Kirk Knuffke, Amnesia Brown (Clean Feed). Knuffke's trumpet tone is notable for softness, fullness and evenness. The audacity of risk in his improvisational concept would be the envy of the Flying Wallendas. The contrast between his sound and the content of his work is a source of fascination throughout this collection of miniatures. Even though his collaborators number only two, Knuffke has plenty of company in 16 little art songs without words, all his compositions. Drummer Kenny Wollesen is … [Read more...]
Holiday And Mulligan
April 7, 2010 by
Yesterday was Gerry Mulligan's birthday (1927-1996). Today is Billie Holiday's (1915-1959). If only there were video of them together. There is, of course; one of the most famous pieces of film ever made of a jazz performance. It is from the kinescope recording of the 1957 CBS-TV program The Sound of Jazz. "Fine and Mellow" featured Holiday with a group of horn soloists for which the designation All-Stars seems barely adequate. Holiday's choruses of her classic blues alternate with solos by Ben … [Read more...]
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