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

Unsquare Dance – Dave Brubeck

by | May 22, 2020 | Orchestral, Quartet/Quintet

Unsquare Dance is a song written by Dave Brubeck in 7/4 time … a most unusual time signature that seems to be as much fun to play as it is to hear!  Brubeck recorded the video for PBS broadcast in 2001, live with the London Symphony Orchestra.  His son Chris appears at the piano as well.  Below that is the original 1961 recording of Unsquare Dance by Dave and his quartet.  If you listen closely at the end, drummer Joe Morello sighs relief from the intensity of the tune with a quiet laugh and a “Yaaa!”

Unsquare Dance

by Dave Brubeck Quartet | Time Further Out

Soft Winds / Cakewalk – Oscar Peterson & Joe Pass

by | May 15, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

In the simplest terms … Oscar Peterson plays more notes per measure than are able to be played with only 10 fingers and 88 keys.  But, he plays them just the same and makes it look easy!  Joe Pass is his perfect complement, as you’ll hear in both Cakewalk, also called ‘Noreen’s Nocturne’ (The top tune) and Soft Winds (The bottom one).  Notice the red circles on the music sheet … that’s what Peterson’s chart typically looks like and, if you are familiar with Oscar, you know how it sounds.

He is joined on both songs by Dave Young on bass, Martin Drew playing drums and of course the Pass magic on guitar.  Are these guys having fun, or what??

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!

Akiko Tsuruga & Lioness

by | Feb 28, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

Lioness is a collective of six very jazzy ladies from New York City, whose mission is to inspire and educate by sharing music created by past and present women of jazz.  Most members of the band have been headlining artists at Dizzy’s Club … saxophonists Lauren Sevian and Alexa Tarantino have also worked extensively with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.  Their music has been called “post-bop” but to me it’s just wonderfully surprising and needs no other label than cool!

While the exciting organist Akiko Tsuruga more or less drives the ensemble with her Hammond B-3, watching the most able Lauren Sevian deftly handle the huge baritone sax is a sight to see … and most especially to hear!  Akiko is front and center in the second video in a live performance with a very funky quartet, which includes the incomparable Lou Donaldson on alto.

Funky Girl by Lioness features Akiko Tsuruga on organ, Lauren Sevian on the barry, Alexa Tarantino playing alto, Jenny Hill on tenor, Amanda Monaco, guitar and Sylvia Cuenca on drums,

On Alligator Bogaloo we hear Akiko Tsuruga at the Hammond, Randy Johnston on guitar, Fukushi Tainaka on drums and Lou Donaldson playing alto. The tune is from Lou’s 1967 album of the same name.

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

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.

I Got A Heartful Of Music – Benny Goodman Quartet

by | Jan 20, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

Here is a sort of bonus this week as the same Benny Goodman Quartet — different year, 1937 — plays “I Got A Heartful Of Music”.  Compare it with the 1972 performances.  They haven’t lost much of a step in all those years … and Krupa is nuts!

Avalon / Moonglow – Benny Goodman Quartet

by | Jan 17, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

This is the Original Benny Goodman Quartet!  Except for guest bassist George Duvivier, it’s the same amazing group, along with the rest of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, that brought down the house with their Carnegie Hall Concert in 1938!  The concert has been described by critics as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history … jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.”  The Quartet, which went on to perform for years to follow, was one of the first integrated jazz groups to achieve popularity during a era of pervasive racial segregation.

In 1972 Timex reunited clarinetist Benny Goodman, pianist Teddy Wilson, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, drummer Gene Krupa — adding Duvivier on bass — for a television special from Lincoln Center in New York.  Like Timex watches, which were always said to  “keep on ticking”, this timeless group still kept on swinging.  Goodman’s “Avalon” (Top) and the ever popular “Moonglow” (Lower) are here to prove it.