Archives for 2008

Great artists pay homage to Billy Strayhorn's God-given ability and mastery of his craft. Because he had a rare sensitivity and applied himself to his gifts, he successfully married melody, words and harmony, equating the fitting with happiness. -- Duke Ellington  'A' Train was born without any … [Read more...]

Bob Brookmeyer sent this message today: Bill Finegan passed peacefully on today with his son James and his daughter Helen by his side. He was a hero, a dear friend and one of the most gifted arrangers we have ever had. Somewhere an orchestra sounds better. Finegan was an arranger who gave Glenn … [Read more...]

Here's something I've been saving for a slow day--that is, a day when I haven't prepared a new posting. It's Freddie Hubbard in 1962 at age twenty-four, getting famous with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. To many, this was the Blakey band. It had Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, … [Read more...]

If someone wants to play music you do not have to get a ruler or whips to make them practice.--Thelonious Monk. They would tell me to practice, and they would get on my case, but only because they knew that's what I wanted to do. They never really did pressure me. They wouldn't have made me take … [Read more...]

The Rifftides staff has no more intention of making this blog a birthday watch than of making it a death watch, although there is an endless supply of both phenomena. However, on the Jazz West Coast listserve, Desne Villepigue pointed out that yesterday was the eighty-fourth anniversary of Hal … [Read more...]

Butch Warren was a fixture on Blue Note albums in the 1960s. One of the bright young bassists of his generation, he recorded with Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Thelonious Monk and others. Then he disappeared. Reporting for MSNBC, Antoine Sanfuentes found … [Read more...]

A Los Angeles man and wife, Doug McIntyre and Penny Peyser, last night premiered Trying To Get Good, a film about the trumpeter, singer and outrageous humorist Jack Sheldon. They and others know that Sheldon is one of the most gifted musicians alive. They hope that the film will help bring him … [Read more...]

In emulation of Art Kane's photograph Harlem 1958, widely known as A Great Day in Harlem, Great Day photographs have been made in cities all across the United States. Here, by permission of the Art Kane Archive, is the original. "© Art Kane Archive Not all of the copycat shots involve jazz. … [Read more...]

Today is Dave McKenna's 78th Birthday. He plays the piano.   Happy Birthday. … [Read more...]

The other night at The Seasons, I heard four nineteen-year-olds and was impressed. One of them, the alto saxophonist Logan Strosahl, has been intriguing me for a couple of years. The others, who comprise The Uptown Trio, were new to me except for the bassist, Jeff Picker, whom I had previously … [Read more...]

 From 1949 to 1963, the Black Hawk was San Francisco's premier jazz club. It presented a cross section of the world's best musicians. Like legions of other fans, I spent some of the most rewarding listening hours of my life being inspired in the Black Hawk's uninspiring surroundings and have … [Read more...]

Early in his career, pianist Billy Taylor made a difference in jazz by developing an individual approach to the use of chords. His concept fit well with that of the beboppers who in the second half of the 1940s were a new and powerful force in the music. Some swing musicians with open ears and open … [Read more...]

I think one of the best things you can do, no matter what you play, is to take up piano. Music is based on chord changes and harmonies, and you can get 'em more out of an instrument like piano, where you can hear all the notes at once. --Zoot Sims To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra. --Cecil … [Read more...]

Tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin recently entered his eighty-first year, still living and playing at full--or nearly full--speed. Martin Gayford today observed Griffin's longevity and vigor in a piece in the British newspaper the Telegraph. Here's an excerpt:   He was described by Richard Cook … [Read more...]

George Moore, who runs Dave Brubeck's office, sent this message:   If you are suffering from bruised or broken ribs, PLEASE WAIT TO OPEN THIS LINK.   Then, rummaging around on the internet, I found this companion piece of video. Now, no matter what kind of day you were having, you'll … [Read more...]

I'm not sure why it took me so long to find out about the Industrial Jazz Group, but life is full of unintentionally delayed gratification. I'm also not sure why it took me so long to come across Amedei chocolate, Norma Winstone, the writing of James Salter or the psychic rewards of gardening. In … [Read more...]

Bob Florence was best known for his big band arranging, as his Grammy award, thirteen Grammy nominations and two Emmys attest. He died last Thursday at home in Thousand Oaks, California, five days short of his 76th birthday. Florence was also a superb pianist and favorite accompanist of … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader John Altman writes from London:   Got an email from the British Film Academy (BAFTA) offering AN EVENING OF CHARLIE PARKER. At last, I thought, the elusive video from Canadian TV with Brew Moore and Paul Bley I've been hearing about for years. Opened the email and it was … [Read more...]