Sunday, August 31, 2014

Recent Links :: 31 August 2014

Clifford Brown: At All About Jazz, Nick Catalano shares a recording of Clifford Brown being interviewed by Willis Conover for Voice of America radio in 1956, shortly before Brown's untimely death.

John Coltrane: At All About Jazz, Robert Bush reviews the John Coltrane album, Offering: Live At Temple University. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker: At Night Lights, David Brent Johnson discusses Charlie Parker's work with big bands.

Charlie Parker: At JazzWax, Marc Myers discusses Charlie Parker's work with string orchestras.

Charlie Parker: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht discusses Charlie Parker's appearance at the Royal Roost, a New York jazz club, in 1949.

Wayne Shorter: At Today is the Question, Ted Panken shares an interview with Wayne Shorter on the musician's favorite Blue Note recordings and other topics.

Lester Young: On August 27, his birthday, Lester Young was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Lester Young: At New England Public Radio, Tom Reney shares a video of Lester Young playing with Lee Young's Esquires of Rhythm in Hollywood in May 1941.

Robert
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RIP, Lionel Hampton (1908-2002)

Jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton died from congestive heart failure on August 31, 2002, in New York City at the age of 94. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

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 band he played in," and critic Scott Yanow said that Hampton "achieved the difficult feat of being musically open-minded ... without changing his basic swing style."

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 and His Orchestra play "Wee Albert" here:


Robert
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Friday, August 29, 2014

Happy Birthday, Charlie Parker

Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920, in Kansas City. Parker was arguably the most influential jazz musician of all time. As Len Lyons puts it, "If you have never heard Charlie Parker, the experience could permanently change the way you think about music." Parker led the development of bebop, which differed from the straightforward, dance-able tunes of the swing era, replacing these with rapid tempos, fragmented asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that did more than just keep time.

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends two of Parker's albums:
  • The Very Best of Bird (Warner Brothers 2WB 3198, 2 LPs)
  • Bird/The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (Savoy SJL 2201, 2 LPs)
Unfortunately, both are available only on vinyl. Instead, Jim Determan (who has updated the Lyons list for CD) recommends the following:
  • The Legendary Dial Masters, Vols. 1 and 2 (Jazz Classics) (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)
  • Best of The Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)
  • The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)
  • The Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings 1944-1948 (Purchase the CD at Amazon.com.)
About the latter three, Determan says, "Three reissues let you choose the depth to which you want to delve into this material. These recordings are the basis of bop, so I would recommend the 3 CD Complete Master Takes set, which covers most of what was on the two double albums [Len Lyons] recommended. If you’re not sure and want to try out just a cross-section, then pick up the first disk. If you already know you are a serious fan, then you may be inclined to go for the Complete Recordings."

Parker's Septet plays "All the Things You Are" here:


Robert
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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Recent Links :: 28 August 2014

John Coltrane: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews the John Coltrane album, Sideman: Trane's Blue Note Sessions. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John Coltrane: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews the 1975 book by Cuthbert Simpkins, Coltrane: A Biography. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: New Jazz United looks at Miles Davis's tune, "You're My Everything." (The song is available on the album, Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Earl Hines: New Jazz United shares a clip of Earl Hines and Jackie Byard playing "This Is Always." (The song is available on the album, Duet!, which can be purchased in vinyl only from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker, Woody Herman: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht discusses the collaboration between Charlie Parker and Woody Herman, which resulted in the album, Bird with the Herd. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Cecil Taylor: New Jazz United shares a clip of Cecil Taylor's "I (Sister Young’n)." (The song is available on the album, Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Cecil Taylor: New Jazz United shares a video of Cecil Taylor performing "Burning Poles."

Sarah Vaughan: Brilliant Corners provides a link to an episode of "Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour" that focuses on early to middle-period Sarah Vaughan.

Robert
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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Happy Birthday, Lester Young

Jazz saxophonist Lester Young was born on August 27, 1909, in Woodville, Mississippi. Nicknamed "Prez," Young was one of the most important tenor sax players in the history of jazz, and Len Lyons ranks him as "the most innovative instrumentalist in jazz between Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends The Lester Young Story, Vol. 1 (Columbia JG 33502, 2 LPs). Unfortunately, this album is only available on vinyl. A good alternative on CD is The Lester Young Story, which is re-issued on the Jazz Archives label. (Purchase the CD, The Lester Young Story, at Amazon.com.)

As jazz critic Scott Yanow points out, Young "came up with a completely different conception in which to play his horn, floating over bar lines with a light tone rather than adopting Coleman Hawkins' then-dominant forceful approach." That style can be heard on his solo on "Oh, Lady, Be Good," recorded in 1936 with Count Basie, here:


Robert
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Monday, August 25, 2014

Happy Birthday, Wayne Shorter

Jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter turns 81 today, having been born on August 25, 1933, in Newark, New Jersey. Shorter is regarded by many as the greatest living composer in jazz and has won 9 Grammy Awards. He worked with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 1950s, Miles Davis's second quintet in the 1960s, and Weather Report in the 1970s.

Critic Richard S. Ginell describes Shorter's style as a "more succinct manner on tenor sax, retaining the tough tone quality and intensity and, in later years, adding an element of funk."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the following recordings that include Shorter:
Shorter plays "Speak No Evil" here:


Robert
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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Recent Links :: 23 August 2014

Count Basie: On August 21, his birthday, Count Basie was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Clifford Brown: At All ABout Jazz, Obert Davis recommends the album, Clifford Brown With Strings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Dave Brubeck: At his blog, About Last Night, Terry Teachout shares a video of Dave Brubeck playing in Holland in 1961.

Chick Corea: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, Chick Corea will release a live 3-CD eet, Trilogy, in early September. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Herbie Hancock: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews the 3-CD set, Herbie Hancock: The Warner Bros. Years (1969-1972). (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker: At All About Jazz, Jimmy Heath recommends the 1950 Charlie Parker album, Charlie Parker With Strings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Annie Ross: At All About Jazz, Jack Bowers reviews the new Annie Ross album, To Lady with Love.

Robert
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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Happy Birthday, Count Basie

Jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer, William "Count" Basie was born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. Basie first formed his own jazz orchestra in 1935, taking them to Chicago the following year for their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, featuring what critic William Ruhlmann calls "a light, swinging rhythm section that [Basie] led from the piano, lively ensemble work, and generous soloing."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends two recordings of Count Basie: The Best of Count Basie and 16 Men Swinging. Unfortunately, these are only available in vinyl.

Jim Determan, who has updated Lyons's list of albums for CD, recommends instead the following titles:
Basie and his orchestra play "April in Paris" (from the album of the same name) here: 



Robert
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Recent Links :: 20 August 2014

John Coltrane: At All About Jazz, Robert Bush reviews the John Coltrane album, Offering: Live At Temple University. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Chick Corea: At The International Review of Music, Don Heckman previews a series of performances at the Catalina Bar & Grill by Chick Corea and his new band, The Vigil.

Bill Evans: On April 16, his birthday, Bill Evans was the Jazz Musician Of The Day at All About Jazz.

John McLaughlin: At All About Jazz, Ian Patterson reviews the album, The Boston Record, by John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Thelonious Monk: Longform reprinted a 1964 Saturday Evening Post article by Lewis Lapham on Thelonious Monk.

Oscar Peterson: On August 15, his birthday, Oscar Peterson was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Annie Ross: At All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey previews the new Annie Ross album, To Lady with Love. Jeff Tamarkin does the same at JazzTimes.

Robert
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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Happy Birthday, Bill Evans

Jazz pianist Bill Evans was born on August 16, 1929, in Plainfield, New Jersey. As jazz critic Richard S. Ginell notes, "There is no more influential jazz-oriented pianist" than Evans, who "brought a new, introverted, relaxed, lyrical, European classical sensibility into jazz."

A wonderful biography of Evans is Peter Pettinger's Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings. (Available from Amazon.com.)

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends two albums by Evans, The Village Vanguard Sessions and Intuition. Both are available from Amazon.com: the remastered The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 and Intuition.

Evans and bassist Eddie Gomez play "Falling Grace" (from Intuition) here:


Robert
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Friday, August 15, 2014

Happy Birthday, Oscar Peterson

Pianist Oscar Peterson was born on August 15, 1925, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Peterson won eight Grammy Awards over his career and is one of the few pianists whose technique approaches that of the great Art Tatum, who was a major influence on Peterson. As critic Scott Yanow notes, "Peterson's speed, dexterity, and ability to swing at any tempo were amazing. Very effective in small groups, jam sessions, and in accompanying singers, [Oscar Peterson] was at his absolute best when performing unaccompanied solos."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, In Concert (Verve - England 2683 063, 2 LPs).  The album is available only in vinyl and not in CD or MP3 format through an Amazon.com associate.

Jim Determan, who updated the Lyons list for DC, offers no alternatives, and Lyons himself warns that "Good Peterson albums are abundant, but great ones are rare." Nevertheless, Lyons does speak highly of the solo album My Favorite Instrument, which is available in CD from Amazon.com.

Peterson plays solo piano here on "I Can't Get Started":


Robert
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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Recent Links :: 14 August 2014

George Benson: According to JazzTimes, George Benson's autobiography will be published in August. (Purchase the book, Benson: The Autobiography, from Amazon.com.)

Art Blakey: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews the Art Blakey album, Moanin'. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John ColtraneMiles Davis: According to Jeff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, in August, Prestige Records will release two box sets featuring the recordings made by John Coltrane (16 discs) and Miles Davis (8 discs) for the label.

Miles Davis: At All About Jazz, Greg Masters has a long review of the Miles Davis 6-CD set from Sony-Legacy Music, The Complete On the Corner Sessions. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: The Sonny Rollins / New Yorker controversy continues, with reactions by:
Cecil Taylor: According to Rebecca Fishbein at gothamist, Cecil Taylor was "swindled" out of nearly $500,000 by a man posing as his friend.

Robert
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Monday, August 11, 2014

Recent Links :: 11 August 2014

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi recaps the 14th annual Satchmo Summerfest. Mick Carlton also reviews the event at JazzTimes.

Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Max Roach: At MacSparky, David Sparks discusses the May 1953 Massey Hall concert with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach. (Purchase the album, The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall, from Amazon.com.)

Clifford Brown: "Brownie Speaks," a documentary about Clifford Brown, has a Facebook page.

Herbie Hancock: At The International Review of Music, Don Heckman reviews the Hollywood Bowl concert featuring Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, and the Robert Glasper Experiment.

Sonny Rollins: At JazzWax, Marc Myers recaps the Sonny Rollins / New Yorker controversy and shares links to reactions by Larry Blumenfeld, Tom Raney, and Howard Mandel.

Robert
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Sunday, August 10, 2014

Five of the Best Young Guitarists

This blog focuses on the music of established or deceased artists, but we occasionally take a look at the younger musicians who are constantly revitalizing jazz and keeping the music and the legacy alive. This post looks at five of the best young jazz guitarists on the scene today.

Los Angeles guitarist Graham Dechter comes from a musical family and is best known for his work with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, with whom he began playing at age nineteen. As Clayton wrote in the liner notes to Dechter's album, Right On Time, "Graham Dechter's playing is not only a joy to hear, it is a joy to be a part of. Personally, I love a warm guitar sound. Better: I love HIS warm guitar sound. Combine that with some serious swinging, clean arrangements, a high level of intensity and a dose of beautiful lines, and you've got a guitar player that is exciting to play with. The other good part of all of this is that he's still so young. There's just no telling to what wonderful places he will take us."
  • Dechter's debut as a leader came with the 2009 album, Right on Time, which adds pianist Tamir Hendleman to a rhythm section that includes Clayton and Hamilton. The album includes delicate interpretations of standards like "In a Mellow Tone" and Jobim's "Waves," and as AllMusic critic Rick Anderson notes, "could hardly be more charming or enjoyable." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Takin' It There features the same rhythm section as did Dechter's first album and shows a bluesier side of Dechter on "Come Rain or Come Shine." Songs by guitar greats like Wes Montgomery ("Road Song") and Barney Kessel ("Be Deedle Dee Do") are also featured, and All About Jazz reviewer Dan Bilawsky called Dechter's playing on the album "capable, confident and charismatic in every way." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
Julian Lage, who was voted the top guitarist in the 2013 JazzTimes Expanded Critics Poll, is a former child prodigy who began playing at the age of five. He first performed in public at the age of six, played with Carlos Santana at the age of eight, and performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards at the age of thirteen. A documentary film about his life, "Jules at Eight," was nominated for an Academy Award in 1997.  New York Times critic Nate Chinen recently referred to Lage as having "a disarming spirit of generosity in the musicianship of Julian Lage, and a keener sense of judicious withholding."
  • Sounding Point was Lage's debut album and was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Lage performs two solo tracks as well as various pieces played by three different combos. Among the best tracks are "Tour One," his duo with pianist Taylor Eigsti, and the bluegrass-inspired "The Informant", which Lage plays with Chris Thile on mandolin and BĆ©la Fleck on banjo. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • About his second album, Gladwell, Lage said that "We began playing with the idea of creating a story we could use as a guiding light in our writing process. ... The result was the development of an imaginary and forgotten town known as Gladwell. ... As a metaphor, Gladwell presented us with a clear architecture, to compose songs that evoke feelings of people and places we hold dear." On the album, Lage plays with an eclectic group that consists of cellist Aristides Rivas, percussionist Tupac Mantilla, bassist Jorge Roeder, and saxophonist Dan Blake. AllMusic reviewer Alex Henderson said that "Lage is very much a storyteller, and that storyteller perspective yields excellent results on Gladwell." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
Lage Lund is a Norwegian guitarist who came to New York City in 2002 to become the first electric guitarist to ever attend Juilliard's full-scholarship jazz program. Lund won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Guitar Competition in 2005, and one of the competition's judges called him "all music and all soul." New York Times critic Nate Chinen says that "Lund exudes a diffident and self-deprecating kind of cool ... His playing and presence can both be casually magnetic. Like Jim Hall, one of the guitarists in his heroes’ gallery, he channels reticence into a whisper-quiet mystique."
  • Unlikely Stories features a guitar trio (Lund, drummer Bill Stewart, and bassist Ben Street) plus pianist Edward Simon and includes seven original compositions. The album shows off what AllMusic reviewer Michael G. Nastos calls Lund's "steely but warm and friendly electric guitar" sound in cuts like the eccentric "Worms" and the wily, swinging "Swagger." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Lund's most recent album, Foolhardy, includes six Lund originals among its nine cuts. Lund sounds more modern and somewhat darker on this album, but his solos are still remarkable, particularly on the up-tempo "Tokyo," which opens the album. The same guitar trio from Unlikely Stories is augmented here by pianist Aaron Parks. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
Texan Mike Moreno has been called "one of the most compelling guitarists in jazz today" by Downbeat critic Angelika Beener. The versatile guitarist has toured and recorded with a wide range of jazz artists, including Joshua Redman's Elastic Band, Nicholas Payton's Quartet, The Robert Glasper Experiment, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Ravi Coltrane's Quartet. Moreno is currently an Artist in Residence of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito College of Music in Ecuador.
  • In 2007, Moreno released his debut CD as a leader, Between The Lines, an album that New York Times critic Nate Chinen named as one of his top ten jazz albums of 2007. All About Jazz reviewer Budd Kopman called it "a remarkable release that makes an immediate impact while also having much depth," and the album features cuts like the excitingly beautiful duo with pianist Aaron Parks, "Still Here," and the more complex "Forward and Back." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Moreno's most recent release, Another Way, was chosen as one of the twenty-five "Best of 2012" jazz recordings on iTunes and contains eight original compositions by the guitarist, including the lyrical and airy "Spinning Wheel" and the wonderfully rambling "Show Fall." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
Israeli guitarist Yotam Silberstein arrived in New York in 2005 and was a finalist in that year's Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition. He began playing guitar at age ten and, by the age of twenty-one, had won the coveted “Israeli Jazz Player of The Year” title. GuitarPlayer.com reviewer Barry Cleveland said recently that Silberstein's "tones are exquisitely old school but his playing is fresh, fiery, and bursting with joyful exuberance, and musically he’s one heavy cat."
  • Silberstein's Resonance includes several jazz stars, including pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Christian McBride, and (on two tracks) trumpeter Roy Hargrove. The group's cover of Monty Alexander's reggae tune "Renewal" is one of the album's highlights. JazzTimes critic Dan Adler said of the album, "With this new album, Yotam continues to dig deeper and establish himself as a major force in the jazz guitar world. This is a musical journey you won’t want to miss. Get on board." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Brasil features a number of Brazilian compositions, including pieces by Chico Buarque, Dorival Caymm, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Edu Lobo, and Carlos Lyra. Silberstein's playing, which one critic described as "horn-like" is well-suited to these songs, which include a romantic version of Jobim's "Falando de Amor (Words of Love)." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Recent Links :: 9 August 2014

Louis Armstrong: On his birthday, August 4, Louis Armstrong was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Louis Armstrong: Terry Teachout, who wrote the Louis Armstrong biography, Pops, discusses Armstrong at About Last Night. (Purchase the book, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong, from Amazon.com.)

Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong always claimed to have been born on July 4, not August 4, and Udiscover discusses this discrepancy.

Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans: At About Last Night, Terry Teachout lists "fifteen albums [he's] heard that will always stick with [him]." They include:
  • Louis Armstrong, Satchmo at Symphony Hall. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Duke Ellington, Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • Bill Evans, Conversations With Myself. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
Thelonious Monk: Pianist Gerald Clayton (see "Five of the Best Young Pianists") discusses Thelonious Monk at Prestige 65's YouTube channel.

Thelonious Monk: At All About Jazz, Marc Davis reviews Thelonious Monk's Genius Of Modern Music, Volume 1 (Blue Note 1510). (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker: According to JazzTimes, a 17-day citywide celebration of Charlie Parker is planned for Kansas City, Missouri, in August.

Sonny Rollins: The New Yorker caused a controversy when it printed an "interview" with Sonny Rollins, which turned out to be "a work of satire." Among those responding the the "interview" were:
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Friday, August 8, 2014

RIP, Cannonball Adderley (1928-1975)

Alto saxophonist Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley died of a stroke on August 8, 1975, in Gary, Indiana. He was just 46 years old. He was buried in the Southside Cemetery, in Tallahassee, Florida.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Cannonball Adderley's album Coast to Coast. Unfortunately, the album is only available in vinyl. Jim Determan, who has updated Lyons's list of albums for CD, recommends instead the following titles:
A good example of Adderley's high-spirited style is "This Here," which features what reviewer Steve Leggett called the "soulful, blues-filled tone in [Adderley's] horn playing":


Robert
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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Happy Birthday, Luckey Roberts

Stride pianist Charles Luckeyeth "Luckey" Roberts was born on August 7, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith, he developed stride piano in the years following World War I.

Roberts is reported to have had very large hands, which allowed him to span 14 keys on the piano, 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). (Buy the CD at Barnes & Noble.)

Roberts plays "Nothin'" here:



Robert
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

RIP, Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931)

Jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke died on August 6, 1931, in Queens, New York, at the age of 28. The official cause of his death was "lobar pneumonia" and "brain edema," but many individuals believe that Beiderbecke died of an alcoholic seizure during delirium tremens. Beiderbecke was buried in the Oakdale Memorial Gardens cemetery in his home town of Davenport, Iowa.

Beiderbecke was one of the first great soloists of jazz and played a sensitive, "cool" style of jazz that contrasted with the hot, hard playing of someone like Louis Armstrong. Jazz critic Terry Teachout called Beiderbecke and Armstrong "the two most influential figures in the early history of jazz."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends The Bix Beiderbecke Story: Bix and Tram, Vol. 2 (Columbia). Unfortunately, this album is not available in CD or MP3 format. According to Jim Determan, who has updated the Lyons book for CD, there are two good alternatives:
  • Bix Beiderbecke: Singin' the Blues, Volume 1 (Sony), which Determan says "is a better collection than [The Bix Beiderbecke Story], since it includes the best tracks from the LP, has more cuts, and includes Bix's unique piano solo, 'In a Mist.'" It is available on CD from Amazon.com.
  • Bix Beiderbecke: Bix & Tram (JSP), which Determan claims "has superior remastering by John R. T. Davies on most tracks, and makes an excellent choice, especially for those who want more than one Beiderbecke disc." It is available on CD from Amazon.com.
Beiderbecke plays "Singin' the Blues" with the Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra here:


Robert
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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Recent Links :: 5 August 2014

Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton: According to JazzTimes, Legacy Recordings will release six classic "Live at Newport" albums at iTunes/NewportJazz. These include:
  • The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Newport 1958
  • Three albums by Duke Ellington: Ellington at Newport: The Original Album; Newport 1958; and Live at Newport 1958
  • Ella Fitzgerald’s Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall July 5, 1973
  • Lionel Hampton’s Reunion at Newport 1967
Charlie Christian: On July 29, his birthday, Charlie Christian was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman: At The Notes You Don't Play, Peter Blasevick shares a 1982 interview with Benny Goodman about Charlie Christian.

Keith Jarrett: According to Elements of Jazz, the album Last Dance, by Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden, was the top jazz album for the week of July 28, 2014. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Jon Hendricks,Dave Lambert, Annie Ross: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a 1959 Down Beat article about the group, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Airto Moreira

Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira was born on August 5, 1941, in ItaiĆ³polis, Brazil. Moreira and his wife, singer Flora Purim, moved to the United States in 1967 and began playing with a number of jazz musicians, including Joe Zawinul and Miles Davis.

Moreira participated in several of Davis's jazz fusion projects, including the highly influential album Bitches Brew. Moreira and other musicians who had played with Miles — Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and Miroslav Vitous — then formed Weather Report, and Moreira played percussion on their first album, Weather Report. Moreira then left Weather Report to join Chick Corea's new band Return to Forever, where he played drums on the group's first two albums, Return to Forever and Light as a Feather.

Moreira and Purim also recorded 500 Miles High/At Montreux, a marvelous live album that Len Lyons included in his list of the 101 best jazz albums. As Lyons notes, the album features their "raw, spontaneous, and loose style."

A nice example of Moreira and Purim's music is "Samba de Flora":


Robert
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Monday, August 4, 2014

Happy Birthday, Louis Armstrong

The great jazz trumpeter and singer, Louis Armstrong, was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Armstrong was one of the greatest influences in the history of jazz and shifted the focus of jazz from the collective music of the traditional New Orleans ensemble to a music that valued solo performance and virtuosity.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends two records of Louis Armstrong:
  • Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: The Genius of Louis Armstrong, Vol. 1 1923-1933 (Columbia CG 30416, 2 LPs)
  • Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, 1928 (Smithsonian Collection R-002, 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 Columbia titles:
A good example of Armstrong's improvisational genius is "Weather Bird," in which he and pianist Earl Hines turn a traditional ragtime piece into a brilliant interchange of call and response and broken rhythms.

 
Robert
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