Recent Links :: 30 April 2015

Count Basie: At Jazz Wax, Marc Myers writes about several albums on the German MPS label, including Count Basie's Basic Basie. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz's Matthew Bahl lists the best jazz vocal albums from 1969 to 2001. These include:

• Betty Carter, The Audience With Betty Carter. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Carmen McRae, Any Old Time. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sarah Vaughan, Crazy and Mixed Up. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: St. Louis Jazz Notes has a number of links to stories about Miles Davis, including drummer Lenny White's thoughts about playing on the album, Bitches Brew.

Duke Ellington: On his birthday, April 29, Duke Ellington was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Duke Ellington: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht shares photos of Duke Ellington.

Bill Evans: Marc Myers writes about the collaboration between Bill Evans and Tony Bennett at JazzWax. In particular, he looks at the Concord album, The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings. (Purchase the 4-LP box set from Amazon.com.)

Dizzy Gillespie: At JazzWax, Marc Myers discusses the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet's two-week gig at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London in August 1973, which has been issued on four separate CDs as Dizzy Gillespie Live at Ronnie Scott's Vols. 1 — 4. (Purchase the albums from Amazon.com: Volume 1; Volume 2; Volume 3; and Volume 4.)

Max Roach: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Max Roach Quintet playing Deeds, Not Words in 1958. (The song is available on the album, Deeds, Not Words, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Bessie Smith: NPR's Jazz Night in America discusses Bessie Smith's influence on jazz.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Duke Ellington

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 28 April 2015

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses three events focusing on Louis Armstrong during Jazz Appreciation Month.

John Coltrane: At his blog, About Last Night, Terry Teachout shares a clip of the John Coltrane Quartet playing Coltrane’s “Alabama” on television in December 1963.

John Coltrane: Marc Davis reviews John Coltrane's album, Blue Train, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Duke Ellington: According to Factory 92, in June 2015, Grönland Records will release a previously unreleased recording of one of sound engineer Conny Plank's sessions with Duke Ellington.

Ella Fitzgerald: On April 25, her birthday, Ella Fitzgerald was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Lionel Hampton: According to J Weekly, the score for Lionel Hampton's "King David Suite" has been donated to Ben-Gurion University.

Charles Mingus: On April 22, his birthday, Charles Mingus was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Charles Mingus: At Rifftides, Doug Ramsey reviews the Charles Mingus album, The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Wes Montgomery: According to Eric R. Danton at The Wall Street Journal, a 1958 Wes Montgomery version of "A Night in Tunisia" has been discovered.

Sonny Rollins: The New York Times has a short piece by Sonny Rollins about practicing his saxophone on New York City's Williamsburg Bridge in the 1950s.

Bessie Smith: HBO has a trailer for its May 16 show, "Bessie," about the blues singer, Bessie Smith, which stars Queen Latifah.

Cecil Taylor: At All About Jazz, Mark Corroto reviews Cecil Taylor's album, Garden 1st Set. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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RIP, Count Basie (1904-1984)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Ella Fitzgerald

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

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

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

Fitzgerald sings "Mack the Knife" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 23 April 2015

Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz lists the best jazz vocal albums from 1917 through 1950. These include:

• Louis Armstrong, This Is Jazz, Vol. 23: Louis Armstrong Sings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ella Fitzgerald, The Legendary Decca Recordings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Billie Holiday, Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Billie Holiday, The Complete Decca Recordings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bessie Smith, The Essential Bessie Smith. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Ornette Coleman, John McLaughlin: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz lists the best jazz guitar albums. These include:

• John McLaughlin, Extrapolation. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman, Song X. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Ella Fitzgerald, Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, Carmen McRae, Annie Ross, Sarah Vaughan: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz lists the best jazz vocal albums from 1951 through 1968. These include:

• Ella Fitzgerald, The Complete Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, The Hottest New Group in Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Carmen McRae, Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sarah Vaughan, Sarah Vaughan. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Billie Holiday: John Fordham shares a clip of Billie Holiday singing "Lover Man" at The Guardian.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Charles Mingus

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

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

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

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

Robert
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RIP Earl Hines (1903-1983)

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

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

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

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

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

Hines plays "A Monday Date" here:

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Lionel Hampton

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

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

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

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

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

Hampton plays "Flying Home" from 1957 here:

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

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

Duke Ellington (who wrote two pieces in memory of Smith) once said that "Willie The Lion was the greatest influence of all the great jazz piano players who have come along. He has a beat that stays in the mind."

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

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album by Willie "The Lion" Smith and Luckey Roberts, Luckey and the Lion/Harlem Piano (Good Time Jazz S10035). The CD is available at Amazon.com.

Smith plays "Tea for Two" here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 18 April 2015

Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz lists the best jazz trumpet albums, including:

• Louis Armstrong, Plays W.C. Handy. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Clifford Brown, The Beginning and The End. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis, Miles Ahead. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Dizzy Gillespie, An Electrifying Evening with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Freddie Hubbard, Above And Beyond. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock: At All About Jazz, Victor L. Schermer reviews the April 11 concert by Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock at Philadelphia's Academy of Music.

Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter: The finalist nominees for the Jazz Journalists Association 2015 Jazz Awards have been announced. These include:

• Louis Armstrong's The Columbia & RCA Victor Live Recordings, liner notes by Ricky Riccardi for Best Liner Notes of the Year. (Purchase the album from Mosaic Records.)
• John Coltrane's Offering: Live at Temple University, liner notes by Ashley Kahn for Best Liner Notes of the Year. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane's Offering: Live At Temple University for Historical Record of the Year.
• Chick Corea for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz.
• Chick Corea for Musician of the Year.
• Chick Corea for Pianist of the Year.
• Chick Corea for Keyboards Player of the Year.
• Miles Davis's Miles at the Fillmore (Miles Davis Bootleg Series Vol 3) for Historical Record of the Year. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock: Possibilities by Herbie Hancock with Lisa Dickey for Best Book About Jazz of the Year. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year.
• Wayne Shorter Quartet for Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 16 April 2015

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock: At JazzTimes, Bill Beuttler reviews the April concert by Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock at Boston's Symphony Hall.

Duke Ellington: According to JazzTimes, Grönland Records will release Duke Ellington & His Orchestra’s previously unissued The Conny Plank Session in July.

Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares videos of the late Paul Jeffrey talking about Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie.

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

Keith Jarrett: JazzTimes shares a preview of the new Keith Jarrett album, Hamburg '72. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

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

Lester Young: At The Daily Beast, Ted Gioia tells how Lester Young "invented cool."

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Bessie Smith

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 13 April 2015

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi talks about Louis Armstrong's sense of humor and the jokes that he told.

Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver: Arguing that 1959 was "the most creative year in jazz," Nathan Holoway lists a number of albums from that year at All About Jazz. The albums include:

• The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time Out. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, Giant Steps. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis, Kind of Blue. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Duke Ellington, Anatomy of a Murder. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans Trio, Portrait in Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ella Fitzgerald, Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Horace Silver, Blowin' the Blues Away. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Coleman Hawkins: As part of the "Building a Jazz Library" series at All About Jazz, Henk De Boer lists the best Coleman Hawkins albums.

Carmen McRae: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a video of Carmen McRae appearing on German TV in 1969.

Carmen McRae: NPR Music shares Carmen McRae's 1985 appearance on "Piano Jazz."

Horace Silver: At JazzTimes, trumpeter Randy Brecker reflects on the influence of his mentor, Horace Silver.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Herbie Hancock

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock turns 75 today. He was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois.

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

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

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

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

Robert
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RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 9 April 2015

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses Armstrong's 1930 recording of "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me." (The song is available on the album, The Big Band Sides, 1930-1932, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: The Riverbender reports that the ground has been broken for a statue of Miles Davis in Alton, Illinois.

Billie Holiday: Jazz singer Hilary Gardner discusses the influence of Billie Holiday at her blog, Hilary Gardner: Ad Alta Voce.

Billie Holiday: NPR's Fresh Air jazz critic Kevin Whitehead shares his thoughts on Billie Holiday's style and influence.

Billie Holiday: At NPR's Jazz Night in America, John McDonough discusses Billie Holiday, calling her "a singer beyond our understanding."

Billie Holiday: The Booklist Reader shares a list of books about Billie Holiday.

Billie Holiday: Chris Robinson reflects on Billie Holiday at cuepoint.

Billie Holiday: According to All About Jazz, the Philadelphia Music Alliance will celebrate Billie Holiday's centennial and make the singer the first 2015 inductee on the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.

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

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

Wes Montgomery: Resonance Records announces the release of a 26-track collection of Wes Montgomery tracks from 1949 to 1958. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Fats Waller: At Jazz Lives, Michael Steinman discusses Fats Waller as a jazz singer and shares a video of "I'm Always in the Mood for You."

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Carmen McRae

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

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album The Greatest of Carmen McRae (MCA).

Unfortunately, the album is only available in vinyl, and Jim Determan, who updated the Lyons list, recommends the CD I'll Be Seeing You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae (GRC), which is available from Amazon.com.

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 7 April 2015

Chick Corea: Yamaha features a video of Chick Corea discussing his piano playing.

Miles Davis: The In the Groove podcast looks at Miles Davis's development of fusion.

Miles Davis: As part of the "Building a Jazz Library" series at All About Jazz, the staff list the best Miles Davis albums.

Billie Holiday: At The New Yorker, Richard Brody reviews John Szwed’s new book, Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Billie Holiday: Gary G. Vercelli remembers Billie Holiday at Capital Public Radio.

Billie Holiday: Open Culture shares four videos of Billie Holiday on April 7, the 100th anniversary of her birthday.

Wes Montgomery: At Take the "A" Train, Ehsan Khoshbakht quotes rock guitar legend Pete Townshend on Wes Montgomery.

Jaco Pastorius: According to Rolling Stone, Metallica's bass player, Robert Trujillo, is producing a documentary about the life of the late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius.

Sun Ra: An article on Afrofuturism by Ashley Clark in The Guardian calls Sun Ra "a key player" for his only feature film, "Space is the Place." (Purchase the DVD from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Freddie Hubbard

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Billie Holiday

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 4 April 2015

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses Louis Armstrong's March 1940 recording of "You've Got Me, Voodoo'd" and "Hep Cats' Ball." (The songs are available on the album, The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions 1935-46 , which can be purchased from Mosaic Records.)

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi talks about the night Louis Armstrong and His All Stars played a dance at the University of Kansas student union, just after Kansas had lost in the NCAA basketball championship game.

Louis Armstrong: At Jazz Lives, Michael Steinman discusses the connections between trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and Louis Armstrong.

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock: At All About Jazz, Harry S. Pariser reviews the Chick Corea-Herbie Hancock concert at Berkeley in March.

Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins: In the Dark shares a 1962 letter from Sonny Rollins to Coleman Hawkins.

Thelonious Monk: As part of Capital Public Radio's "Falling Love Supreme" series, James McGrew talks about Thelonious Monk's album, Genius of Modern Music, Volume One. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker: According to JazzTimes, Opera Philadelphia will present the world premiere of "Charlie Parker’s Yardbird," an opera based on the life of Charlie Parker in June.

Sonny Rollins: According to Marc Myers in his Weekend Wax Bits, Sonny Rollins will receive an honorary degree from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford in Connecticut in May.

Sun Ra: Stefan Wood reviews the Sun Ra album, My Way is the Spaceways, at The Free Jazz Collective. (Purchase the album in vinyl from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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RIP, Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990)

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

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

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

Jim Determan also recommends:

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

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

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

Robert
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RIP, Scott Joplin (1868-1917)

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

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

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

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD:

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

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

Robert
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