The Genius Of Bill Evans

by | Jan 7, 2022 | Trio

The legendary pianist Bill Evans is a great way to begin any New Year!  “Re: Person I Knew” is an original composition, recorded at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway during August 1980, and was Evans’ last performance before his passing only five weeks later. It was also his last trio, and consisted of Bill Evans (p) Marc Johnson (b) and Joe La Barbera (dr).

On March 19, 1965, a much earlier version of the Bill Evans Trio stopped by the BBC studios in London to play a couple of sets on Jazz 625, a popular TV program hosted by the British trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton. From that performance, the second video features an obviously younger Evans along with Chuck Israels (b) and Larry Bunker (dr) playing the Victor Young standard “My Foolish Heart”.

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.

My Way – The Three Tenors

by | Jan 22, 2021 | Trio, Vocal Group

The Three Tenors?  Jazz?  Well, when you add Frank Sinatra to the mix and understand the musical reverence they have for him, it begins to make sense.  In July 1994, José Carreras, Plàcido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti, together with conductor Zubin Mehta and The L.A. Philhrmonic, performed “A Tribute to Hollywood” medley at their legendary concert at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium.  Old Blue Eyes was in attendance and his reaction to the trio’s uniquely tender rendition of My Way demands that I share this with you.

Freddie Freeloader

by | Dec 11, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet, Trio

Freddie Freeloader

by Miles Davis | Kind Of Blue

Landmark album, stellar players … Miles Davis on trumpet, “Cannonball” Adderley on alto sax, Jimmy Cobb plays drums, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Wynton Kelly at the piano and Paul Chambers bass.

Freddie Freeloader

by Wes Montgomery | Profiles

Freddie gets a more uptempo treatment here with a trio consisting of Wes Montgomery on guitar, Melvin Rhyne playing organ and George Brown on drums.

Freddie Freeloader

by Bill Evans | You Must Believe In Spring

Here is a more intimate version of the Miles Davis tune, featuring Bill Evans on Piano, the amazing Eddie Gomez playing bass and Elliott Zigmund at the drums.

Freddie Freeloader

by Jon Hendricks and Friends | Freddie Freeloader

It’s Miles Davis’ classic tune with lyrics by Hendricks, featuring Bobby McFerrin singing Wynton Kelly’s piano solo, Al Jarreau singing Davis’ solo, Hendricks singing Coltrane’s tenor solo and George Benson singing Cannonball Adderley’s alto solo. One amazing track.

Mind Games / Topside – Bob James Trio

by | Oct 24, 2020 | Trio

Mind Games is a wonderfully rhythmic piece that plays more tricks with your feet than your mind. Bob James is, of course, at the piano, Billy Kilson plays drums and James Genus is on bass.

Topsail is another live performance by The Bob James Trio from their ‘Espresso’ album, recorded live in studio.  Bob switches over to the keyboard for this one, with the rest of the trio remaining the same.

Chopin Meets The Blues

by | Sep 26, 2020 | Orchestral, Trio

The Peter Beets trio performs Waltz in C#m with the world famous Residentie Orkest The Hague (The Hague Philharmonic) at Paard (The Hague).  Jazz improvisations on Chopin music were arranged for trio and symphony orchestra by Rob Horsting and Marijn van Prooijen.  The trio consists of Peter on piano, Marius Beets playing double bass and Gijs Dijkhuizen on drums.

Andre Previn & His Friends

by | Aug 21, 2020 | Audio, Trio

Andre Previn actually started out playing jazz but ultimately became primarily known for his classical piano, conducting, composing and arranging in other genres, including Hollywood films (He scored more than 50 during his career).  So, when someone says “Wow, he plays jazz too!” … I say “Wow, he plays classical too!”  On Black & Blue Previn teams up with his friends Shelly Manne and Leroy Vinegar, while A Toujours hands the bass over to Red Mitchell.  Through the years, with these trios, he recorded an entire jazz series of show tunes, piano standards and works of legendary composers. On Ellington’s Cotton Tail Andre is joined by Joe Pass and Ray Brown for some masterful syncopation!

Black and Blue

by Andre Previn | Andre Previn Plays Fats Waller

Cotton Tail

by Andre Previn | After Hours

A Toujours

by Andre Previn | Gigi

Joey Alexander – Like Fine Wine

by | Jul 31, 2020 | Trio

Back in June of 2017, I first posted a performance of prodigy pianist Joey Alexander at the tender age of 11 … the same age he performs Giant Steps in the first video, along with Larry Grenadier on bass and Ulysses Owens, Jr. on drums.  The bottom video features an original composition entitled Space, from his 2019 Indonesian concert.  Now 17, he is even more spectacular and jaw-dropping than ever!   Like a fine wine, Joey gets better with age … pretty much on a par with some of his heroes like Chick Corea, Bill Evans and John Coltrane.

In his young life, Alexander has already played with Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center, played at the Grammy Awards, released no fewer than 5 albums, played at the Montreal and Newport Jazz Festivals and has performed at the White House at the request of two presidents.  It has been said that he started playing at 6, and ‘got serious’ at 7.  Beyond remarkable!

 

The Inventive Genius of Herbie Hancock

by | Jul 24, 2020 | Trio

Speak Like A Child is a composition by Wayne Shorter, recorded in 1983 in Lugano, Italy.  It features Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Billy Cobham playing drums.

Eye Of The Hurricane is a Hancock original.  Also recorded at Palazzo dei Congressie, Lugano in 1983, it displays the unusual and inventive talents of all 3 musicians to the delight of all!

Here’s To The People / I’m An Old Cowhand – Sonny Rollins

by | Jul 11, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet, Trio

For nearly 70 years, Sonny Rollins has been one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz. Like Miles Davis, he has experimented with many different sounds and evolved through several stylistic periods … but I prefer his more straight ahead stuff the most, as exemplified here.

Here’s To The People is an original tune, recorded live in 1992 at the Philharmonic Hall in Munich, Germany. Sonny’s sextet includes Clifton Anderson on trombone, Mark Soskin at the piano, Jerome Harris on electric guitar, the great Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, and Yoron Israel playing drums. If you like a driving tenor sax, this one’s for you!

I’m An Old Cowhand incorporates Rollins and a couple of the most innovative collaborators in jazz, with a highly creative effort that will take you back to the cowboy movies of your kidhood. Listen for Shelly Manne on drums and Ray Brown on bass escorting you across musical lines to the days of Bob Steele, Lash LaRue and Johnny Mack Brown!

I'm An Old Cowhand

by Sonny Rollins | Way Out West