There is more to jazz in Montreal than the sprawling festival that takes place in the Canadian city every summer. Keeping up with developments there is easier because of the work of filmmaker Randy Cole (pictured). Cole’s latest short film is about the influence of a new daughter on the life and work of tenor saxophonist Joel Miller and Miller’s preparations for a project with bassist Fraser Hollins, drummer Greg Ritchie and the visiting American pianist Geoffrey Keezer. The last … [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.
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Man, the audience shots are hilarious. Not a huge comprehension level there. The expressions are mostly bovine. A couple of guys with mustaches are nodding...