Having heard an advance CD by Jamie Shew, a singer new to me, I asked the trumpeter Bobby Shew if she is related to him. He followed his answer—No— with a question of his own, the one that musicians invariably ask about singers: “Can she sing?” Meaning: • Is she in tune? • Doe she … [Read more...]

Lorraine Gordon, who inherited the Village Vanguard after her husband Max died in 1989, remained its proprietor and no-nonsense guiding spirit until her death yesterday in New York. She was 95. Under the Gordons, the Vanguard became quite likely the most famous jazz club in the world. Bill Evans, … [Read more...]

As I may have mentioned a time or two, keeping up is impossible. We can only try. Here we go with observations on a few of the dozens (hundreds?) of recent jazz releases. Roni Ben-Hur, Harvie S: Introspection (Jazzheads) Compatibility, mutual responsiveness and subtle interactivity … [Read more...]

A new Rifftides reader, Orsolya S., joined us recently. Now and then she sends comments, an activity we encourage among all readers. Her latest communique concerns a recording that has been exciting listeners for more than sixty years. Thanks for recommending the album Dave Brubeck Quartet at … [Read more...]

Keeping up with the ceaseless flow of jazz albums is impossible, but it’s a pleasure to try. Here are short reviews of a few relatively recent releases. Hank Jones In Copenhagen: Live At Jazzhus Slukefter 1983 (Storyville) From nearly the moment he moved from Detroit to New York in … [Read more...]

It is Memorial Day in the United States, a time for parades, picnics and family gatherings across the land. This is the perfect occasion on which to honor the US armed services by acknowledging and displaying the accomplishments of their bands dedicated to the music that is the primary stock in … [Read more...]

Composer, arranger, educator and jazz authority Jeff Sultanof occasionally honors Rifftides with his insights. This is one of those happy occasions. Jeff has seen a restoration of " King Of Jazz, a pioneering film from the days when motion picture studios had decided that sound was here to … [Read more...]

News has arrived that the pianist Jack Reilly (pictured) died of a massive stroke on Friday at his home in New Jersey. Mr. Reilly, 86, was an accomplished classical and jazz pianist who returned to his native New York in 1954 following Navy service and pursued graduate studies at the Manhattan … [Read more...]

In Monday’s posting revisiting an early <em>Rifftides</em> piece about Tom Talbert (pictured ca. 1956), the staff was remiss in not including examples of Talbert’s music. Let’s remedy that. From his remarkable Bix Duke Fats album, we will hear his transformation of two Duke … [Read more...]

Denny Zeitlin, Wishing On The Moon, Live At Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola In New York City Pianist Zeitlin has recorded three albums with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson, beginning in 2001 with Stairway To The Stars, then the adventurous Slickrock in 2003 and In Concert, in 2009. … [Read more...]

Noah Preminger, Rob Garcia Dead Composers Club Chopin Project (Connection Works Records) If I were going to be in New York City tomorrow evening—alas, I won’t be—I would be at the Cornelia Street Café in Greenwich Village hoping that Preminger's and Garcia’s Chopin CD release concert … [Read more...]

Fred Hersch Trio, Live In Europe (Palmetto) Hersch opens his new trio album with Thelonious Monk’s “We See” and closes it with an unaccompanied performance of “Blue Monk.” A longtime source of inspiration for the pianist, bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson, Monk seems to … [Read more...]

Matthew Shipp, Zero, ESP For years pianist Shipp has gone his own unconventional way. Critics have shunted him into the avant garde piano category. That’s not where he belongs. He is the sole occupant of the Matthew Shipp category. The listener with open ears will understand that individuality … [Read more...]

  Trumpeter, baritone horn player, vocalist, broadcaster and blogger Steve Provizer turns his attention this afternoon" to Burt Bacharach on the songwriter’s 90th birthday. Provizer’s DuPlex program will present performances of Bachrach tunes by Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Rahsaan … [Read more...]

Todd Strait, There’ll Be Some Changes Made (Todd Strait) Drummer Todd Strait has spent significant stretches of his career in New York and Portland and freelanced with a cross-section of world-class musicians. Having toured extensively, Strait is back in his Kansas City home territory. His … [Read more...]

Listen to Thomas Waller: Whatever’s bothering you, don’t let it. Hope you're having a happy Sunday. … [Read more...]

Following our April 24 remembrance of Duke Ellington’s 70thbirthday party at the White House, be aware that Jim Wilke has prepared a special Ellington broadcast on his Jazz Northwest. Here is part of the Jazz Northwest alert and instructions for listening: These unique performances combine … [Read more...]

This is the birthday of two men who had significant effects on jazz and popular music. Bing Crosby was born on May 3, 1903 in Spokane, Washington, John Lewis seventeen years later in LaGrange, Illinois shortly before his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he grew up. Crosby became the … [Read more...]

...because of a family celebration, there will be no Monday Recommendation this week. Please accept this springtime view facing south down the Rifftides World Headquarters side street. We're in bloom around here. (That's Ahtanum Ridge in the background.)   … [Read more...]