New Jazz United shares Charles Mingus and his band playing "Flowers for a Lady" at the 1974 Umbria Jazz Festival.
• Wayne Shorter: John Fordham reviews Wayne Shorter's album, Without a Net, at The Guardian. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Happy Birthday, James P. Johnson

The great stride pianist James P. Johnson (1894-1956) was born on February 1, 1894, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Johnson, one of the giants of the Harlem Stride piano style, grew up listening to the ragtime music of Scott Joplin and composed a number of hit tunes, including "Charleston." His style differed from ragtime by featuring a more freely swinging rhythm, a degree of anticipation of the left hand by the right hand, elements of the blues, more complex harmonies, and the beginnings of improvisation.

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.

Johnson plays "Bleeding Hearted Blues" here:

Robert
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