Rifftides (Free subscription) | 09/16/2008
The scourge of heroin addiction among jazz musicians of the 1940s and 1950s is central to dozens of stories, novels, poems, plays and movies, most of them dreadful, overwrought clichés. Bad art aside, the monkey on the backs of musicians...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 08/23/2008
It's still the dog days of August in St. Louis, and thus still one of the slower times of the year for jazz in our town, but if you're in the mood to hear some music over the next few days, here are a few possibilities you may want to consider:On Friday, popular singer Erin Bode and her band return...
Sisyphus (Free subscription) | 08/21/2008
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax) plays his composition “Flying Scotsman” with Bill Mays (piano), Dean Johnson (bass) and Dave Ratajczak (drums) at the Brecon Jazz Festival in 1991. Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan (1927 – 1996) was a jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonist in jazz - playing the instrument with a light and airy tone...
Geezer Music Club (Free subscription) | 08/14/2008
Another release in Concord’s series of albums paying tribute to the Monterey Jazz Festival (previously: Cal Tjader) is one that fits me like a bespoke suit, because it features one of my favorites — Dave Brubeck. 50 Years Of Dave Brubeck - Live At The Monterey Jazz Festival (1958-2007) is exactly what you’d infer from [...]
Cobb (Free subscription) | 08/11/2008
Unk always has a good story to tell over bourbon. I was in Baltimore and he was glad to see me, so one thing led to another. There are few things so satisfying as hanging out with grumpy old men...
Poetry Hut Blog (Free subscription) | 07/28/2008
I’ll be back when I’m sufficiently fortified. In the meantime, here are some jazzes. Link Link link link ps thanks for the kind wishes. 7f8f4274b54df222341c96ca7bbf984a Tags: Blossom Dearie, Bobby Troupe, cool jazz, Gerry Mulligan, jazz, Julie London, Paul Desmond, Stan Getz
slacktivist (Free subscription) | 07/25/2008
What's the use in half a story, half of a dream? "The Ladder," Prince "Lady," Regina Spektor "Lady Goodbye," Daniel Amos "The Lady Is a Tramp," Gerry Mulligan Quartet "Lady Luck," Vigilantes of Love "Lady Madonna," The Beatles "Lady with...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 07/17/2008
Monterey Jazz Festival Records, in collaboration with the Concord Music Group, will issue the second wave of six never-before-released, archival live recordings taped on the Arena stage of the world-famous Monterey Jazz Festival. The releases are slated for August 5, 2008, seven weeks prior to MJF's celebration of its 51st annual presentation of world-class jazz, September 19-21, 2008...
Scotsman.com Living - Books (Free subscription) | 07/11/2008
This personal account of the life of Chet Baker isn't a biography in any strict sense, but that is the strength of a remarkable and revealing work
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 06/29/2008
Summer Jazz Festival at Mills Pond House The Smithtown Township Arts Council presents its third annual Summer Jazz Festival Saturday, July 12 from 5-10 pm. The concert will take place in the festival tent on the grounds of the Mills Pond House. Admission $15 ($10 by Advance Reservation) and $5 for students with ID. For more information, call 631-862-6575, or visit our Web site...
All About Jazz (Free subscription) | 06/13/2008
Pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington will open for Steely Dan at New York's Beacon Theatre on June 13 and 14. Charlap previously worked with Steely Dan in 2003, playing piano on two tracks--"Pixeleen" and "Godwhacker"--of the group's 2003 release, Everything Must Go...
Rifftides (Free subscription) | 05/29/2008
From 1949 to 1963, the Black Hawk was San Francisco's premier jazz club. It presented a cross section of the world's best musicians. Like legions of other fans, I spent some of the most rewarding listening hours of my...
The Allmusic Blog (Free subscription) | 05/28/2008
Al Green - Lay It Down Al Green's Lay it Down is his third outing for Blue Note. This time out he enlisted James Poyser and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of the hip-hop supergroup The Roots to produce this set. Green's classic, warm soul sound remains unchanged–yet the record sounds utterly contemporary (without the use of sampling [...]
This Is This (Free subscription) | 05/26/2008
Here’s a one. It's a bank holiday so I’m short on time and long on duties. According to the rules of the Weekend Song, I can't post up the same song twice by the same artist, so I’m exploiting a triple loophole here. Firstly, this is not a Weekend Song, so I can post up something [...]
The Big Picture (Free subscription) | 05/24/2008
About 10 years ago, while window shopping in Sag Harbor (the least offensive of the Hamptons), I hear this fabulous music wafting out the door of a small shop. Turns out it was Gerry Mulligan's CD, Paraiso-Jazz Brazil. It was a real eye opener: This clean, cool recording of lovely Latin melodies, overlaid with a delightfully dry, reedy saxophone that infused everything with a sophisticated flavor....
