An outfit called Find The Best has established an online guide to jazz clubs. It could be useful to Rifftides readers planning to travel or, for that matter, who are looking for places to listen in their hometowns. The site lists location, meal policy and cover charges, which range from … [Read more...]

Monarch butterflies are passing through on their migration south. This morning, one rested on a maple leaf outside our window. His or her majesty was no object of pity, but it seemed to call for a performance of that most famous of all butterfly tunes (are there others?). Here’s the late Dave … [Read more...]

If you live in or near Portland, Oregon, this is your lucky week. I am not at all reluctant to plug Ivories Jazz Lounge or this group of elite Portland players. Here’s the announcement from Ivories. Thursday July 12 The Two Tenors & Dave Frishberg play the music of Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Don Emanuel scanned this listing in the "What's On" section of a recent edition of his local newspaper, The Medway Messenger in Kent, UK. … [Read more...]

A long-running discussion (or argument) about the authorship of a major jazz tune may have been resolved once and for all. The tune is “Solar,” copyrighted in 1963 with the name of Miles Davis as composer, nearly a decade after he recorded it. It is a 12-bar minor blues based, with certain … [Read more...]

After he heard the Eddie Higgins solo on “America The Beautiful” (one exhibit below), Rifftides reader Terence Smith wrote to suggest: Sometime on the 4th let's all listen to the Ray Charles version. That’s a fine idea. There are several versions of the song by Charles, some more … [Read more...]

Two years ago on July 4, we presented this performance by the late Eddie Higgins. When it didn't appear in 2011, we heard from disappointed Rifftides readers. Perhaps we should establish it as an Independence Day tradition. We'll make up for last year's oversight by bringing on Mr. Higgins a day … [Read more...]

Late notice—apologies—but this will be worth hearing: Monday, July 2nd On the Noontime Jamboree Record collector/musician/record producer Tony Baldwin visits the show. Tony is bringing in a mixed sample from his extensive collection of 78s. Join me, host Retta Christie, … [Read more...]

One thing leads to another, if you're lucky. Bear with me; we’re backing into this. I was reading Thomas Vinciguerra’s Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition feature about the 50th anniversary of “The Girl From Ipanema.” When I saw a reference to “…the 1962 album Jazz Samba by Stan Getz and … [Read more...]

Steve Cerra’s Jazz Profiles remembers Tom Talbert, the under-recognized composer and bandleader who died nearly eight years ago in his early eighties. Steve incorporates a passage in which Talbert wrote about his postwar debut. Worked with several bands and met arranger-bandleader Johnny … [Read more...]

Thanks to the many Rifftides readers who are weighing in on the discussion of jazz on public radio in the US. The comments—some from inside the medium—include reasons for the decline, analysis of its nature, reports of a few bright spots, and a good deal of frustration. It seems to be an … [Read more...]

Because it’s been too long since you’ve heard it… Cannonball Adderley, alto saxophone; Nat Adderley, cornet; Joe Zawinul, piano; Victor Gaskin, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums. Los Angeles, October 20, 1966. … [Read more...]

Carol Sloane sent an alert to yet another step in the abandonment of jazz by public broadcasting in The United States. Here is the headline of a column on the website of The Boston Globe: The column is by Mark Leccese, an independent ombudsman who keeps an eye on print and broadcast outlets. … [Read more...]

Oh, we weren’t? Well, we are now. First here’s something you can listen to immediately. Today on National Public Radio’s Weekend All Things Considered, the host, Guy Raz, closed with eight minutes and 45 seconds of conversation with drummer Matt Wilson (pictured, left). They talked about … [Read more...]

I copied and learned from my predecessors and I'm grateful to them, and I gratefully accept this award—Sonny Rollins, 6/20/12 I love awards, especially if I get them—Ben Gazzara Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust—Jesse Owens … [Read more...]

Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins top the winners of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2012 awards announced yesterday in New York City. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz: Horace Silver Musician of the Year: Sonny Rollins Composer-Arranger of the Year: Maria Schneider Up and Coming … [Read more...]

This is from the top of one of the long, steep hills on today's cycling expedition with friend Dave. Looking west, we see the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the distance. While the Rifftides staff tackles a couple of deadline assignments, blogging will be intermittent, with entries … [Read more...]