Rifftides

Since he moved from California to New York several years ago, Alan Broadbent has expanded his multifaceted ways as pianist, composer and conductor-arranger for major singers including Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Sheila Jordan and the British discovery Georgia Mancio. New York Notes finds Broadbent leading a trio. That is the setting that brought him to the attention of audiences and critics early in his career. His associations with Woody Herman, John Klemmer and Charlie Haden's Quartet West were … [Read more...]

A jazz version of "June Is Busting Out All Over"? you might ask. Who would think of such a thing? Finding the right tempo might be possible, but how about those Richard Rodgers harmonies?  Well, Bill Holman-or maybe it was Stan Kenton-thought it would work. From the period, presumably in the mid-1950s, when Holman was doing a good deal of arranging for Kenton's band, let's listen to his arrangement of the tune that has been welcoming  this month since the song debuted in the Broadway musical … [Read more...]

No sooner had I started to idly wonder what's happening in one of my favorite former hometowns than Terri Hinte sent a message reminding me of a new album by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. The CD is a tribute to one of the city's most beloved musical heroes, the late Allen Toussaint, composer of "Southern Nights," "Java" and innumerable other hits. The members of the orchestra are from across the city and a variety of musical disciplines. When the band is at full strength, it numbers more than … [Read more...]

If only they were still with us, two major artists would be celebrating their birthdays this weekend. They were Peggy Lee (1920-­­2002) and Miles Davis (1926-1991). She was of major significance in popular music and he in jazz, but their wide appeal to audiences of many kinds makes it difficult to assign either to a strict category. Staff research has turned up no recording, radio broadcast or television program in which they performed together. In fact, as far as we can discover, there were few … [Read more...]

The staff gauged the rate at which the postwoman is depositing new releases in the Rifftides mailbox and decided that we should pick up the pace of telling you about some of them. This will be the most recent of many doomed attempts to let you know about a flood of jazz albums that seems only to gain in size and speed. If we are to keep up, brevity is a must, even for the most important arrivals. Let's begin by continuing our occasional series calling attention to the bands of the US military … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader Orsolya Bene writes, "Listening to jazz on the radio after finishing chores. "North Of The Sunset," by Thelonious Monk was just playing. Now, it's the Denny Zeitlin trio. The radio guy must be channeling you." If so, he is welcome aboard. Ms. Bene's message comes after hours of live chat with a computer expert who helped to solve a maddening email snag (is there another kind?) Somewhere there must be a computer owner who doesn't have these breakdowns. I have never met one. … [Read more...]

Denny Zeitlin Solo Piano: Remembering Miles For the most recent of his annual solo concerts at the Piedmont Piano Company in Oakland, California, pianist Denny Zeitlin's subject was Miles Davis. The recital before the Piedmont's customary audience of close listeners covered several eras of the trumpeter's career. Davis composed few major jazz standards, and he had collaborators for some of those. In the recording, Zeitlin's repertoire begins with one of the most famous pieces attributed to … [Read more...]

Permit me to tell you how my yesterday went. It went badly. Here's why. I prepared a Rifftides post that included a video. After the preliminary work and I was ready to post, I got a "video unavailable" notification. I settled on another post, put it together and got a second "video unavailable" message. So, I decided to bring you a couple of videos that I was reasonably certain would be available. They were. They contain recordings that are part of the basic repertoire, pieces with solos … [Read more...]

The exact date is uncertain, but we know who was with Hubbard in this L.A. all-star band: Freddie Hubbard, featured trumpet soloist. Saxes & Flutes: Bud Shank (alto), Bill Perkins (tenor), Bob Tricarico (baritone sax). Trumpets: Chuck Findley and Gary Grant. Trombone: Bill Watrous. Horn: Vince DeRosa, Tuba: Tommy Johnson. Rhythm: Dan Ferguson (guitar), Bill Mays (piano), Abe Laboriel (bass), Bill Maxwell (drums) and Joe Porcaro (percussion). They play "Ride With The Wind." Have a good … [Read more...]

Jim Wilke, impressario of  Jazz Northwest, alerts us to another show in his venerable broadcast series, complete with information about his star visitor and how to find the program. Jim features another major musician whom he recently recorded.  The program features a celebrated  drummer who has been a part of the US jazz scene since he left Cuba in 1980. Here is Jim's backgrounder topped by a nice Jim Levitt photo of Berroa: We recorded an abundance of great material from recent … [Read more...]

We have been meaning to call to your attention to an instance in which--unlike, say, the trade talks between the US and China--international cooperation works beautifully. The  trumpeter featured on this album is Randy Brecker, one of the leading American players of the Instrument for more than fifty years. He performs with Finland's UMO Jazz Orchestra, led by the distinguished arranger and composer Mats Holmquist, who is Swedish. The CD presents three well-known pieces composed by the American … [Read more...]

  We continue our survey of albums, mostly recent, all part of the unceasing Rifftides effort to make you aware of music that the RT staff deems worth hearing. As I write, I glance down occasionally at the four stacks of new releases dropped off over the past couple of weeks by the mailman, FedEx, UPS and, once in a while, delivery services based in exotic places like Sweden, Brazil and Japan. Paying concentrated attention to all of the new arrivals is out of the question. Some, however, … [Read more...]

Stephans, Liebman, Copland, Gress: Quartette Oblique (Sunnyside) Attempting the impossible, Rifftides once again tries to catch up. We all know that is impossible because record companies refuse to accept that jazz is dead; they keep releasing new music. It took too long for me to mention this superb quartet album, which has been out for a year or so. From Dave Liebman's falling-away tenor saxophone insinuations that introduce Wayne Shorter's "Nardis" through the concluding exploration of … [Read more...]

The Jazz Journalists Association announced its 2019 award winners today. Among them are: Pianist Ahmad Jamal, Lifetime Achievement in jazz. Saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Musician of the Year, and Composer of the Year. Bassist Linda May Han Oh, Up and Coming Musician of the Year. Bobby Sanabria’s Multiverse Big Band, Record of the Year. To see the complete list, and photographs of all 31 winners, go to the JJA website. Congratulations to Ethan Iverson on his victory in the Blog Of … [Read more...]

Recent Listening In Brief: Linda May Han Oh, Aventurine (Biophilia) The album title, aptly, seems to suggest adventure. Indeed, the CD contains plenty of that attribute in the bassist-composer’s instrumentation, textures and rhythmic values. The name was suggested, however, by a certain shiny translucent mineral that seems to glow from within, as does much of Ms. Oh’s music in this collection. The inspirations for her compositions, her choices of fellow performers and the way she writes and … [Read more...]

Recent Listening: Jason Palmer, Rhyme and Reason (GiantStepArts) In his early work with saxophonists Noah Preminger and Grace Kelly and many others, trumpeter Jason Palmer made it clear with his substantial tone, wide range and flexibility that he had the potential to become one of the new century’s outstanding trumpeters. His debut on producer and photographer Jimmy Katz’s GiantStepArts label, is the latest proof that Palmer has attained that distinction—and then some. Joined by the veteran … [Read more...]