Archives for February 2007

To jazz fans, Annie Ross will always be a third of the nonpareil singing group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. But she left L-H-R in 1962. Ever since, she has been up to her ears in a variety of music and entertainment ventures. Will Friedwald caught up with the indefatigable Ms. Ross in New York and talked with her about her kaleidoscopic show business life and current singing career. She told Will about Bob Weinstock of Prestige Records asking her in 1952 if she could write lyrics to a group of … [Read more...]

Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Moscow Idaho 2/25/07 After presentation of student winners, Saturday evening's final concert began with one piece by pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, guitarist Russell Malone and drummer Jeff Hamilton--the festival house band--who then accompanied James Morrison. Morrison began "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" on trombone with a long, exhibitionistic acapella cadenza that subsided into a melodic first chorus. As he built intensity in his … [Read more...]

The Hampton festival's core purpose is the development of young jazz musicians. Students from several states converge here to play in big bands and combos, vying for group and individual honors. Nearly 400 youngsters competed in the final day's events. Before the professionals played on Saturday evening, we heard student winners in several categories. In competitions across the country it has become predictable that Seattle's Roosevelt and Garfield High Schools will be among the top big bands. … [Read more...]

The Seasons Performance Hall has launched its own CD label with a Jessica Williams solo piano recital on the hall's nine-foot Steinway. Go here to read about Jessica Williams Live At The Seasons and listen to one of the tracks. Full disclosure: I wrote the liner notes, which are reproduced on The Seasons page at the link above. … [Read more...]

Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Moscow, Idaho 2/25/07 In the packed ballroom of the University of Idaho's student union building, The members of the festival's house rhythm section were answering questions. Jeff Hamilton, Benny Green, Christian McBride and Russell Malone now and then played to illustrate a point. A young woman asked what they do to prepare when a soloist is going to perform with them. Following a brief reply concerning repertoire and key signatures, Hamilton asked the … [Read more...]

Later, I'll have a report on the final concert of the Hampton festival, the changing of its artistic leadership, and a few thoughts on jazz education and the future of the jazz audience. At the moment, the hotel's checkout deadline is looming. I'm packing up and hitting the road following an intense and interesting four days in Moscow. As promised, I'll also be catching up, by way of mini-reviews, with some of the CDs that have accumulated in the past few weeks. … [Read more...]

Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Moscow, Idaho 2/24/07 At this jazz festival doubling as a music education experience for young people, there are as many as a dozen events in every hour of the day. They are scattered across the University of Idaho campus and the town of Moscow. It is impossible to sample more than a smattering of them. Example: At 3:00 p.m. on Friday, the schedule listed workshops by The Four Freshmen; Roberta Gambarini and Tamir Hendelman; the Estonian saxophonist … [Read more...]

Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Moscow, Idaho 2/23/07 Here's a quick update on highlights of a few of the dozens of festival events since the last posting. Last night's concert ran past midnight. It was dedicated to the late bassist Ray Brown and featured colleagues who achieved fame as sidemen in Brown's bands. Pianist Benny Green's trio with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff Hamilton set a high standard with an explosive performance of Brown's "Buhaina Buhaina." My notes say, "Hamilton … [Read more...]

Local wisdom has it that the population of Moscow, Idaho, doubles during the week of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Half of the temporary immigrants seem to be Russian musicians and others from the former Eastern bloc. At the opening concert in the University of Idaho field house, we heard satisfying sets by pianist Leonid Vintskevich and his saxophonist son Nik, who plays soprano and alto. They performed as a duo and with a strings orchestra, playing pieces written by Dr. Lynn Skinner, the … [Read more...]

To his amazement and, apparently, that of his doctors, my brother had recovered enough to be checked out of the hospital today and sent home. Going into major surgery a week ago, his situation was touch and go. Thanks to all of you who expressed concern. He knows and is grateful. … [Read more...]

Thanks to Bill Reed, aka Dr. Chilledair, for alerting us to recent video of Pinky Winters performing. The occasion was a concert during her December tour in Japan. You may recall that in the Rifftides review of her new CD recorded in 1983, I emphasized that she is singing beautifully these days. To hear and see proof, go here. Mr. Reed, in addition to his blogging activity, produces Ms. Winter's CDs. … [Read more...]

No, not that Moscow, the one in Idaho. I'm off later this morning to the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. In its fortieth year, the twenty-second under his name, the festival goes on without Hamp, worse luck, but with an array of peformers including Benny Green, Jeff Hamilton, Christian McBride, Terell Stafford, Tamir Hendelman, Roberta Gamborini, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, a number of Russians and "some great surprises," according to the advance publicity. For the first time, … [Read more...]

A benefit is scheduled for next week to help pianist Larry Willis, who was burned out of his home last month. The January 7 fire in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, destroyed the living quarters of the house he shared with a friend. Willis is one of the great journeyman pianists in modern jazz. His resumé includes work with Jackie McLean, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, Blood Sweat & Tears, Branford Marsalis, Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, Roy Hargrove, the Fort Apache Band and David "Fathead" Newman. … [Read more...]

A message came in yesterday from a Rifftides reader who did not identify himself except to write, "I am going to be 25 in July and I consider myself not to be like most young people who at my age are probably getting their news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert." The anonymous correspondent said that he had read last September's posting about Katie Couric's debut on The CBS Evening News. He went on... I found it to be fascinating, it turned up when I was doing a search for any information … [Read more...]

My brother is flat on his post-operative back, tethered to his hospital bed like a docked freighter, tubes going into every natural and created orifice. A nurse circumnavigates the bed checking monitor screens for vital signs, adjusting catheters, smoothing sheets. Then, heading for the door, the nurse says over his shoulder, "I'll be back." My brother replies, "I'll be here." He's doing better. This concludes the current series of medical reports. Enough, already. … [Read more...]

I left my hometown hospital after sitting with my brother in the intensive care unit for several hours. He is sedated up to his eyeballs, thank goodness, but seemed to know that I was there. Well, he knew that someone was there. The doctors tell me that the operation--a risky one--went well. We are all hoping that the recovery will be as successful. Many of you sent good wishes and prayers. Thank you, from all of us. … [Read more...]

Following the hospital visit, I had a terrific salmon dinner, then went to a bistro for a glass of wine. I ordered a Russell cabernet, which turned out to be a good choice. At a nearby table was a distinguished looking man of about sixty sitting with a couple who appeared to be in their late twenties. Before their dinner, they were sampling a flight of Washington red wines, which led the older man to share his wine expertise. I am spelling, as accurately as I can based on his pronunciation, the … [Read more...]

Nearly a year ago, reviewing The Shadow Of Your Smile: Pinky Winters Sings Johnny Mandel...with Lou Levy, I went on at length about that remarkable release by the vocalist and the pianist. Here is a bit of the review. Pinky Winters does not scat, swoop, or indulge in any form of "jazz singer" posturing. I have no doubt, given her innate musicianship, that she could embellish up a storm, but--like the man who knows how to play the accordion in Mark Twain's definition of a gentleman--she chooses … [Read more...]

For the moment, I am back at Rifftides world headquarters, following a hundred-mile drive through dense fog in the wee hours to be with my unexpectedly hospitalized brother. Arriving after 2:00 a.m., I "slept" for four hours on a cot in his room. If you have ever done time in a hospital, you will understand why "slept" is in quotation marks. After watching his many doctors, nurses and the hospital support workers in action, I have boundless admiration for their skill, dedication and good nature … [Read more...]

Considering that the last of his last four albums was released in 1966 and only one of them is available on CD, there has been a suprising amount of response to the January Rifftides piece about the music of Rod Levitt. A message that arrived this morning updates the Levitt story. Rod Levitt turned 75 years old in September 2004. In June of that year, after having made contact with him through various friends and acquaintances, I drove up to S. Wardsboro, Vermont where Rod and his wife Jean and … [Read more...]

I have no idea how many recorded jazz versions there are of Cole Porter's Songs. Hundreds, I imagine, possibly thousands. Think what handsome contributions "Love For Sale," "I Love You," Easy To Love" and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" must have made to Porter's royalties income. Of course, melodic evasions like "Hot House," based on the harmonic structure of "What Is This Thing Called Love," did not add to his riches; you can't copyright a chord pattern. Like most of the classic American … [Read more...]

A family emergency has called me away. I don't know for how long, but the nature of the emergency has me not daring to hope that it will be a short stay. I'll be posting again as soon as possible. DR … [Read more...]

The Grammy win last night by Brian Lynch and Eddie Palmieri for Best Latin Jazz Album is also a victory for the proposition that independence can bring rewards. Lynch said goodbye to the oversight of record companies, produced Simpático on his own and released it with ArtistShare, the cooperative venture that allows musicians greater control over their recorded work and a greater share of the profit from it. Even better, it's a splendid CD. To read last fall's Rifftides review of Simpático, go … [Read more...]

Rifftides Washington, DC correspondent John Birchard heard Dave Holland's new band the other night and filed this report. Terrace Theater, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. February 9, 2007. Dave Holland, bass; Robin Eubanks, trombone; Antonio Hart, alto saxophone; Alex Sipiagin, trumpet & fluegelhorn; Mulgrew Miller, piano; Eric Harland, drums. Dave Holland made his third visit to the Kennedy Center, leading a band he described as "a relatively new project." The … [Read more...]

There have been several interesting comments about the Rifftides Pay To Play posting. Jim Brown's comment constitutes an essay and gets a posting of its own. He wrote it in response to messages about the Pay To Play piece that appeared on a listserve devoted to west coast jazz. The emphases and the colorful language are all Mr. Brown's. I come at this with the perspective of engineer (formal training), jazz fan for 55 years, actively working in and with jazz clubs for the last 30 years, and a … [Read more...]

A reminder: Don't miss the comments from fellow Rifftidesers. We get some interesting ones. There is a comments link at the end of every posting. While you're there, please submit comments of your own. Your fellow readers and the staff like to hear from you. … [Read more...]