Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock

by | Feb 13, 2026 | Sextet

The history of jazz is often told through the exploits of its firestarters, outsized personalities like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and pianist/composer Herbie Hancock … one of the most adept and creative of the sound-sculpting facilitators.  Maiden Voyage is the product of both his genius and his willingness to experiment with fresh, new sound ideas.  It is, arguably, his peak solo statement from the 1960s, some would say along with his compositions of Dolphin Dance and Watermelon Man, (our June 1, 2018 post) two tunes which have also become jazz classics. Herbie is joined here by Brian Blade on drums, Randy Brecker playing trumpet, Ravi Coltrane on tenor saxophone, James Genus on bass and Zakir Hussain playing tabla, as part of the “International Jazz Day 2022” All-Star Global Concert.

The King of Swing

by | Nov 30, 2025 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet, Sextet, Trio

Any artist’s Carnegie Hall debut is an auspicious occasion. In Benny Goodman’s case, January 16, 1938 was not only the debut of a major star, but it also marked the first time people sat in a concert hall to hear swing music rather than dance to it. That first Carnegie concert was jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.’ Benny would appear there at least 25 more times in the next 44 years! During an era of racial segregation, Goodman led one of the first integrated jazz groups, hiring both Teddy Wilson (p) and Lionel Hampton (vb) for his quartet. His reign as “King of Swing” took off when he helped ease our nation through the darkest days of The Great Depression, with the grace and optimism offered by swing music.

Down South Camp Meetin’ (top) features Benny in a big band setting at the New York Marriott Marquis in 1985, with Dick Hyman on piano and Louis Bellson playing drums. Then a pair of tunes from the early days: Sing, Sing, Sing (middle left) with Gene Krupa on drums and Harry James on trumpet, from the 1937 film Hollywood Hotel … and Nice Work If You Can Get It (middle right) from 1960, swung by The Benny Goodman Trio with Teddy Wilson playing piano and, once again, Gene Krupa on drums. Finally, buckle up as George Benson sits in on guitar for Charlie Christian as the sextet plays Seven Come Eleven in a 1975 tribute to John Hammond.

They Called Him “Mr. T”

by | Nov 22, 2025 | Quartet/Quintet, Sextet

A legend of the tenor saxophone, Stanley Turrentine was renowned for his distinctively thick, rippling tone, and earthy grounding in the blues. In fact, his distinctively thick, warm, blues-drenched tone made him a defining voice in soul jazz and a perennially popular figure across several genres. Turrentine recorded in a wide variety of settings, but was best-known for his Blue Note soul-jazz jams of the ’60s. Although most commonly referred to as “Mr. T” he was also known as “The Sugar Man” in more intimate circles.

His frequent collaborations with organist Jimmy Smith resulted in a treasure trove of classic recordings … evidence their ever popular Midnight Special (above), recorded at the 1987 Mount Fuji Jazz Festival, with Kenny Burrrell on guitar and the fabulous Art Blakey on drums.

Another Smith collaboration, Scratch My Back (upper right) features the same group with Grady Tate on drums … recorded in 1985 at NYC’s Town Hall. On the (lower right) is Sugar with Mr. T, of course, on tenor, Jimmy Smith once more at the Hammond, Freddie Hubbard trumpet, Kenny Burrell guitar, Ron Carter bass, and Joe Chambers playing drums … from the 1987 Mount Fuji Jazz Festival.

Sonny Side Up – Pt. 1

by | Oct 26, 2025 | Quartet/Quintet, Sextet, Trio

Sonny Rollins is not only the most enduring tenor saxophonist of the bebop and hard bop eras, but also one of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time. In a career that spanned more than 70 years, Sonny thrilled millions of fans around the world, and recorded north of sixty albums! As a composer, a number of his compositions have become jazz standards … as a musician, he has been called “the greatest living improviser” and has even been referred to as “the real Charlie Parker.”

Speaking of standards (below top) sample some 1965 Rollins on There Will Never Be Another You, together with Alan Dawson on drums and the great Niel Henning Orsted Pedersen (NHOP) playing bass … in concert, in Denmark.

Sonny Rollins poked a toe into several musical genres including Pop Country … tunes like “I’m an Old Cowhand” and Tennessee Waltz (middle left) recorded in Munich in 1992 … no Patti Page here. The sextet includes Clifton Anderson (tb), Mark Soskin (p), Jerome Harris (g), Bob Cranshaw (b), and Yoron Israel (d). The familiar Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (bottom left) recorded in Prague in 1982, adds Masuo and Bobby Broom (g), Lincoln Goins (b), and Tommy Campbell (d), to Sonny’s tenor.

Miles-tones

by | May 31, 2025 | Quartet/Quintet, Sextet

“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.” This is yet another quotable quote from Miles Davis, and probably the one that best describes his musical style. His early playing was sometimes tentative and not always fully in tune, but his unique, intimate tone and fertile musical imagination outweighed his technical shortcomings … which by the 1950s he turned into considerable assets. Miles would have celebrated his 99th birthday a few days ago, on May 26th, but while he severed his earthly bonds in 1991, he left behind a wide variety of timeless jazz that will be enjoyed by many generations to come.

(Top) The Pan Piper and Solea are both tunes from Davis’ 1960 album Sketches of Spain. They are co-arranged with Gil Evans, blending jazz and classical influences, incorporating a flamenco theme for this 1991 Montreux performance. (Middle) is a Davis original, now a standard, Milestones from his 1958 album of the same name. It features a regular who’s who of jazz, with Miles on flugelhorn, Cannon Adderley playing alto, John Coltrane, playing tenor, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones at the drums. Finally (Bottom), the quintet’s 1964 performance of My Funny Valentine evokes a slightly different feeling with Miles on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on sax, Herbie Hancock playing piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams at the drums –– talk about a who’s who!

Milestones

by Miles Davis | Milestones

The Double Six of Paris

by | Jan 31, 2025 | Sextet, Vocal Group

Early Autumn

by Double Six of Paris | Les Double Six

The Double Six of Paris (also known as Les Double Six) was a French vocal jazz group established in 1959 by Mimi Perrin. The group established an international reputation in the early 1960s. The name of the group was an allusion to the fact that the sextet used double-tracking techniques to enhance and “fatten” their sound, very much like Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys did in the recording studio. The six members would all sing once to a recording track, then sing the exact duplicate performance again to a second track, “doubling” each individual vocal part.  Singing in French, they performed jazz standards, favoring songs by Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie, recording four albums between 1959 and 1964. The membership was fluid, with many different personnel on various recordings.

The group was not long-lasting. Because of Perrin’s continuing health problems (she had contracted tuberculosis in 1949); The Double Six dissolved in 1966. Several members of the group went on to join the Swingle Singers, which notably reproduced the works of Bach in the jazz vocal style. Here are a few rare recorded performances of Double Six from around 1965. Top video is Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’ … below that a pair of tunes beginning with Miles Davis and Gil Evans’ Boplicity, which then moves into something unidentified, very uptempo, and well worth the listen even if you don’t speak French!

The Taylor Touch

by | Nov 22, 2024 | Sextet

Billy Taylor did it all … pianist, composer, educator, broadcaster, and worldwide ambassador for America’s Classical Music. More than just an avid spokesman for the jazz idiom, he fought for the recognition of Black musicians as key contributors to the American music scene, promoting jazz as a commentary against racial prejudice. For his performances and professional activities, Taylor (Dr. Taylor, actually) received two Peabody Awards, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a place in the Hall of Fame for the International Association of Jazz Educators.

His composition and radio theme, It’s a Grand Night For Swinging (top) features Ingrid Jensen on trumpet, Frank Wess on tenor, Russell Malone playing guitar, Chip Jackson at the bass, and Winard Harper on drums. The video is from “An Evening with Billy Taylor” at the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild. Billy’s All Alone (bottom) is also an original composition from the same performance in September of 2006.

Another Side of Art

by | Nov 2, 2024 | Sextet

Art Blakey has always been known as an energetic drummer, and The Jazz Messengers recognized as a potent force in jazz. There have been several permutations of The Messengers since 1954, when Horace Silver led the original group. It passed to Blakey after only one year and Art led it for the rest of his life. From 1961 to 1964, he expanded it to include trombonist Curtis Fuller. With Lee Morgan’s untimely demise, Freddie Hubbard became the trumpet player, Cedar Walton took over at piano, and Reggie Workman played bass. Wayne Shorter remained on tenor sax. That’s the group (including Art, of course) that you’ll hear on these selections from the 1963 San Remo Jazz Festival in Italy.

The nostalgic 1937 tune That Old Feeling (above) is a swinging, bop-centric arrangement that’s a bit easier going than the typical Jazz Messenger sound. For all intents and purposes, Blakey reduces the players to a trio, and features Cedar Walton at the piano. Skylark (below), originally from 1941, underwent a resurgence in 1997 with the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” It features Freddie Hubbard, and also shows a softer side of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

 

The Sweet and Swingin’ Sonny Stitt

by | Jun 9, 2024 | Quartet/Quintet, Sextet

Sunny Stitt is often compared with the great Charlie Parker. No wonder … he speaks “Bird!” Everything Happens to Me was recorded in Tivoli, in 1971, with Art Blakey on drums and Al McKibbon on bass.

During a 1964 memorial tribute to Parker in Berlin, Sonny Stitt, J.J. Johnson (tb), Howard McGhee (t), Walter Bishop Jr. (p), Tommy Potter (b), and Kenny Clarke (d), play his composition My Little Suede Shoes.

Lover Man [Oh Where Can You Be] has become a standard … laid back and mellow. Sonny is joined once again by Walter Bishop, Tommy Potter, and Kenny Clarke. More Sonny Stitt … March 15,2019. Compare his Lover Man solos.

The Five Pennies

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Sextet, Soundtrack

I had forgotten what a completely enjoyable movie “The Five Pennies” can be, until I rediscovered it a few nights ago. It’s a semi-biographical 1959 musical, starring Danny Kay as jazz cornet player/bandleader Loring “Red” Nichols. “Red” is a determined musician who leaves his small town home in Ogden, Utah and moves to the big city, seeking fame and fortune. The story is funny, yet poignant, and supremely entertaining … with a soundtrack that will knock your musical socks off! The cast is topped off with icons like Louis Armstrong, Shelly Manne, Bob Crosby, Ray Anthony, and Johnnie Ray. While Danny Kaye practiced for months to accurately simulate playing the cornet, it was the real “Red” Nichols who provided all the cornet playing in the movie.

Below are a pair of musical scenes from “The Five Pennies.” Top most is a spirited interplay with Satchmo Armstrong on When The Saints Go Marching In (aka Battle Hymn of the Republic). Beneath that, Glory, Glory Hallelujah is a trumpet/cornet duet between Kaye and Armstrong. Finally, at the bottom is a performance of Maple Leaf Rag by the real “Red” Nichols.

“Red” Nichols and his Five Pennies playing Maple Leaf Rag on Lawrence Welk’s New Year’s Eve television show, December 29, 1956.