Pete Turner, the photgrapher whose work became cover art for dozens of memorable jazz albums,has died at 83. His pictures, including the one above, often appeared on albums of Creed Taylor’s CTI label in the 1960s and ‘70s. Following the digital revolution, CTI also used them on CD … [Read more...]

Dick Titterington, The 3 Trumpet Band Live at The 1905 (Heavywood) The 3 Trumpet Band recorded their third album before an audience at The 1905, an upscale pizza emporium on the east side of Portland, Oregon. Some reviewers have called the place the successor to the belated Jimmy Mak’s club. … [Read more...]

Bob Dietsche, Tatum’s Town (Bobson Press) Most Art Tatum devotees know that Toledo, Ohio, was his hometown. It was where his genius became evident when he was a teenaged Fats Waller disciple. Many Tatum fans may not know that Toledo’s active jazz community in the 1920s and ‘30s included a … [Read more...]

Victor Gould, Clockwork (Fresh Sound New Talent) A Los Angeles native now in New York, pianist Gould debuts as a leader in an album showcasing him and an impressive collection of established musicians. He apprenticed as a sideman with, among other leader, Vincent Herring, Wallace Roney and Ralph … [Read more...]

Thanks to Steven Cerra of Jazz Profiles for including, in his recent profile of Stan Getz, notes that I wrote for the box set reissue of Getz’s recordings for the Roost label. As Steve mentions in his introduction, Getz’s elegant work toward the end of his life tends to obscure what he achieved … [Read more...]

Rifftides reader and audio chronicler Mike Harris writes: 37th anniversary of death of pianist Bill Evans. Worth a tip of the cap? Worth more than that. It’s worth reminding us all, if we need reminding, of how much we lost on this day in 1980. Here’s Bill Evans recorded secretly by Mr. Harris … [Read more...]

Rifftides readers asked if it would ever be available, so Bill Mays and I offer a performance of our" History Of Jazz Piano project at no charge. Following a good deal of attention to technical detail and a thorough audio remastering, the concert is a free download on Bill’s website at this … [Read more...]

Jason Rigby Detroit-Cleveland Trio, ONE (Fresh Sound New Talent) The simplicity of the Rigby Trio’s cover design matches the uncomplicated instrumentation—saxophone, bass and drums. It is a configuration used to great effect by Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman in classic recordings when they … [Read more...]

Tim Hagans, NDR Bigband, <em>Faces Under The Influence: A Jazz Tribute to John Cassavetes</em/>, Waiting Moon Records In this work inspired by American independent film pioneer John Cassavetes (1929-1989), Hagans triumphs as composer, trumpet soloist and producer. He bases his … [Read more...]

Sometimes, you just want to hear a good old-fashioned unadulterated blues. And sometimes—fairly often, actually—the members of Savoy Brown feel like playing one. Here they are in 2013 on the Clocktower stage at the Kitchener, Ontario, Blues Festival. Since it was founded in 1965 the band has … [Read more...]

Jim Wilke writes that he will feature trombonist, trumpeter and vocalist Wycliffe Gordon Sunday on Jazz Northwest. Here is Jim's announcement: Wycliffe Gordon celebrated the music and soul of jazz great Louis Armstrong in concert at Jazz Port Townsend last July. The concert was recorded for radio … [Read more...]

Demanding to be heard, now and then one of the LPs in the surviving Rifftides collection of" vinyl records sends vibes—appropriately in this case. The album called Sunstroke appeared in 1979 on the Muse label with Charlie Shoemake" on vibraharp in his first album as a leader. His stellar rhythm … [Read more...]

This is Labor Day or, if you prefer the Canadian spelling, Labour Day. There is" official observance of the day established in Canada in 1872 and the US in 1887 to honor the economic and social contributions of working people. It long ago expanded to a three-day holiday weekend that marks the … [Read more...]

Less than a month after he amused a huge audience at the opening event of the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival, the Swedish actor, comedian and drummer Janne “Loffe” Carlsson has died. Carlsson was a surprise performer at Ystad, included because of his close relationship with the late singer and … [Read more...]

Curious about the name of a small, imaginative jazz record company called Cuneiform, I asked Joyce Feigenbaum, the company’s publicist, who is married to the owner, how the label’s name came about. This is her reply: I'm actually an art historian by academic training (B.A. & M.A.), not an … [Read more...]

The most recent visit to Sweden stays with me more than three weeks after my return. In great part, that is because music I heard at the Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival refuses to leave my head. A piece played in Ystad by more than one group hangs on persistently and delightfully. It is “De SÃ¥lde Sina … [Read more...]

Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer co-led one of the great small bands of the last half of the twentieth century. In the group Terry (1920-2015) concentrated on the flugelhorn, which he played—as he did the trumpet—with fluency, feeling, technique and humor that make him to this day a model and … [Read more...]

John Abercrombie, a guitarist of stylistic flexibility and uncompromising musical vision, died today in a hospital in New York’s Hudson River Valley. He was 72. Abercrombie suffered a stroke early this year and succumbed to heart failure. For an extensive obituary that incorporates videos and a … [Read more...]

As summer progresses and the rose garden takes on a certain fetching raggedness, it’s time for a Rifftides tribute to the season. There may be dozens of pieces of music that would be appropriate. The staff has chosen three classics. Dave Brubeck wrote “Summer Song,” with lyrics by his wife … [Read more...]