Archives for December 2005

Rifftides reader Peter Bergmann in Berlin responded to the posting about Ben Webster. Great Webster. Ben Webster is buried in Copenhagen, close to Kenny Drew with whom he frequently played at the Cafe Montmartre in the 6o's and early 70's. His legacy is alive in Copenhagen - and the rest of Europe. … [Read more...]

Jack Tracy’s story about Jake Hanna’s reflexive quip the night he learned of John Lennon’s murder inspired an assortment of responses from readers of the Jazz West Coast listserve. Here is one exchange, courtesy of the JWC list: From: Jeff Jansen Subject: John Lennon Anecdote Is this what … [Read more...]

Many Rifftides habitues also visit Terry Teachout's About Last Night. Indeed, many of you first came here because Terry referred you. As you may know, TT has been in the hospital for several days. I just talked with everyone's favorite arts polymath as he was packing his bag to return home. He will … [Read more...]

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.—George Eliot Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Bob Walsh writes: Almost every review of GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK has applauded the rich tenor saxophone work of Matt Catingub on the soundtrack. But no one has mentioned that the work owes much to Ben Webster...and that Matt is the son of Mavis Rivers. (I saw them together at the … [Read more...]

The following message appeared today on the Jazz West Coast listserve. With all the ink flowing about this being 25 years since John Lennon bought the farm, I must tell you how I heard about it. I was at Dante's jazz club in the San Fernando Valley and the TV set above the bar was on and showing … [Read more...]

John Schaefer, Drew McManus and I had a good time addressing the proposition: to applaud or not to applaud. It was on WNYC Radio's Soundcheck program. The discussion included calls from listeners with intelligent observations. If you missed it, you can listen to it by going to the Soundcheck page on … [Read more...]

In a recent Rifftides posting, I wrote: It must be tempting, if you own a newspaper, to break down the traditional separation between the news side of the paper and the advertising department. There are plenty of advertisers eager for credibility they think will come from a more direct connection … [Read more...]

The other day, we declared the following item from The Los Angeles Times the winner of the Rifftides everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-in-the-lead newswriting competition. Ed Masry, the flamboyant, crusading environmental lawyer portrayed by actor Albert Finney in the movie "Erin Brockovich," which … [Read more...]

The Rifftides applause discussion of the past several days attracted attention off the web as well as on. Drew McManus of Adaptistration and I will join John Schaefer of WNYC radio in New York to talk about applause for jazz and classical music. The broadcast will be tomorrow, Friday, December 9, … [Read more...]

One of the great albums of the early 1960s has never been reissued on CD, a circumstance that calls for a listener uprising and perhaps a congressional investigation. It was Flute Fever by the Jeremy Steig Quartet (Columbia CS 8936 stereo, CL 2136 monaural). Copies of the LP in good condition, when … [Read more...]

As you may have noticed, I maintain an interest in what is happening in journalism. Quality of writing is a particular fascination. I've begun keeping a sort of journal of examples of writing and of broadcast speech. I may occasionally share an entry with you. The year is nearly over, so I think it … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Steven Marks responded to a recent more or less lighthearted posting with this:: As a former writer for Down Beat and other arts periodicals, this post made me laugh. I know what you mean about the writer's minimum wage, esp when it comes to arts journalism -- I'd say it's about 2 … [Read more...]

Minimum Wage duty calls. Today, I must write like crazy to finish what one might amusingly describe as a paying job. I also have to figure out what I'm going to say tonight when I introduce a performance of the Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn "Nutcracker Suite" at The Seasons. It will be played by a … [Read more...]

A month ago, in the discussion of Good Night, And Good Luck, I included this item about Diane Reeves’ important contribution to the film’s success. Thanks to Rifftides reader Paul Conley of KXJZ in Sacramento for calling my attention to his interview with Ms. Reeves about her role in the … [Read more...]

We are about to wrap up the discussion about whether to applaud, and when. First, if you'd like to see the comments of classical fans who responded on Drew McManus's Adaptistration , go here, then come right back. Unless something extraordinary pops up, we conclude with a comment from Bill Kirchner, … [Read more...]

Eric Jackson, Stephen J. Charbonneau and Steve Schwartz of Boston's venerable jazz station WGBH have launched a new weblog. It concentrates on music and musicians in the Boston area. Many of the best jazz players show up there, several live in the city or nearby and the WGBH blog has news about … [Read more...]

Please notice that we're beginning another week of Rifftides with a fresh batch of Doug's Picks. As always, we would appreciate knowing how you like hearing, watching and reading them. You'll find them in the right column. … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Janet Shapiro, a veteran of the classical recording industry who produces television broadcasts of classcial music, saw our most recent installment of the applause debate. It concerned Bill Kirchner's hold-your-applause experiment the other night. She wrote: Classical music is … [Read more...]