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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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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Recent Links :: 5 March 2015

Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Jon Hendricks, Milt Jackson, Dave Lambert, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Annie Ross: At All About Jazz, Chris M. Slawecki provides a list of bebop albums, including:

• Art Blakey Quintet: A Night at Birdland Vol. 1. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: Bags' Groove. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Dizzy Gillespie: Shaw Nuff. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Milt Jackson / Wes Montgomery: Bags Meets Wes! (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: The Hottest New Group In Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Charlie Parker: Bird: The Savoy Recordings: Master Takes. (Purchase the album — vinyl only — from Amazon.com.)
• Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy Live Performances. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie: Diz 'N' Bird at Carnegie Hall. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bud Powell: The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• The Quintet, Vol. 1: The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever (Jazz at Massey Hall). (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: St. Louis Jazz Notes celebrates the 56th anniversary of Miles Davis's first Kind of Blue recording session. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Dizzy Gillespie: At Rifftides, Doug Ramsey discusses Dizzy Gillespie's 1987 concert in Stuttgart, Germany. (The complete 1987 session is available on YouTube.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 9 February 2015

Louis Armstrong: According to The Guardian, Louis Armstrong’s long-lost appearance on "Desert Island Discs" has been found by the BBC. Ricky Riccardi discusses the list at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.

Ornette Coleman: Stefan Wood reviews the Ornette Coleman album, New Vocabulary, at The Free Jazz Collective. (Purchase the album from System Dialing Records.)

John Coltrane: All About Jazz reprints a 1999 Bob Jacobson story about an incident that happened to Benny Golson and John Coltrane when they were teens.

John Coltrane: John Fordham reviews the John Coltrane album, So Many Things: The European Tour 1961, at The Guardian. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Bill Evans: At The Wall Street Journal, Doug Ramsey reflects on the influence of Bill Evans on jazz.

Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, Annie Ross: At JazzWax, Marc Myers recounts the time that Annie Ross took a health break from Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross and was temporarily replaced by Yolande Bavan.

Keith Jarrett: At The Daily Beast, Ted Gioia reflects on Keith Jarrett's album, The Köln Concert. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Keith Jarrett: According to All About Jazz, Keith Jarrett will play a concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, March 3.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 20 November 2014

Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi writes about Armstrong's performance of "Will You, Won't You Be My Baby" from the 1934 Paris session.

Chick Corea: Bill Meredith reviews the Chick Corea Trio's album, Trilogy, at JazzTimes. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Ella Fitzgerald, George Russell, Wayne Shorter: At Brilliant Corners, Steve Provizer provides a list of "songs that deeply move." They include:

• "Good Morning Heartache" by Ella Fitzgerald. (The song is available on the album, Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• "You Are My Sunshine" by the George Russell Sextet. (The song is available on the album, Outer View, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• "Dindi" by Wayne Shorter. (The song is available on the album, Super Nova, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Jon Hendricks: Roseanna Vitro shares an interview with Jon Hendricks at JazzTimes.

Keith Jarrett: James Hale lists his favorite CDs of 2014 at Jazz Chronicles. They include Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden's Last Dance. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Thelonious Monk: New Jazz United shares a video of Thelonious Monk's "I Love You (Sweetheart Of All My Dreams)." (The song is available on the album, Monk, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Jon Hendricks

Jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks was born on September 16, 1921 in Newark, Ohio. He was a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross and is one of the originators of vocalese, a technique that adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs. The great jazz singer Al Jarreau called Hendricks "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet."

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. 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) (Purchase from Amazon.com.)

A good example of vocalese is Hendricks's version of the Herbie Hancock piece, "Watermelon Man":

Robert
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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, Jon Hendricks

Jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks was born on September 16, 1921 in Newark, Ohio. He was a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross and is one of the originators of vocalese, a technique that adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs. The great jazz singer Al Jarreau called Hendricks "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet."

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. 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 Barnes & Noble)

A good example of vocalese is Hendricks's version of the Herbie Hancock piece, "Watermelon Man":

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Jon Hendricks

Jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks was born on September 16, 1921 in Newark, Ohio. He was a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross and is one of the originators of vocalese, a technique that adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs. Al Jarreau, a pretty decent singer in his own right, called Hendricks "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet."

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. 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 Barnes & Noble)
  

A good example of vocalese is Hendricks's version of the Herbie Hancock piece, "Watermelon Man":

Robert
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Recent Links :: March 30, 2012

• Count Basie: Marc Myers discusses Count Basie's two Beatles albums from the 1960s at JazzWax. (Purchase the CD, Basie's Beatle Bag, at Amazon.com. Purchase the CD, Basie on the Beatles, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Chick Corea: John Kelman reviews the Chick Corea and Gary Burton album, Hot House, at All About Jazz. John Fordham does the same at The Guardian. (Purchase the CD, Hot House, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Miles Davis: Phil Freeman's article, "Miles Davis in the 80s," is available at Burning Ambulance.
  
• Miles Davis: Bassist Ron Carter talks about Miles Davis and other topics in an interview at the Hartford (CT) Courant.
  
• Miles Davis: Marc Myers shares a video of the 1989 "60 Minutes" interview of Miles Davis at JazzWax.
  
• Jon Hendricks: Gregg Akkerman interviews singer Jon Hendricks at All About Jazz.
  
• Sarah Vaughan: On March 27, her birthday, Sarah Vaughan was honored as Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
  

Robert
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Recent Links :: September 20

• Art Blakey: Tim Niland reviews the album, The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, at Music and More. (Purchase the CD, The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Miles Davis: JazzWrap reviews the Miles Davis album, Live In Europe 1967. Doug Collette reviews the album at All About Jazz. (Pre-order the CD, Live In Europe 1967, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Miles Davis: Wolfgang's Vault released a newly restored recording of the Miles Davis performance on April 11, 1970 at the Fillmore West.
  
• Bill Evans: Marc Myers reviews Alan Pasqua's tribute album to Bill Evans, Twin Bill: Two Piano Music of Bill Evans, at JazzWax. (Purchase the CD, Twin Bill: Two Piano Music of Bill Evans, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Herbie Hancock: In the Groove: Jazz and Beyond features the Herbie Hancock album, Thrust. (Purchase the CD, Thrust, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Jon Hendricks: Marc Myers refers to his 2009 interview with singer Jon Hendricks at JazzWax.
  

Robert

Recent Links :: September 17

• Louis Armstrong: Terry Teachout has written a play about Louis Armstrong, "Satchmo at the Waldorf," which made its world premiere in Orlando, according to the Orlando Sentinel
  
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi lists the set lists played by the Louis Armstrong All Stars from 1952 to 1955 at his blog, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.
  
• Louis Armstrong: Jon Wilde discusses his favorite album, The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings by Louis Armstrong, at the Guardian's music blog. (Purchase the CD, The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Count Basie: Marc Myers discusses the album Frank Sinatra and Count Basie: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings, which includes two albums previously released by Sinatra and Basie, Sinatra-Basie: An Historical Musical First and It Might as Well Be Spring, at Jazz Wax. (Purchase the CD, Frank Sinatra and Count Basie: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Ella Fitzgerald: NPR's JazzSet features a Kennedy Center concert with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegel, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald.
  
• Jon Hendricks: Lara Pellegrinelli has an article entitled "Jon Hendricks: The Father Of Vocalese At 90" at NPR Music. She also interviews Al Jarreau, who praises Hendricks, at NPR Music: Voices.
  
• Sonny Rollins: Peter Hum reviews the new live Sonny Rollins album, Road Shows, Vol. 2 at the Ottawa Citizen. (Pre-order the CD, Road Shows, Vol. 2, at Barnes & Noble.)
  

Robert

Happy Birthday, Jon Hendricks

Jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks was born on September 16, 1921 in Newark, Ohio. He was a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross and is one of the originators of vocalese, a technique that adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs. Al Jarreau, a pretty decent singer in his own right, called Hendricks "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet."

A good example of vocalese is Hendricks's version of the Herbie Hancock piece, "Watermelon Man":

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. 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 Barnes & Noble)
  

Robert

Recent Links :: September 7

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi provides cuts to listen to in conjunction with chapter 6 and chapter 7 of his book, What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years, at his blog, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (Purchase the book, What a Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman: Jazz Lives discusses the 1953 aborted tour by Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
  
• Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman: JAZZ.FM91 listeners selected their 50 best big band recordings, and Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing" was selected as the top recording, followed by Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" and Count Basie's "April in Paris."
• John Coltrane: Tim Niland reviews the album, John Coltrane - The Impulse! Albums Volume 4, at Music and More. (Purchase the CD, John Coltrane - The Impulse! Albums Volume 4, at Amazon.com.)
  
• Miles Davis: According to Jazz FM 91, Sony is using social media to create a new Miles Davis compilation, "Blue Flame."
  
• Miles Davis, Billie Holiday: NPR's A Blog Supreme lists "Five Classic Jazz Takes On 'Porgy And Bess,'" including versions by Billie Holiday and Miles Davis.
  
• Jon Hendricks: Kevin Burke, Aria Hendricks, Michelle Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Dianne Reeves, and Sachal Vasandani will join the 90-year-old Jon Hendricks to perform the tunes of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross at Jazz at Lincoln Center, according to Jazz Times.
  
• Nicole Henry: Embraceable, a new album by Nicole Henry, whom we featured in an earlier post entitled "5 Female Vocalists Who Deserve to Be Better Known," is reviewed by Larry Taylor at All About Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Embraceable, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Thelonious Monk: John Fordham lists his favorite album, Thelonious Monk's Brilliant Corners, in the Guardian's Music Blog. (Purchase the CD, Brilliant Corners, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Sonny Rollins: NPR's First Listen features the new live Sonny Rollins album, Road Shows, Vol. 2. (Pre-order the CD, Road Shows, Vol. 2, at Barnes & Noble.)
  
• Fats Waller: The legendary pianist and composer Fats Waller is featured on Riverwalk Jazz.
  

Robert

Recent Links :: July 20

• EJazzNews discusses the availability of lost recordings by Louis Armstrong and the Dukes of Dixieland.
  
• An entire set of Miles Davis performing live in August 1970 is currently streaming for free at Wolfgang’s Vault.
  
• Jazz Backstory has interviews with bassist John Lamb, drummer Louie Bellson, trombonist Grover Mitchell, and trumpeter Clark Terry about their experiences playing with Duke Ellington.
  
• JazzTimes explores the partnership between Ella Fitzgerald and producer Norman Granz.
  
• Singer Ann Hampton Callaway chooses her 10 favorite Ella Fitzgerald songs at JazzTimes.
  
• Drummerworld has a biographical sketch about Lionel Hampton
  
• Vocalist Gretchen Parlato chooses her 10 favorite Herbie Hancock tracks at JazzTimes.
  
• Singer Sachal Vasandani selects his 10 favorite songs by Jon Hendricks at JazzTimes.
  
• The Handful of Keys blog has a biographical sketch of Earl Hines.
  
• The Neo.Gringot blog has several videos of Billie Holiday to commemorate the anniversary of her death.
  
• Pianist Kenny Werner picks his 10 favorite pieces by Keith Jarrett at JazzTimes.
  
• Nick DeRiso reviews John McLaughlin's "Recovery" at Something Else.
  
• At ilikejazz.com, Chris Wood explains why Charles Mingus is his favorite bass player.
  
• Rock musician Chris Wood chooses his 10 favorite tracks by Charles Mingus at JazzTimes.
  
• southsidebaseball.com has a short piece entitled "Joe Pass Raises the Bar for Jazz Guitar Music"
  
• Bassist Jimmy Haslip lists his 10 favorite Jaco Pastorius tracks at JazzTimes.
  

Robert