[contextly_auto_sidebar id="kvXzUb3qq7bTxNyCRJWooFNCtCWry5Le"] From time to time, we reach into nine years of posts stored in the Rifftides vaults for pieces that the staff thinks are worth a second look. This is one of those times. Originally posted on Rifftides on March 25, 2010. "Third … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="AkSxhYHLc105k3wnpv2VTPGktkWgIrID"] Lennie Tristano was born in Chicago on this day in 1919. At birth, influenza ruined his vision. By his 10th birthday he was blind. Formally trained at a music conservatory, he played piano and, as a 12-year-old clarinetist, led a … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="rAujx5558iqADMBlt5zj0tGNJtOX6QUs"] “How Are Things In Gloca Morra,” featuring Sonny O’Rollins, tenor saxophone; Donald McByrd, trumpet; Wynton Kelly, piano; Gene MacRamey, bass; and Max O’Roach, drums. On St. Patrick’s day, the whole world is … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="bdYaweGTmZmzZDeaWraqu5CutuAOU6wL"] Thanks to Lester Perkins of Jazz On The Tube for reminding us that today Tommy Flanagan would have celebrated his 84th birthday. The great pianist died in 2001. From the time he made his debut as a teenager in his native Detroit, … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="eyvYYg0fmRcIGDmwQJopimDDA5uO1nGP"] Alto saxophonist Med Flory was best known to the general public as an actor, but jazz listeners are most likely to remember him as the co-founder and leader of Supersax. Flory died this week at the age of 87. He made hundreds of … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="asOJct6gYgSkFqhnVaMCI6YG7znfNMbJ"] Iola Brubeck died today. She had been under treatment for cancer discovered several months ago during oral surgery. She was 90 years old. Her children made the announcement through the University of the Pacific, home of the Brubeck … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="W7fa71eO5lzJBaKSRMLoqtlZSKpEQTE9"] In his Jazz Profiles blog, Steve Cerra posts a piece about Bud Shank (1926-2009) that is packed with remembrances of the saxophonist and flutist, interviews, photographs and music clips that recall the career of an amazingly … [Read more...]

It has been Rifftides practice to make Doug's Picks recommendations in batches, with long periods between. Beginning with the recommendation below, the picks are going to come singly and more often. As always, clicking on the title of the CD, DVD or book will take you to where it can be found. The … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="ylqITQpsqXjiYLIeYMoqRuEy6UASXOH9"] Speaking of Poodie James (see the previous post), if you have read the novel you might like to see a bit of the town and valley that bear a not entirely coincidental resemblance to the book’s locale. I just watched a short … [Read more...]

As the digital revolution makes inroads into traditional publishing based in paper, bookstores are not having a notably good century so far. Hardly a week goes by without news of a large or small bookstore, including those owned by chains, going out of business somewhere in the US. Yakima, … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="JcNUILe4bAh6cCwx3ZRXQQCtFZUP6p89"] The Bill Holman documentary that I helped with late last year is moving closer to reality. Its producer, Kathryn King, has launched a fund-raising drive to help her and her crew complete the film on schedule. That is how many projects … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="5ukc15UJXurI8MJ71NmO3fiEEZF7MJdG"] Jan Allan with the Visby Big Band, Berwaldhallen Stockholm, Sweden, 1985. Arranged, conducted and introduced by Rob McConnell. Later this month, Allan, now 79, will join pianist Jan Lundgren, bassist Georg Riedel, … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="2m4FW9BeWZVHVa8BrLb9rePRMLx27VJA"] The distinguished pianist, composer and leader is the 2014 occupant of the chair held by Bernstein, Cage, Eliot, Stravinsky and Gordimer, among others. For further details, including how to get a ticket for the remaining … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="icLgcTZ2l3UKVn9QanSe19cCVcm9ZTgS"] Rifftides reader Ted O’Reilly writes from Toronto: I wasn’t much inclined to shop much at Crocojazz personally – I’m not into vinyl as some are – but it was not as inviting as I’d hoped. Unorganized, dusty, boxes and … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="efAmRuKaaqX5rj6ZjnTamyx8TZc7XSdP"] Rifftides reader Greg Curtis is on a study sabbatical in Paris. Wishing to stimulate envy—and succeeding—he sent an illustrated message about two used record stores in the 5th arrondissement, near his apartment. One, La Dame … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="avlwvqI5zBWc3SRma1jeCfNlPLnf2cmW"] From her opening blues, “Filosophical Flying Fish,” to the concluding “Summertime” done as a sort of neo-boogaloo, Grace Kelly’s Thursday concert at The Seasons in Yakima, Washington, left no doubt that she is in the top … [Read more...]

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="flbfxpFTwcTpwGSAHO27wZwGZfFmNIvy"] Thara Memory wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. “This is new music,” the venerable trumpeter and educator told the Portland Jazz Festival audience. “New. N.E.W. Have you got that?” He said it was not going to be ninety … [Read more...]