Recent Links :: 9 July 2015

Louis Armstrong: At JazzWax, Marc Myers shares a clip of Louis Armstrong and His All Stars with conductor performing "St. Louis Blues" with Leonard Bernstein on July 14, 1956.

Louis Armstrong: At The Daily Beast, Nat Hentoff recalls the life of Louis Armstrong, arguing that Armstrong "did not invent jazz ... but when he got through with it, America’s homegrown art form was changed almost beyond recognition."

Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi makes the case that Louis Armstrong was born on July 4, as the jazz icon himself claimed, at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.

Louis Armstrong: Jeff Fitzgerald has a two-part article about Louis Armstrong at All About Jazz: Part 1 and Part 2.

Ornette Coleman: At Slate, Carl Wilson discusses Ornette Coleman's influence on rock, hip-hop, and other forms of music.

Ornette Coleman: At The London Review of Books, Adam Shatz remembers Ornette Coleman and the values that he embodied.

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews the July 6 performance in London by Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, the first concert by the two as a duo since 1978. Others reviewing the concert include Ivan Hewett for The Telegraph, Thomas Rees for The Arts Desk, and Mike Hobart for The Financial Times.

Woody Herman: At JazzWax, Marc Myers discusses composer Ralph Burns and, in particular, his work on Woody Herman's album, New Swingin' Herman Herd. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

James P. Johnson: Ethan Iverson explores the music of James P. Johnson at Do the Math.

Sonny Rollins: At Music and More, Tim Niland reviews Sonny Rollins's album, Complete Live at the Village Gate 1962. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Joe Zawinul: On July 7, his birthday, Joe Zawinul was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 18 May 2015

Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane: Nextbop shares animated shorts from Blank on Blank, featuring Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, and John Coltrane.

Herbie Hancock: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Herbie Hancock Trio performing "Triangle." (The song is available on the album, Inventions and Dimensions, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter: According to The Jazz Line, the 2015 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Award Winners have been announced. They include:

• Keyboards Player of the Year: Chick Corea.
• Historical Record of the Year: Miles Davis, Miles At The Fillmore (Miles Davis Bootleg Series Vol 3). (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Midsize Ensemble: Wayne Shorter Quartet.

Miles Davis: New Jazz United shares a clip of the Miles Davis Quintet playing "Tadd’s Delight." (The song is available on the album, 'Round About Midnight, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Keith Jarrett: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews Keith Jarrett's Creation. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charles Mingus: New Jazz United shares a clip of Charles Mingus with the Wally Cirillo Quartet playing "Smog L.A." (The song is available on the album, Jazz Composers Workshop, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Wes Montgomery: At JazzWax, Marc Myers reviews Wes Montgomery's In the Beginning. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Woody Herman: On May 16, his birthday, Woody Herman was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
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Happy Birthday, Woody Herman

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) was born on May 16, 1913, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Critic Scott Janow describes Herman as "A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist" but adds that his "greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands."

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available as an import from Amazon.com.  Jim Determan also recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia), and this album can be purchased at Amazon.com.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

Robert
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RIP, Woody Herman (1913-1987)

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) died on October 29, 1987, in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, emphysema, and pneumonia at the age of 74.

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia), which is now available as an import CD from Amazon.com.

Jim Determan also recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia), which is available at Amazon.com.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 28 August 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robert
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Recent Links :: 18 May 2014

Cannonball Adderley: At MacSparky, David Sparks discusses the Cannonball Adderley tune, "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." (The song is available on the album, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: At JazzTimes, Colin Fleming reviews the Miles Davis album, Miles at the Fillmore--Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Miles Davis: According to Cincinnati.com, Don Cheadle will film the Miles Davis biography in Cincinnati.

Miles Davis: Miles Davis Online says that the upcoming Miles Davis movie will be called "Miles Ahead."

Miles Davis: According to Jaff Tamarkin at JazzTimes, a New York City block party will celebrate the unveiling of Miles Davis Way on May 26.

Duke Ellington: Open Culture shares an audio of Duke Ellington and His Orchestra playing a piece, "Such Sweet Thunder," which found its impetus in Shakespeare’s play, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."

Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report: At JazzTimes, Jeff Tamarkin shares an excerpt from Peter Erskine's memoir, No Beethoven, where the Weather Report drummer discusses Jaco Pastorius. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: At All About Jazz, Victor L. Schermer reviews the Sonny Rollins album, Road Shows, Vol. 3. Tim Niland also reviews the album at Music and More. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Sonny Rollins: Marc Myers interviews Sonny Rollins at The Wall Street Journal, and Rollins discusses the influence that Coleman Hawkins's "Body and Soul" had on him.

Woody Herman: On his birthday, May 16, Woody Herman was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, Woody Herman

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) was born on May 16, 1913, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Critic Scott Janow describes Herman as "A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist" but adds that his "greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands."

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available as an import from Amazon.com.  Jim Determan also recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia), and this album can be purchased at Amazon.com.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

Robert
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Christmas Jazz :: Woody Herman, "Let It Snow ..."

From the album "Blowin' Up a Storm: The Columbia Years, 1945-1947," available on CD from Amazon.com.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 23 November 2013

John Coltrane, Miles Davis: At Music and More, Tim Niland reveals his selections in the 8th annual Francis Davis critics poll, which is hosted by NPR. Niland includes the following in his list of the best reissues of 2013:

• Miles Davis, The Original Mono Recordings. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane, Sun Ship: The Complete Sessions. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Duke Ellington: Maria Popova discusses Duke Ellington's relationship with food, based on excerpts from Terry Teachout's book, Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington, at Brain Pickings. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Woody Herman: At JazzWax, Marc Myers discusses the Kennedy assassination and the Woody Herman album that was being recorded at that time, Woody Herman: 1964. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Charlie Parker: Ian Patterson reviews Yusef Komunyakaa's book, Testimony: A Tribute To Charlie Parker, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Lester Young: Brilliant Corners focuses on Lester Young and says that "anyone interested in playing jazz has to listen to Lester Young, even now, so many years after his death in 1959."

Robert
Facebook page

RIP, Woody Herman (1913-1987)

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) died on October 29, 1987, in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, emphysema, and pneumonia at the age of 74.

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia). (Purchase the CD, The Thundering Herds 1945-1947, at Barnes & Noble.)

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

Robert
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Recent Links :: 21 September 2013

• George Benson: At All About Jazz, Belinda Ware discusses George Benson and, in particular, his latest album, Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• John Coltrane: According to JazzWax, WKCR will present its annual John Coltrane birthday broadcast on Monday, September 23.
• Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan: At NPR's A Blog Supreme, opera singer Jessye Norman picks her favorite jazz singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan.
• Woody Herman: At JazzWax, Marc Myers discusses Woody Herman's 1964 visit to England and shares a video of the band playing.
• Charles Mingus: At All About Jazz, Ian Patterson reviews John F. Goodman's book, Mingus Speaks. (Purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 28 May 2013

• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi discusses a YouTube video featuring footage of Louis and the All Stars in Indiana in 1961 at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong.
• Miles Davis: On May 26, his birthday, Miles Davis was Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Coleman Hawkins: An excerpt from Clifford Thompson's story "For Bean," about Coleman Hawkins, appears at All About Jazz. (The story is available in the book, Love for Sale and Other Essays, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Woody Herman: David Brent Johnson discusses the bands of Woody Herman in the 1940s in an episode of "Night Lights" at Indiana Public Media.
• Jelly Roll Morton: According to Brilliant Corners, the Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour at WZBC 90.3 is starting a new series, "I Know the Name, But Why Should I Care?," the first episode of which features Jelly Roll Morton.
• Sarah Vaughan: Kevin Whitehead reviews the new Sarah Vaughan box set, Divine: The Jazz Albums 1954-1958, on Fresh Air from WHYY. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
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Recent Links :: 24 May 2013

• George Benson: Brian Arsenault reviews the new George Benson album, "Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole," at The International Review of Music. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday: Open Culture shares a 1935 video of Duke Ellington's "Symphony in Black," which starred the 19-year-old Billie Holiday.
• Duke Ellington: At NPR's A Blog Supreme, David Brent Johnson discusses Duke Ellington's later years and recommends five albums from that period:
  • "... And His Mother Called Him Bill" (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • "Latin American Suite" (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • "Second Sacred Concert" (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • "New Orleans Suite" (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
  • "The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse" (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Keith Jarrett: At The Guardian, John Fordham reviews "Somewhere," the new album by Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Sun Ra: On May 22, his birthday, Sun Ra was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Woody Herman: Alan Greenblatt discusses Woody Herman on the 100th anniversary of his birth at NPR's A Blog Supreme.

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, Woody Herman

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) was born on May 16, 1913, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Critic Scott Janow describes Herman as "A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist" but adds that his "greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands."

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available as an import from Amazon.com.  Jim Determan also recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia), and this album can be purchased at Amazon.com.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

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

Recent Links :: 15 April 2013

• Chick Corea: Michael Katz reviews a performance of the Chick Corea/Stanley Clarke Trio with Hubert Laws at the Catalina Bar & Grill at The International Review of Music.
• Duke Ellington: New Jazz United shares a video of Duke Ellington and His Orchestra performing "Jam with Sam." (The song is available in MP3 format from Amazon.com.)
• Herbie Hancock: On April 12, his birthday, Herbie Hancock was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Woody Herman: Edward Blanco reviews the DVD, "Woody Herman: Blue Flame — Portrait of a Jazz Legend," at All About Jazz. (Purchase the DVD from Amazon.com.)
• John McLaughlin: Larry Appelbaum shares the last half of his interview with John McLaughlin at Let's Cool One.
• Bessie Smith: On April 15, her birthday, Bessie Smith was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.

Robert
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Recent Links :: 3 December 2012

• Louis Armstrong: At The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Ricky Riccardi discusses the two collections of the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens and their relative merits. (Purchase the JSP set from Amazon.com. Purchase the Sony set from Amazon.com.)
• Louis Armstrong: Jazz Lives provides an appreciation of Louis Armstrong's version of "When You're Smiling."
• Louis Armstrong: Ricky Riccardi recaps the 10 posts that make up his series on Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven recordings at The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong. (The CD, Hot Fives & Sevens, is available from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: According to Miles Davis Online, the jazz giant was mentioned on the television show, "Parks and Recreation."

• Miles Davis: David Brent Johnson discusses the influence of Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool album on West Coast jazz at Night Lights. (Purchase Birth of the Cool from Amazon.com.)
• Charles Mingus: Marc Myers reviews the new Mosaic box set, Charles Mingus: The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65, at JazzWax. (Purchase Charles Mingus: The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 from Mosaic Records.)
• Jaco Pastorius: On December 1, his birthday, Jaco Pastorius was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Woody Herman: Dan Bilawsky reviews the new DVD on Woody Herman, "Woody Herman: Blue Flame - Portrait Of A Jazz Legend," at All About Jazz. (Purchase "Woody Herman: Blue Flame - Portrait Of A Jazz Legend " from Amazon.com.)

Robert
Facebook page

RIP, Woody Herman (1913-1987)

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) died on October 29, 1987, in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, emphysema, and pneumonia at the age of 74.

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia). (Purchase the CD, The Thundering Herds 1945-1947, at Barnes & Noble.)

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

Recent Links :: 19 May 2012

• Louis Armstrong: Marc Silver discusses Louis Armstrong's last concert at NPR's Song of the Day.
• Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan: At the LA Weekly, Sean J. O'Connell has a list of "Top Ten Jazz Albums for People Who Don't Know Shit About Jazz." Included are:
  • Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Free For All (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Miles Davis, A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach, Money Jungle (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Dizzy Gillespie, At Newport (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly trio, Smokin' at the Half Note (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
  • Sarah Vaughan, Live at Mr. Kelly's (Purchase at Amazon.com.)
• Bill Evans: Edward Blanco reviews the Bill Evans album, Live At Art D'Lugoff's Top of The Gate, at All about Jazz. (Purchase the CD, Live At Art D'Lugoff's Top of The Gate, at Amazon.com.)
• Woody Herman: On his birthday, May 16, Woody Herman was the Jazz Musician of the Day at All About Jazz.
• Cecil Taylor: Pianist Cecil Taylor was featured on All Things Considered.

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

Happy Birthday, Woody Herman

Jazz clarinetist and big band leader Woody Herman (1913-1987) was born on May 16, 1913, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Critic Scott Janow describes Herman as "A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist" but adds that his "greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands."

Herman was particularly good at finding talented individuals — like Stan Getz, Bill Harris, and Zoot Sims — and allowing them to "find themselves." Herman was also interested in playing and creating new music, and his band was the first to absorb the innovations of bebop.

His first band — sometimes known as "The Band That Plays the Blues" — plays its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball," here:

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the album, The Three Herds (Columbia). The album is available only in vinyl, and Jim Determan recommends as an alternative The Thundering Herds 1945-1947 (Columbia). Purchase the CD, The Thundering Herds 1945-1947, at Barnes & Noble.

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

Christmas Jazz :: Woody Herman, "Let It Snow ..."

From the album "Blowin' Up a Storm: The Columbia Years, 1945-1947," available on CD from Barnes & Noble.

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