Archives for June 2012

Steve Cerra’s Jazz Profiles remembers Tom Talbert, the under-recognized composer and bandleader who died nearly eight years ago in his early eighties. Steve incorporates a passage in which Talbert wrote about his postwar debut. Worked with several bands and met arranger-bandleader Johnny … [Read more...]

Thanks to the many Rifftides readers who are weighing in on the discussion of jazz on public radio in the US. The comments—some from inside the medium—include reasons for the decline, analysis of its nature, reports of a few bright spots, and a good deal of frustration. It seems to be an … [Read more...]

Because it’s been too long since you’ve heard it… Cannonball Adderley, alto saxophone; Nat Adderley, cornet; Joe Zawinul, piano; Victor Gaskin, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums. Los Angeles, October 20, 1966. … [Read more...]

Carol Sloane sent an alert to yet another step in the abandonment of jazz by public broadcasting in The United States. Here is the headline of a column on the website of The Boston Globe: The column is by Mark Leccese, an independent ombudsman who keeps an eye on print and broadcast outlets. … [Read more...]

Oh, we weren’t? Well, we are now. First here’s something you can listen to immediately. Today on National Public Radio’s Weekend All Things Considered, the host, Guy Raz, closed with eight minutes and 45 seconds of conversation with drummer Matt Wilson (pictured, left). They talked about … [Read more...]

I copied and learned from my predecessors and I'm grateful to them, and I gratefully accept this award—Sonny Rollins, 6/20/12 I love awards, especially if I get them—Ben Gazzara Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust—Jesse Owens … [Read more...]

Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins top the winners of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2012 awards announced yesterday in New York City. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz: Horace Silver Musician of the Year: Sonny Rollins Composer-Arranger of the Year: Maria Schneider Up and Coming … [Read more...]

This is from the top of one of the long, steep hills on today's cycling expedition with friend Dave. Looking west, we see the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the distance. While the Rifftides staff tackles a couple of deadline assignments, blogging will be intermittent, with entries … [Read more...]

First thing: Have you noticed that half of the answers to questions and half of reports (statistic not scientifically confirmed) on radio and television news and interview programs begin with, “So…” News Anchor: For the latest on White House reaction to those discouraging … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Svletlana Ilicheva writes from Moscow about a concert earlier this week at the Tzaritzino National Park. Called “Classics And Jazz,” the program included four prominent American saxophonists of the same generation who have banded together as the Axis Saxophone Quartet. Ms. … [Read more...]

In a meeting of east and west, April’s Ballard Jazz Festival in Seattle brought together New York pianist Orrin Evans with Human Spirit. Led by trumpeter Thomas Marriott, alto saxophonist Mark Taylor and drummer Matt Jorgensen, the Seattle quintet is attracting international attention, in part … [Read more...]

In 1921, 16-year-old trumpet student Elden E. Benge of Winterset, Iowa, wrote a letter to Herbert L. Clarke (pictured, right), asking advice. Clarke (1867-1945) was the most celebrated cornet soloist of his day, a veteran of John Phillip Sousa’s band and leader of his own concert bands. His … [Read more...]

Wondering how trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire is doing in the wake of the (justified) fuss over his 2010 album When The Heart Emerges Glistening, I did a bit of web surfing and discovered that he’s doing fine. Among the evidence was video of an intergenerational concert led by the 77-year-old French … [Read more...]

Bobby Shew played a one-nighter Saturday evening in his brief tour of the Pacific Northwest. The gig at Tula’s in Seattle launched in slight confusion over the introduction the rhythm section played to the first tune, Victor Young’s “Beautiful Love.” It did not match what Shew had in mind. … [Read more...]

Seattle and I have got to stop meeting like this. I’m heading back across the Cascades for trumpeter Bobby Shew’s appearance tonight at Tula’s. Coincidentally, a message arrived yesterday evening from Mr. Shew. It was succinct: “Check it out,” followed by a link to this blistering 1981 … [Read more...]

The latest post in Steve Cerra’s Jazz Profiles concerns first-rate musicians who are well known only where they live. Sometimes, Steve points out, that is because they don’t get a break. Sometimes, it is because they want to stay put. “Every town has one,” he writes. “Whether it’s … [Read more...]

One night in the early 1970s when the Half Note of blessed memory was still in downtown Manhattan and had yet to develop midtown pretensions, Roy Haynes was playing drums with Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. Dave Frishberg was the pianist. I think the bassist was Victor Sproles. In the closing tune of a late … [Read more...]

Before Chick Webb died in 1939 at the age of 30, he established himself as a model for jazz drumming and his band as a gold standard of swing that humbled even Count Basie and Benny Goodman. In addition, Webb discovered Ella Fitzgerald. He became her mentor, guardian and protector as she developed … [Read more...]