Now’s The Time – J.J. Johnson & The All Stars

by | Feb 27, 2021 | Big Band, Vocal

Many performances feature what they call All Stars but this 1994 Carnegie Hall Concert actually had the proof in the pudding … jazz legends one and all!  Imagine J.J. Johnson, Roy Hargrove, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Kenny Washington, Betty Carter and Dee Dee Bridgewater all in the same place, at the same time, on the same stage!  Charlie Parker’s Now’s The Time was the perfect vehicle to deliver standout moments like Betty Carter trading fours with J.J. Johnson, Roy Hargrove, Jackie McLean and Joe Henderson!  Actually, you don’t have to imagine it.  Here is the grand slam finale of that concert!

You can hear the concert in its entirety on YouTube at https://youtu.be/PTPuhLp8fWM

Clark Terry & Red Mitchell Together

by | Feb 23, 2021 | Solo/Duo

In 1988 at the ZDF Jazz Club, two of Duke Ellington’s most popular compositions were performed by two of jazzdom’s most talented musicians … Clark Terry on flugelhorn and trumpet plus Red Mitchell playing double bass.  Separately, either one can help you forget your troubles for hours.  Together, they can make you forget the entire rest of the band for good!  Terry connects all the notes into a single string of melodic calisthenics on “It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing”  and you can almost hear Mitchell’s bass sing when the “Sophisticated Lady” and Red musically dance as one!  This is a dynamic duo you are going to enjoy.

A Touch Of Burrell

by | Feb 13, 2021 | Trio

In A Mellow Tone is a Duke Ellington classic performed by the incomparable guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Marcus McLaurine and drummer Sherman Ferguson.  The tune was recorded in 1990 at The Subway Musikbar in Cologne, to the delight of a packed house of German jazz fans.

Lower left, George and Ira Gershwin’s Summertime was recorded live at the Town Hall in New York City on February 22, 1985.  Grover Washington Jr. added his soprano sax sounds to Kenny’s trio, which included Reggie Workman (b) and Grady Tate (d).  Lower right, the uniquely uptempo Jennine was performed in 1990 at a Japanese Club Date for TV … with Kenny Burrell on guitar, Bob Magnuson on bass and Sherman Ferguson playing drums.

Shades Of Black – Duke Ellington

by | Feb 6, 2021 | Big Band

On Nov. 2, 1969 a legendary concert was held at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.  At that time, Duke Ellington was celebrating his 70th birthday and had been leading his orchestra for 44 years.  His band featured such jazz icons as  trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson, trombonist Lawrence Brown, altoist Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves on tenor and Rufus ‘Speedy’ Jones on drums.

Here are three of my favorites from that concert, celebrating the Duke’s African roots.  The uppermost video is a haunting, very Ellington piece called “La Plus Belle Africaine,” At the lower left is “Black Butterfly” with a tender Johnny Hodges solo that takes you soaring with the butterfly itself … lower right is “Black Swan” featuring a duel between Duke’s piano and Wild Bill Davis’ Hammond organ..