Houston: A Person Worth Listening To

by | Jan 23, 2022 | Sextet

Silk and cement … that’s the way I would describe Houston Person’s tenor voice.  After more than half-a-century, he can still touch you or growl at you during the same musical passage and I’ve always liked what he had to say.  In 2017 Houston appeared in Spain at the San Javier International Jazz Festival with his sextet, Jim Rotondi (t), Dena DeRose (p), D.J. Foster (b) Marc Miralta (dr).  The two videos are from that performance:  The topmost cooks comfortably with the popular 1966 tune Sunny, while the video below it is a wonderfully soulful treatment of the familiar standard Since I Fell For You.  Finally, Person treats our ears and our hearts to the wonderfully gentle But Beautiful, audio from his album The Art And Soul Of Houston Person.

But Beautiful

by Houston Person | The Art And Soul Of Houston Person

C-Jam Blues – Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington

by | Jan 14, 2022 | Big Band, Vocal

Sometimes referred to as “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century.  She first met Duke Ellington in the mid-1930’s, while she was performing at Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom with Chick Webb and His Orchestra. The two would remain friends and collaborators for the rest of their lives.  Here, Duke and Ella team up to perform Ellington’s C-Jam Blues (also known as “Duke’s Place”) during their 1966 European tour.

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”.

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by | Dec 31, 2021 | Holiday, Lighter Side

Since our first posts five years ago, Mark Of Jazz has treated entrance into the New Year nostalgically, even reverently.   With the current state of the world so uncertain and somewhat confusing, I thought we could all use a few lighter moments, maybe even a grin or two. Auld Lang Syne is a song we all know and nearly always sing to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new … but what do those words mean?  Where did they come from?

The Peanuts Gang is always great fun and we launch into the New Year by partying with them, even though this performance doesn’t feature jazz.  Then, an a capella rendition of the tune by the original Straight No Chaser in a live 2009 concert at the Angel Orensanz Theatre in New York.  Finally I have brought my Days Of Auld Lang Syne podcast forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page.  Yes … it IS jazz and answers the who, what when, where and why of the song that has played with people’s heads for generations and beyond.

Here’s wishing you a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS 2022 … and hoping that you enjoy our little MOJ celebration!

Straight No Chaser was a group of college guys singing just for fun back in the 90s.  Their career skyrocked and, as often happens, personnel changed … but these are the 10 who started it all.

Days Of Auld Lang Syne

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast

Dreams Of Christmas

by | Dec 24, 2021 | Holiday

Arguably, the greatest Christmas movie ever made is Irving Berlin’s star-studded White Christmas.  The topmost video is the grand finale from that motion picture, guaranteed to catapult you into the Christmas spirit … in case you’re not already there.  Below that are performances by young Joey Alexander and The Swingle Singers in a medley from one of their two spirit-inspiring Christmas albums.  Finally I have brought The Christmas Show forward from our Jazz Scene Podcast page.  May you enjoy every minute of this musical Christmas card and have the Merriest of all Christmases with the ones you love!

Joey Alexander was already an accomplished piano genius at the tender age of 14 in this performance of My Favorite Things.  Clearly, jazz is one of his favorite things … and his music is one of mine! 

The Incredible Swingle Singers take a step back from their usual jazz interpretations of classical music to perform a Christmas Medley in a more traditional fashion.

The Christmas Show

by Fred Masey | Jazz Scene Podcast

A Tony Bennett Christmas

by | Dec 17, 2021 | Big Band, Orchestral, Vocal

After Tony Bennett’s recent retirement form a stellar career spanning more than half-a-century, here are two Christmas-themed performances I’d like to share with you from one of his three or four ‘primes’ … as well as an interview with Tony from my Jazz Scene Podcast page.  In 1989 I had the pleasure of peeling back a couple of outer layers and speaking with him about more than just his music.

The first video is a typically smooth Bennett blend of I Love The Winter Weather and I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm from A Family Christmas.  Then Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, together with the Count Basie Orchestra, from A Swingin’ Christmas, moves us just a bit closer to the big day when the jolly old elf himself makes his rounds.

Talkin' With Tony

by Fred Masey | JS Podcast

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

by | Dec 10, 2021 | Big Band, Vocal

Big name?  No.      Big sound? It’s the Marines!    This is The Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band with,    It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.

The Muppets probably aren’t found in any jazz lexicon but they are as full of Christmas joy and spirit as Old St. Nick himself! They undeniably help make this The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

All Blues / Joshua – Miles Davis

by | Dec 3, 2021 | Quartet/Quintet

In October 1964, Miles Davis appeared in concert at the Teatro dell’Arte in Milan Italy with a dream quintet including himself on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on sax, Herbie Hancock at the piano, Ron Carter playing bass and Tony Williams on drums. It doesn’t get better than that!  This was the era of Miles I have always preferred … when he was still innovating and not just experimenting.  Even as he evolved, one thing that never changed was his adherence to his statement, “Don’t play the notes that are there.  Play the notes that are not there.”  The two cuts below are from that live 1964 concert … a Miles Davis original All Blues (upper) and a Miles Davis-Victor Feldman tune called Joshua (bottom).

Carmen McRae In Montreal

by | Nov 27, 2021 | Vocal

Carmen McRae is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, mostly remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics. In other words, when she sang a song, she owned it. The videos below were recorded in 1988 at the International Jazz Festival in Montreal, reputed to be the largest jazz festival on the planet.

 

Of all the songs composed by Thelonious Monk, ‘Round Midnight may be the prettiest melody Monk ever wrote. Carmen sings both the original Jon Hendricks and later Bernie Hanighen lyrics … accompanied by Eric Gunnison on piano, Scott Collie bass, Marc Police playing drums and Clifford Jordan [“Blowing his brains out”] on tenor sax. The Warren & Dubin standard I only Have Eyes For You features the same group but with McRae accompanying herself on piano.

The Virtuosity of Eddie Daniels

by | Nov 19, 2021 | Quartet/Quintet

Eddie Daniels recorded Slipped Disc during a “Benny Rides Again” tribute to Benny Goodman in 1992. The group was made up of Gary Burton (vb),  Makoto Ozone (p), Marc Johnson (b), Martin Richards (d) and of course Eddie Daniels (c).

Stompin’ At The Savoy was recorded in October of 2012 ‘upstairs’ at Vitello’s in LA.  Joe La Barbera (d), Tom Warrington (b) and Tom Ranier (p) provided a familiar rhythm section since they often head East to perform with Daniels in NY.