Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat

Effective August 31, this blog is no longer being maintained.

I do maintain the Core Jazz Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/corejazz) and the Core Jazz Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/corejazz), so please follow me there.

In the meantime, listen to Charles Mingus remembering the great Lester Young.

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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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) (Purchase the vinyl at Amazon.com.)
• Bird/The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (Savoy SJL 2201, 2 LPs) (Purchase the vinyl at Amazon.com.)

Jim Determan (who has updated the Lyons list for CD) also 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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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 from Amazon.com. 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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Happy Birthday, Wayne Shorter

Jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter was 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:

• Miles Davis: Miles Smiles (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• V.S.O.P.: The Quintet (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• Weather Report: 8:30 (Buy at Amazon.com.)

Shorter plays "Footprints" with Herbie Hancock on piano here:

Robert
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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:

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

Basie and his orchestra play "Blue Skies" here:

Robert
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Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

After four years of maintaining this blog, it's time for me to say "Good bye."  Effective August 31 (the anniversary of Lionel Hampton's death in 2002), this blog will cease.

I will maintain the Core Jazz Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/corejazz) and the Core Jazz Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/corejazz), so please follow me there.

In the meantime, here's a little Bill Evans for old time's sake.

Recent Links :: 16 August 2015

Cannonball Adderley: At Jazz Backstory, Monk Rowe remembers the day that Cannonball Adderley died.

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi recaps the recent Satchmo Summerfest.

Miles Davis: Andy Cush discusses Sony Pictures Classics' acquisition of "Miles Ahead," Don Cheadle's biopic of Miles Davis at Defamer. Miles Davis Online has a similar story.

Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross: According to JazzTimes, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross will appear at Birdland in New York on September 16.

Billie Holiday: Night Lights looks at Billie Holiday's recordings with Verve in the 1950s.

Earl Hines: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a clip of Earl Hines performing on Ralph J. Gleason's "Jazz Casual" TV show in 1963.

Jaco Pastorius: According to JazzTimes, "Jaco," the documentary about the life of bassist Jaco Pastorius, will be released in August, and streaming will begin in November.

Oscar Peterson: At Today Is the Question, Ted Panken shares an interview with Oscar Peterson from 2002.

Oscar Peterson: Peter Hum discusses "the timeless appeal of Oscar Peterson" at The Ottawa Citizen.

Oscar Peterson: Peter Hum also talks with several Canadian jazz pianists who remember Oscar Peterson at The Ottawa Citizen.

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

Oscar Peterson: According to ArtDaily.org, Sotheby’s and Warner Music Denmark has announced the sale of a single-issue album, Take Me Home, by the Oscar Peterson Legacy Quartet, to take place on September 29.

Robert
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RIP, Max Roach (1924 - 2007)

Jazz drummer Max Roach died on August 16, 2007, in Manhattan. Over 1,900 people attended his funeral at Riverside Church in Manhattan, and Roach was interred at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

Roach is regarded as one of the greatest jazz drummers and was a pioneer of bebop. He worked with a number of famous jazz musicians, including Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, and Eric Dolphy.

Writing about Roach's work with Parker, Len Lyons notes, "Max Roach was wholly comfortable with Parker's rhythmic gymnastics, one of the few drummers at the time who was."  Roach was given a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant in 1988, cited as a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France (1989), twice awarded the French Grand Prix du Disque, elected to the International Percussive Art Society's Hall of Fame and the Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame, named a Harvard Jazz Master, and awarded eight honorary doctorate degrees, including degrees from Medgar Evers College, CUNY, the University of Bologna, Italy and Columbia University.

Roach appears on several albums in The 101 Best Jazz Albums, most notably:

• The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever (Prestige).  (Purchase the CD from Amazon.com.)
• Clifford Brown: The Quintet, Vol. 1 (EmArcy/Mercury).  (Purchase the vinyl from Amazon.com.)

Jim Determan also recommends the CD, Clifford Brown and Max Roach (EmArcy/Polygram).  (Purchase from Amazon.com.)

Roach plays a drum solo on "The Third Eye" here:

Robert
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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, who rarely played Thelonious Monk's compositions, plays Monk's "Bemsha Swing" here:

Robert
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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 Amazon.com.

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 piano here on Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues":

Robert
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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, which is available from Amazon.com in vinyl.

Jim Determan, who has updated Lyons's list of albums for CD, also recommends the following titles:

• Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York (Buy at Amazon.com)

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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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 Amazon.com.)

Roberts plays "Railroad Blues" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 6 August 2015

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

Bix Beiderbecke: Bill Wundram writes about cornet player Scott Black's collection of Bix Beiderbecke memorabilia at The Quad-City Times.

George Benson: According to an interview in The Scotsman, George Benson "has no plans to hang up his guitar."

Ornette Coleman: At All About Jazz, Marc Davis reviews the Ornette Coleman CD, Ornette Coleman At The Golden Circle, Volume 1. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: According to JazzTimes, Bob Gluck's new book, The Miles Davis Lost Quintet and Other Revolutionary Ensembles, will be published in 2016 by the University of Chicago Press.

John McLaughlin: According to JazzTimes and Downbeat Magazine, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release a two-CD version of John McLaughlin and Santana's "Invitation to Illumination — Live At Montreux 2011" in September.

Charles Mingus: New Jazz United shares a clip of Charles Mingus playing piano and performing "She’s Just Miss Popular Hybrid." (The song is available on the album, Mingus Plays Piano, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Airto Moreira: On August 5, his birthday, Airto Moreira was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Bud Powell: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht provides transcriptions from two interviews with Bud Powell from 1963.

Robert
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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), which is available in vinyl from Amazon.com.

According to Jim Determan, who has updated the Lyons book for CD, there are two good alternatives on CD:

• 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 "Royal Garden Blues" with his New Orleans Lucky Seven here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Airto Moreira

Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira was born on August 5, 1941, in Itaiópolis, 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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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)  (Available in vinyl at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, 1928 (Smithsonian Collection R-002, 2 LPs)  (Available in vinyl at Amazon.com)

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:

• Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Fives and Hot Sevens (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives and Sevens (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: The Big Band Recordings 1930-1932 (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: The Hot Fives, Volume I (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: The Hot Fives & Hot Sevens, Volume II (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: The Hot Fives & Hot Sevens, Volume III (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, Volume IV (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: Louis in New York, Volume V (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: St. Louis Blues, Volume VI (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: You're Drivin' Me Crazy, Volume VII (Buy at Amazon.com)
• Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1923-1934 (Buy at Amazon.com)

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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Recent Links :: 3 August 2015

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses the the 15th annual Satchmo Summerfest in New Orleans, which takes place between July 31 and August 2.

Charlie Christian: On July 29, his birthday, Charlie Christian was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Miles Davis: St. Louis Jazz Notes has several links to stories about Miles Davis, including news of Don Cheadle's new biopic, "Miles Ahead."

Miles Davis: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Miles Davis Sextet performing "Flamenco Sketches." (The song is available on the album, The Complete Columbia Recordings, 1955 - 1961, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis, Bill Evans: At JazzWax, Marc Myers reviews four jazz and R&B box sets, including:

• Miles Davis: Miles Davis at Newport, 1955-1975. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans: The Complete Fantasy Recordings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John McLaughlin: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht shares a video of the John McLaughlin Trio performing in Hamburg, Germany in 1990.

Thelonious Monk: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Thelonious Monk Quintet playing "Brilliant Corners." (The song is available on the album, Brilliant Corners, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Oscar Peterson: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a clip of Oscar Peterson on British television in October 1964.

Lester Young: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Lester Young Quartet playing "Slow Motion Blues."

Robert
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RIP, Bud Powell (1924-1966)

Jazz pianist Bud Powell died on July 31, 1966, in New York City of tuberculosis, malnutrition, and alcoholism. He was just 41 years old.

Powell was one of the great bebop musicians and is often known as "the Charlie Parker of the piano." The great jazz pianist Bill Evans said of Powell, "If I had to choose one single musician for his artistic integrity, for the incomparable originality of his creation and the grandeur of his work, it would be Bud Powell. He was in a class by himself."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1, which is available on CD from Amazon.com.

Bud and his colleagues play "Bouncing with Bud" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 30 July 2015

Cannonball Adderley: New Jazz United shares a video of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet playing "Jubilation." (The song is available on the album, Sharpshooters, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's early recordings of "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (from Dumas)" and "I'm in the Market for You."

Miles Davis: According to The Carlsbad Current-Argus, Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic, "Miles Ahead," will make its world premiere in October at the New York Film Festival.

Miles Davis: Tim Niland reviews the album, Miles Davis - At Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, at Music and More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: Open Culture discusses Miles Davis's 2005 recording of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature." (The song is available on the album, You're Under Arrest, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Duke Ellington: David Brent Johnson talks about Duke Ellington's "early Black-pride music" at Night Lights.

Duke Ellington: Ben Donnelly reviews Duke Ellington's "The Conny Plank Session" at dusted in exile. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Duke Ellington: According to The Plymouth University Website, Lecturer in Music Dr. Katherine Williams has been awarded the first ever Jazz Research Fellowship by the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation and the Jazz Education Network to examine the differences between the live performances of Duke Ellington and his recorded work.

Erroll Garner: At JazzWax, Marc Myers talks about the Erroll Garner Quartet's tour of Paris in 1972 and shares a video of their appearance on the French television show, "Jazz Land."

Scott Joplin: According to KSLA News, Texarkana, the city has begun the restoration of a mural of Texarkana native Scott Joplin.

Charles Mingus: At All About Jazz, John Goodman provides an excerpt from his book, "Mingus Speak," where Mingus talks about avant-garde musicians and the importance of tradition in jazz. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: The Notes You Don't Play shares a 2005 interview between Joshua Redman and Sonny Rollins.

Lester Young: David Brent Johnson talks about Mosaic's upcoming Lester Young box set at Night Lights.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Don Redman

Don Redman, the first great arranger in jazz history, was born on July 29, 1900, in Piedmont, West Virginia.

Redman joined joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra in 1923, playing clarinet and saxophone, but he soon began writing arrangements and did much to formulate the sound that was to become big band swing.

Redman formed his own band in 1931, which he led until 1940.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra's album Developing an American Orchestra 1923-1927 (Smithsonian Collection). Unfortunately, that album is only available in vinyl. Jim Determan, who has updated the Lyons list, recommends as an alternative A Study in Frustration: The Fletcher Henderson Story (Columbia), which is available from Amazon.com.

The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra plays one of Redman's arrangements, "Rocky Mountain Blues," here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Charlie Christian

Jazz guitarist Charlie Christian was born on July 29, 1916, in Bonham, Texas.

Christian was a key figure in the history of the electric guitar, and his technique helped establish the guitar as a legitimate solo instrument. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941 and was a major influence in the development of bebop and cool jazz. As Jazz critic Scott Yanow put it, "It can be said without exaggeration that virtually every jazz guitarist that emerged during 1940-65 sounded like a relative of Charlie Christian."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Christian's album, Solo Flight (Columbia CG 30779), but this has not been issued on CD or MP3. Instead, Jim Determan recommends the three alternatives listed below. As he notes, the box set "is the definitive reissue [but for] those wanting a single Charlie Christian CD, the first Columbia single CD makes a good choice." The third CD, according to Determan, "has good sextet material, but Christian's role is less prominent."

• Charlie Christian: Genius of the Electric Guitar, Box Set (Sony) (Available at Amazon.com.)
• Charlie Christian: Genius of the Electric Guitar (Columbia/Sony) (Available at Amazon.com.)
• Charlie Christian: The Benny Goodman Sextet Featuring Charlie Christian (Columbia/Sony) (Available at Amazon.com.)

Christian plays "Airmail Special" with the Benny Goodman Sextet here:

Robert
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RIP, George Russell (1923-2009)

Jazz pianist and composer George Russell died from complications from Alzheimer's disease in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 27, 2009. He was 86 years old.

Russell was a MacArthur Foundation Award winner, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, and a Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Emeritus at the New England Conservatory, where he taught for 35 years. Russell is best known as a jazz theorist, and 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.

Hankus Netsky, Chair of the New England Conservatory’s Contemporary Improvisation Department, said that "In George's mind, the Lydian Chromatic Concept was not so much a theoretical system as it was an approach to life. ‘It comes from Pythagoras,’ he liked to say. ‘It's a reflection of nature.’ It wasn't in any way a ‘jazz’ thing, but a way to appreciate the laws of tension and release, a way of understanding Bach, Ravel, and Stravinsky - and seeing Coltrane, Monk, and Miles Davis as musicians who were part of the same continuum."

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 "Round Midnight" (from the 1961 album Ezz-thetics) here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Annie Ross

Jazz singer Annie Ross was born on July 25, 1930, in London, England. Jazz critic John Bush referred to her as a "canary female" with "dexterous vocals."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross album, The Best of Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross (Columbia C-32911 or JCS-8198).

Unfortunately, the album is only available in vinyl from Amazon.com. Jim Determan, who has updated Lyons's list of albums for CD, recommends instead the following title:

• Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross: Everybody's Boppin' (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces) (Buy at Amazon.com)

Ross is best known for her song, "Twisted":

Robert
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Recent Links :: 21 July 2015

Bix Beiderbecke: According to The Davenport Dispatch-Argus, the German American Heritage Center in Davenport (Iowa) is presenting a major exhibit on jazz legend and Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke in July and August.

John Coltrane: At By Common Consent, Jason K. discusses John Coltrane's "spiritual awakening," which led to "A Love Supreme" and "Ascension."

John Coltrane: Jazz.Izzin reviews John Coltrane's album, Live at Temple University. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John Coltrane, Miles Davis: Jazz.Izzin reviews the box set, The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis with John Coltrane. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock: At The Guardian, John Fordham has a brief review of the recent London concert by Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock and shares a clip of their joint concert in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1978.

Miles Davis: Several reviews of the new box set, Miles Davis at Newport: 1955-1975, The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, have appeared. These include:

• Chris Barton at The Los Angeles Times.
• Peter Jones at London Jazz News.
• Will Layman at Pop Matters.
• No Treble: Nothing But Bass.

Miles Davis: Jazz.Izzin discusses Miles Davis's iconic album, Kind of Blue. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: Jazz.Izzin discusses the tune, "Concierto De Aranjuez (Adagio)," from the Miles Davis album, Sketches of Spain. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis, Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker: According to JazzTimes, Savoy Jazz will reissue five titles from its catalog on July 31, including Miles Davis’s First Miles, Erroll Garner’s Penthouse Serenade, and Charlie Parker Memorial Vol. 1.

Charles Mingus: Jazz.Izzin discusses the Charles Mingus tune, "Fables of Faubus." (The song is available on the album, Mingus Ah Um, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Sonny Rollins Quintet playing "Tennessee Waltz." (The song is available on the album, Falling in Love with Jazz, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 19 July 2015

Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi celebrates the 8th anniversary of his blog, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's 1930 recording of "Blue Yodel Number 9 (Standin' on the Corner)" with country music legend Jimmie Rodgers.

Louis Armstrong: At Brilliant Corners, Steve Provizer talks about Louis Armstrong's gigs on Mississippi river boats in the early part of the 20th century.

Dave Brubeck: At his blog, About Last Night, Terry Teachout shares a short film made in 1954 at a recording session by the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Miles Davis: At The New Yorker, Richard Brody discusses the newly released Miles Davis album, Miles Davis at Newport, 1955-1975. Devon Wendell reviews the album at The International Review of Music, and John Fordham reviews it at The Guardian. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: At MacSparky, David Sparks discusses Miles Davis's album, Kind of Blue. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Oliver Nelson: Marc Myers discusses the career of Oliver Nelson and particularly his album, Fantabulous, at JazzWax. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: At The International Review of Music, Devon Wendell discusses Sonny Rollins's 1955 album, Worktime. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Horace Silver: Doug Ramsey shares a clip of Horace Silver's quintet in Denmark in 1968 at Rifftides.

Sarah Vaughan: At JazzWax, Marc Myers talks about the collaboration between Sarah Vaughan and pianist Ronnell Bright.

Robert
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RIP, Billie Holiday (1915-1949)

Jazz singer Billie Holiday died from pulmonary edema and heart failure caused by cirrhosis of the liver on July 17, 1959, in New York City.  Her funeral mass was held at Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City, and she was buried in Saint Raymonds Cemetery in the Bronx.

According to critic John Bush, Holiday was 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)
• Billie Holiday: Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday (Sony, 2 CDs)

Holiday sings "The Man I Love" here:

Robert
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RIP, John Coltrane (1926-1967)

Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane died from liver cancer on July 17, 1967, in Huntington, New York. He was just 40 years old. His funeral was held at St. Peters Lutheran Church in New York City, and he was buried at Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Len Lyons says that Coltrane "challenged himself artistically to a greater extent than any saxophonist in jazz's history," and critic William Ruhlmann calls him "among the most important, and most controversial, figures in jazz." Coltrane played bebop and hard bop early in his career, then helped pioneer modal jazz and later free jazz.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends four albums by Coltrane, all of which are available in CD:

• Giant Steps (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
• My Favorite Things (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
• Live at the Village Vanguard (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
• A Love Supreme (Purchase at Amazon.com.)

Coltrane plays "Naima," from the album Giant Steps here.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 12 July 2015

Louis Armstrong: The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong discusses Armstrong's 1970 birthday celebration in Newport.

Art Blakey: Night Lights features a podcast about Art Blakey's 1957 band, which included saxophonists Jackie McLean and Johnny Griffin, as well as trumpeter Bill Hardman.

Clifford Brown: All About Jazz announces "Brownie Speaks at Newport," an event planned for July 30, on the eve of the Newport Jazz Festival to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Brown's performance at that festival.

John Coltrane: Night Lights features a podcast about John Coltrane's 1957, the year that he kicked his drug and alcohol addictions and made his first recordings as a leader.

Erroll Garner: Eric R. Danton reviews the Erroll Garner album, The Complete Concert By the Sea, at The Wall Street Journal. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Thelonious Monk: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Thelonious Monk Quintet playing "Think of One." (The song is available on the album, The Complete Prestige Recordings, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Jaco Pastorius: New Jazz United shares a video of Jaco Pastorius and Toots Thielemans playing "Sophisticated Lady" at a 1982 New York City concert.

Sonny Rollins: According to JazzTimes, Sonny Rollins will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America.

Sonny Rollins: Night Lights shares a podcast about Sonny Rollins and 2957, the year he recorded the iconic album, A Night at the Village Vanguard. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Wayne Shorter: At MacSparky, David Sparks discusses Wayne Shorter's song, "Witchcraft," from the 1966 album, Speak No Evil. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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