Doodlin’ / Airegin – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

by | May 2, 2020 | Vocal Group

It’s no mystery why The Doodlin’ Song is so infectious when sung by Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross.  Many have performed it, but Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (Later Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan) own the franchise!

What do you get when you spell “Nigeria” backwards?  Would you believe Airegin, with some incredible scat singing by Dave and Jon!  Annie lays back here but discretely chimes in to round out the rich sound of these masters of Vocalese.

Cleo Laine, On Her Own

by | Apr 25, 2020 | Vocal

Early Autumn

by Cleo Laine | Precious

Born in a London suburb, Cleo Laine showed early singing talent, which was nurtured by her Jamaican father and English mother. She gained recognition in both jazz and pop, becoming known for her scat singing, evidenced here in Crazy Rhythm.

In Don’t Talk about me When I’m Gone Cleo uses her more than 3 octave vocal range to subtle advantage. Her big break came when she met composer, saxophonist  Sir John Dankworth in the 50s … they remained a team for most of her career..

Ron Carter – Mr. Bass Man

by | Apr 10, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet, Trio

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.

D&E Blues / Monterey Mist – Modern Jazz Quartet

by | Apr 4, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

The Modern Jazz Quartet performed and recorded jazz, off and on, for some 45 years between 1952 and 1997.  As with any group of musicians there were occasional personnel changes but the core group remained for most of that time.  The personnel probably most frequently identified with MJQ are John Lewis at the piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, Percy Heath playing bass and Connie Kay on drums.  These are the artists on both D&E Blues, written by John Lewis and Monterey Mist, a Milt Jackson composition.

D&E Blues, the tune on top, offers the texture and tempo we have become accustomed to with this group … easy going, smooth and relaxing.  Monterey Mist, on the other hand, provides a seriously cooking contrast by MJQ that has the recipe to make even the casual jazz listener sit up and smile!

Bill Evans – Debby And The Prince

by | Mar 28, 2020 | Trio

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’!

September Song / 2:19 Blues – Wynton Marsalis & Sarah Vaughan

by | Mar 6, 2020 | Orchestral, Septet/Octet, Vocal

To open we have three musical icons, Wynton Marsalis and Sarah Vaughn teaming up to present the classic September Song.  The third legendary artist is John Williams conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra … or is that four musical icons? 

Next Wynton is in Marciac France with his Septet in another live performance.  2:19 Blues was recorded in 2015 and features Marsalis doubling on trumpet and handling vocals … together with Walter Blanding and Victor Goines playing saxophones, Sam Chess on trombone, Dan Nimmer at the piano, Carlos Henriquez with his bass, and Jason Marsalis on drums.  It’s down and dirty blues at its best!

Eric’s Gale / Moonlight In Vermont – Houston Person

by | Feb 21, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet, Trio

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.

Eric's Gale

by Houston Person, Eric Gale | In A Jazz Tradition

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.

Moonlight In Vermont

by Houston Person, Joey DeFrancesco | Live At The 5 Spot

Minnie The Moocher – Cab Calloway & ‘Betty Boop’

by | Feb 1, 2020 | Lighter Side, Vocal

Cab Calloway was one of the most colorful and popular entertainers of the 30s and 40s.  Calloway hit the big time with “Minnie the Moocher” (1931) … a number one song that sold more than a million copies. The tune’s famous call-and-response “hi-de-hi-de-ho” chorus was first improvised when Cab couldn’t remember a lyric and it became his signature phrase for the rest of his career.  His abundant scat-singing was perfected with coaching from none other than Louis Armstrong, the master of non-lyric lyrics.

Move over Michael Jackson because Cab Calloway was more than just a singer and bandleader.  His ‘dance’ moves, including early moonwalking, were so popular with the crowd that he became a regular at Harlem’s Cotton Club.  Cab’s moves were accurately captured on film for a 1932 ‘Betty Boop’ cartoon, as demonstrated in the video below!  Michael J. may have popularized such gyrations during the 60s and 70s but Calloway came first!

Poutin’ – Ben Webster and the Oscar Peterson Trio

by | Jan 24, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

In 1972 two stars collided to make wonderful music together!  Of course, they didn’t do it alone.  The great Ben Webster on tenor and the incomparable Oscar Peterson playing piano were joined in Hannover, Germany by Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen (Aka The Great Dane with the Never-Ending Name) with his  bass, and Tony Inzalaco on drums.  Here is just a sample of the results.  It’s called Poutin’ … but it left the crowd smilin’ and wanting more.