Normally, I pay little attention to my smart phone, but today it alerted me to several social media messages pointing out that I had not posted about Paul Desmond on his 92nd birthday. Believe me, it was on my to-do list, but the list was hijacked by a succession of duties, all necessary, important … [Read more...]

This is an important American national holiday. To those in or from the United States, the Rifftides staff wishes you a happy Thanksgiving. To those around the world: we appreciate your interest, readership and comments. Wherever you are, we hope that you have much for which to be … [Read more...]

Monday’s remembrance of pianist Hod O’Brien, who died over the weekend, included this: O’Brien was married to singer Stephanie Nakasian, with whom he frequently collaborated. Their daughter, also a vocalist, performs under the name Veronica Swift. Ms. Swift (pictured) inherited her … [Read more...]

Friends of Hod O’Brien report that the pianist died yesterday at 80 following a long battle against cancer. He continued an active playing life even as he underwent treatment for the disease. Born in Chicago, O’Brien attended Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music. He became … [Read more...]

Phil Norman Tentet, Then & Now (MAMA Records) This album’s tune list could create an expectation that we’re in for just another trip down the memory lane of modern jazz classics. No, Norman’s ensemble combines gifted players and arrangers with fresh approaches to familiar music. Geoff … [Read more...]

Thanks to Seattle bassist Bren Plummer for calling our attention to a short video of trumpeter Jon Faddis getting acquainted with Bix Beiderbecke’s horn. Beiderbecke (1903-1931) was second only to his friend Louis Armstrong as an influence on the development of jazz trumpet style in the 1920s and … [Read more...]

Mose Allison has died at the age of 89. A Mississippi pianist, singer, composer, songwriter and sometime trumpeter, Allison made his New York debut in the 1950s as a bebop pianist. He worked with Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Gerry Mulligan and a variety of other post-bop musicians, but came to fame employing … [Read more...]

Pianist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea" (born June 12, 1941) continues the long celebration of" his" 75th birthday, currently at his frequent New York headquarters the Blue Note. " Corea's career" has brought him together with virtually every major figure in modern jazz. We congratulate him … [Read more...]

Vibraphonist, arranger, bandleader and master transcriber Charlie Shoemake lives on the California coast halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. As a performer who also teaches, he is known in the jazz community for the accuracy and detail of the solos that he transcribes. He" trains his … [Read more...]

Today is the" 241st" birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Hard-core Marines (is there another kind?) might consider it heresy to create a jazz version of the Marine Corps Hymn. They would be wrong. A few years" ago during a six-hour bus ride to a performance by the Marine Corps All-Star Jazz … [Read more...]

Bassist Bob Cranshaw succumbed to bone cancer yesterday at his home in New York City. He was 83. He may be best remembered as Sonny Rollins’s bassist for more than half a century, but Cranshaw’s career also included mainstay work with Dexter Gordon, James Moody, Kai Winding, Wes Montgomery, Duke … [Read more...]

After jazz emerged—or coalesced—as a distinct form of music in New Orleans in the early twentieth century, it quickly took hold throughout the world. Jazz musicians developed on every continent, even in countries where the spirit of jazz goes against the grain of politics and culture; a jazz … [Read more...]

Fred Hersch Trio, Floating (Palmetto) I’m not sure how this 2014 CD ended up in the holding pen for so long, but I am delighted that it finally called to me from the stacks. With his celebrated keyboard touch and control, the pianist floats even through the trio’s zestful 12/8 approach to … [Read more...]

It won’t scare trick-or-treaters out of their wits, but Jack Reilly’s minor-key “Halloween” is just ominous enough to make proper background music when the little devils, angels and ghosts come knocking tonight. It’s the lead track from Reilly’s 1994 album Blue-Sean-Green. Jack Six is … [Read more...]

Autumn 2016 in the inland Pacific Northwest is one rainstorm after another amid the glory of leaves turning color and painting the landscape. Here we see maple leaves outside Rifftides world headquarters. Among songs that sing the praises of the fall season, Henry Nemo’s “’Tis Autumn” … [Read more...]

I have a longstanding rule regarding child prodigies who emerge on waves of publicity: Approach with caution. When the eleven-year-old Indonesian pianist Joey Alexander materialized last year in a flurry of accolades from Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock and others, I kept him at arm’s length. … [Read more...]