Dueling with Buddy

by | Jun 27, 2025 | Big Band, Stuff

Who would believe that Buddy Rich was self taught and didn’t read music? He was not only a great drummer, but a versatile and energetic entertainer, who demonstrated his fierce life force and love of music with every performance. Picking up his first pair of sticks at the age of two, he was playing with some of the biggest bands in the country by the time he was twenty and soon added songwriter, conductor, and bandleader to his extensive resume … in addition to being considered one of the most influential jazz drummers of all time!

(Above) Buddy duels with drummer Ed Shaughnessy on The Johnny Carson Show in 1978. Although Rich was his usual brand of incredible, Shaughnessy showed, in no uncertain terms, that he was no slouch!

(Top left) Buddy faces off in 1966 with Gene Krupa, his main competitor for the top jazz drummer title. Krupa is smooth, classy, and melodious, while Rich is pure technical precision, speed and aggression. After a bit of ‘hoofing’ by Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy and Gene engage in an epic drum battle.  (Bottom left) Rich tangles with The Muppet Show’s Animal, showing his lighter side and love for all creatures, even red ones.

Fred

by | Dec 6, 2024 | Big Band, Stuff

Although not a jazz musician himself, jazz musicians dug Fred Astaire and the feeling was mutual.  His instruments were his feet and his voice … and his performances encompassed every type of music, from Vivaldi to Fats Waller. During his seven decades as dancer, actor, singer, musician, and choreographer, Fred was everything people wanted to be: smooth, suave, dapper, debonair, intelligent, witty, and wise. He worked with jazz bands whenever he could; with this mutual love affair in mind, plus his limitless talent and creativity, we felt Fred Astaire had to be included among the greats at Mark of Jazz.

For openers, here he is in 1940 with Eleanor Powell, one of his many dance partners during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

From the 1951 movie “Royal Wedding” here is Astaire dancing with a hat rack! It’s amazing how this great dancer can take the simplest prop and do something magical with it. Well before that, in 1937, he dazzled movie goers with his drum scene in “A Damsel in Distress.”

Finally, one of the more fun-loving routines called Too Hot To Handle … with his most frequent dance partner, Ginger Rogers. This is Fred and Ginger flirting a bit as they grace the stage in the 1935 film “Roberta.”

Billy Taylor – America’s Jazz Ambassador

by | May 5, 2024 | Quartet/Quintet, Stuff

Musician, composer, teacher and all around jazz ambassador, Dr. Billy Taylor’s musical career is legendary. More than just an avid spokesman for “America’s Classical Music”, he fought for the recognition of Black musicians as key contributors to the American music scene … promoting jazz as a commentary against racial prejudice. Despite being one of the most remarkable jazz pianists of all time, the recipient of honors and awards worldwide, through it all, Billy always managed to remain a true gentleman of honor and humility.

The top video is The Way You Look Tonight, at a 1997 Anniversary Concert with Dr. Taylor accompanied by his trio, plus Stanley Turrentine and Gary Burton. In the center is my updated 1989 interview with Billy, brought forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast Page. Finally, bottom most is a light Bossa-Nova rendition of Here’s That Rainy Day … recorded in 2001 with Billy Taylor (p), Chip Jackson (b), and Winard Harper (d), joined by jazz violinist John Blake, Jr.

Time Out With Billy Taylor

by Fred Masey | Podcast #007

3 Shades of Blue

by | Mar 29, 2024 | Audio, Stuff

3 Shades of Blue

by Dion Graham, Nar. | Book - Print and Audio

“3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool” is a superb book by renowned biographer James Kaplan. It chronicles the story of how jazz arrived at the pinnacle of American culture in 1959 … following the sometimes difficult paths of three legendary artists––Davis, Coltrane, and Evans––who came together to create the most iconic jazz album of all time, Kind of Blue.  It’s a book about music, business, the towns that gave jazz a place to call home, and the challenges faced during the journeys of three musical giants as they climbed to the mountaintop of 1959 and beyond.

Above is an excerpt from the “3 Shades of Blue” audio book. Below are a pair of tunes in their entirety, So What and All Blues, from the historic Kind of Blue Album … featuring Miles Davis (t), Cannonball Adderley (as), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d), John Coltrane (ts), and Bill Evans (p) alternating with Wynton Kelly (p).

So What

by Miles Davis | Kind of Blue

All Blues

by Miles Davis | Kind of Blue

Dancin’, Drummin’, & Swingin’

by | Jan 19, 2024 | Solo/Duo, Stuff, Vocal

Combine four of the top drummers in jazz: Louis Bellson, Philly Jo Jones, Shelly Manne, and Irv Cottler –– with the flying feet of the multi-talented Caterina Valente –– and you have the formula for a truly unique performance on 1964’s popular Hollywood Palace television show (top).  Then (bottom), Caterina and Ella Fitzgerald are joined by (believe it or not) Perry Como, in a spirited scat version of Al Jolson’s 1920’s swinging hit Avalon.  Vintage television!

Sun Valley Serenade

by | Aug 19, 2023 | Big Band, Stuff, Vocal Group

The Glenn Miller Orchestra appeared in only two movies, the first of which was “Sun Valley Serenade” in 1941.  Chatanooga Choo-Choo (top) and a colorized version of In The Mood (lower) are both from that film.  “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” features a lot more than just the band, with performances by the Nicholas Brothers, The Modernaires, Dorothy Dandridge, and skating star Sonja Henie.  The song, which was nominated for a best song Oscar, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996, and was awarded the first Gold Record for sales of 1.2 million.

“In The Mood” was one of the best known tunes of the 1940s and was the biggest hit of Glenn Miller’s career … helping to make him the top bandleader in the world!  By the way, the other movie that featured the Miller Band was called “Orchestra Wives” the following year, in 1942.

The Nutty Squirrels Got Jazz

by | Jul 3, 2020 | Stuff, Video

Wel-l-l, it’s not exactly your everyday sound, although they do swing a sort of traditional scat.  No, they’re not exactly Mel Torme or Ella Fitzgerald — or even Barry Fitzgerald — but the unique jazz stylings of The Nutty Squirrels are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and provide a slightly skewed break from the everyday pressures and tensions of life. I thought an adventure into the bazaar might be just the ticket to tickle your silly hormones … and these guys can actually be addictive in a ‘kids of all ages’ kind of way.

The video, Uh-Oh is a kicky little tune to which I added some visuals just for the fun of it.  You’ll hear Charlie Parker’s familiar Yardbird Suite just below that. Both selections feature Don Elliott on vocals, trumpet, vibes and other instruments, plus Alexander “Sascha” Burland on vocals. Among the New York based session musicians are Cannonball Adderley on alto sax, Bobby Jaspar on flute and Sam Most playing clarinet.

 

Yardbird Suite

by The Nutty Squirrels | Bird Watching

2019’s Top 50 Albums

by | Dec 13, 2019 | Stuff

Since it’s that time of year when we take a critical look back at the past eleven months (don’t stare) I thought you might like to review the top 50 jazz albums of 2019, according to JazzTimes.  Let’s see how many selections you agree with.

WNEW Radio – A New York Institution

by | Jul 5, 2019 | Lighter Side, Stuff

Once upon a time there was a Pop-Jazz radio station in New York City.  It was the station that invented the music and news format as well as the very concept of “DJ” personalities.  This iconic station was called WNEW-AM.  During its 58 year history it developed a nearly cult-like following, becoming the radio home for millions of listeners, entertaining them with air talent that were the very essence of class and decorum … personalities who redefined the image of what a Disc Jockey was supposed to be.

I wish I could say that legacy WNEW went on to live happily ever after, but in 1992 the music died.  The station jingles below were only some that were used on a regular basis between 1958 and 1966 to reinforce the station sound.

Metropolitan Radio Jingle

In the style of Count Basie

In the style of Dave Brubeck

In the style of Charlie Barnet

In the style of Erroll Garner

In the style of Stan Kenton

Sun Valley Serenade – Glenn Miller

by | Mar 29, 2019 | Big Band, Stuff

In The Mood is one of those songs that when you hear it, you naturally think of Glenn Miller. Here, it is in the forefront of “Sun Valley Serenade” a 1941 movie that was the first of only two motion pictures featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  The other was 1942’s “Orchestra Wives”.

Chattanooga Choo Choo is also from “Sun Valley Serenade” which, in addition to the Miller Band, features Sonja Henie, John Payne and MIlton Berle,  You’ll also enjoy the harmonies of The Modernaires and a dazzling dance performance by The Nicholas Brothers.