Happy Birthday, Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C.  Jazz critic Bob Blumenthal of The Boston Globe put it best when he said that "In the century since his birth, there has been no greater composer, American or otherwise, than Edward Kennedy Ellington."

Ellington, who won 12 Grammy Awards, was not only a great composer and a great bandleader; he merged the two talents. As jazz critic William Ruhlmann notes, "Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his bandmembers."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends five of Ellington's albums:

• Rockin' in Rhythm, Duke Ellington and the Jungle Band, Vol. 3, 1929-1931 (MCA>, available on vinyl only.
• Duke Ellington - 1940 (Smithsonian), available on vinyl only.
• The Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (Prestige), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• The Golden Duke (Prestige), available on vinyl only.
• Pure Gold (RCA), available on vinyl only.

Because so many of these recommended albums are available on vinyl only, Jim Determan has recommended the following alternatives on CD:

• The Original Decca Recordings (The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931) (Decca/GRP), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• The Okey Ellington (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• The Blanton-Webster Band (RCA Bluebird), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• Great Times! (Original Jazz Classics), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• Happy Go Lucky Local (Discovery), available on CD from Amazon.com.
• The Popular Duke Ellington (RCA Victor Europe), available on CD from Amazon.com.

Ellington's "Jungle Band" plays "Rockin'in Rhythm," recorded in 1931, here:

Robert
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RIP, Count Basie (1904-1984)

Jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer William "Count" Basie died of pancreatic cancer on April 26, 1984, at the age of 79 in Hollywood, Florida. He is buried next to his wife Catherine in the Pinelaw Memorial Park in Suffolk County, New York.

Basie was one of the best known bandleaders of the swing era. As jazz critic William Ruhlmann notes, Basie's bands were "characterized by a light, swinging rhythm section that he led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing. [Basie's] instrument was his band, which was considered the epitome of swing and became broadly influential on jazz."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends two recordings of Count Basie:

• The Best of Count Basie (MCA MCA2-4050, 2 LPs)
• 16 Men Swinging (Verve V-2-2517, 2 LPs)

Unfortunately, these are only available in vinyl. Jim Determan, who has updated Lyons's list of albums for CD, recommends instead the following titles:

• Count Basie: The Complete Decca Recordings (Available at Amazon.com.)
• Count Basie: April in Paris (Available at Amazon.com.)
• Count Basie: Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings (Available at Amazon.com.)

Here is the Count Basie band playing "April in Paris":

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald, arguably the greatest female jazz singer ever, was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. In her 59-year recording career, she won 13 Grammy Awards and received both the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As jazz critic Scott Janow notes, Fitzgerald was "blessed with a beautiful voice and a wide range, … could outswing anyone, was a brilliant scat singer, and had near-perfect elocution." Len Lyons speaks of her "full-blown dynamic style," "rhythmic punch," "verve and imagination," and "energy and consistency."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends Ella's album, Mack the Knife (Verve), which is available on vinyl only. Jim Determan, who updated the Lyons book for CDs, recommends as an alternative Mack the Knife — The Complete Ella in Berlin (Verve), noting that "Some additional cuts, mostly standards of Ella's concert repertoire (not all actually from the Berlin concert), round out this set to make it an even better collection than it was." The CD is available from Amazon.com.

Fitzgerald sings "Mack the Knife" here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Charles Mingus

Jazz bassist Charles Mingus was born on April 22, 1922, in Nogales, Arizona. Jazz critic Richard S. Ginell says that Mingus was "irascible, demanding, bullying, and probably a genius" and that "As a bassist, he knew few peers, blessed with a powerful tone and pulsating sense of rhythm, capable of elevating the instrument into the front line of a band." In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons calls Mingus a "crucial" transitional figure between modern jazz and free jazz and attributes the power of his music "to his mastery of a wide range of emotions."

In that book, Lyons recommends two of Mingus's albums:

• The Charlie Mingus Jazz Workshop/Stormy Weather (Barnaby). Unfortunately, this album is not available on CD, and so Jim Determan recommends instead Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid), which contains about half of the Barnaby album. Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus is available on CD from Amazon.com.
• Passions of a Man (Atlantic). Available on CD from Amazon.com.

Mingus and his band play "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" here:

Robert
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RIP Earl Hines (1903-1983)

Jazz pianist Earl Hines died on April 22, 1983, in Oakland, California, from a heart attack. He was 79 years old.

Hines, who was once called "the first modern jazz pianist," had a long and influential history that began with his collaborations with Louis Armstrong and lasted through his last concert, which he played just a few days before his death. Pianist Lennie Tristano said of Hines's recordings, "Earl Hines is the ONLY one of us capable of creating real jazz and real swing when playing all alone." Pianist Erroll Garner said, "When you talk about greatness, you talk about Art Tatum and Earl Hines". To Count Basie, Hines was "The greatest piano player in the world."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends three albums that feature Hines:

• Earl "Fatha" Hines: Another Monday Date (Prestige). Available in CD from Amazon.com.
• Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: The Genius of Louis Armstrong, Vol. 1 1923-1933 (Columbia). Available in vinyl only from Amazon.com.
• Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, 1928 (Smithsonian Collection). Available in vinyl only from Amazon.com.

Because only one of these is available on CD, Jim Determan recommends an alternative, Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, Volume IV (Columbia), which is available from Amazon.com.

Hines plays "A Monday Date" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 21 April 2014

Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Wayne Shorter: At All About Jazz, Mark Corroto explores some of the discs being released by Blue Note Records as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Included are:

• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Free For All. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, Blue Train. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunch. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John Coltrane: Open Culture shares a video of John Coltrane playing "A Love Supreme" and other pieces in France in 1965.

Chick Corea: At All About Jazz, Mike Perciaccante reviews the April 10 performance at New York's Town Hall by Chick Corea.

Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a video of Ella Fitzgerald performing with Duke Ellington in France in 1966.

Oscar Peterson: At The Notes You Don't Play, Peter Blasevick shares a video of Oscar Peterson's 1979 appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.

Sun Ra: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, Sun Ra's book Prophetika will be published by Kicks Books in April.

Sarah Vaughan: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a video of Sarah Vaughan singing "They All Laughed" during her 1958 tour of Europe.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Lionel Hampton

Jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton was born on April 20, 1908, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hampton was the first jazz vibraphonist and a long-lived talent, who played with jazz giants from Louis Armstrong to Benny Goodman to Charles Mingus. Len Lyons said that Hampton "was the master of a rhythmic vitality that enlivened every ban he played in.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends Hampton's album, The Complete Lionel Hampton, 1937-1941 (RCA AXM6-5536, 6 LPs). The album is available on CD from Amazon.com.

In addition to that album, Jim Determan recommends the following, commenting that "These three volumes contain much of material from the all star sessions that made up the LP boxed set. The first volume is Hampton's pick of his favorites from these sessions.":

• Lionel Hampton: Vol. 1 Hot Mallets! The All-Star Groups (RCA), available from Amazon.com.
• Lionel Hampton: Vol. 2 The Jumpin' Jive: The All-Star Groups: 1937-1939 (RCA), available from Amazon.com.
• Lionel Hampton: Vol. 3 Tempo and Swing: The All-Star Groups: 1939-1940 (RCA), available from Amazon.com.

Hampton plays "Flying Home" from 1957 here:

Robert
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RIP, Willie "The Lion" Smith (1893-1973)

One of the great stride pianists, Willie "The Lion" Smith, died on April 18, 1973, in New York City. Few details about his death and burial are known.

Duke Ellington (who wrote two pieces in memory of Smith) 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."

Smith earned his nickname for his bravery during World War I. Known for his flamboyant behavior, his derby hat, and his cigar, he played up until his death.

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 Amazon.com.

Smith plays "Tea for Two" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 16 April 2014

Count Basie, Art Blakey, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Modern Jazz Quartet, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner: Jerry Jazz Musician asked jazz experts to name their 3 or 4 favorite jazz albums from the 1960s. Their choices included:

• Count Basie. Straight Ahead. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Art Blakey. Free for All. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Art Blakey. Ugetsu. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ornette Coleman. Ornette. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane. Afro Blue Impressions. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane. A Love Supreme. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Chick Corea. Now He Sings, Now He Sobs. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis. Four & More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis. Miles Smiles. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis. My Funny Valentine. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis. Nefertiti. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Eric Dolphy. Out to Lunch. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Duke Ellington. Far East Suite. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans. Conversations with Myself. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans. Sunday at the Village Vanguard. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans. Waltz for Debbie. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans and Jim Hall. Undercurrent. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock. Empyrean Isles. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock. Maiden Voyage. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• The Modern Jazz Quartet. European Concert. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Thelonious Monk. Live at the It Club. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sonny Rollins. Alfie Soundtrack. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sonny Rollins. Sonny Rollins on Impulse. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter. Night Dreamer. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Cecil Taylor. Unit Structures. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• McCoy Tyner. The Real McCoy. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Herbie Hancock: The 2014 JJA Jazz Awards for Musical Achievement have been announced. Among the winners are:

• Historical Record of the Year: Miles Live in Europe 1969 by Miles Davis. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Lifetime Achievement in Jazz: Herbie Hancock
• Musician of the Year: Wayne Shorter
• Record of the Year: Without a Net by the Wayne Shorter Quartet. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Midsize Ensemble of the Year: Wayne Shorter Quartet

Thelonious Monk: Musical Toronto provides its list of the greatest pianists of all time. All but one of the top five are classical; the one exception is Thelonious Monk, tied for # 5 with Emil Gilels and Arthur Rubinstein.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 15 April 2014

Louis Armstrong: BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week broadcast features Colin McFarlane reading from the Thomas Brothers book, Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews the album, Miles at the Fillmore: 1970, The Bootleg Series, Vol. 3. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Benny Goodman: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a video of Benny Goodman playing at Tivoli Gardens in Denmark in 1981.

Herbie Hancock: On April 12, his birthday, Herbie Hancock was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Charlie Parker: At Los Angeles Magazine, Matthew Duersten discusses Charlie Parker's album, The Complete Dial Sessions. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a clip of Sonny Rollins performing at the 1982 Montreal Jazz Festival.

Bessie Smith: On April 15, her birthday, Bessie Smith was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Joe Zawinul: At The Notes You Don't Play, Peter Blasevick shares a 1996 interview with Joe Zawinul.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Bessie Smith

Blues singer Bessie Smith was born on April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (There is some uncertainty about this date. The 1900 census indicates that she was born in July 1892, but the 1910 census recorded her birthday as April 15, 1894, and this date appears on all subsequent documents and was observed by her entire family.)

Smith was known as the Empress of the Blues, but she was also the first major jazz singer and can be said to have used the blues in jazz. Her phrasing, in particular, allowed her to transcend the rigid framework of the blues. Three of her recordings — "Downhearted Blues," "St. Louis Blues," and "Empty Bed Blues" — have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Bessie Smith's album, Nobody's Blues But Mine (Columbia CG 31093, 2 LPs). Unfortunately, the album is only available in vinyl. (There is a CD with the same title but without the same tracks.) Jim Determan, who updated the Lyons list, recommends instead the following:

• Bessie Smith: The Essential Bessie Smith (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: Bessie Smith - The Collection (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  
• Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5 (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  

Smith's "Downhearted Blues" was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2002, was listed as one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts in 2001, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock 'n' roll.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 13 April 2014

Louis Armstrong: At Jazz Lives, Michael Steinman shares a clip of Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra playing "I Got Rhythm."

Anthony Braxton: At The New York Review of Books, Seth Colter Walls discusses Anthony Braxton's opera cycle, "Trillium."

Duke Ellington: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a video of the Duke Ellington Orchestra playing "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" in Amsterdam in 1958.

Coleman Hawkins: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht shares a clip of Coleman Hawkins playing in Denmark in 1968 and shares Witney Balliett's observations on Hawkins.

Billie Holiday: On April 7, her birthday, Billie Holiday was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Carmen McRae: On April 8, her birthday, Carmen McRae was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Sonny Rollins: According to Terri Hinte at All About Jazz, Sonny Rollins's album, Road Shows, Vol. 3 will be released May 6 by Doxy/Okeh/Sony Music Masterworks. (Pre-order the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Herbie Hancock

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock turns 74 today. He was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois.

Len Lyons called Hancock "one of the most versatile musicians in jazz, the creator of modally based modern jazz, a funky brand of fusion … and experimental, electronically garnished free jazz …" Hancock was part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet" and one of the primary creators of the "post-bop" sound in jazz. He currently serves as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of Intercultural Dialogue.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends three of Hancock's albums:

• Maiden Voyage (Blue Note), which is available on CD from Amazon.com.
  
• Speak Like a Child (Blue Note), which is available on CD from Amazon.com.
  
• Head Hunters (Columbia), the first gold album in jazz history and available on CD from Amazon.com.
  

Hancock plays "Watermelon Man," from his album Head Hunters, here:

Robert
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RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

Joe "King" Oliver died on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia. The mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong died in poverty at the age of 52, having lost his life savings in the Great Depression. Oliver spent his last years working as a janitor and managing a pool hall. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
  
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.
  

Oliver's band, including Armstrong (who plays the incredible solo intro), plays "West End Blues" here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Carmen McRae

Jazz singer Carmen McRae was born on April 8, 1920, in New York City. She was known as "The Singer's Singer" and won seven Grammy Awards. As critic Scott Yanow notes, McRae was best known for "her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of lyrics."

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), which is  available from Amazon.com.

Lyons notes that McRae's "brilliance on 'You Took Advantage of Me'" helped earn her the 1954 Downbeat magazine award for Top New Singer. She sings that song here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Freddie Hubbard

Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was born on April 7, 1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Len Lyons said that Hubbard was "the major trumpeter to emerge from the free and modal styles of the 1960s," and critic Scott Yanow called him "one of the great jazz trumpeters of all time."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, Breaking Point (Blue Note), which is available on CD from Amazon.com. Lyons calls the album "a challenging synthesis of modal, free, and chord-change-based playing [in which] Hubbard's confidence is high, his tone full, and his phrasing adventurous."

Hubbard plays "Breaking Point," the opening piece from the album, here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Billie Holiday

Jazz singer Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Lady Day," as she was known, was (according to critic John Bush) the "first popular jazz singer to move audiences with the intense, personal feeling of classic blues, [and she] changed the art of American pop vocals forever."

Len Lyons said that Holiday "could transform the most banal pop ballad into a painfully intense, subtle work of art." In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, The Billie Holiday Story, Vol. 2 (Columbia). Unfortunately, this album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Instead, Jim Determan recommends several alternatives, including the 10-CD set and the 2-CD set listed below:

• Billie Holiday: Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, 1933-1944 (Sony, 10 CDs), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Billie Holiday: Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday (Sony, 2 CDs), available from Amazon.com.

Holiday sings one of her best known songs, "God Bless the Child," here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 6 April 2014

George Benson: At Today is the Question, Ted Panken shares a 2000 interview with George Benson.

Miles Davis: Tim Niland reviews the Miles Davis album, Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 3, at Music and More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: The "American Cool" exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery features an Aram Avakian photo of Miles Davis.

Eric Dolphy: According to Ben Ratliff in The New York Times' ArtsBeat, a major two-day festival to honor Eric Dolphy will take place at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., on May 30 and 31.

Duke Ellington: Smithsonian.com shares footage of Duke Ellington playing baseball.

Keith Jarrett: Peter Blasevick shares the video of an interview with Keith Jarrett at The Notes You Don't Play.

Wes Montgomery: At The Notes You Don't Play, Peter Blasevick shares a link to a May 1965 interview with Wes Montgomery in Jazz Monthly magazine.

Jaco Pastorius: At All About Jazz, John Kelman reviews the Jaco Pastorius album, Modern American Music ... Period! The Criteria Sessions, which will be released in April.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 4 April 2014

Louis Armstrong: At his blog, About Last Night, Tony Teachout gives the latest news about his play, "Satchmo at the Waldorf."

Art Blakey: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, the Library of Congress has inducted 25 recorded works into its National Recording Registry, including Art Blakey's albums, A Night at Birdland (Vols. 1 and 2). (Purchase Volume 1 from Amazon.com. Purchase Volume 2 from Amazon.com.)

Ornette Coleman: Mosaic Records shares a video of Ornette Coleman playing "Lonely Woman" in 2008.

John Coltrane: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, John Coltrane's 1966 Philadelphia concert will be released for the first time in September on Impulse!/Resonance Records.

Eric Dolphy: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews the newly remastered Eric Dolphy album, Out To Lunch. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Herbie Hancock: The Jazzcat shares a video of Herbie Hancock discussing Buddhism and creativity at the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard.

Bud Powell: At All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey reviews Dance of the Infidels: A Portrait of Bud Powell by Francis Paudras. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

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RIP, Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990)

Sarah Vaughan, "The Diving One," died on April 3, 1990, in Hidden Hills, California, of lung cancer. She was 66 years old. Vaughan's funeral was held at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, the same congregation she grew up in, and following the ceremony, a horse-drawn carriage transported her body to its final resting place in Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Critic Scott Yanow says that Vaughan possessed "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century" and that she "ranked with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday in the very top echelon of female jazz singers."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, Sarah Vaughan and Count Basie (Roulette). That album has been reissued and is available at Amazon.com.

Jim Determan also recommends:

• Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (Polygram), available at Amazon.com
  
• No Count Sarah (Mercury/Polygram), available at Amazon.com
  

Determan adds that the two albums "may be better first choices for Vaughan. ... [Lyons] mentions these as two of Vaughan's best albums, both were out of print at the time, but are available on CD now. The first is small group sessions and was Vaughan's personal favorite, the second is an earlier collaboration with a group from the Basie band (again without the Count). Either would make an excellent first purchase of Vaughan."

Vaughan's song, "If You Could See Me Now," was honored with a special Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. She sings that song here:

Robert
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RIP, Scott Joplin (1868-1917)

Scott Joplin, "The King of Ragtime," died on April 1, 1917, in New York City. He suffered from tertiary syphilis and descended into dementia. He was admitted to a mental institution in January 1917, and died there three months later at the age of 49. Joplin was buried in a pauper's grave, which remained unmarked for 57 years. In 1974, his grave at Saint Michaels Cemetery in East Elmhurst, New York, was finally given a marker.

Joplin blended European classical styles and African American harmonies and rhythm to produce ragtime, a music that, as one critic put it, "expressed the intensity and energy of a modern urban America." While some of Joplin's music (particularly "Maple Leaf Rag") was popular during his lifetime, interest in ragtime waned until its revival in the 1970s, thanks to the efforts of Joshua Rifkin and the use of Joplin's music in the film, "The Sting."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends Scott Joplin 1916 (Biograph). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD:

• Scott Joplin: The Entertainer (Shout Factory), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Scott Joplin: Elite Syncopations (Shout Factory), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Dick Hyman and James Levine: Scott Joplin's Greatest Hits (RCA), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Complete Works (Delta), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Greatest Hits (Legacy International), available from Amazon.com.
  
• Joshua Rifkin: Scott Joplin Piano Rags (Nonesuch), available from Amazon.com.
  

The first two albums listed above contain the six piano rolls from Scott Joplin 1916 that are actually played by Joplin. The Entertainer contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Something Doing," and "Weeping Willow Rag," while Elite Syncopations contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Ole Miss Rag" [by W.C. Handy], and "Magnetic Rag." Joplin plays "Maple Leaf Rag" via piano roll here:

Robert
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