The question is no doubt as old as artistic expression. Imagine a viewer of the first paleolithic paintings in the Great Hall of the Bulls in the Cave of Lascaux: Well, of course Zog is brilliant, but have you seen how he drags his mate around by her hair? It's hard to see how such a rotten guy can … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2006
Home
Back home after a warm, sunny nine-day Christmas visit with our son at his house on a Southern California beach, I cleared a path through the snow to reach the house. We rested a day, then piled into the car. Today, we drove south, crossed the mighty Columbia River, rendezvoused for lunch in Oregon … [Read more...]
Atzmon: Nature Boy
Gilad Atzmon, the fiery Israeli multi-instrumentalist, is sometimes identified as a purveyor of world music when he is not being attacked or praised for political activity that involves aggressive criticism of Israeli policies. Neither of those facets of his existence is involved in a video clip … [Read more...]
Other Matters: Two Types
There are two types of people -- those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are." -- Frederick L. Collins, author (1882-1950) … [Read more...]
Correspondence: On David Berger
Mark Stryker, the music critic for the Detroit Free Press, writes: I really appreciated your post about David Berger - a gifted and underrated musician. Now, guess where he lives - on a street on the Upper West Side named "Duke Ellington Boulevard." It's really 106th Street, but it's also named for … [Read more...]
New Picks
In the right-hand column, you will find a new set of Doug's Picks, none having to do with Christmas or Hanukah but satisfying for holiday listening, viewing or reading. Enjoy. … [Read more...]
CD
Steve Turre, Steve Turre, Keep Searchin' (High Note). The prolific trombonist in the J.J. Johnson tradition in yet another stimulating collection. He features two brilliant soloists, vibraharpist Stefon Harris and pianist Xavier Davis, and the fine drummer Dion Parson. Gerald Cannon and Peter … [Read more...]
CD:Kristin Korb
Kristin Korb, Why Can't You Behave (Double K). Korb sings even better than on her previous CD and does it while playing the bass superbly. The Ray Brown protégé's power and note choices would make the late master proud. Her treatment of Cole Porter's title tune is appropriately wry and saucy, her … [Read more...]
CD
Lee Wiley, West Of The Moon (Mosaic). One of the most tasteful, distinctive and emotionally profound singers of the 1930s and '40s, Wiley was less active in the '50s. By the time she died in 1975, she was all but forgotten by the public. Her admirers never forgot her, though. Fortunately, one of … [Read more...]
DVD
Rufus Reid, Live In Vienna (MVD Visual). With Austrian pianist Fritz Pauer and fellow American John Hollenbeck on drums, Reid steps into the role of leader in this concert at the Vienna club Porgy And Bess. One of the most experienced and dependable sidemen in jazz, Reid demonstrates the musical … [Read more...]
The Berger Guidelines
David Berger, leader of the Sultans of Swing, is an esteemed arranger who might be called a Duke Ellington specialist except that he is expert in all areas of big band jazz. He created The Harlem Nutcracker, incorporating new arrangements of Tchaikovsky pieces that Ellington and Billy Strayhorn … [Read more...]
Correspondence: Nica And Monk
Rifftides reader Jim Sofra writes: Excellent topic, enjoyed it immensely! We were recently listening to 'Nicas Dream' and Monk and the stories started coming out about how Nica was devoted to the musicians in her life. Heres a pic of her with Theolonius Monk, one of my favorite pix of him as well. … [Read more...]
Holiday
During the next week or so of travel, family activities and general holiday merriment, the Rifftides staff will post as often as possible, but you may note a diminution of blogtivity. Rifftiders and Rifftidings will be on our minds, and we hope to hear from you by way of the Comments function at the … [Read more...]
Compatible Quotes
Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school. --Clark Terry At least one day out of the year all musicans should just put their instruments down, and give thanks to Duke Ellington.--Miles Davis Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.--Duke Ellington … [Read more...]
The Bebop Bentley
The Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter was known for her friendship with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and other leading musicians of the bop and post-bop periods. She was born a Rothschild -- as Jean Bach puts it, a vraie Rothschild -- of the English branch of the lavishly moneyed international … [Read more...]
Correspondence: Sancton on Davern
Tom Sancton writes from Paris about the death of Kenny Davern: Beautiful piece. I am very saddened by Kenny's death. I met up with him this summer at a JVC concert called "Clarinet Marmalade." Hadn't seen him in a couple of years, but it was a warm, good-humored reunion. I gave him a signed copy of … [Read more...]
Sound Check
One of the hippest and most eclectic programs dealing with music and other cultural matters is Sound Check on WNYC-FM, New York. Monday, December 18, at 2:15 p.m. EDT I will be with Sound Check's host John Schaefer to discuss the best jazz recordings of 2006. To join us in the New York metropolitan … [Read more...]
Storm
The ferocious storm that disabled much of Seattle and other parts of western Washington state last night roared across the Cascades and into our valley, only slightly diminished. It was so powerful that the house shook when the first blast hit. The windows howled for hours as the wind tried to pry … [Read more...]
Ave Kenny Davern
Like virtually everyone who knew him or his music, I was shocked by Kenny Davern's death on Tuesday. A heart attack--sudden and massive--took him at the age of seventy-one. The New York Times obituary by Dennis Hevesi offered the perfect description of Davern: "a radically traditional jazz … [Read more...]