The interaction between or among jazz soloists has often been described as like a conversation. A brilliant young man about whom I am trying to learn more -- his name, for instance -- has taken that simile literally, given it substance and put it on YouTube. Watch this, and smile your way into the … [Read more...]

You may remember the tenor saxophonist Jim Pepper for "Witchi-Tai-To," an American Indian peyote chant he learned from his Kaw grandfather. Pepper set it to music and it became a crossover hit. The song persists as a staple in the repertoires of pop and so-called world music groups on several … [Read more...]

In The New York Times, Ben Ratliff reports on Sunday night's memorial service for tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, at which a number of Redman's colleagues performed. The pianist Ethan Iverson and the bassist Reid Anderson, both of the trio the Bad Plus, with (Matt) Wilson on drums, got off a version … [Read more...]

In her blog, DevraDoWrite picks up the Erroll Garner thread, posting reminiscences of her husband, the ageless 94-year-old John Levy, who played bass on a Garner recording date in 1945. There were no parts to read on this session because Erroll, like many of the great musicians, didn't read or … [Read more...]

The Erroll Garner item on Rifftides the other day touched something in the readership. Comments are still rolling in. You'll find them by clicking on "Comments," at the end of the original post. This one from Hans C. Doerrscheidt in Germany included links: Thanks for the YouTube link of the great … [Read more...]

This is short notice, but Rifftides just received notification that there will be a memorial service this evening for the late tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman. Readers in or near New York City may wish to know. The service will be at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Peter's Church, Lexington Avenue and 54th … [Read more...]

Erroll Garner died thirty years ago, almost to the day. I don't know whether the National Public Radio station I listen to was aware of that, but the past few days during morning news programming, the producers cued up a few seconds of Garner's piano as transitions between local and national … [Read more...]

Trumpeter Marvin Stamm has put up a video page on his web site. It has clips from a concert by his quartet with pianist Bill Mays, bassist Rufus Reid (see the current DVD in Doug's Picks in the right column) and drummer Ed Soph. Guitarist John Abercrombie is guest soloist on one of the seven pieces … [Read more...]

There were good days with Charles, but there were some stormy days. His temper is well known. I used to make him cry simply by telling him how nasty he was. It's amazing how he could change, storming one minute like he was going to kill someone and blubbering with remorse the next. But he had … [Read more...]

This is some of what I wrote in a lengthy Jazz Times review more than three years ago when The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration was released as a CD. Together, the elder brothers are astonishing in their trumpet-soprano counterpoint flurries on "Nostaligic Impressions." Following Wynton's wry … [Read more...]

At the end of her slightly dyspeptic little essay on the exhorbitant cost of eating out, DevraDoWrite adds this reminder, which I heartily endorse. I should have posted it myself. ...if you are a jazz lover in New York with $5 and a free lunch hour on Wednesday, January 3rd - 1-2 PM, make your way … [Read more...]

Godoggone writes: Not sure "Zog" was the best possible caveman name for this particular topic. Google that and see what you get... That name I made up had a naggingly familiar ring to it. My apologies to King Zog's descendants and to Albanians everywhere. Strictly unintentional. … [Read more...]

From the Rifftides staff to all: Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year (that is a link). … [Read more...]

The question is no doubt as old as artistic expression. Imagine a viewer of the first paleolithic paintings in the Great Hall of the Bulls in the Cave of Lascaux: Well, of course Zog is brilliant, but have you seen how he drags his mate around by her hair? It's hard to see how such a rotten guy can … [Read more...]

Back home after a warm, sunny nine-day Christmas visit with our son at his house on a Southern California beach, I cleared a path through the snow to reach the house. We rested a day, then piled into the car. Today, we drove south, crossed the mighty Columbia River, rendezvoused for lunch in Oregon … [Read more...]

Gilad Atzmon, the fiery Israeli multi-instrumentalist, is sometimes identified as a purveyor of world music when he is not being attacked or praised for political activity that involves aggressive criticism of Israeli policies. Neither of those facets of his existence is involved in a video clip … [Read more...]

There are two types of people -- those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are." -- Frederick L. Collins, author (1882-1950) … [Read more...]

Mark Stryker, the music critic for the Detroit Free Press, writes: I really appreciated your post about David Berger - a gifted and underrated musician. Now, guess where he lives - on a street on the Upper West Side named "Duke Ellington Boulevard." It's really 106th Street, but it's also named for … [Read more...]

In the right-hand column, you will find a new set of Doug's Picks, none having to do with Christmas or Hanukah but satisfying for holiday listening, viewing or reading. Enjoy. … [Read more...]