Black Coffee – Chris Connor

Chris Connor didn’t just sing a song, she owned it!  Born in Kansas City to a musical family, she was originally trained on the clarinet but made her first on stage appearance as a singer … and a singer she remained forever more.  Her easy going manner and distinctive ability to get ‘inside’ a lyric became her trademark.  Although she performed with big name big bands, including the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Chris preferred smaller groups and established her lasting reputation touring internationally as a solo performer leading her own trio.  She was one of only a handful of white vocalists considered to be, incontestably, pure jazz singers.

Black Coffee

by Chris Connor & Maynard Ferguson | Double Exposure

Birks Works – Frank Wess, Jon Faddis & BJO

Frank Wess, Jon Faddis and The Barcelona Jazz Orquestra play John Birks Gillespie’s classic composition. “Birks Works” has been recorded by many of the greatest in jazz … and “Birks”?  Well, that refers to Dizzy’s middle name! Jazz At Lincoln Center, 11/2012.

Killer Joe – Quincy Jones

Something of a departure from Quincy’s classic, more traditional version of the song.  It features the late Jerome Richardson on Flute, Jerry Hey on Flugelhorn and the incomparable Pete Christlieb on Tenor Sax … plus Louis Johnson on electric bass driving the entire ensemble.

Intermission Riff – Stan Kenton Orchestra

In music, a riff is an ostinato … a chord progression, pattern or melody that is repeated over and over again.  When pianist, composer Stan Kenton stands in front of his orchestra, a riff is a wall of creative sound that stirs your musical soul from your head right down to your tappin’ toes!

Take The ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington

The ‘A’ train is the storied New York City subway renowned as the preferred means of transportation to Harlem. Here’s a segment from the film “Reveille with Beverly” (1943) featuring the famous Blanton-Webster edition of the Ellington Orchestra, with Ivie Johnson’s vocal.