The pianist Roberta Mandel was at San Francisco State College in the 1940s with Paul Desmond, Jerome Richardson, Cal Tjader, Ron Crotty, Dick Collins and Vernon Alley, among other young musicians who went on to fame. She later sang with Boyd Raeburn’s trail-blazing band in broadcasts on NBC and … [Read more...]
Archives for November 10, 2005
Comment: Applause
Rifftides reader Jon Foley writes: Thank God someone has finally brought up this subject. I thought I was the only one who thought this phenomenon was ridiculous. What could be more annoying than, let's say, a tenor player finishing a beautiful ballad solo, the crowd completely hushed and enthralled … [Read more...]
Comment: Name That Pianist
Jon Foley explains that his messages tend to come in batches. Yesterday, I was listening to a west coast jazz station over the internet, and a track came on, a quintet, I believe. The rhythm section caught my attention, even when the horns were soloing. When it came time for the piano solo, I was … [Read more...]