Rare is the tenor player these days who has not been caught in the musical wake of either John Coltrane or Michael Brecker. Ben Britton has wisely carved his own musical path, both in playing and in composing, bringing together…
Month: October 2022
A LIVING MESSENGER…Bobby Watson: Back Home In Kansas City
I remember when I first discovered jazz in the 1970s that I made it an obsession to go and see every alumnus of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra that was still performing, as I knew some day this privilege would be taken…
IVORY FOR THE AGES…Keith Jarrett: Bordeaux Concert
Someday, people who saw Keith Jarrett perform will boast about it to their grandchildren, as this once in a lifetime pianist is simply that wonderful. The argument is whether he will best be remembered for his classic trio with Peacock…
JD Allen: Americana Volume 2
Tenor saxist JD Allen goes rural and rootsy, evoking sonic images of Rev. Gary Davis with his team of guitarist Charlie Hunter, drummer Rudy Royston and bassist Gregg August on an album that is filled with red clay under the…
LIFE AFTER GLENN MILLER…Tex Benecke: Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop! The Singles Collection 1946-54
While Don McLean’s “American Pie” laments the day “the music died” with the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, the wartime plane crash death of Glenn Miller in December, 1944 had a similar effect…
THE FIRST BEBOP DRUMMER…Kenny Clarke: The Complete Albums Collection
The first bebop drummer, Kenny Clarke (1914-1985) pioneered the syncopated pulse that eventually became the dna of modern music. This four disc set includes his eight ground breaking albums. From 1955, Clarke is teamed with MJQ alumni Percy Heath/b and…
Jussi Reijonen: Three Seconds/Kolme Toista
Rotating between fretless and fretted electric guitars, oud and classical guitars, Jussi Reijonen brings together a mix and match of Jason Palmer/tp-fh, Bulut Gulen/tb, Layth Sidiq/vi, Naseem Alatrash/cel, Utar Artun/p, Kle Miles/b, Keita Ogawa/perc and Vancil Cooper/dr for a mood…
CLASSIC 1960s JAZZ IN EUROPE…Stan Getz Quartet: Live In Duesseldorf 1960, Dave Brubeck Quartet: 1960 Essen, Grugahalle, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Live At The Opernhaus, Cologne 1969, John Coltrane: 1960 Duesseldorf
While rock and roll was taking over America, jazz still had a safe haven in Europe. Here are a few albums (in cd and vinyl format) that capture some vintage jazz across the pond. Just before becoming a major star…
HORNS IN THE TRADITIONS…Eric Jacobson: Discover, Tito Carrillo: Urbanessence
Here are a pair of trumpet men that are carrying the torch of two different, but swinging, musical traditions. The future of Blue Note-styled hard bop is in good hands with trumpeter Eric Jacobson along with his snappy quintet of…
TOM GRANT INTERVIEW: THE SECRET LIFE WITH TONY WILLIAMS
WE ALL HAVE SECRET PASTS THAT EVENTUALLY COME OUT WHEN YOU LEAST SUSPECT IT. I REMEMBER TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY IN ITALY, RETURNING TO ROME WHERE I ONCE WORKED. WHILE TAKING A TAXI THROUGH TOWN AND CONVERSING WITH THE TAXI…