Alerting the Rifftides staff to this combination, Bill Kirchner wrote, "Yes, you read that right." There may have been less likely tenor saxophone encounters, but I doubt if they were captured on camera. The third tenor player--the one we see but don't hear--is Lew Tabackin. The house of the good … [Read more...]

Most customers, by the time the musicians reach the second set, are to some extent inebriated. They don't care what you play anyway.--Charles Mingus The boppers flat their fifths. We consume ours.--Eddie Condon I'm all in favor of getting grants for musicians. Or any other good brand of … [Read more...]

As you may have surmised from the paucity of substantial postings the past few days, I am still working my way through an accumulation of professional obligations, some connected with music, some not. Nonetheless, I try to give you items that I hope will keep you coming back to Rifftides. So, here … [Read more...]

On his blog Pop Musicology, Michael J. West discloses that he has joined the ranks of reviewers for Jazz Times. He was recommended by Nat Hentoff, a fine way to be launched. In the Other Places department, I am adding a link to Pop Musicology. The subtitle of Mr. West's blog is: Popular music … [Read more...]

I asked bassist Bill Crow what he remembered about the Gerry Mulligan Sextet concert that is the subject of the next exhibit, posted yesterday. Here is his response: I was delighted to see and hear the sextet again. That was such a good band. I had forgotten about the large orchestra behind us. I … [Read more...]

As noted in this Rifftides post last November, Gerry Mulligan remarked more than once that of all his achievements, the sextet he led from 1955 to 1958 gave him the greatest satisfaction. No wonder. His sidemen in the front line were tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and … [Read more...]

We are pleased to report that Rifftides has been nominated in the 2007 Jazz Journalists Association awards program as Best Website Concentrating on Jazz. … [Read more...]

Nick Moran, The Messenger (CAP). I mentioned Moran's guitar playing nearly two years ago in one of the first Rifftides postings. The piece was about a visit to The Garage in New York's Greenwich Village. It included this observation: Moran is a good young guitarist with a lyrical bebop bent and an … [Read more...]

Have you ever wondered why Buddy Rich was called the world's fastest drummer? Go here. Have a good weekend. … [Read more...]

Rifftides correspondent John Birchard sent a link to this remarkable video with the comment, "It ain't jazz, but it is certainly extraordinary work." Amen. The playing by an unidentified cellist is extraordinary, too. … [Read more...]

The tenth edition of The Commission Project's Swing 'n Jazz event in Rochester, New York, was a canny three-day blend of fund-raising, concertizing and education. Initiated fifteen years ago by Ned Corman, the project sends musicians into schools across the country. As I wrote last year in … [Read more...]

The eminent trumpeter and early morning runner Marvin Stamm responded to the recent Rifftides post about T.S. Eliot and television. I couldn't agree with you more. you are right on the money - 4:00 am or no. Beautifully written! I will take issue with you regarding Stewart and Colbert. Sid Caeser, … [Read more...]

The young veteran broadcaster Jason Crane podcasts from his interesting site The Jazz Session. During my visit to Rochester, he was kind enough to ask me to join him for an extended conversation about jazz, news, Rifftides and other things. To hear it, click here. … [Read more...]

Flying east, two experiences melded into a thought around a phrase. Forty-six years and ten days ago, Newton Minow spoke at the annual meeting of the National Association of Broadcasters, the organization of people who ran television and radio in the United States. Minow was the chairman of the … [Read more...]

The Rifftides Staff is off to the The Commission Project's Swing 'n Jazz X. I will send reports from the road when possible. In the meantime, please enjoy browsing the archives, which reach back to the beginning of this endeavor, nearly two years ago. That may seem a short time to YOU. … [Read more...]

Time out of the writing crunch to hear successive Jessica Williams concerts was time well spent. Williams has taken a liking to The Seasons and returned there with her new trio for two evenings. On Saturday,Williams, bassist Doug Miller and drummer John Bishop played a Duke Ellington program. The … [Read more...]

A contributor with the internet handle Astrotype just sent YouTube five videos taken from a 1966 Dave Brubeck Quartet concert in Germany. If you're thinking of Paul Desmond on this thirtieth anniversary of his death, you may remember him even more kindly as you listen to a "Take Five" solo unlike … [Read more...]