The Rifftides staff is springing—well, easing—(all right, slouching) back into action after near-total immersion in the Miles Español project described three items down. Here is a pleasant way to do it. Word from Sweden is that the Ystad Jazz Festival organized and supervised by … [Read more...]

Blogging here has slowed in the past few days and may not pick up markedly for a few more. The Rifftides staff is on deadline for an historical essay to accompany Bob Belden’s Miles Español film project. The research has had to be deeper, wider and more intense than I imagined when I said yes to … [Read more...]

This item from trumpeter Mike Vax has popped up in various places on the web in the past couple of days. It is dated August 3. I just talked with Gwen Terry. Clark Terry had surgery on his right leg to remove some blockage and the operation went very well. I will be talking with Clark … [Read more...]

In the right-hand column under Doug's Picks, you will find recommendations of new CDs by a daring pianist, a daring duo and a daring singer. For now, last month's DVD and book picks remain on the main page. New ones will follow——sooner or later. … [Read more...]

This morning I took a side trip through a subdivision that not long ago was an orchard. The non-architecture is typical of the builder-designed antisepsis or Stepford school—big double and triple garages with houses attached. But wait, there’s a bright spot. This is the name of the main … [Read more...]

Here is the unofficial Rifftides apple crop forecast for 2011. My friend Vigorelli Bianchi and I gathered evidence on an early morning cycling expedition. You see Vig resting while I photographed. The forecast is for abundant fruit. This fall, there will be plenty of good red Washington apples … [Read more...]

As Paul Motian’s latest engagement began at a venerable New York club that holds precious memories for him, Larry Blumenfeld profiled the 80-year-old drummer in The Wall Street Journal. Here’s a quote: What turns me on isn't technique," he said. "It's the sound of the drums, the way … [Read more...]

Frank Foster died today following a long period of ill health. He was 82. Foster was important to the Count Basie band as a tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger for more than a decade beginning in 1953. In the reed section, he and Frank Wess teamed up as one of the best-known tenor sax tandems … [Read more...]

“Evenin',” Jimmy Rushing sang with Basie and Prez in 1936, “every night you come and you find me….” I could hear Rushing in my mind’s ear as we looked out across the deck, the garden shed roof and the neighborhood trees to Ahtanum Ridge reflecting the sun still blazing at 7:30. … [Read more...]

Matthew Shipp, The Art of the Improviser (Thirsty Ear). This album will not show up on the soft jazz and easy listening charts. Shipp is strong medicine. The first disc of the two-CD set has the audacious avant garde pianist with his trio, the second playing alone. They capture concert … [Read more...]