Archives for April 2011

Jazz historian, composer, arranger, bandleader, educator and short sleeper Bill Kirchner writes: You've probably seen—or will see—the new "Jazz" U.S. postage stamp just issued. A year ago, I was a paid consultant on the design of it. The graphic artist's original design included a … [Read more...]

The violinist Billy Bang, who created himself as a jazz musician out of the trauma of the Vietnam war, died yesterday at 63. Inhabited by his combat experiences, his emotions wounded, Bang found relief and rehabilitation by returning to the violin he had studied as a child. He pursued an intensity … [Read more...]

Researching key signatures in performances of “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,” I made a discovery. Everyone else out there may have known about Olaf Polziehn, but he was new to me. After I heard him play the piece (in E-flat), further research turned up these facts: Polziehn is 40 years old. He … [Read more...]

Here is Thelonious Monk in Japan with Charlie Rouse, Butch Warren and Frankie Dunlop. Monk is in a dancing mood. That’s the bonus in this splendid performance of “Evidence.” The staff recommends full-screen viewing. Now, how can you not have a good weekend? … [Read more...]

Miscellany accumulates, each unrelated matter of some importance but too small for an item of its own. The solution—hardly an innovation—is to put them all in the same container, call it Odds And Ends and get the jumble out of my mind and into yours. More Help For Japan Following … [Read more...]

Since the previous exhibit doesn't give you a clear look at Jon Wikan’s cajon, here’s a picture of one. And here is a link to a Wikipedia article about the instrument's nature and history. … [Read more...]

Today is the 84th anniversary of Gerry Mulligan’s birth. He died in 1996 at the age of 68. There are many contexts in which to remember Mulligan—as a precocious teenaged arranger for Tommy Tucker, Elliott Lawrence and Gene Krupa; one of the key figures in the Birth of the Cool recordings; the … [Read more...]

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra played to a packed Village Vanguard in New York in its Japan earthquake and tsunami benefit performance on Monday Night. The event streamed live on the internet and had hundreds of viewers, many of them in Japan. Guest artists included Barry Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew … [Read more...]

There's a fresh dump of snow and avalanches have closed some roads in the Cascades, but in our little orchard, spring has—well, you know. … [Read more...]

Hundreds of CDs have piled up around Rifftides world headquarters. At a meeting, the staff voted whether to write, long, exhaustive analytical reviews of three of them or highlight many more in an effort to keep up with a jazz scene that—take our word for it—is not dying, at least not in … [Read more...]