Moonglow And Theme From Picnic – (Soundtrack)

by | Nov 28, 2020 | Orchestral, Soundtrack

Take the 1933 song “Moonglow”, popularized by The Benny Goodman Quartet, blend it carefully with the theme from a 1955 Academy Award winning movie … then add Kim Novak and William Holden, and you have the recipe for a genuine box office blockbuster!  This is the famous dance scene from “Picnic” that was considered so daring and erotic for a movie of that day.

While not strictly a jazz tune, the music [written by George Dunning and scored by Morris Stoloff] became highly popular, and to this day remains one of my favorite songs … and the movie one of my favorite films.. By merging the two songs a truly unique sound was achieved and the combination was successfully recorded by a variety of artists from both the pop and jazz idioms.

Chopin Meets The Blues

by | Sep 26, 2020 | Orchestral, Trio

The Peter Beets trio performs Waltz in C#m with the world famous Residentie Orkest The Hague (The Hague Philharmonic) at Paard (The Hague).  Jazz improvisations on Chopin music were arranged for trio and symphony orchestra by Rob Horsting and Marijn van Prooijen.  The trio consists of Peter on piano, Marius Beets playing double bass and Gijs Dijkhuizen on drums.

String Along With Turtle Island

by | Oct 18, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

The Turtle Island String Quartet is an unconventional musical ensemble which plays jazz standards and original compositions that cross several styles, including blues, classical, jazz, and world music. Violinist David Balakrishnan got the idea for a jazz string quartet in 1985.

As a child, David was inspired by Jimi Hendrix and later discovered jazz through the music of the David Grisman Quartet.  The group has performed with the likes of Billy Taylor, Manhattan Transfer, Modern Jazz Quartet, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and many others.  Since its founding, TIQ has had many members come and go, but their uniqueness, intensity and musical integrity has always remained.

Blue Rondo A La Turk is a jazz composition in 9/8 time written by Dave Brubeck. It first appeared on his classic Time Out album in 1959.  His choice of rhythm was inspired by the Turkish aksak time signatures.

Moment’s Notice, a John Coltrane composition, was recorded live in Brussels featuring David Balakrishnan playing violin, Mark Summer on cello,  Mateusz Smoczynski also on violin and Benjamin von Gutzeit on viola.

Nat & Natalie Cole – Piano and Duet

by | Feb 8, 2019 | Orchestral, Vocal

Natalie Cole is one of only a handful of performers whose apple didn’t fall very far from the tree.  In the top video she proves it by singing a duet with Nat that was cleverly constructed in 1991, by mixing his 1951 recording with Natalie’s live performance.  It’s Unforgettable … and it really is!  Like her dad, she was probably best known for her work in ‘pop’ music but, oh, she could swing!

As for Nat ‘King’ Cole, many who only knew him as a singer didn’t realize that he was one helluva piano player.  In fact, some might say he was a great piano player who just so happened to know how to sing.  In the bottom video, sample both the voice and fingers of ‘The Velvet Rasp’ himself.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Kenny G

by | Dec 7, 2018 | Smooth Jazz, Video

This is Kenny G’s official Christmas video and features clips from five of the best traditional holiday movies ever.  There is good reason they are viewed continually by millions every year … nothing compares, period!  With Hollywood icons like Burgess Meredith and Jimmy  Stewart in the background of Kenny’s gently nostalgic performance, the experience is nothing less than pure emotional magic.

Queen Latifah Jazz

by | Aug 3, 2018 | Audio, Vocal

A “Queen” of rap and hip-hop featured on a jazz website?  What’s wrong with this picture?  Not a thing if she really can sing … and not only has a voice but impeccable phrasing!  Whether soft or swinging, Queen Latifah is a pleasant surprise when she turns her attention toward more standard fare.  She is another wonderfully talented musician from that magical [Newark] New Jersey corridor of spectacular performers, and a shining example of tunes and talent crossing over between jazz and other musical genres.

Close Your Eyes

by Queen Latifah | The Dana Owens Album

Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

by Queen Latifah | Trav'lin' Light

Joy Spring / Laura – Clifford Brown

by | Jun 29, 2018 | Orchestral, Quartet/Quintet

Clifford Brown, also known as “Brownie”, is often regarded as the finest jazz trumpet player to ever perform on the American music scene. Certainly he is the benchmark against whom all others are judged.  Brownie died tragically at the age of 25 in a car accident on a rainy night in Pennsylvania, leaving behind a recorded legacy that spans a mere four years. He profoundly influenced later jazz trumpeters including Booker Little, Freddie Hubbard, and the great Lee Morgan.  He was also a composer of note, with two of his compositions, “Joy Spring” and “Daahoud” becoming jazz standards.

Joy Spring

by Clifford Brown | Jazz Immortal

Laura

by Clifford Brown | Brown With Strings

Parker’s Mood – James Moody

by | May 11, 2018 | Orchestral, Solo/Duo

James Moody was a jazz saxophonist and flutist from Newark, New Jersey, celebrated for his virtuosity, his versatility and his onstage ebullience. This is a gentle solo with strings, from Eastwood After Hours, recorded at Carnegie Hall in NYC on October 17, 1996.

The Summer – Salut Salon

by | Nov 17, 2017 | Lighter Side, Quartet/Quintet

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!