Rifftides

Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...

Archives for 2007

The Bird And Ron McCroby

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Former Down Beat editor Jack Tracy has always had an ear for fresh young talent. He sent this link to video of a blues-singing bird - the avian variety. Could it be the reincarnation of Rob McCroby (1934-2002)? McCroby's recordings for Concord, something of a sensation in the 1980s, have never been … [Read more...]

Compatible Quotes

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Piano. n. A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor. It is operated by depressing the keys of the machine and the spirits of the audience. -- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary Nothing soothes me more after a long and maddening course of pianoforte recitals than to sit and have my … [Read more...]

Bill Evans: Your Story

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Bill Evans redeems the piano from Bierce's and Shaw's disdain in this video clip, made in Norway in August of 1980 when Evans was mortally ill and undoubtedly knew it. Thanks to Jan Stevens of The Bill Evans Web Pages for finding it. The bassist and drummer are Marc Johnson and Joe LaBarbera. … [Read more...]

The Heroic Legion

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In his blog, About Last Night, Terry Teachout quotes Whitney Balliett's incomparable tribute to the ability of most jazz musicians to maintain their unbreakable spirit despite being cold-shouldered by the culture. Whatever the reasons, these musicians form a heroic legion. They work long hours in … [Read more...]

More CDs From Smalls

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Harry Whitaker, Thoughts (Past And Present) [Smalls]. Whitaker has been a working pianist since he was fourteen, but for much of his career he has concentrated on producing, arranging and serving as musical director for others, including singer Roberta Flack and vibraphonist Roy Ayers. In nine of … [Read more...]

Correspondence: About Gil Coggins

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Rifftides reader Sam Stephenson writes from North Carolina: I'm excited to hear this new Gil Coggins record. Thank you for the tip. I only wish it could have been released before he passed. In 2002 I interviewed Gil as part of my loft project. He was a veteran of the 6th Ave. loft I'm researching … [Read more...]

Gil Coggins

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Gil Coggins, Better Late Than Never (Smalls). The first phase of pianist Coggins' career tapered off in the mid-1950s after he recorded with Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Jackie McLean. Although his work was distinct from his contemporary John Lewis, he shared with Lewis a spare approach to … [Read more...]

October

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Sunday, we harvested the last of the blackberries, cut back the spent canes from the arches and tied down the canes that will produce next year's crop. That pleasant task out of the way, my Italian friend and I went for a thirty-mile ride through farm and orchard country. The route had early autumn … [Read more...]

Other Voices: McKusick On Cohn

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Following the August Rifftides piece about Hal McKusick, Marc Myers, aka Mr. JazzWax, sought out McKusick and is running a multi-part interview with the veteran reed man. The 83-year-old McKusick reminisces about a life in music from his debut as a teenager in the big bands to his teaching today. … [Read more...]

Other Voices: Davis on Rollins

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I did not attend Sonny Rollins' Carnegie Hall concert last month and had not heard or read much about it until a review by Francis Davis in the current issue of The Village Voice. Davis calls it "this year's be-there-or-be-square event" and gives it a thorough going-over, reporting the good and the … [Read more...]

CD: Ted Rosenthal

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Ted Rosenthal, The King And I (Venus). Following Shelly Manne's success with his 1956 trio recording of My Fair Lady, jazz versions of Broadway musicals were hot for several years. That was when there were musicals with songs that lent themselves to jazz interpretation. Those days are not gone for … [Read more...]

CD: Ed Reed

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Ed Reed Sings Love Stories, Blue Shorts. Reed's drug habit put him in prison for large chunks of his adult life, derailing his hope for a singing career. In the 1980s, he defeated his forty-year addiction and went to work on his craft. Now, he emerges on record as a singer of warmth, deep feeling, … [Read more...]

DVD: Marvin Stamm

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Marvin Stamm, Alone Together (Jazzed Media). Trumpeter Stamm's quartet with pianist Bill Mays, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ed Soph reaches its peak in this concert at Rising Stars, a cozy Southern California concert space. Equipped with microphones, cameras and lighting, the little hall is also a … [Read more...]

Book: Ron Hudson

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Ron Hudson, Right Down Front (Jazzpress). A master of the moment, Hudson makes portraits of musicians in the act of creation. His cover shot of Milt Jackson --eyes closed, one hand grasping his vibes mallets, the other raised in affirmation-- illustrates the spirit of the book's title. His … [Read more...]

Moody and Mays

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The Seasons Fall Festival wrapped up over the weekend in Yakima, Washington, with concerts that featured two Bill Mays trios. James Moody also starred, performing at eighty-two with the wisdom of age and the energy of a teenager. Friday night, it was Mays, piano; Marvin Stamm, trumpet and … [Read more...]

Jo Stafford

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While a bunch of us were standing around waiting to be seated at a restaurant following Saturday night's concert at The Seasons (see the previous item), the conversation turned to singers. Jo Stafford came in for prominent and enthusiastic mention. The next morning, I was checking out Marc Myers' … [Read more...]

Libros Libertad

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The British Columbia newspaper Peace Arch News has a report about the success of Libros Libertad, the publisher of Poodie James. With five books released so far - and as many on the way by year's end, the imprint is rapidly gaining stature and credibility with its up-market style paperbacks. Poodie … [Read more...]