Just arrived in Sweden to cover the Ystad Jazz Festival this week. Here's the view from the hotel window. It's a tough assignment, but somebody had to volunteer. Reports coming soon. Watch this space. … [Read more...]

The Quincy Jones ABC/Mercury Big Band Jazz Sessions (Mosaic) Preparing for my public conversation with Quincy Jones (two items down), I’ve been reading his 2001 autobiography, chatting with people he knows and listening to his music. The inventiveness, sparkle and audacity of Jones’ … [Read more...]

Pop music too loud and all sounds the same: official (London, July 26, 2012)—(Reuters) Comforting news for anyone over the age of 35, scientists have worked out that modern pop music really is louder and does all sound the same. Researchers in Spain used a huge archive known as the … [Read more...]

In a few days the Rifftides staff flies to Europe to report from the Ystad Jazz Festival on the southern coast of Sweden. Organized by pianist Jan Lundgren in 2010, the festival has developed into one of Europe's most important music events. Among the US contingent August 2-5 will be Benny Green, … [Read more...]

An e-mail announcement from the trumpeter Brad Goode: This Thursday, July 26th: THE BRAD GOODE JAZZ TRIO Brad Goode trumpet Bijoux Barbosa bass Todd Reid drums 6:30 -9:30 pm TREPPEDA'S ITALIAN RISTORANTE 300 2nd Avenue Niwot, CO 80544 303.652.1606 I … [Read more...]

Jessica Williams, Songs Of Earth (Origin) Williams, the Triple Door’s Steinway and the Seattle theater restaurant’s audience collaborate on yet another album of solo pieces by the pianist. The audience gets credit because their attentiveness, appreciation and courtesy help establish the … [Read more...]

Malcolm Harris, the publisher of my Paul Desmond biography, sent this photograph and caption. A great commentary on modern “music” … [Read more...]

Of the many places where I’ve lived, from Choteau, Montana, to Iwakuni, Japan, to San Francisco and New York (mentioning a few), New Orleans is the most unusual, the one most often on my mind. “This is really a banana republic, you know,” my friend Bill Corrington once told me. He loved the … [Read more...]

Well, actually, we were never gone. However, for several hours, the Rifftides comment mechanism was broken. If you tried to use the "Speak Your Mind" box at the end of an item, or found that it had disappeared, we would like you to know that the feedback function is back in business. Provided that … [Read more...]

For all of the excitement with modes that McCoy Tyner generated with John Coltrane and still achieves in long his post-Coltrane career, I have always been partial to Tyner’s way with standard songs and jazz originals with standard changes in albums like this and this. That aspect of his … [Read more...]

National Public Radio's series "Mom And Dad's Record Collection" recently featured Ravi Coltrane, who has followed his father as a tenor and soprano saxophonist. John died when Ravi was two years old. Most of his son's early musical memories stem from records his pianist and harpist mother Alice … [Read more...]

On today's cycling expedition during rush hour, I saw an amazing sight. A motorist pulled to the side of the road and stopped to use her phone. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true. On the other hand, a man in Naples, Florida, was reaching for his cell phone just as a fire truck arrived in … [Read more...]

I cannot recall having previously posted a promotional video, and I may never post one again. But the video about the Branford Marsalis CD recommended in the new batch of Doug’s Picks has helpful insights into the philosophy of the band’s approach to its work. In addition, it is a nice little … [Read more...]

Bruno Leicht of Cologne, Germany—trumpeter, composer, teacher, and frequent commenter to this blog—has dedicated a four-part suite to Rifftides. The work is based on George Gershwin’s “Oh, Lady Be Good” and played by a band of Bruno’s students. On his web log, Brew Lite’s Jazz … [Read more...]

The latest listening, viewing and reading suggestions are posted immediately below and in the right column with the heading Doug's Picks (scroll down). They include CDs with the music of a forthright quartet, a great 20th century composer-arranger, and the satisfying second volume of a piano trio's … [Read more...]