Bird’s Centennial: Celebration Pt. 2

by | Sep 5, 2020 | Orchestral, Quartet/Quintet

The first video is one of only two existing pieces of footage of Charlie Parker in performance. This session was recorded in October 1950 in an effort to add video to some previously recorded audio tracks. Bird was smiling because Hawkins, Rich and company were trying to mime their own improvised solos and it wasn’t working out so well. Bird had a good time with it until he got into “trouble” with the producer for laughing at Hawkins. I believe the tune they are attempting to re-dress is called Celebrity.

The second video is the other piece of performance footage and is entitled Hot House.  It was recorded in 1951 and ‘co-features’ Dizzy Gillespie in the days before his trumpet developed its trade mark distinctive ‘curve’.  The two audio selections, Lover Man and They Can’t Take That Away From Me are simply more ‘Bird’ at his best, including a cut from his album with strings.

In this session Bird was, of course, on alto, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Hank Jones played piano, the great Ray Brown played bass, and you’re sure to recognize Buddy Rich on drums.

When Parker got together with Dizzy Gillespie to jam, you knew the music had to be hot, so the tune was bound to be a few degrees above normal, too!  If you look closely toward the end, you’ll spot Dick Hyman at the piano.

Lover Man

by Charlie Parker | Original Recordings of Charlie Parker

They Can't Take That Away From Me

by Charlie Parker | Charlie Parker With Strings

Two Tenors – John Coltrane & Stan Getz

by | Jun 26, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

Ballads.  Put your feet up on a rainy Sunday afternoon and let the music wash away the week.  In a rare appearance together, John Coltrane and Stan Getz were actually supposed to be playing Autumn In New York … but it’s the one tune they don’t play!  The medley they do play consists of Autumn Leaves, What’s New and Moonlight In Vermont.  Besides Coltrane and Getz on tenors, Wynton Kelly is at the piano, Paul Chambers is on bass and Jimmy Cobb plays the drums.

Like Someone In Love / Red Suede Shoes – Chuck Loeb

by | Nov 29, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet, Solo/Duo

Like Someone In Love is a jazz standard.  Chuck Loeb was a guitarist with one foot anchored in traditional jazz and the other tap dancing its way around the [so called] smooth jazz genre. John Patitucci is an award winning bassist and composer, who was inspired by the likes of Ray Brown and Ron Carter … but who frequently likes to dance to the beat of his own drummer.  Put all three together and you have a couple of old friends just noodling on a familiar tune that makes everyone within earshot feel like “dis must be da place!”

As a sort of bonus, I’m including Red Suede Shoes as a sample of Chuck’s smooth jazz virtuosity.  Notice the orchestration reaches beyond the usual “death by saxophone” or “death by guitar” sound that seems to dominate the genre.

Red Suede Shoes

by Chuck Loeb | Plain 'n Simple

Angels / I Remember Clifford – Roy Hargrove

by | Oct 11, 2019 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet

Roy Hargrove is known as one of the top trumpet players in jazz for the past quarter-century.  As an incisive trumpeter, doubling on flugelhorn, Roy was discovered by Wynton Marsalis in the 1980s.  He embodied the brightest promise of his jazz generation, both as a young steward of the hard bop tradition and a savvy bridge to both hip-hop and R&B.  His assertive sound embodied a tone that could evoke either burnished steel or a soft, golden glow.  Here we have both.

 

Angels (Above), features the quintet with Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Justin Robinson on alto sax,  Tadataka Unno playing piano,  Ameen Saleem on bass, and Quincy Phillips playing drums.

I Remember Clifford (Below) displays Hargrove’s softer side, with the flugelhorn as a contrast to his big band backing.

Movin’ Wess

by | Sep 13, 2019 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet

While most often listed as a saxophonist, I prefer the sound of Frank Wess on the flute. Though the tune is nameless, Flauta Jazz uses the same chords as Ellington/Strayhorn Take The ‘A’ Train.  Sound Familiar?

The Very Thought Of You is a jazz and pop standard, first recorded and published in 1934 with music and lyrics by Ray Noble. Frank Wess applies his own magic touch along with big band backing.

Shelly Is The Manne!

by | Sep 6, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

The first song is from Shelly Manne’s Check Mate album, based upon the T.V. show (1960-1962) of the same name …  it’s called The Isolated Pawn.

Shelly Manne and his Men are comprised of Russ Freeman on piano, Richie Kamuca on tenor, Conte Candoli playing trumpet, Monte Budwig at the bass and, of course, Shelly Manne himself on drums.  Shelly has been called “the most musical drummer who ever lived” and virtually any of his solos will bear that out.

The second tune is Speak Low, from the 1943 Broadway play One Touch of Venus and features the same ensemble.  Both performances were recorded live in 1962 for Jazz Scene U.S.A. at Shelly’s Manne Hole in Los Angeles, CA.

Autumn Leaves – Chet Baker & Paul Desmond

by | Aug 2, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Chet Baker and Paul Desmond are not a pairing you hear everyday, which is why I wanted to share them here even though the audio-video synchronization seems a bit off.  The addition of Bob James on keyboards, Ron Carter playing contrabass and Steve Gadd’s drums round out a combo with a sound that swirls the Autumn leaves to new heights … and is irresistible if your toes or fingers tend to tap!

Land Of Passion – Hubert Laws

by | May 31, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Whether playing jazz, pop or R&B, flutist Hubert Laws possesses  a distinctive, instantly recognizable sound.  While he swings with the best of them, his classical roots are evident throughout his music.  Laws’ contributions to the Count Basie Big Band, Gil Evans Orchestra and The Crusaders, as well as his own highly successful jazz ensembles, notably place him in the company of the most recognized and respected flutists in the history of jazz,

“Land Of Passion”, a Hubert Laws original, features Hubert on flute, David Budway, piano, Rob Mullins, keyboards, John Leftwich, bass, and Ralph Penland, on drums.

The Trumpet of Blue Mitchell

by | May 24, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Blue Mitchell was the complete trumpet player, with a direct, lightly swinging sound that fit right in with Blue Note records’ musical mindset of the 1960s. That sound comes through loud and clear on “Hi-Heel Sneakers” as he is joined by Junior Cook on tenor sax, Chick Corea piano, Gene Taylor on bass and Al Foster playing drums.

Hi-Heel Sneakers

by Blue Mitchell | Down With It

Mitchell often tends to be overlooked today, perhaps because he spent most of his career as a much sought after side man. Given that he led his own group for only a short period of time, he never really had the chance to stand out in the public eye, despite his considerable talent. Listening to “Park Avenue Petite” it’s easy to hear where he got the nickname “Blue”. Here he’s joined by Wynton Kelly at the piano, Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums.

Park Avenue Petite

by Blue Mitchell | Blue Soul