We can be thankful today that Jon Hendricks and George Avakian made so many important contributions to jazz during their long lives. Both died in New York yesterday. Hendricks was 96. Avakian was 98. Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert and Annie Ross formed the vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross for … [Read more...]

This is an important national holiday in the United States. To Americans observing it, the Rifftides staff sends wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. To readers around the world: we are thankful for your interest, attendance and comments. … [Read more...]

Goading my mind-of-its-own computer as I attempted to force it to solve a problem, I unexpectedly found myself watching a performance that I had no idea existed on video. “Good heavens,” I said to the computer and the empty room, “that’s Kenny Wheeler.” My attempt at digital correction had … [Read more...]

Those who follow developments in the jazz community are accustomed to seeing occasional announcements about educational grants to musicians. Sonny Rollins this week reversed the order. He is becoming a donor. Oberlin College announced that the tenor saxophonist is giving the Oberlin Conservatory … [Read more...]

The necessity of reviving the disabled Rifftides computer temporarily derailed the plan to immediately continue posting short alerts about worthwhile recent releases. (See the first installment here.) Treatment at the digital hospital succeeded, however, and we're back in … [Read more...]

Jazz Northwest host, producer and recording engineer Jim Wilke sends news that this week’s program will feature Wycliffe Gordon as trombonist, trumpeter, conductor, singer and composer. The concert, recorded last weekend, was sold out and people were turned away, so this is an opportunity to hear … [Read more...]

The promised new installment of Recent Listening In Brief (Really Brief) is delayed. As work began on the post, the Rifftides computer found it necessary to check into the digital hospital. After a few hours of examination and treatment, the restored machine is expected to live and is cleared to … [Read more...]

In case there are US Marines among the <em>Rifftides</em> readers, Happy 242nd Birthday   … [Read more...]

Over the next day or two, maybe more, Rifftides will attempt the impossible—we will “review” a significant number of the albums that fill the music room’s overloaded shelves of incoming albums. “Review” in the previous sentence is in quotation marks because the only practical (practical, … [Read more...]

The Chicago avant garde jazz patriarch Muhal Richard Abrams died today at 87. Named a National Endowment of The Arts Jazz Master in 2010, the pianist, composer and bandleader was at the center of Chicago’s free jazz movement, which was formalized in 1965 when he co-founded the Association for the … [Read more...]

Reflecting on the recent Rifftides review of the Masters of The Vibes book, and on his teaching of jazz improvisation, Charlie Shoemake wrote, A couple of things: In all my teaching (including currently), I have never used the now-prevalent modal titles for scales (Dorian, Lydian, etc.). There … [Read more...]

The American pianist Rob Bargad lives with his family in a country village in southern Austria and has become a vital part of his adopted country’s culture. The former Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton and Jimmy Cobb sideman started a record company to help bring recognition to musicians who live and … [Read more...]

Immediately to the west of the Rifftides World Headquarters deck is a large Red Maple in full glory. Sometimes these trees are called Sunset Maples. Naturally, since this blog is devoted to jazz and other matters, the Rifftides staff insisted on accompanying shots of the trees with a song featured … [Read more...]

A name pops up and triggers memories. Among the October 22 birthdays listed in today’s JazzWestCoast listserve was that of John Neves. Not widely known elsewhere, Neves was treasured in Boston as a standout bassist with a big sound and an untutored harmonic gift. He played for 13 years in Herb … [Read more...]