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.
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 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!
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!
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!
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!
Recorded at the Tuscia in Jazz Festival, Ronciglione, Italy in 2006, Mulgrew Miller pays an exceptional tribute to Thelonious Monk by not wasting a single note in this memorable performance of Monk’s original tune. Mulgrew is joined here by Buster Williams playing bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums.
The Golden Striker is a tune by John Lewis of MJQ. This arrangement has Ron Carter on double bass, Mulgrew Miller on piano and Bobby Broom playing guitar. The trio was recorded at Jazz Sous Les Pommiers in Caen France, June 3, 2011..
Want to hear an amazing bass line? Here’s My Funny Valentine with Ron Carter performing the jaw-dropping bass chores, Art Farmer guesting on trumpet, Billy Higgins on drums and Cedar Walton playing piano at Sweet Basil in 1990.
When you say the word “piano” you might as well say “Bill Evans” because they are one in the same. The only criticism I’ve heard of Bill is that he didn’t have “chops” … obviously uttered by someone who hadn’t heard Someday My Prince Will Come.
Forming the trio on Waltz For Debby, as well as on ‘Prince’ is Bill Evans playing piano, Larry Bunker on drums and Chuck Israels on bass. Waltz for Debby is one of those tunes almost as closely associated with Evans as the word “piano’!
As one of the unsung heroes of the tenor sax, Houston Person’s role in life seems to be as a show stopper and spotlight stealer, whether performing live or recorded. Eric’s Gale is one of those occasions. His silk and cement style added to the likes of Lonnie Smith on organ, Ron Carter at the bass and Grady Tate on drums makes you want to say “Wow!” and play it again, just to make sure Houston really did that.
Moonlight In Vermont is a standard but Houston Person‘s incredible solo is anything but! It may be Joey’s album but, that evening, Person was once again a thief in the night. In 1993 at The Five Spot Cafe in New York, he joined Joey DeFrancesco at the organ, Paul Bollenback with his guitar and Byron “Wookie” Landham playing drums to make a statement that teases legendary status. Personally, I’ve always liked what Houston has had to say.
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