In my report on the Johnny Mandel concert at the Jazz West Coast 3 festival last fall, I remarked on the exquisite performance by Pinky Winters of one of Mandel’s songs. Ms. Winters sang Dave Frishberg’s lyrics to Mandel’s “You Are There,” accompanied by only the composer at the piano. … [Read more...]

Paul Conley of KXJZ in Sacramento, California, writes: Hi Doug, If you're looking for some audio to add to your reflections on Jackie Mac, you might consider this short piece I did for the station. It draws from an interview originally recorded in 2001 and a feature produced in 2002. To hear it, … [Read more...]

You never know where, or in what language, Paul Desmond will turn up next. Here is a sample from a collection of Desmond’s most quoted bon mots, now translated into Spanish. Probé a practica unas pocas semanas y acabé tocando demasiado rápido. (I tried practicing for a couple of weeks and ended … [Read more...]

Among the many news columns about Jackie McLean the past few days, Mark Stryker of the Detroit Free Press hit a number of right notes in his appreciation. There was nothing in jazz like the sugar-free sound of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, who died last week at his home in Hartford, Conn., at age … [Read more...]

There are no wrong notes on the piano, just better choices.—Thelonious Monk I played the wrong, wrong notes.—Thelonious Monk … [Read more...]

Doug, Jackie was raw but, man, he adored melody. He was lyrical yet never sold out (imagine a Jackie McLean and Strings LP!). How could he with that frantic, sharp, pants-on-fire sound? But he was no pocket Sonny Rollins. For my money, the best example of Jackie's work and energy level is Music From … [Read more...]

Doug, I was really saddened to hear about his passing. Huge inspiration to me as a young player. I'd toss the following into your list (see below). I've always had a preference for the records that were a little more angular and less Blue Note-boogalocentric. Bluesnik (includes great playing by … [Read more...]

Jackie McLean Jackie McLean died in Hartford, Connecticut on the last day of March. He was 74. When he was a teenager, McLean’s goal in life was to sound just like Charlie Parker on the alto saxophone. Despite his determination to be a Bird clone, he became one of the most recognizable of the … [Read more...]

When a voice behind me whispered low, 'That fellow's got to swing.' —Oscar Wilde, Hélas (1903) It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. —Duke Ellington (1932) … [Read more...]

John Birchard of the Voice of America writes: I read your new material on Willis Conover and VOA. When I joined the staff in '93, Willis was in decline with cancer. As I worked ights, I didn't see him often and, in fact, never had a conversation with him. It was my impression that a fair number of … [Read more...]

"Bix Lives," read the graffiti after cornetist Bix Beiderbecke died in 1931. "Bird Lives," began appearing on walls in New York within days of Charlie Parker's death in 1955. Neither Beiderbecke nor Parker, however, inspired an establishment of religion. So far, the only jazz musician to be … [Read more...]

Ken Dryden writes: I enjoyed reading Paul Blair's comments about the late Willis Conover. What ever happened to his jazz collection--is it still in the VOA archives or was it disposed of with his estate, donated to an archives, etc.? Maybe Paul should get busy on a Conover bio. I just picked up a … [Read more...]

I'll be unbloggable, and possibly sleepless, in Seattle for a couple of days of meetings at the University of Washington, and some book business. There are worse places to be in springtime, when the cherry trees bloom in the UW quad, the showers lighten, and people smile more. In the meantime, visit … [Read more...]

Another location recording by Dave Frishberg? What do you mean, another? There hasn't been one since Do You Miss New York? That was four years ago. Ah, the one with "Jaws" and "The Hopi Way." How can he top that? Top it? Why does he have to top it? Music isn't a contest, a quest to set records (heh … [Read more...]

The Rifftides discussion of the perilous situation of the Voice of America’s English language broadcasting has a running sidebar about Willis Conover. Conover was the VOA’s free lance jazz voice, one of the United States’ most effective instruments of public diplomacy during the Cold War. … [Read more...]

Paul Blair, now an editor, free lance writer and licensed New York City tour guide, was a colleague of Willis Conover at the Voice Of America in the 1980s. He hosted a daily VOA broadcast. Blair sent Dave Frishberg the following recollection after reading Dave's story in the previous Rifftides … [Read more...]

Last night's concert by the Jim Knapp Orchestra at The Seasons Performance Hall drew on much of the repertoire from Knapp's most recent CD, Secular Breathing. There were a few changes in personnel, most notably the addition of Tom Varner, the brilliant French hornist who has moved from New York to … [Read more...]

The Portland Jazz Festival ended early this month, a week after I had to leave it. One of the events I hated to miss was a concert by the Jim Hall-Geoffrey Keezer duo. The Oregonian's Marty Hughley was there. I just came across his review, which contains this apt characterization of Hall. At 75, … [Read more...]

Thanks to Bill Reed and David Ehrenstein for calling this to our attention. … [Read more...]