Sorry to learn of the passing this week of trombonist Roswell Rudd (1935-2017). From his days in the 1950s as a Yale University student, Rudd showed flexibility, a penchant for harmonic subtlety, a big sound and an endearing rough humor. Through the years, he comfortably collaborated with musicians … [Read more...]

It is neither Al Cohn’s birthday (November 24, 1925) nor the anniversary of his death in 1988. As on any day, it is simply a good time to listen to the great tenor saxophonist. We hear and see him in two festival performances filmed the year before he died. First, he was at Italy’s Sanremo Jazz … [Read more...]

When we posted this visit with Jack Brownlow a couple of years ago, response was enthusiastic and dozens of readers asked if we planned to make it an annual feature. I'm not sure that we'll carry the commitment that far, but we are delighted to bring it to you again this year. Please enjoy the music … [Read more...]

For some reason, this year did not bring the wide collection of celebratory albums that usually flow into Rifftides headquarter during the holiday season. But here are acknowledgements, if not full-fledged reviews, of three new Christmas albums that did materialize as the 2017 holidays … [Read more...]

Ben Webster and Joe Zawinul, Soulmates (Original Jazz Classics) Saxophonist Gary Foster recently asked if I remembered the liner notes that Bill Evans wrote for the 1963 Ben Webster-Joe Zawinul album Soulmates. Gary’s question led to the discovery that my LP of that treasure had somehow … [Read more...]

Eddie Palmieri, Sabiduria (Ropeadope) Twin undercurrents run through this immensely satisfying album: Palmieri’s mastery of Afro-Cuban rhythms and the deep harmonic inspiration with which he motivates himself and his musicians. The players include the veteran saxophonists Donald Harrison and … [Read more...]

The singer Kevin Mahogany has died at the age of 59. As The Kansas City Star’s Timothy Finn reported today, Mahogany had only recently returned to his hometown. To read Finn’s column, with details of Mahogany's career, go here. The post includes video of Mahogany in performance. … [Read more...]

http://amzn.to/2yvsA1G Jane Ira Bloom, Early Americans (Outline Records) In a piece that lasts less than two minutes, the purity of Jane Ira Bloom’s unaccompanied soprano saxophone in a piece titled, “Nearly (For Kenny Wheeler)” all but steals Early Americans. That is quite a feat, since … [Read more...]

http://hotcuprecords.com Mostly Other People Do The Killing, Paint (Hot Cup) Mostly Other People Do The Killing has been a septet, a quintet and a quartet. For Paint , now that saxophonist Jon Irabagon, has left, the band is a trio. Whatever its size, whatever its project, MOPDTK’s bassist … [Read more...]

Noah Preminger, Meditations On Freedom (Dry Bridge Records) Tenor saxophonist and composer Preminger timed the release of this album for the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of The United States. In the months since, it has attracted considerable attention as a protest statement. … [Read more...]

Guitarist Mundell Lowe died today. He was 95. Lowe’s career began at 13 when he frequently went from his home in Laurel, Mississippi, to work at clubs in New Orleans’ French Quarter. After service in World War Two, he honed his bebop skills and became one of New York’s busiest guitarists. He … [Read more...]

Mary Ann McSweeney, Urban Fado (McSweeney) In Lisbon, New York, Montreal, Paris, and Tokyo—among other places around the world—musicians are melding jazz and Fado. Fado’s origins in Portugal extend to at least the early 1800s, and quite likely even further back than that. Like jazz, the … [Read more...]

This 2008 post below somehow managed to lose its video. Today, a Rifftides reader asked about it, so we have restored and slightly moderated it. The post first appeared on June 20, 2008. # Recently, I came across this quote: Jack Reilly's music is singular, almost private, and yet it reaches … [Read more...]

It occurred to me around mid-afternoon that it would have been a good idea to use the band’s music as a supplement to the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis-Vanguard Orchestra Monday Recommendation (previous post). But, from the treasury of Thad & Mel performances on record and video, what to choose? The … [Read more...]

Had Paul Desmond lived, today he would be celebrating—or, more likely, wryly acknowledging—his 93rd birthday. He was born in San Francisco on November 25, 1924. Several Rifftides readers have sent communiqués reminding me of the occasion. I might not have forgotten, but thank you for the … [Read more...]

Alto saxophonist Gary Foster told me recently that for years he" has owned a copy of a letter that Sonny Rollins (pictured right) sent to Coleman Hawkins (pictured left) in 1962." Intrigued and keeping in mind" both mens' characters, reputations and influence on the music, I asked to see it. After I … [Read more...]