Signing books at the Portland Jazz Festival Saturday evening, I was pleased to meet Joe Maita, the proprietor of the web site called Jerry Jazz Musician. He reminded me that I took part in his exercise asking a number of musicians, writers and other people in the jazz community to designate … [Read more...]

At this time the fashion is to bring something to jazz that I reject. They speak of freedom. But one has no right, under pretext of freeing yourself, to be illogical and incoherent by getting rid of structure and simply piling a lot of notes one on top of the other. There’s no beat anymore. You … [Read more...]

Doug, We've had our political disagreements in the past, but your post on the Voice of America was spot on. I read the editorial in the Washington Times yesterday and was appalled at the cuts. The funding (peanuts, when you think about it) should be dramatically increased, for all of the reasons … [Read more...]

The Bush administration's attempt to use the war on terrorism as an excuse to destroy the Voice of America angers me. I sent the message below to my senators and congressman and a few other senators who I thought might understand what's at stake. I hope that you will consider taking similar action. … [Read more...]

This weekend, I will be in Oregon for the third Portland Jazz Festival. Headliners are McCoy Tyner, Ravi Coltrane, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenon, Eddie Palmieri, Susan Werner and Bill Frisell’s Unspeakable Orchestra. With live audiences, I’ll be conducting two Jazz Times … [Read more...]

The great tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger and wit Al Cohn died 18 years ago tomorrow. He and his frequent tenor sax partner Zoot Sims were so closely associated, so compatible in every respect that they were often mentioned as if they were a single entity named Alan Zoot. As quick and … [Read more...]

We'll be moving on to other matters now, but you'll find interesting comments on the Maynard Ferguson dispute or discussion, or whatever it was, here and here. … [Read more...]

In the 1940s and early 1950s, a stretch of Central Avenue in Los Angeles was prime jazz territory. Hampton Hawes, Eric Dolphy, Don Cherry, Vi Redd and Billy Higgins learned and developed in clubs and jam sessions there, alongside veterans including Dexter Gordon, Roy Porter, Charles Mingus and Jack … [Read more...]

Regarding John Salmon's communique about Maynard Ferguson, a musician and historian writes: Doug: John Salmon would have made his case for Maynard Ferguson better without the hyperbolic prose. For example: 1) "Some, like his Roulette era albums of 1958-1962, and are unrivaled by anyone, including … [Read more...]

John Salmon writes about the Rifftides review of Maria Schneider at Jazz Alley: I'm amazed that anyone could write a piece on big bands and not mention Maynard Ferguson's band, which is on the road 200 days a year. How is it possible to do a piece on big bands and ignore the one touring band still … [Read more...]

On OH! Say Love your column and read it faithfully every day. Actually, the "Star-Spangled Banner" is a glorious and thrilling and quite triumphant melody and, if you think about it, is a pretty potent anthem, while "God Bless America" (tune I'm talking about here) is the worst sentimental garbage. … [Read more...]

Hal Wilner (sometimes spelt Willner on the web), the producer, has put together some extraordinary collaborations on his tribute records to Mingus, Nino Rota, Monk, Poe, Weill and Disney. What's more, most of them work. One of my favourites is Ringo Starr, Ken Nordine, Bill Frisell, Herb Alpert and … [Read more...]

The digital doctor and his aide have ministered to my invaluable, but not irreplaceable, electronic assistant, Mr. Dell. 'Ol Dell is feeling considerably perkier and moving from task to task with dispatch. I think he'll make it, after all. (Hat in the air. Spin Around. Big smile. Music up and out.) … [Read more...]

Introducing yesterday's rendering (word chosen with care) of the national anthem at the Super Bowl, the booth announcer said that it was to be, in part, a tribute to New Orleans. Hasn't that unfortunate city suffered enough? Granted, "The Star Spangled Banner" is a miserable piece of music and our … [Read more...]

It was a full weekend, full of the Superbowl and full of maddening computer and server glitches. The down periods were frequent and frustrating. The beast is running for the moment, so we'll post recent correspondence. I'm hoping for a return to complete online health after the digital doctor makes … [Read more...]

There must be a whiff of country in the winter air. Doug, One more for the books—that works—Gatemouth Brown and Roy Clark, Makin' Music. It's listed as a country album, but it's really Louis Jordan with a twang. The tunes include "Take the A Train" and "Caldonia," and the band includes Airto … [Read more...]

Might the moral of the "Odd Couple" series be that in jazz there are no odd couples—that the very nature of jazz allows for nearly infinite combination? —Terry Teachout Yes. This is TT's birthday, a momentous one, as you'll see if you go here. … [Read more...]

Doug, I got hip to Paul Desmond from a line in a Michael Franks' tune, "Rainy Night in Tokyo" - "Paul Desmond on the stereo..." I went through my fathers' jazz collection and found 3 albums. I've been hooked ever since. Good luck with your book. MIchael Thanks. … [Read more...]