Monarch butterflies are passing through on their migration south. This morning, one rested on a maple leaf outside our window. His or her majesty was no object of pity, but it seemed to call for a performance of that most famous of all butterfly tunes (are there others?). Here’s the late Dave McKenna. Alternate version for two pianos, Count Basie and Oscar Peterson. … [Read more...]

If you live in or near Portland, Oregon, this is your lucky week. I am not at all reluctant to plug Ivories Jazz Lounge or this group of elite Portland players. Here’s the announcement from Ivories. Thursday July 12 The Two Tenors & Dave Frishberg play the music of Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, with David Evans, Lee Wuthenow, tenor saxophones; Dave Frishberg, piano; Tom Wakeling, bass; Charlie Doggett, drums. Ivories Jazz Lounge 1435 NW Flanders, Portland, OR … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Don Emanuel scanned this listing in the "What's On" section of a recent edition of his local newspaper, The Medway Messenger in Kent, UK. … [Read more...]

A long-running discussion (or argument) about the authorship of a major jazz tune may have been resolved once and for all. The tune is “Solar,” copyrighted in 1963 with the name of Miles Davis as composer, nearly a decade after he recorded it. It is a 12-bar minor blues based, with certain departures, on aspects of the harmonic structure of “How High The Moon.” Here, from the compilation album Walkin’, is the trumpeter’s 1954 recording with Davey Schildkraudt, alto saxophone; Horace … [Read more...]

After he heard the Eddie Higgins solo on “America The Beautiful” (one exhibit below), Rifftides reader Terence Smith wrote to suggest: Sometime on the 4th let's all listen to the Ray Charles version. That’s a fine idea. There are several versions of the song by Charles, some more musically successful than others, none more touching than this performance at the 2001 World Series, less than three years before he died. To all Americans at home and abroad, and to all … [Read more...]

Two years ago on July 4, we presented this performance by the late Eddie Higgins. When it didn't appear in 2011, we heard from disappointed Rifftides readers. Perhaps we should establish it as an Independence Day tradition. We'll make up for last year's oversight by bringing on Mr. Higgins a day early. Happy birthday, United States of America. … [Read more...]

Late notice—apologies—but this will be worth hearing: Monday, July 2nd On the Noontime Jamboree Record collector/musician/record producer Tony Baldwin visits the show. Tony is bringing in a mixed sample from his extensive collection of 78s. Join me, host Retta Christie, from Noon until 2 pm PDT On KBOO-FM, Portland 90.7 fm Baldwin specializes in vintage recordings restored to remarkable fidelity. … [Read more...]

One thing leads to another, if you're lucky. Bear with me; we’re backing into this. I was reading Thomas Vinciguerra’s Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition feature about the 50th anniversary of “The Girl From Ipanema.” When I saw a reference to “…the 1962 album Jazz Samba by Stan Getz and Charlie Parker,” I nearly lost my mouthful of coffee. Parker was nicknamed “Bird,” but the great alto saxophonist died in 1955. The Jazz Samba album seven years later was by the guitarist … [Read more...]

Fats Waller, composer, pianist, 1941, New York. Aaron Diehl, piano; Dominick Farinacci, trumpet; 2009, St. Joseph of the Holy Family Church, New York. … [Read more...]