Competitive Foursome
While this is technically chamber music, they do blow some jazz … and anyone who has even a glimmer of musical savvy will appreciate their performance. The Salut Salon Quartet, from Hamburg Germany, is comprised of Angelika Bachmann (violin), Iris Siegfried (violin), Anne-Monika von Twardowski (piano) and Sonja Lena Schmid (cello). They have been called “the Harlem Globetrotters of string quartets.” Here, “The Summer” composed by Antonio Vivaldi, becomes the stage for a musical competition with a special sense of humor and musical dexterity!
One of George Shearing’s signature pieces, a classic illustration of the trademark Shearing sound. While he moved on to solo work and vocal accompanyment, anyone who grew up with Shearing grew up with the sound of his quintet.
Dianne Reeves was born into a musical family. Her father sang, her mother played trumpet, her uncle was a bassist and her cousin is George Duke. Although she was born in Detroit, she was raised in Denver … and in 1971, Dianne started singing and playing piano. She signed with Blue Note Records in 1987, staying with the label until 2009 when she moved over to Concord. Performance here is at the JazzBaltica Jazz Festival in 2004.
I told you that piano prodigy Joey Alexander would be back. Here he performs Thelonious Monk’s “Evidence” live at the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center … from his album ‘Joey.Monk.Live!’. What Joey may lack in experience at 15, he more than makes up for with instinct. Got genes?
Originally trained as a classical pianist, Sergio Mendes was drawn to jazz and ultimately to Brazilian music with its Bossa Nova beat and soft pop stylings. His music is timeless and his name and Brasil ’66 have become household words worldwide and across generations.
Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers with The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in a scene from the 1941 film, “Las Vegas Nights”. This was Sinatra’s first screen appearance in the movies. Unfortunately, His one song was interrupted by a stream of trivial dialogue, which I took the liberty of editing out. Frank went on to establish one of the greatest film careers of all time, featured in both singing and non-singing roles.
This is Thelonious Monk in Japan in 1963, playing with the kind of group that suited him best … a quartet. Charlie Rouse is the saxophonist who understood Monk’s music best and provided the perfect complement.
In 1948, four young men created a sound that forever changed the way vocal jazz harmony was heard and performed. Known as The Four Freshmen, the group started with two brothers, Don and Ross Barbour, their cousin Bob Flanigan, and friend Hal Kratzsch. With a soaring, true tenor in Bob Flanigan, the group created a sound that has endured for over 6 decades. This is the second iteration of The Four Freshmen, circa about 1956. Performing are Bob Flanigan, Ross Barbour, Don Barbour and Ken Albers, who replaced Hal.
Upper left is Love Is Just Around The Corner, upper right Somebody Loves Me, lower left It’s A Blue World, and lower right There Will Never Be Another You. (Our thanks to Ray Anthony TV)
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