Wednesday, November 16, 2016
End of a long era
I can always connect with a Mose Allison record.
He was a groaner on top of the nice piano ride he gave us. The basic voice of the blues.
Mose Allison, a Fount of Jazz and Blues, Dies at 89
Here is some "middle" Allison.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Man with a horn
I have been listening to Clark Terry play the horn most of my life.
Here and there. On the Tonight Shows. A genius.
Now this film on his life and work.
There is a lot of music from Terry on this. But it is all clips. He is hitting 90 and is seriously diabetic. The ravages of the road.
Featured is a young, blind protogé, Justin Kauflin. Magic.
It is wonderful to see how Terry has spread the jazz gospel and equally supported other her musicians. Some of these appear in the doc.
I loved this film. It is a definite 5 out of Netflix5. I will see it again when I need a taste of sublime jazz playing and thought.
And a bonus round.
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
IT WAS TIME
Time for recognition. Time as a major component of the music. Time for celebration.
Now, it was time to go.
HERO DAVE
Or how about this from Dave Brubeck. Unsquare Dance.
From the Chicago Tribune
As a humanist, he was at the forefront of integration, playing black jazz clubs throughout the deep South in the ’50s, a point of pride for him. "For as long as I’ve been playing jazz, people have been trying to pigeonhole me,” he once told the Tribune. "Frankly, labels bore me."
MUSICAL HERO
A true hero to me.
I first heard Brubeck live at the old Boston Jazz Festival in maybe 1955.
He transcended the venue. There he was on the stage, a few hundred feet away, but his playing went straight to my heart.
After that, I was able to see/hear him many times and later in life was able to share my fanship of his work with my son Dave.
Brubeck toured until virtually the end. He was indomitable. A power.
The Trio was the most sustained jazz act of all time.
I still play a CD with their "favorites" on it. It is in the CD rack and always on rotation.
Monday, October 29, 2012
BIG BANDS AND BE BOP
Today's movie was the Oscar nominee animated film feature from Spain
This is not your kids' cartoon. A biopic designed for adults, it is sexy and great to listen to.
For those of us who have a bit more years on us, like the titled couple, the return of this great music is a real treat.
And the story line with the wonderful drawings of Havana, New York City and Las Vegas as it was in this time are an antidote to feeling as though those times are gone. They live in this film. And one of the points in the story is that comebacks are possible at any age as younger people grab hold of the good old stuff and remake it in a new image.
The colors are vibrant and the characters convincing. The voices are true. It is great stuff.
I would not mind seeing it again so that makes it a 4 out of Netflix5.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
TRANE'S BIRTHDAY TODAY
Born in Hamlet, North Carolina, in 1926, and died July 17, 1967 on Long Island, New York. He was 40.
Can't see him but how about this vinyl record?
If you go to the end you can hear his voice.
Remember vinyl records?
Full and rich. Deep. Wet, not dry and hard.
You can hear it on this.
Coltrane was a vinyl guy.
It was all he knew.
Friday, October 24, 2008
PIANO MAN
Dave McKenna resides in the upper reaches of my somewhat limited list of favorite jazz pianists*.
A strong left hand and a tendency for stride made McKenna's artistry instantly recognizable.
He played in Boston clubs for years and, late in the game, achieved a kind of fame nationally and sold some records. He also ended up playing in New York on a regular basis.
Crisp. Quick. Clear melody lines. Surprising improvisations.
The hand is stilled. The records remain. Get one.
Dave McKenna dies at 78; master jazz pianist performed primarily as soloist
Hey. He made the LA papers.
*Not in any particular order: Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland (she is 90 years old and still runs her NPR program), Keith Jarrett. Add McKenna.
