The New Nixon: News and Commentary (Free subscription) | 02/01/2010
In April 1969, RN celebrated the 70th birthday of Duke Ellington and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House Len Garment, accomplished jazz musician and RN’s White House Counsel, writes in this weekend’s New York Times: IN April 1969, three months after his inauguration, President Richard Nixon hosted a party at the White [...]
Rifftides (Free subscription) | 01/22/2010
Why consider in the same piece albums by pianists as unalike as Matthew Shipp and Greg Reitan? Because in different ways the ghost of Bud Powell informs their music; because pairing them may lead partisans of one to listen to...
Anecdotal Evidence (Free subscription) | 01/18/2010
When I listen to Dick Wellstood play the piano, I feel happy – engaged, energized, entertained – as I do when I listen to Armstrong, Bechet and James P. Johnson. (Go here to sample their music and that of their confrères). In some quarters this is a shameful admission, like saying you don’t enjoy the sound of Albert Ayler’s horn, but life is too short for music that torments...
New English Review/The Iconoclast (Free subscription) | 01/12/2010
Sarah Vaughn began her career singing with Earl Hines' band along with Billy Eckstein in the 1940s. During her career, she covered a wide range of genres from big band to pop to jazz. I'm not sure when this recording was made, but she recorded for both Columbia and Mercury records in the 1950s. ...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 12/28/2009
All About Jazz is celebrating Earl Hines' birthday today! JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Earl HinesEarl "Fatha" Hines- pianist, composer, recording artist, bandleader (1905-1983) A brilliant keyboard virtuoso, Earl a€oeFathaa€ Hines was one of the first great piano soloists in jazz... more Website | Videos | Articles...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 12/14/2009
The Jazz Piano Trio has long been the preferred format for many of our greatest pianists...first established by the likes of Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Bill Evans and continued to this day by such sonic mavericks as Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, and Brad Melhdau, among many others. Co-leaders Barney McAll...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 12/11/2009
BERKELEY -- The gift to the University of California, Berkeley, of the bulk of famous jazz pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines' estate will provide exceptionally gifted low-income students with free musical instruction and the campus's music library with his collection of papers, compositions and memorabilia...
The Bat Segundo Show (Free subscription) | 12/04/2009
Terry Teachout is most recently the author of Pops. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Playing for handy water closets. Author: Terry Teachout Subjects Discussed: Managing professional duties, the exigencies of sifting through 650 reels of Louis Armstrong’s tapes, Armstrong’s encounters with the mob, Armstrong’s relationship with manager Joe Glaser, the aborted Duke Ellington collaborative...
Christian Science Monitor (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009
Miles Davis made more money. Duke Ellington was more prolific. CharlieParker was more revered. But no one had a more profound impact on modern jazz than Thelonious Monk. The legendary pianist/composer with the strange hats and even stranger moniker (his given name) has finally become the subject of the kind ...
Geezer Music Club (Free subscription) | 10/12/2009
If you were to take all the talented pianists whose careers stretched from the Big Band days to the the Modern Jazz era and lay them end to end, they’d reach to — whoops. What I meant to say was that if you’re looking for one among them who was the very definition of a [...]
Blogcritics: Music (Free subscription) | 10/12/2009
The consummate pro, he complemented Benny, Billie, and his other musical partners, but he also sparkled as a soloist.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009
When I first heard Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers in freshman jazz history class, his music honestly didn't make much of an impression, probably for the usual reasons early jazz tends not to speak to 18-year olds. (Was I...
Jazz Lives (Free subscription) | 09/08/2009
Gather round, children. First, this blogpost exists because of the generosity of Ricky Riccardi. September 8 is his birthday, but he’s given us the second of two extraordinary gifts. The first was a blogpost featuring a rare recording — running six minutes — of Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars (that’s Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines, Arvell [...]
The 'Spill (Free subscription) | 08/23/2009
Le Moral Nécessaire - Alfred Panou w/ The Art Ensemble Of Chicago The Weight - Rotary Connection So Tired - The Chambers Brothers Le Second Souffle - La Maison Tellier Tired As I Can Be - Lucille Bogan Never as Tired as When I'm Waking Up - LCD Soundsystem Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping - Grouper Half Asleep - School Of Seven Bells Acho Um Pouco Bom - CSS Real People - Chic You Haven't Done...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 08/20/2009
Les Paul is remembered by B.J. Jansen on his Jazz Life Show. B.J. Jansen pays tribute to Jazz Guitar Legend Les Paul with an interview he did less than a year ago with Les. Jansen Remembers: "Speaking with Les Paul... was so down-to-earth and comfortable... like talking to your Grandpa. I am lucky t...
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