RIP, Eric Dolphy (1928-1964)

Jazz multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy died on June 29, 1964, in Berlin, Germany. He was only 36 years of age and apparently died of a coma brought on by an undiagnosed diabetic condition. He is buried in the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in his home town of Los Angeles, California.

Dolphy — who played alto and baritone saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, and piccolo — partnered with Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and other jazz greats in the 1950s and 1960s and was, as Len Lyons puts it, one of the "crucial transitional figures between modern jazz and" free jazz.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Dolphy's Copenhagen Concert (Prestige), which is available from Amazon.com.

Dolphy plays "Out to Lunch" here:

Robert
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RIP, Clifford Brown (1930-1956)

Jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown died on June 26, 1956, while driving from Philadelphia to Chicago. He was buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, in Wilmington, Delaware, where he had been born just 25 years earlier.

Brown was an incredibly gifted musician whose career lasted just four years, but in that short space of time, he "played with a full-toned, linear lyricism which proved to be the only vital alternative during the 1950's to Miles Davis's understated melodic style," according to Len Lyons. Sonny Rollins, who worked for seven months with Brown, said simply, "He had it all."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Clifford Brown's The Quintet, Vol. 1 (EmArcy/Mercury), but that album is nearly impossible to find and is only available in vinyl. Jim Determan recommends two alternatives:

• Clifford Brown and Max Roach (EmArcy/Polygram). Purchase at Amazon.com.)
• Study in Brown (PID/Polygram). Purchase at Amazon.com.)

A few weeks before he died, Brown sat in with a local band at a small jazz club in Philadelphia.  Three numbers were taped.  One of them, "A Night in Tunisia," can be heard here:

Robert
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Five of the Best Young Pianists

While this blog focuses on the music of established or deceased artists, we occasionally take a look at the younger musicians who constantly revitalize jazz and keep the music and the legacy alive. This post looks at five of the best young jazz pianists on the scene today.

Jonathan Batiste, who received a Masters degree from Juilliard, comes from a musical family in Louisiana and was introduced to music via the family band, the Batiste Brothers Band. In fact, he played percussion/drums for that group at age 8, before switching to piano around the age of 12. Batiste was listed on ARTINFO in 2012 as one of the "30 under 30" most influential people in the art world and currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. He currently tours with his band, Stay Human.

• His first album as a leader, Times in New Orleans, was released when Batiste was just 17 years old. All About Jazz critic Tod Smith called it "a rare opportunity to sample the work of a developing master." Six of the nine tracks — including the skillful "Misunderstood" and the stylish "Township" — are original compositions by Batiste, and there are also versions of jazz standards, like an innovative, syncopated take on Thelonious Monk's "Straight No Chaser." (Purchase the MP3 album from Amazon.com.)
• Social Music is the latest offering by Batiste and Stay Human, his current quintet. According to JazzTimes critic Carlo Wolff, this "perfectly titled album is a mash-up of time and tempo, jazz and pop, rhythm and blues, modern tunes and warhorses." Underlying the eclectic music is Batiste's energetic playing on the piano and the melodica. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Gerald Clayton, who was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, and raised in Southern California, won Downbeat's 2013 Rising Star award in the piano category. The son of bassist and bandleader John Clayton and the nephew of multi-instrumentalist wind player Jeff Clayton, Gerald took second place in the 2006 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition and has several Grammy nominations to his name. Clayton says of himself that "I prefer to ignore the boxes, the genre distinctions. I focus on creating honest musical expressions and collaborating with people whose ideas resonate with my own."

• Two-Shade was Clayton's debut album as a trio leader. Reviewer Michael G. Nastos called the album "an extremely sensitive and consistently satisfying effort that should bode well for his bright future, as he expounds on the personalized instrumental voice he has already discovered and established." The album ranges from original, funk-oriented pieces like "Boogablues" to an alluring version of the Cole Porter standard, "All of You," which earned Clayton a Grammy nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Clayton's latest album, Life Forum, features a larger group of musicians than his earlier, trio-focused albums. The result is an exciting disc that includes artists like trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and singer Gretchen Parlato but also highlights what reviewer Matt Collar calls Clayton's "deft, nuanced piano chops, extensive, motivic improvisation, and broad, evocative compositional skills." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Aaron Diehl is a native of Columbus, Ohio, who was influenced by his grandfather, who played both piano and trombone. Diehl is a graduate of the Juilliard School and won the 2011 American Pianists Association Cole Porter Jazz Fellow competition as well as the 2013 Jazz Journalist Association's Up-And-Coming Musician of the Year Award. New York Times critic Nate Chinen praised Diehl's "melodic precision, harmonic erudition and elegant restraint, after the example set by his most direct influence, John Lewis."

• Diehl's classic technique can be heard on Live at the Players, an album that one blogger called "a wonderful album, which pays homage to the great tradition of jazz piano but updates it with changes in voicings, interesting interpretations, and some outstanding improvisations ..." Hard-driving covers of "Pick Yourself Up" and "Green Chimneys" highlight the album. (Purchase the MP3 album from Amazon.com.)
• The Bespoke Man's Narrative was described by All About Jazz critic Mark F. Turner as a "project [that] fully displays Diehl's musicality—exquisite touch, phrasing, and melodicism and intricate compositions ..." The title of the album suggests the elegance of two of Diehl's influences, Duke Ellington and John Lewis, and the music — especially his respectful version of Ellington's "Single Petal of a Rose" and a lighthearted rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont" — is equally stylish. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Taylor Eigsti is a native of California who performed with jazz pianist Dave Brubeck for the first time when he was 12. (Brubeck reportedly called Eigsti the most amazing talent he had ever come across.) Eigsti was the inaugural guest on NPR's "Piano Jazz: Rising Stars" program and was called by All About Jazz critic Chris May, "the most exciting progressive-mainstream pianist to come along in a very long time."

• Lucky to Be Me was Eigsti's major label debut and received two Grammy nominations. The album opens with a thoughtful, expressive version of the John Coltrane classic, "Giant Steps," and includes Eigsti's own compositions, like the fervent "Get Your Hopes Up." AllMusic critic Thom Jurek called the album "a mature, fiery, and surprising set by a talent who is still getting started while arriving fully formed as an artist." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Let It Come to You also features a mix of standards — like a version of Pat Metheny's "Timeline" that features sizzling solos by Joshua Redman — and originals, three of which are combined into the varying, shifting "Fall Back Suite" that ends the album. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

David Virelles was born and raised in Cuba and grew up in a musical family, with a father who was a singer-songwriter and a mother who was a classical flautist. He began studying classical music himself but turned to jazz after he discovered his grandfather's jazz collection. Virelles is a graduate of the music program at Humber College in Toronto and has won both the first-ever Oscar Peterson Prize and the Grand Prix de Jazz award at the 2006 Montréal Jazz Festival. He was also named one of four young pianists on the rise by The New York Times in 2011, where critic Ben Ratliff noted that Virelles is "making himself noticeable, breaking through with strong and hard-to-define patterns and sounds."

• Motion was the first album by Virelles. All About Jazz critic Raul D'Gama Rose called it "an explosive first outing" and said that "Sparks fly and the result is a marvelous amalgam of fiery sound that tantalizes in much the same way as saxophonist Wayne Shorter's music does." Pieces include Virelles's delicate tribute to his mother, "Mercedes," and the tangled, complex opening track, "Caminos." (Purchase the MP3 album from Amazon.com.)
• In his second album, Continuum, Virelles explores the myths and symbols of the Afro-Cuban folklore traditions through songs like the dark, tightly-packed centerpiece of the album, "Our Birthright."  The New York Times said that the album "sounds obsessed with tradition and newness and how they bleed into each other. All that is advanced enough. But doing it in a way that isn’t glib, that backs research with lots of intuition and risk, seems very special." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 24 June 2014

John Coltrane: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews the album, John Coltrane - Original Album Series (Rhino, 2013). (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Eric Dolphy: On June 20, his birthday, Eric Dolphy was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Herbie Hancock: At All About Jazz, Greg Simmons reviews the re-mastered release of Herbie Hancock's classic, Maiden Voyage. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Bud Powell: At All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey reviews the book by Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr., The Amazing Bud Powell: Black Genius, Jazz History, And The Challenge Of Bebop. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Wayne Shorter: At All About Jazz, Ian Patterson reviews the Wayne Shorter Quartet's concert in Dublin, Ireland.

Horace Silver: There are a number of posts about the late Horace Silver, including:

• At All About Jazz, Ed Hamilton discusses Horace Silver's career with Blue Note Records and includes the transcript of an interview with the late pianist.
• Elements of Jazz shares a statement on Horace Silver's death by Neil Portnow, the President and CEO of The Recording Academy.
• In the Groove's podcast highlighted the music of Horace Silver.
• Ken Franckling has a tribute to Silver at Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes.
• At The Notes You Don't Play, Peter Blasevick posts an interview between Silver and Fred Jung from 10 years ago.
• At Rifftides, Doug Ramsey shares his thoughts about Silver.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, George Russell

Jazz pianist and composer George Russell was born on June 23, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio. As critic Richard S. Ginell notes, Russell's "biggest effect upon jazz was in the quieter role of theorist." His musical ideas, published in his book, The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization, led to the modal music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Russell's album, Outer Thoughts (Milestone), which he calls "a uniformly excellent performance." The album is not available on CD, but Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives:

• George Russell: Ezz-thetics (Riverside). Available from Amazon.com.
• George Russell: The Outer View (Riverside). Available from Amazon.com.
• George Russell: The Stratus Seekers (Riverside). Available from Amazon.com.

The George Russell Sextet plays "Lydiot" (from the 1961 album Ezz-thetics) here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 20 June 2014

Louis Armstrong: Marc Myers has an interview with John Douglas Thompson, who plays Louis Armstrong in the off-Broadway play, "Satchmo at the Waldorf," and playwright Terry Teachout at The Wall Street Journal.

George Benson: At ContemporaryJazz.com, John Hilderbrand touts the new George Benson autobiography, which comes out on July 8. (Pre-order the book from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: At All About Jazz, Marc Davis reviews two recent releases, Miles Davis, Volume 1 And 2 -- Blue Note 1501 And 1502. (Purchase Volume 1 and from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: At ContemporaryJazz.com, John Hilderbrand discusses how to help Don Cheadle with his Miles Davis film.

Keith Jarrett: At The Ottawa Citizen, Peter Hum reviews the Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden CD, Last Dance. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Sun Ra: At BBC Radio 4, Jez Nelson recounts the time in June 1990 when he met Sun Ra and includes audios of interviews with the legendary band leader.

Horace Silver: Horace Silver's death on June 28 was covered by The Guardian, The International Review of Music, JazzTimes, Jazz Truth, JazzWax, The Los Angeles Times, and The Ottawa Citizen.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Eric Dolphy

Jazz multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy was born on June 20, 1928, in Los Angeles, California. Dolphy — who played alto and baritone saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, and piccolo — partnered with Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and other jazz greats in the 1950s and 1960s.

Dolphy was, as Len Lyons puts it, one of the "crucial transitional figures between modern jazz and" free jazz. Critic Scott Yanow adds that "While most of the other 'free jazz' players sounded very serious in their playing, Dolphy's solos often came across as ecstatic and exuberant."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Dolphy's Copenhagen Concert (Prestige), which is available from Amazon.com.

Dolphy plays "God Bless the Child"here:

Robert
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RIP, Horace Silver (1928-2014)

Horace Silver passed away this morning, according to several sources.

Len Lyons referred to Silver as one of the "founding fathers of funky hard bop." Jazz critic Chris Kelsey agrees, noting that "it is clear that few jazz musicians have had a greater impact on the contemporary mainstream than Horace Silver."

Silver was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1928 and was influenced by the Cape Verdean folk music of his Portuguese-born father as well as gospel and Latin American music.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Silver's album, Doin' the Thing: At the Village Gate (Blue Note), which can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Silver plays one of his best-known compositions, "Song for My Father," here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 18 June 2014

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses the new Mosaic Records 9-CD box set, Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars. (Purchase the album from Mosaic Records.)

Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Miles Davis: Christian Scott's "My Three Would Be" recordings at Jazz.FM91 were:

• "West End Blues" by Louis Armstrong. (The song is available on the album, Hot Fives & Sevens, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• "Alabama" by John Coltrane. (The song is available on the album, A John Coltrane Retrospective: The Impulse! Years, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• "Donna Lee" by Miles Davis. (The song is available on the album, Bluebird: Legendary Savoy Sessions, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: There have been several stories recently about Don Cheadle's upcoming film about Miles Davis. These include:

• An interview with Cheadle about the movie at USA Today.
• An interview with Cheadle about his decision to film the move in Cincinnati at Cincinnati.com
• Cheadle discusses five Miles Davis albums at Rolling Stone.
• Jeffrey Hyatt talks about the long wait for the movie at Miles Davis Online.
• David Sparks discusses the film at MacSparky.

Duke Ellington: At All About Jazz, Chris Mosey reviews the Duke Ellington album, The Treasury Shows, Volume 18. (Purchase the album from Storyville Records.)

Erroll Garner: On June 15, his birthday, Erroll Garner was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
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RIP, Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)

Ella Fitzgerald, arguably the greatest female jazz singer ever, died on June 15, 1966, in Beverly Hills, California. She had been ill for a number of years, due to complications from diabetes and heart surgery. On her last day, she was wheeled into the backyard of her Beverly Hills home, where she sat for about an hour. When she was being brought back in, Fitzgerald looked up with a soft smile and said, "I’m ready to go now." She is buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Bing Crosby summed up her talents best when he said, "Man, woman, or child, Ella is the greatest." Jazz critic Scott Janow says that 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's marvelous scat singing is featured here in her imaginative version of "Blue Skies":

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Erroll Garner

Jazz pianist Erroll Garner was born on June 15, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As critic Scott Yanow notes, Garner was a "brilliant virtuoso who sounded unlike anyone else." Garner's best-known composition, "Misty," is a jazz standard.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Garner's album, Concert by the Sea, which he calls "the steadiest selling jazz album in history." The album is available on CD from Amazon.com.

Garner plays "Misty" here:

Robert
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RIP, Wes Montgomery (1923-1968)

Jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was just 45 years old. He is buried in the New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Jazz critics Dave Miele and Dan Bielowsky said that Montgomery "was certainly one of the most influential and most musical guitarists to ever pick up the instrument" and that he "took the use of octaves and chord melodies to a greater level than any other guitarist, before or since." Montgomery played with his thumb rather than with a pick, and this gave his playing a uniquely round and soft sound.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the Wes Montgomery album, While We're Young (Milestone). Unfortunately, the album is only available on vinyl. For CDs, Jim Determan recommends the following:

• Wes Montgomery: Incredible Jazz Guitar (Original Jazz Classics), available from Amazon.com.
• Wes Montgomery: So Much Guitar! (Riverside), available from Amazon.com.

Montgomery plays "Twisted Blues" here with a big band led by Oliver Nelson:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 14 June 2014

Chick Corea: On his birthday, June 12, Chick Corea was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter: The 2014 JJA Jazz Award winners have been announced. Among those honored are:

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

Keith Jarrett: At Jazz Chronicles, James Hale reminisces about a Keith Jarrett Trio performance that he and his wife attended at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

Keith Jarrett: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews the Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden album, Last Dance. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John McLaughlin: At All About Jazz, John Kelman reviews Colin Harper's book, Bathed in Lightning: John McLaughlin, the 60s and the Emerald Beyond. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews the Sonny Rollins album, Road Shows Vol. 3. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Bessie Smith: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, five artists — including Bessie Smith — have been inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame.

Robert
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RIP, Benny Goodman (1909-1986)

Clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman died of a heart attack in New York City on June 13, 1986, at the age of 77. He was buried near his country farm home outside Stamford, Connecticut, next to his wife, who had passed away in 1978.

Goodman was known as "the King of Swing" and led one of the most popular musical groups in America. Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major names in jazz, including Chrlie Christian, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton. During the age of segregation, Goodman also led one of the first well-known racially-integrated jazz groups.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Goodman's Carnegie Hall Concert - 1938 (Columbia), which, according to Lyons, "catches the band at its peak." This concert is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." The album is available on CD from Amazon.com.

The Benny Goodman Quartet plays "Dinah" here, with wonderful solos by Goodman, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, and pianist Teddy Wilson.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Chick Corea

Jazz keyboardist and composer Chick Corea was born on June 12, 1941, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Critic Scott Yanow calls Corea "one of the most significant jazzmen since the '60s," and Len Lyons says that "No musician has used the fusion concept with more variety, intelligence, and unimpeachable taste ..."

Corea, who has won 18 Grammy Awards, began working with Miles Davis in 1968, including playing piano on the historic Bitches Brew album. In the early 1970s, his band Return to Forever established a jazz fusion style that incorporated Latin elements. He also began a series of collaborations with artists such as Gary Burton, Herbie Hancock, and Bela Fleck.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends three albums by Corea:

• Light as a Feather (Polydor). Available from Amazon.com.
• Where Have I Known You Before? (Polydor). Available from Amazon.com.
• My Spanish Heart (Polydor). Available from Amazon.com.

Corea and his band play "Spain" (from Light as a Feather) live at Montreux here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 11 June 2014

John Coltrane: At Jazz Chronicles, James Hale discusses the music of John Coltrane and how his album, A Love Supreme, "is usually the dividing line for Coltrane listeners." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Chick Corea: At All About Jazz, Marc Davis reviews the Chick Corea album, The Ultimate Adventure. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: According to JazzTimes, New York City officially re-named 77th Street "Miles Davis Way" on May 26 (which would have been Miles’s 88th birthday).

Miles Davis: At Revive-Music.com, Matthew Allen discusses the 10 Miles Davis albums that every jazz fan should own.

Duke Ellington: At All About Jazz, Chris Mosey reviews the Duke Ellington album, Duke Ellington In Grona Lund. (Purchase the album from Storyville.)

Keith Jarrett: At All About Jazz, John Kelman reviews the Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden album, Last Dance. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Art Tatum: At All About Jazz, Marc Davis reviews the Art Tatum album, Trio Days. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 7 June 2014

Anthony Braxton: On June 4, his birthday, Anthony Braxton was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

John Coltrane: According to All About Jazz, Resonance Records and UME are releasing Offering: Live At Temple University, a recording of the November 1966 concert by John Coltrane at Temple University. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Benny Goodman: On May 30, his birthday, Benny Goodman was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Bud Powell: At All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey reviews the book, Wail: The Life of Bud Powell by Peter Pullman. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Sun Ra: At The Wall Street Journal, Wil Friedwald discusses the music of Sun Ra.

Wayne Shorter: At The Jazzcat, Leroy Downs discusses Wayne Shorter's work with Blue Note Records.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Oliver Nelson

Jazz saxophonist and arranger Oliver Nelson was born on June 4, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri. Nelson was, as critic Scott Yanow notes, "a distinctive soloist on alto, tenor, and even soprano [saxophone], but his writing eventually overshadowed his playing skills."

Nelson's best known album, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, according to Len Lyons, "receives nearly the same adulation among musicians as Miles Davis's Kind of Blue to which it is similar in style ..."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Nelson's album, Three Dimensions: The Dedication Series, Vol. 3 (Impulse). This album is not available on CD, and Jim Determan recommends instead two of Nelson albums:

• The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Analogue Products) (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)
• Sound Pieces (Impulse) (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)

Nelson's Septet plays "Stolen Moments," from the album Blues and the Abstract Truth, here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Anthony Braxton

Jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher Anthony Braxton was born on June 4, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. Critic Chris Kelsey claims that Braxton "might very well be jazz's last bona fide genius" and notes that "His self-invented (yet heavily theoretical) approach to playing and composing jazz seemed to have as much in common with late 20th century classical music as it did jazz."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Braxton's album, The Montreux/Berlin Concerts (Arista), which he calls "the most manageable, dependable vehicle for Braxton's adventurous spirit." This album is available on CD from Amazon.com.

Braxton and his quartet play "You Stepped Out Of a Dream" from a 1975 album, Five Pieces, here:

Robert
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