Joy Spring / Laura – Clifford Brown

by | Jun 29, 2018 | Orchestral, Quartet/Quintet

Clifford Brown, also known as “Brownie”, is often regarded as the finest jazz trumpet player to ever perform on the American music scene. Certainly he is the benchmark against whom all others are judged.  Brownie died tragically at the age of 25 in a car accident on a rainy night in Pennsylvania, leaving behind a recorded legacy that spans a mere four years. He profoundly influenced later jazz trumpeters including Booker Little, Freddie Hubbard, and the great Lee Morgan.  He was also a composer of note, with two of his compositions, “Joy Spring” and “Daahoud” becoming jazz standards.

Joy Spring

by Clifford Brown | Jazz Immortal

Laura

by Clifford Brown | Brown With Strings

Blues in “F” – Wes Montgomery

by | Jun 23, 2018 | Quartet/Quintet

Did you know that Wes played with his thumb rather than using a pick … and that his thumb was double jointed?  This is Wes in 1965 performing a free swinging blues, before his trademark ‘pop’ sound caught on.  He is accompanied by a group of young Dutch musicians, probably all still in their early twenties.

Body and Soul – Oscar Peterson

by | Jun 15, 2018 | Orchestral

Oscar Peterson performs “Body and Soul” with John Williams and The Boston Pops Orchestra.  His ability to play ‘more notes per measure’ than nearly anyone else was one of the defining characteristics of his destinctive style.

Linda Ronstadt & The Nelson Riddle Orchestra

by | Jun 8, 2018 | Orchestral, Vocal

As jazz crosses over and influences other musical genres, so artists from those other genres sometimes dip their toes into the cool waters of jazz.  For all of her ‘pop’ success, it turns out that  Linda Ronstadt, has a marvelous voice for the standards.  What’s New?  Listen and find out!

Reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters era, Linda is joined by vocalists Liza Edwards, Elizabeth Lamers, Rita Valente and pianist Red Young for their rendition of the old Glenn Miller classic, I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo.

Linda turns away from her top 40 stylings in favor of the ever popular Lover Man (Where Can You Be).  When Nelson Riddle is behind you, the result is as good as guaranteed to be terrific!

Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock

by | Jun 1, 2018 | Trio

Herbie Hancock performs “Watermelon Man”, first as originally written in 1962, then in the jazz fusion style he embraced with both hands eleven years later.  Hancock’s first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon.  He radically re-worked the tune, combining elements of funk, for his album Head Hunters in 1973.