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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Happy Birthday, Oliver Nelson

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 9 March 2015

Louis Armstrong, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter: As part of its "Building a Jazz Library" series, All About Jazz lists the albums most frequently mentioned by its readers. These include, in order of popularity:

• Miles Davis, "Kind of Blue." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, "Giant Steps." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Charles Mingus, "Mingus Ah Um." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sonny Rollins, "Saxophone Colossus." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong, "Complete Hot Fives and Sevens." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Eric Dolphy, "Out to Lunch." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ornette Coleman, "The Shape of Jazz to Come." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock, "Maiden Voyage." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans, "Sunday at the Village Vanguard." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, "Blue Train." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Oliver Nelson, "Blues and the Abstract Truth." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Wayne Shorter, "Speak No Evil." (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John Coltrane: The Economist looks at John Coltrane's album, A Love Supreme. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Eric Dolphy: At All About Jazz, C. Andrew Hovan reviews the reissue by Blue Note of Eric Dolphy's album, Out to Lunch. (Purchase the album from Music Matters.)

Freddie Hubbard: Dangerous Minds recounts a 1966 episode where Freddie Hubbard lost his cool onstage in Austria.

Wes Montgomery: On his birthday, March 6, Wes Montgomery was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

McCoy Tyner: The All About Jazz "Building a Jazz Library" series features McCoy Tyner and 11 of his albums.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 7 March 2015

Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Oliver Nelson,Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver: All About Jazz provides a list of jazz masterpieces from 1956 through 1965, including:

• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Moanin'. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Dave Brubeck, Time Out. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, Love Supreme. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis, Kind of Blue. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Thelonious Monk, Brilliant Corners. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Oliver Nelson, Blues & The Abstract Truth. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Horace Silver, Song for My Father. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

John Coltrane: At cuepoint, Chris Robinson discusses John Coltrane's album, A Love Supreme, which was released 50 years ago. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Bill Evans: At St. Louis Jazz Notes, Dean Minderman examines Bill Evans's piano style and provides several links to further analyses.

Bill Evans: JazzTimes and All About Jazz report that Concord Music Group will release a 4-LP box set of the legendary Tony Bennett/Bill Evans sessions in April.

Bill Evans: At JazzWax, Marc Myers writes about singer Carol Stevens's work with Bill Evans.

Keith Jarrett: At Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches, Hank Shteamer reviews Keith Jarrett's March 2015 Carnegie Hall concert.

Joe Sample: At JazzTimes, Michael J. West reviews the Joe Sample and NDR Bigband album, Children of the Sun. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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RIP, Oliver Nelson (1932-1975)

Jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) died on October 28, 1975, in Los Angeles at the age of 43. His death is usually attributed to a heart attack, but his son claims that the cause of death was really pancreatitis.  Others, like Len Lyons, argue that "overwork and long-standing frustration over not expressing himself musically were underlying causes."

In fact, Lyons refers to Nelson as "a little-known tragic hero — little known by the public, a hero to many jazz musicians, and tragically swallowed up by Hollywood's film and television industry."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Nelson's album, Three Dimensions: The Dedication Series, Vol. 3 (Impulse). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives, both of which contain all of the tracks from the album recommended by Lyons. Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered a classic and includes "Stolen Moments," the piece featured in the video above.

• Blues and the Abstract Truth (Verve). Purchase at Amazon.com.
• Sound Pieces (GRP Records).  Purchase at Amazon.com.

Nelson plays his best-known composition, "Stolen Moments," with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes here:

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, Oliver Nelson

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
Facebook page

RIP, Oliver Nelson (1932-1975)

Jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) died on October 28, 1975, in Los Angeles at the age of 43. His death is usually attributed to a heart attack, but his son claims that the cause of death was really pancreatitis.  Others, like Len Lyons, argue that "overwork and long-standing frustration over not expressing himself musically were underlying causes."

In fact, Lyons refers to Nelson as "a little-known tragic hero — little known by the public, a hero to many jazz musicians, and tragically swallowed up by Hollywood's film and television industry."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Nelson's album, Three Dimensions: The Dedication Series, Vol. 3 (Impulse). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives, both of which contain all of the tracks from the album recommended by Lyons. Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered a classic and includes "Stolen Moments," the piece featured in the video above.

• Blues and the Abstract Truth (Verve). Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
• Sound Pieces (GRP Records).  Purchase at Barnes & Noble.

Nelson plays his best-known composition, "Stolen Moments," with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Happy Birthday, Oliver Nelson

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

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

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

• The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Analogue Products) (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Sound Pieces (Impulse) (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)

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

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, Oliver Nelson (1932-1975)

Jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) died on October 28, 1975, in Los Angeles at the age of 43. His death is usually attributed to a heart attack, but his son claims that the cause of death was really pancreatitis.  Others, like Len Lyons, argue that "overwork and long-standing frustration over not expressing himself musically were underlying causes."

In fact, Lyons refers to Nelson as "a little-known tragic hero — little known by the public, a hero to many jazz musicians, and tragically swallowed up by Hollywood's film and television industry."

Nelson plays his best-known composition, "Stolen Moments," with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Nelson's album, Three Dimensions: The Dedication Series, Vol. 3 (Impulse). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives, both of which contain all of the tracks from the album recommended by Lyons. Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered a classic and includes "Stolen Moments," the piece featured in the video above.

• Blues and the Abstract Truth (Verve). Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
  
• Sound Pieces (GRP Records).  Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Recent Links :: 8 September 2012

• Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses the Hot Seven tune, "Melancholy Blues." ("Melancholy Blues" is on the CD, Hot Fives & Sevens, available from Amazon.com.)
• Ornette Coleman: Reviews of Shirley Clarke's film, “Ornette: Made in America,” appeared in the New York Times and The New Yorker's blog on cinema, The Front Row.
• Chick Corea, Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Weather Report: At Jazz (Jazzers Jazzing), Carl Hager is reporting the top vote getters in his poll for the best jazz/rock fusion recordings of all time and is re-opening the poll. So far, Romantic Warrior by Return to Forever is the top vote getter, followed by The Inner Mounting Flame by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, and Heavy Weather by Weather Report.

• Oliver Nelson: Marc Myers has a great piece at JazzWax on the 1961 session in which Oliver Nelson and Red Garland recorded together for the first and only time. (The tracks were never released on a single album, but two of the tracks can be found on Red Garland's Soul Burnin', available from Amazon.com.)
• Sonny Rollins: On September 7, his birthday, Sonny Rollins was named the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

Happy Birthday, Oliver Nelson

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

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

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

• The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Analogue Products) (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)
• Sound Pieces (Impulse) (Purchase the CD at Barnes & Noble.)

"Teenie's Blues," one of the cuts from Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth album, can be heard here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, Oliver Nelson (1932-1975)

Jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) died on October 28, 1975, in Los Angeles at the age of 43. His death is usually attributed to a heart attack, but his son claims that the cause of death was really pancreatitis.  Others, like Len Lyons, argue that "overwork and long-standing frustration over not expressing himself musically were underlying causes."

In fact, Lyons refers to Nelson as "a little-known tragic hero — little known by the public, a hero to many jazz musicians, and tragically swallowed up by Hollywood's film and television industry."

Nelson plays his best-known composition, "Stolen Moments," with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy and Roy Haynes here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Nelson's album, Three Dimensions: The Dedication Series, Vol. 3 (Impulse). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives, both of which contain all of the tracks from the album recommended by Lyons. Blues and the Abstract Truth is considered a classic and includes "Stolen Moments," the piece featured in the video above.

• Blues and the Abstract Truth (Verve). Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
  
• Sound Pieces (GRP Records).  Purchase at Barnes & Noble.
  

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall