The weekend is a good time to consider music that the Rifftides staff has ignored, overlooked or allowed to languish among the burgeoning boxes of incoming CDs. Keeping up isn’t hard to do; it’s impossible, but here are three albums rescued from the stacks. All are of recent vintage, … [Read more...]

Outside Rifftides world headquarters, we're having the first snowfall of the season. The prediction is for three inches here tonight and an accumulation of as much as a foot in the nearby ski areas of the Cascade Mountains. The temperature is in the low twenties (Fahrenheit), but neighborhood … [Read more...]

This is the fourth anniversary of Dave Brubeck’s death at age 91. Under the heading, “Always remembered, never forgotten,” John Bolger sent a message that included this photograph of Brubeck as listeners remember him from countless occasions—fully committed. Here he is in 1964 in … [Read more...]

Rifftides activity is about to slow a bit. Rehearsals and performances for the Yakima Jazz Sextet with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra begin this afternoon. If you are in the area, concerts are at 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find more information in this post. " And here." " The sextet … [Read more...]

Charges about biased reporting are as old as journalism itself. President-elect Donald Trump’s accusations against The New York Times—and journalists in general—during and after his campaign would sound familiar to one of his predecessors. Six years into his second term as president, … [Read more...]

There is news from Portland, Oregon, that Jimmy Mak’s jazz club will permanently close at the end of 2016. A leading west coast club for 20 years, Mak’s has been a primary outlet for the talents of musicians in Oregon’s active jazz community and for touring national artists. Owner Jimmy … [Read more...]

Charlie Shoemake sent a reminder that today is the 101st anniversary of the birth of Billy Strayhorn (pictured with Duke Ellington). Strayhorn was a 16-year-old high school student in Pittsburgh when he wrote “Lush Life.” A few years later he brought his songwriting ability to Ellington’s … [Read more...]

I hope that you have as much fun watching and listening to this video as Ray Brown had when it was recorded. Brown is the bassist in" a reunion with his old boss Dizzy Gillespie. He was on the original recording of “Ow!” by Gillespie’s big band in 1947, and James Moody was in the saxophone … [Read more...]

Normally, I pay little attention to my smart phone, but today it alerted me to several social media messages pointing out that I had not posted about Paul Desmond on his 92nd birthday. Believe me, it was on my to-do list, but the list was hijacked by a succession of duties, all necessary, important … [Read more...]

This is an important American national holiday. To those in or from the United States, the Rifftides staff wishes you a happy Thanksgiving. To those around the world: we appreciate your interest, readership and comments. Wherever you are, we hope that you have much for which to be … [Read more...]

Monday’s remembrance of pianist Hod O’Brien, who died over the weekend, included this: O’Brien was married to singer Stephanie Nakasian, with whom he frequently collaborated. Their daughter, also a vocalist, performs under the name Veronica Swift. Ms. Swift (pictured) inherited her … [Read more...]

Friends of Hod O’Brien report that the pianist died yesterday at 80 following a long battle against cancer. He continued an active playing life even as he underwent treatment for the disease. Born in Chicago, O’Brien attended Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music. He became … [Read more...]

Phil Norman Tentet, Then & Now (MAMA Records) This album’s tune list could create an expectation that we’re in for just another trip down the memory lane of modern jazz classics. No, Norman’s ensemble combines gifted players and arrangers with fresh approaches to familiar music. Geoff … [Read more...]

Thanks to Seattle bassist Bren Plummer for calling our attention to a short video of trumpeter Jon Faddis getting acquainted with Bix Beiderbecke’s horn. Beiderbecke (1903-1931) was second only to his friend Louis Armstrong as an influence on the development of jazz trumpet style in the 1920s and … [Read more...]

Mose Allison has died at the age of 89. A Mississippi pianist, singer, composer, songwriter and sometime trumpeter, Allison made his New York debut in the 1950s as a bebop pianist. He worked with Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Gerry Mulligan and a variety of other post-bop musicians, but came to fame employing … [Read more...]

Pianist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea" (born June 12, 1941) continues the long celebration of" his" 75th birthday, currently at his frequent New York headquarters the Blue Note. " Corea's career" has brought him together with virtually every major figure in modern jazz. We congratulate him … [Read more...]

Vibraphonist, arranger, bandleader and master transcriber Charlie Shoemake lives on the California coast halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. As a performer who also teaches, he is known in the jazz community for the accuracy and detail of the solos that he transcribes. He" trains his … [Read more...]

Today is the" 241st" birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Hard-core Marines (is there another kind?) might consider it heresy to create a jazz version of the Marine Corps Hymn. They would be wrong. A few years" ago during a six-hour bus ride to a performance by the Marine Corps All-Star Jazz … [Read more...]