Blogging must sometimes take a back seat to gainful employment. I’m roundin’ third and headin’ home* in one deadline project, an essay and play-by-play account of the music for the Anita O’Day entry in the next Jazz Icons series**. It has been an adventure in research into the two European concerts on the DVD. As soon as that wraps up, I’ll begin notes for Bud Shank’s final CD, then a piece about Emil Viklický’s forthcoming trio CD with George Mraz and Lewis Nash. I may even get in a little work on my alleged next novel. While all that’s going on, I hope to bring you a few items of interest. Thanks for your patience.
*For puzzled readers not in the US, that is a quaint allusion to baseball.
**Here are the titles, coming out in October:
Coleman Hawkins- Live in ’64- (w/ Sweets Edison)
Art Blakey- Live in ’65- (w/ Freddie Hubbard)
Max Roach – Live in ’68
Jimmy Smith- Live in ’65 & ’69
Woody Herman- Live in ’64
Anita O’Day- Live In ’63 & ’70
Art Farmer- Live In ’64- (w/ Jim Hall)
Boxed Set featuring bonus performances, including a one-hour unseen Coleman Hawkins concert from the Adolphe Sax Festival in Belgium in 1962.
Bases Loaded
May 27, 2009 by
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Recent Comments
Jack Greenberg on Unburied Treasure: Chick Corea Trio
Well, I'm sure this performance won a lot of new fans for "jazz". I didn't see Ronald Reagan in the audience. Maybe he...Jim Eigo on Unburied Treasure: Chick Corea Trio
Great to see this amazing trio no matter where they play... And don't forget Dizzy and Max doing "Salt Peanuts" with Jimmy Carter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORhqJZfxxcIBill Benjamin on Unburied Treasure: Chick Corea Trio
Just great. The Now He Sings, Now He Sobs trio. The Bush family must have been freaking out on that first tune.Bill Anschell on Praise For Poodie James
I read and thoroughly enjoyed it -- great writing!Roberta on Poodie James Sale
Good luck with your book Doug. I will check it out. Thank you for the great blogging. All the best, Roberta Arnold, Artist Representative Toninho Horta Ronnie Cuber