Some Smooth Jazz

While the Mark of Jazz usually features more traditional jazz, I believe it is important to understand as many aspects of the genre as possible, and, after all, by any other name good music is still good music!.  Smooth jazz is one of the more recent iterations of the idiom and is represented most ably by award winning composer, producer, music publisher Dimitri K. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Dimitri has written more than 250 songs which can be heard on over 300 radio stations on five continents!  His recorded music is part of the Golden Music Library of the National Radio in Sofia.  His use of instruments not often found in jazz provides a unique musical experience.

Even though he plays violin, as well as some guitar and piano himself, Dimitri prefers to use only top flight soloists when recording his music.  “I Saw Her” features  Alvin L. Guile’s on piano and Jamie Strefeler on oboe; “You’ve Got Me” spotlights Harry Hall playing sax and John Valeri with the guitar; finally, on “A Day In Paris”  we have Konstantin Dimitrov with the violin, Rob Mullins on piano and John Valeri playing guitar.

Thelonious Monk In Japan

Bolivar Blues was recorded in 1963 in Japan just two days after the concert that produced the Columbia set Monk in Tokyo.  This studio session was created for TV broadcast while Thelonious Monk was touring the country, 

Evidence was part of that same studio session and featured Monk on piano, Frankie Dunlop drums, Butch Warren playing bass and the incomparable Charlie Rouse on sax. Charlie has the uncanny ability to match Thelonious’ unique style note for note!

Harlem Nocturne – Sam “The Man” Taylor

Three weeks ago, I posted Five Faces of Harlem Nocturne and had several inquiries as to why I left out the original 1955 hit recording by Sam “The Man” Taylor. Sam was a jazz and blues player who set the standard for tenor sax solos in both rock ‘n roll and rhythm and blues … and became one of the most requested session sax players in New York during the 1950s.  Since I’ve always considered this to be the definitive version in the first place, I have no excuse.  None whatsoever.  Here to bail me out is Sam “The Man” with The Sixth Face of Harlem Nocturne.

Makin’ Whoopee – Dr. John & Ricki Lee Jones

Combine some blues with pop, add a dash of jazz, stir in a bit of boogie woogie with a smattering of rock and roll — not to mention the occasional touch of Louisiana voodoo — and you have the recipe for Dr. John!  His music is a perfect example of the influence and integration of jazz with other musical styles, or the other way around if you like.  Serve up Ricki Lee Jones as a delicious side dish to provide the Good Doctor with a gentle counterpoint, and it is impossible to keep your feet still whether you usually prefer Led Zeppelin or Miles Davis!

A Child Is Born – Pepper Adams

This rendition of the Thad Jones standard A Child Is Born is from a French TV Broadcast, La Grande Parade du Jazz, from Nice on July 16, 1978.  The great Bill Evans is at the piano with Marc Johnson on bass, Philly Joe Jones playing drums and the perennially underrated Pepper Adams delivering a memorable solo on baritone sax.