James Hall, Lattice (OutsideIn Music) As I may have mentioned no more than a hundred times, it is impossible to keep up with the flow of new albums that keep coming even as we continue to hear claims that jazz is dying. The fact that jazz is not dying doesn’t mean that there is plenty of … [Read more...]

Today, February 2, is the birthday of James P. Johnson (1894-1955), who developed stride piano as an art form within an art form. In his time, piano cutting contests were proving grounds—most often in Harlem apartments—where competing pianists showed their stuff. If James P was playing, their … [Read more...]

Vibraphonist Charlie Shoemake has instructed hundreds of aspiring jazz musicians in the techniques and mysteries of improvisation. Among his early students was Ted Nash (pictured), who as a young man left Los Angeles, became a stalwart of New York’s jazz community, and wins Grammys. Nash has long … [Read more...]

… [Read more...]

Steve Provizer sends an announcement about a special event on his radio program: Tomorrow on the" DuPlex Mystery Jazz Hour we will celebrate the birthday of the great saxophonist/ arranger/ composer Benny Golson. Golson, composer of Killer Joe, Whisper Not and Along Came Betty, began his career … [Read more...]

Hugh Masekela, a hero of African popular music and an inspirational fighter against discrimination, died today in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was 78. Masekela’s rapid ascent to fame in the 1950s led to international recognition of his trumpet playing and his protests against his country's … [Read more...]

The music of trumpeter, composer and resolute individualist Wadada Leo Smith is absorbing. It often has a demanding density even when he is the only player—as he is in one of these albums. It can bring rewards to the listener who accepts Smith’s free jazz heritage and listens to him with open … [Read more...]

Recent Listening In Brief: Dave Young \ Terry Promane Octet Volume 2 (MAPL) The Young \ Promane Octet contains distinguished musicians based in Ontario, Canada. Young is the bassist, Promane the trombonist. Each is an accomplished arranger. The album opens with Young’s waltz-time version of … [Read more...]

From New York comes news that the singer Marlene VerPlanck died today at 84. She reportedly had pancreatic cancer but managed to keep the illness a secret from nearly everyone. Beginning in the 1960s Ms. VerPlanck worked closely with her husband Billy as a studio musician, singing in commercial … [Read more...]

Months ago, the picture below showed up as an email attachment. Here is what I don’t know: Where the photo came from. The location of Bakers Table Restaurant; a Google search discloses that there are several in the world. The maker and history of that wonderful bugle. What music … [Read more...]

Kathrine Windfeld Big Band, Latency (Stunt Records) Kathrine Winfeld’s second album further establishes the 30-year-old Dane in the vanguard of new arranger-composers and bandleaders. Her young, experienced, adventurous musicians from Denmark, Sweden and Norway may be considered an all-star … [Read more...]

Maurice Peress, a conductor who served as a link between jazz and classical music, died over the weekend at his home in New York. He was 87. Peress collaborated with Duke Ellington in preparing the composer’s 1943 “Black, Brown And Beige” for performance by a symphony orchestra. He also worked … [Read more...]

Randy Porter Plays Cole Porter, special guest Nancy King (Heavywood) If Randy Porter played more widely outside the US Pacific Northwest, he would likely be lauded as one of the leading contemporary jazz pianists. This new album of songs composed by his namesake Cole Porter could go a long way … [Read more...]

Django Bates’ Belovèd, The Study Of Touch (ECM) Following his engrossing participation in Anouar Brahem’s Blue Maqams, pianist Bates returns to ECM with his trio in nine of his compositions, a Charlie Parker piece and one by British saxophonist Iain Ballamy. In the Blue Maquams review, I … [Read more...]

Once in a while, Rifftides indulges in a rerun. As we all ease back into our post-holiday routines, let's once again enjoy a double visit to one of the great small groups in modern jazz. When this post first " ran last year, it was titled: The Milt Jackson Quartet Then And Then A video of The … [Read more...]

Over the years, the Duke Ellington Orchestra’s head arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne” took on new colors and quirky solo turns each time the band played it, as they invariably did in their New Year’s Eve engagements. Once in the 1960s, my wife and I saw Ellington’s eyebrows elevate in … [Read more...]

Ernie Watts, Wheel Of Time (Flying Dolphin) From his years with Buddy Rich in the 1960s through his long membership in the late bassist Charlie Haden’s Quartet West and for years since, the tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts has had a noteworthy career. One of his longest associations has been with … [Read more...]