On Bitches Brew

A small essay on listening at for instance Bicthes Brew is available at 'The Cahokian'.

Film Poster : Robert Wise - Blood On The Moon [1948]

Miles Davis papercut artwork

Here's some nice papercut artwork by Tina Tarnoff :

Sonny Rollins Interview in the Boston Herald

Rollins keeps rollin'
At 80, a jazz master blows strong
By Jed Gottlieb
The Boston Herald
Friday, April 16, 2010

Rock stars are often blockheads. They want to get paid, party hearty and occasionally make some art.

Sonny Rollins is no rock star.

A link to the last great jazz age, tenor saxophonist colossus Rollins thinks deeply about his music. He also talks deeply about it.

Ahead of his 80th birthday celebration concert at Symphony Hall on Sunday, the contemporary of Miles Davis and John Coltrane got on the phone in his New York kitchen and chatted about his five-decade search for musical bliss.

What's your secret to keeping your chops up?

That's a question Maya Angelou asked me once. I was in California mixing a record and she came to meet me. She wanted to know just that: "What was my secret?" But until she asked me I'd never even thought of it. (Laughs) I'm just in the middle of the stream here trying to paddle. I haven't realized my goals musically. I'm still trying to improve myself and have certain things I think I can accomplish while I'm still here. I see myself as much in the middle of my art as I was when I was a 20-year-old, and still practice everyday like when I was young.

It's a little funny to think of someone with your talent running through scales.

I have certain rudimentary things I do constantly. Things as simple as scales and embouchure exercises. Then I just play whatever I feel like. I never have set regimen after I do my rudimentary things. I remember Max Roach said, "When you practice, you're cheating." (Laughs). No, a professional musician must practice, but I understand what he means. In jazz, you can't manufacture your ideas in practice and then go on the bandstand and play them. It doesn't work. Believe me, I've tried it. I've come up with clever ideas at home and tried to insert them into something on stage and it never works because the ideas are going by so fast that if I stop and try to find the proper place to insert this artificial idea it won't fit. The beauty of jazz is it completely comes from the subconscious in the moment.

Listening to older recordings, can you see a progression or evolution in your playing? Do you hear choices you made as a younger player that you would never make now?

I can, but it's not always as evolution. It's kind of disconcerting because you may take two steps forward and then take two steps back. So it's not a straight progression. But I never listen to my work. I had to listen to something I did from the 1950s recently for business reasons. I took as much as I could before I removed it in despair.

You thought it was that bad?

I saw everything that was wrong. But it wasn't just my playing, it was the style I was playing in. It was so narrow, so constricted.

After a century of jazz, is there new territory yet to be explored?

There is new territory. The melding of styles is a really fertile area that has to be explored. But it's difficult to do. Some people just want to hear Dixieland jazz, some people just want to hear experimental music. But it's part of my quest in jazz - which is the greatest music because of the freedom - to find this new ground. Sometimes when I'm playing I get close to it. But I want to get consistently close, to be able to come close to finding it at every concert.

What is the "it" you're forever searching for? A tone? A feeling? What is it that's still eluding you?

It's everything you said. It's tone, it's feeling, it's vibe, it's all of those things. And you know it when you hear it. It's like what the Supreme Court judge (Potter Stewart) said about pornography, "I don't know what it is, but I know it when I see it." (Laughs) That's a bad analogy, but you get it. It's something that can't be described, but when everyone hears it, they say, "Amen, that it!"

When you reach this cosmic point in concert, can the audience feel it?

When I'm there, they're there with me. When I'm playing well, even if I'm not close to this utopian playing, the audience is always with me. I may have a much higher standard than the audience because jazz is my life, but when everything is right with my playing they understand that because, really, we're all after the same thing.

Film Poster : Don Siegel - Baby Face Nelson [1957]

The Age Of Absurdity

Does this sound familiar to you? Then read the whole article from The Guardian here.

Inter - Juventus : delicious goal by Maicon

More Masks of God: Versions of Interstellar Space

Perfect Sound Forever, an online music magazine has an article on John Coltrane's Interstellar Space. I didn't read it yet but thought i shared the link already. Happy reading.

Jazz Musicians and their healthcare

The second annual San Francisco Jazz Fest a health care fundraiser will take place on April 23rd. read more about it at the HuffingtonPost.

Top 10 Miles Davis Songs

Fun to read although my top 10 list would be different.

Interview with Sonny Rollins

Freep.com published an interview with Sonny Rollins which can be read here. Enjoy!

Mike Zwerin R.I.P.

Just when you think it's been enough for this week, the news Mike Zwerin passed away reached us. Read more about it here.

John Bunch R.I.P.

I received a message today in which is stated that John Bunch passed away on wednesday March 31st..No more details known yet

Herb Ellis R.I.P.

Herb Ellis passed away on the night of Saturday to Sunday, a message appeared on the West Coast-L stating :

“He died peacefully in his sleep. He put in a short appearance at last year's Sweet and Hot Festival in Los Angeles, in a wheelchair with a carer. He'd had Alzheimers for a while. »

There’s a Facebook group dedicated to  Herb Ellis here.

ROIO of the week : Jeru Vol. 6

After a break of some weeks, here we go again. This time with the last in my serious of rare Gerry Mulligan recordings.

Here's the details:
CDR -) EAC -) FLAC

W 9006 JERU VOL. 6
CONCERT JAZZ BAND
Don Ferrara, Phil Sunkel, Conte Candoli (tp)
Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb) Wayne Andre, Alan Raph (tb)
Gene Quill (as,cl) Dick Meldonian, Jim Reider (ts)
Gerry Mulligan (bar,p,arr) Gene Allen (bar,b-cl)
Buddy Clark (b) Mel Lewis (d) Al Cohn (arr)
Newport J F JULY 1, 1960

1. Intro
2. BROADWAY
3. I WANT TO LIVE
4. OUT OF THIS WORLD
5. MANOIR DES MES REVES
6. 18 CARROTS FOR RABBIT
7. WALKIN' SHOES
8. SWEET AND SLOW
9. I'M GONNA GO FISHIN'
10. BLUEPORT
11. CLOSING
      
Newport, G.M.6et July 5, 1963
RB
12. THE ANTHILL

Bill Crow b, Bob Brookmeyer, vtb; Art Farmer flh, Jim Hall g
Dave Bailey ds, Gerry Mulligan bs

New Glenn Gould recording discovered

A rare 1955 recording of Glenn Gould has shown up and is even downloadable here. The concert took place on 4 or 5 december 1955 in Victoria. Enjoy!

Lee Konitz

My good friend Didier B. drew my attention to the fact that this evening France Musique will broadcast from 01.00 AM till 07.00 AM a special program on Lee Konitz. More info can be obtained here. Happy listening.

Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary Tribute

A very brief summary of the Bitches Brew panel at Austin's SXSW with amongst others : Ashley Kahn, Lenny White, Vince Wilburn can be read here.

Charlie Parker in the Guardian

Quite a long article on Charlie Parker appeared in the Guardian last sunday, it's still available here!

Sonny Rollins : On Point 17.03.2010

Sonny Rollins was live interviewed for On Point last wednesday. You can read more about here. I recorded the interview and made it available as an MP3 (320kb) here.
It's over 45 minutes and with Sonny Rollins, Bob Blumenthal is as well interviewed and questioned about Newk.
Enjoy!

Behind the Brel: The Story of a Musical Genius

A 3 part series on the life and times of Jacques Brel will be broadcasted on BBC Radio 2 as of this evening 23.30 London time.

Here's the introduction to this evenings first part :

Marc Almond invites Radio 2 listeners to explore the music and unconventional life of one of France's most revered singer-songwriters - Jacques Brel.
Largely unknown in the English speaking world (mainly due to him singing in French), Jacques Brel is considered one of the great songwriters of the 20th Century, whose lyrical content is poetically introspective and delivered with an honesty few could deny.
Tacking subjects such as love, death and social issues, Brel's music has been translated by artists such as David Bowie, Scott Walker, Shirley Bassey, Joan Baez, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Rod McKuen, Terry Jacks, Nirvana and Vera Lynn.
Brel songs, which became major hits in the English-speaking world, include Ne Me Quitte Pas (If You Go Away), Seasons in the Sun, Jacky and Amsterdam. And in this three part series, Marc Almond will investigate why some Brel songs translated well and others didn't.
In the 1950s French society was heavily influenced by the philosophy espoused in Jean-Paul Sarte's Existentialism and Humanism and Marc will examine how this had a direct impact on Brel's songwriting and unconventional lifestyle.
Dubbed "the eternal adolescent" we will hear how Brel lived alone in Paris, despite having a wife and three children in his home town of Brussels, in order to preserve his "artistic inspiration". A man incapable of living a "pipe and slippers" life-style, we'll discover how his sense of freedom was so strong he attempted to circumnavigate the globe on a sail boat after sensationally quitting singing whilst at the peak of his career.
Contributors include Rod McKuen, who made If You Go Away famous; his daughter France Brel; Seasons In The Sun singer Terry Jacks; the Irish singer Gavin Friday; the French-Irish singer Camille O'Sullivan; Momus (aka singer Nick Currie); opera singer Toby Spence; Peter Straker; translator Paul Buck; singer-songwriter Robb Johnson, who released an album celebrating the work of Brel on his own record label; actress Elly Stone; and Jean-Michel Boris from the Paris Olympia, where Brel performed his last concert.

News on the Miles Biopic

Got this link from one of the music lists i'm on. To me the most tricky senctence is this one :

"Once is the script is OK’d by the family, then we go into production.”

That might take a while ....

Famous Jazzclub Montmartre Re-opens in May

Jazzclub Café Montmartre in Copenhagen re-opens in May! Below is a google translation of a Swedish article.

http://sydsvenskan.se/danmark/article637052/Magisk-jazzscen-far-nytt-liv.html

March 11, 2010


Magical jazz scene get new life

34 years ago packed "It Hemmelige Big Band" down their instruments and one of the world's most legendary jazz clubs closed. Now open the Café Montmartre again.

by Claes Fürstenberg

Jazz Pianist Niels Lan Doky lives alternately in Paris and New York. But now he's moving back to Copenhagen. A year ago, he discovered that the barber school at Great Rain Gade would move. Niels Lan Doky called his good friend Rune Bech, saying that "now we have a chance." They contacted the landlord and convinced him to break off negotiations with another tenant. They made him happy because he was a jazz lover.

The premises were the years 1954-1976 Café Montmartre. On May 1, resurrected jazz club.

At Café Zeze across the street sits Rune Bech and is studying a plan together with interior designer Peter Bundsgaard.

- It should not become a museum. But it will be a mixture between modern and nostalgic, "says Rune Bech.

The long, narrow wooden tables will be reproduced as well as the ten plaster masks that adorned the walls.

- And the mood, "says Rune Bech.

How it was at Montmartre for greatness time in the sixties, the author Dan Truèll described in a poem.

He writes about the semi-darkness, the dense smoke haze, that all wore sunglasses and island shirts, that everyone wanted to dance but it was so crowded that it was not possible without it had to be content with that swing along the benches.

"Og uden Montmartre havde mange af os Levet / A meget less verden / 60'ernes in Copenhagen", the poem ends.

- That was it. The club was an equally large attraction and as well known abroad as Christiania is today and it was Copenhagen to feel better, "says Rune Bech.

And Montmartre was a major contributing factor to many of jazz's biggest names settled in Copenhagen for good. Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon were two of them.

The new club would also attract international names. Game program for the first three months are clear but Rune Bech would not release the names yet.

- We want to mix the big names with the greatest talents that are not yet so famous. And there is plenty of talent. Jazz is great interest among young musicians, "he says.

Rune Bech is IT entrepreneur and former journalist. He is 43 years and never got a chance to go to the original Montmartre at Great Rain Gade. On the other hand, he was a frequent guest at Montmartre in 1976-1995 stood at Nørregade (last years disco). The Swedish musicians Ulf Wakenius, Lars Danielsson and Lars Jansson, are among his favorites.

Pianist Jan Johansson played in the house band at Great Rain Gade 1959th In an interview he said:

- Montmartre is simply a unique and wonderful place to play on. The American musicians not only play better here, but also different, more shades, more daring, weak and strong at the same time.

- To see great artists in a small, intimate room can not compare with seeing them in a concert hall, "says Rune Bech.

The club is 104 square meters and will have room for one hundred guests. The 60s were paired dishes half chicken with fries (SEK 5.50) and baked mussels with lemon and bread (3 £).

For the new menu is Elvio milleri, owner of the Michelin restaurant Era Ora. When he heard about the plans, he said immediately that he wanted to be. Montmartre was a second home to him when he came to Copenhagen in the seventies. Michelinmat the cafeteria prices, it should be served.

Era Ora-owners do not anticipate making money on the new Montmartre and others do not either. The activity will be driven by volunteers and sponsors. Such as the jazz-loving detergent importer who has already donated scouring for the next five years.

Trane, Dolphy and Anti-Jazz...

 
Howard Mandel wrote a lenghty article on the Coltrane - Dolphy collaboration called 'Anti-Jazz : The New Thing Revisited' and which can be read here.
Enjoy!

The Pacific

HBO will start its new WWII series tomorrow night. A lot of stuff is showing up and fan groups are everywhere like for instance on facebook or here where they also have a forum.
I'm still looking for a HQ recording of the 'Making of ' episode which was broadcasted last february. If anyone here around has it please contact me.
Thanks in advance.

Don Ellis

THE EXOTIC RHYTHMS OF DON ELLIS
A DISSERTATION by SEAN P. FENLON
MAY 25, 2002

A 215 page analysis of Don Ellis can be fond here

Sonny Rollins Named 2010 Edward MacDowell Medalist

The MacDowell Colony, the nation's leading artist residency program, will present its 51st Edward MacDowell Medal to jazz composer and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins on Sunday, August 15. The MacDowell Medal has been awarded annually since 1960 to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to his/her field, and this year marks the first time the Colony has recognized the field of jazz. Rollins joins an impressive list of past recipients, including Leonard Bernstein, Alice Munro, I.M. Pei, Merce Cunningham, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

Beginning at 12:15 pm, the award ceremony will take place on The MacDowell Colony grounds, which will be open to the public for the festivities and celebration. Robert MacNeil, chairman of The MacDowell Colony, will award the Medal, along with Cheryl Young, executive director. MacDowell Fellow and preeminent jazz writer and critic Gary Giddins, this year's presentation speaker, will introduce Rollins and describe his life and work to the audience.

"I'm proud and pleased to be selected to receive this very special prize," Rollins said. "Edward MacDowell's spirit engaged me many years ago when, as a child, I was inspired by his composition 'To a Wild Rose.' Later, I had the opportunity to make it a part of my repertoire, performing it on many occasions and eventually recording it. Somehow I feel I'm getting to meet him again."

In naming Rollins the 2010 Medalist, Giddins, also chairman of this year's Medalist Selection Committee, said, "Much as The MacDowell Colony represents to countless artists a matchless paradise for inspired, uninterrupted creativity, this year's Medalist represents the zenith of his art. Perhaps more than any other artist since World War II, Sonny Rollins has personified the fearless adventure, soul, wit, stubborn individuality, and relentless originality that is jazz at its finest. From the time he began recording, at 19, he was recognized as a major talent; his innovative approach to the tenor saxophone was endlessly copied, and his original compositions frequently adapted. But in jazz, composer and performer are often one and the same, and perhaps his key achievement has been the forging of an improvisational method that has given the idea of theme-and-variation

s a renewed vitality. His singular music is at once reassuring in its fortitude and daring in its detou rs. Incapable of faking emotion or settling for rote answers to the challenges of creating music in the moment, he keeps us ever-alert to the power of the present."

 

source

Jamil Nasser R.I.P.

I got this sad news in my mailbox today :

Renowned bassist and educator JAMIL NASSER died Saturday afternoon, February 13, 2010, at Englewood Hospital, after suffering a stroke and massive cardiac arrest. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 30 years, Barbara (Baano) Nasser, their son Najee, and sons Umar, Muneer and Zaid, and daughter Aliyah, from his first marriage, to Karimah.

Janaza services were held on Monday, February 15, at the Dar-ul Islah Mosque in Teaneck, New Jersey, followed by burial at the Islamic Cemetery at the New Jersey State Memorial Park. All of Jamil's and Baano's closest relatives attended both services, including his son Umar, who flew in from Saudia Ariabia where he lives and works. His mother, Mrs Claudie Joyner, who is 102, was not able to attend. However, Jamil and Baano spent some time during the summer visiting her.

Cards and expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Barbara (or Baano, as Jamil used to say) Nasser
2105 Windsor Park Ct
Englewood, NJ, 07631


PLEASE HOLD THIS DATE: The Committee for Jamil's "Celebration of His Life and Gifts" is looking at Sunday, March 21, 7:30 p.m., at Saint Peter's Church, 610 Lexington Ave, NYC 10022. If the Committee obtains that date, more information will be sent. Or we will be loooking for another date.

love, cob
One of Jamil's "best friends" and older "sister"

Jamil Nasser's 77th Birthday Party Bash (reprinted from AllAboutJazz)

:
The Great Bassist Jamil Nasser was recently given a party to honor his 77th Birthday. The event was [produced by his wife Barbara (Baano) Nasser and friend, Cobi Narita, and] held at Cobi's Place on June 21, 2009. In attendance was Ahmad Jamal, Monty Alexander, George Coleman, Lou Donaldson, Richard Wyands, Paul West, Harold Mabern (and many other musicians he had worked with). It was a great tribute to an important musician and educator of our time.

JAMIL NASSER - born June 21. 1932 - died February 13, 2010
Jamil Nasser (George Joyner) was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he began his musical career in 1948 as a tuba player in the Booker T Washington High School Band. Shortly thereafter, he was encouraged by his boyhood friend and neighbor, the musical genius Phineas Newborn Jr., to play the bass violin. He began playing the bass in 1949, and was selected to play bass with the school dance band after an impromptu audition. The Director was Phineas Newborn Jr. Jamil and Phineas recorded in Memphis in 1953 for Peacock Records.

After high school, with three all-expense musical scholarships to choose from, he chose Arkansas A.M. & N. College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he organized and led the college band, the State Collegians. They went on to win the Pittsburgh Courier Poll for the "Best College Dance Band of 1950-1951."

After college, Jamil was drafted into the Army and was bassist and arranger for the 3rd Army Special Service Package Shows. Other members included Wynton Kelly, Duke Pearson and Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock from Star Trek). During that time, he was commissioned by General Bolling (Commander-In-Chief of the 3rd Army) to orchestrate the overture for the 3rd Army extravaganza, "Southland Panorama," using the 100-man concert orchestra plus the 19-piece dance band.

Upon being released in 1955, Jamil joined BB King's band as bassist and arranger, and played the Electric Bass (a newly created instrument at that time). Phineas asked Jamil to join him in New York for his debut at the Basin Street East in 1956. They were well received by the musicians and the Jazz fans in New York. The trio was invited on the Birdland tour in 1957. Jamil was featured with the Phineas Newborn Jr. Quartet until 1958.

Thereafter, he was featured bassist with all-star jazz groups in both recording and personal appearances with such notables as Lou Donaldson, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Randy Weston, Red Garland, Gene Ammons, Herbie Mann, Al Haig, Lionel Hampton, Anita O'Day, Chuck Wayne and "Philly" Joe Jones, to name a few.

Forming a quartet in 1958 with the late legendary Oscar Dennard (pianist), Idrees Sulieman (trumpet) and Buster Smith (drums), they performed throughout Western and Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for three years. After returning to America in 1962, Jamil was musical director and leader of the trio at Chuck's Composite, an East Side night club that was the phenomenon of the early sixties.

Jamil joined the Ahmad Jamal Trio in 1964, along with Frank Gant on drums, an association that lasted for eleven years. During this same period Jamil was vice president of Ahmad Jamal Productions Corporation, Hema Music Incorporated, and Jamal Publishing Corporation. He was President of The King Series, an organization that specialized in special artistic packaging of all-star groups assembled with emphasis on musical compatibillity and historical importance, such as the importent packaging of the quartet which featured Red Garland, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Cobb and Jamil, which toured Japan to sold-out houses in each city.

As producer of the jazz portion of the first "Memphis In May Festival" in 1977, Jamil assembled expatriate Memphis jazz artists and performed with them to more than 13,000 people on the famous Beale Street. Artists included were Phineas Newborn Jr., George Coleman, Hank Crawford, the late Sonny Criss, Frank Strozier, Harold Mabern and Marvin Stamm, to name but a few.

He served as musical director and bassist for actress/jazz singer Cybill Shepherd's east coast engagements.

Jamil produced and directed the first enormously successful 3-day Westchester Jazz Festival for the Presbyterian Jazz Society in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

He was a Vice Presdent of the Jazz Foundation of American 1990-1995.

He was the CEO and founder of Global International Art, Inc.. (GIA), which had a board consisting of artists and business people whose primary interest was to preserve the classical Jazz Art that is based on the total Black experience of swing-soul and beauty.

As an educator, he was director of jazz workshops at State University of New York st Stony Brook.

For many years, he was music director of the Universal Jazz Coalition, Inc./ Jazz Center of New York. producing special concerts and different workshops for instrumentalists and vocalists. Jamil and his trio, Harold Maben on piano and Frank Gant on drums, conducted well-attended weekly free jam sessions, which were important due to the construcitve critiques offered by the trio.

Among his most notable concerts were the intensely beautiful presentation of his Bassoon Choir, the fulfillment of a long-time dream, under a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts; his concert honoring one of his best friends, Major Holley, titled Bass Ball, his tribute concert for Red Garland was one of the most musically-satisfying concerts of the year; and he, along with Max Roach and Cobi Narita, spearheaded the fundraising concert for his best friend and mentor, Papa Jo Jones, at the Village Gate, raising $15,000 in cash which he presented to Papa Jo.

Jamil's other mentor and great friend was Lester Young; Jamil used to say that Papa Jo and Prez had their own special language. They watched over Jamil and taught him "the tricks of the trade". Jamil made the arranements to get Prez out of France and back to the U.S., during his final illness.

For more than a decade, he was George Coleman's "bassist of choice", performing in hundreds of supremely successful concerts, where his steady, strong, yet sensitive, lyrical bass lifted the group to new heights with each performance. One of the finest tenors of our time, George never sounded better nor appeared to enjoy the music more than when he played with Jamil.

He was also bassist of choice with Randy Weston for many years; his first performance with Randy (as George Joyner; he legally became Jamil Nasser later in the same year) was at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. One of the highlights of his working with Randy was performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra. With Randy, he recorded three albums in Paris over one weekend:
Tribute to Duke Ellington
Tribute to Thelonious Monk
Music of Randy Weston

Nasser's great diversity and sensitivity on the bass made him in great demand. He is on hundreds of albums. A few of them, among many others, are:

Outertimeinnerspace Ahmad Jamal-Impulse AS-9226
Freeflight Ahmad Jamal-Impulse AS-9217
Eddie Heyward Now Eddie Heyward-Lyn Records EH-1000
Fine and Dandy Lou Donaldson, Red Garland, Jimmy
Cobb, Jamil Nasser LOB LOC-1022
Expressly Ellington Al Haig-Jamil Nasser Combo Spotlite SPJ LP20
New York Panorama George Coleman Quartet Theresa Records TR120
Portraits of Thelonious Monk Randy Weston 3 Album set Polydor France 281-LCO383
Portraits of Duke Ellington Randy Weston Polydor France 281-LCO383
Self Portraits Randy Weston Randy Weston Polydor France 281-LCO383

MOVIES
The Preacher's Wife Featuring Whitney Houston, Denzel
Washington, Lionel Richie.
Also with George Coleman, tenor; Roy Haynes, drums; Ted Dunbar, guitar

Art Van Damme R.I.P.

Art Van Damme, reknown jazz accordionist passed away at the age of 89. You can read more of his passing away here and about his career in general here.

OOP : Albert Ayler Lörrach/Paris 1966

This concert was at the time issued by HatHut but now Out Of Print. I got a copy from the local public library...

Albert Ayler 

Lörrach/Paris 1966

HAT ART CD 6039

Albert Ayler   (tenor saxophone)

Donald Ayler   (trumpet)

Michel Sampson   (violin)

Bill Folwell   (bass)

Beaver Harris   (drums)

1. Bells (13.18)

2. Jesus (6.51), 

3. Our Prayer (6.06)

4. Spirits (3.12)

5. Holy Ghost (11.01)

6. Ghost (7.38)

7. Holy Family (10:49)

8. Ghost II (4.46)

Tracks 1 to 5:

November 7, 1966

Lorrach, Germany

Tracks 6 to 8:

November 13, 1966

CD -) EAC -) FLAC

scan of cover art and booklet included

Jake Hanna R.I.P.

On february 12th drummer Jake Hanna passed away. A very nice tribute to Mr. Hanna can be found here including different videoclips.
R.I..P. Jake Hanna

Essay on George Orwell

George Wheatcroft wrote an essay on George Orwell for the NYT which you can read here.
Enjoy!

Metropolis

ARTE will broadcast this evening (20.50 PM Paris Time) live from the Berlin Film Festival the newly restored edition of Metropolis by Fritz Lang.For this newly restored version 27 minutes of unissued film were used coming from a collector in South America.
The film will be shown in avant premiere accompanied by live music brought by Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin.

Afterwards ARTE will broadcast a documentary on the restauration of Metropolis, the first film registered by UNESCO.

Roger Guerin RIP

I heard this evening at french television that trumpetplayer Roger Guerin (° 09th January 1926) passed away on saturday February 06th.
Apparently he fell into a small into a small river in front of his house and drowned. Guerin began playing professionally in Paris after the liberation with amongst others James Moody, André Hodeir, Hubert Fol, Fats Sadi, Don Byas, Kenny Clark, Lucky Thompson, Blossom Dearie,...
He was also part of the Double Six a group with whom he frequently played and was present at the Paris Jazz Festival in 1949 with Bird!

Later on he played with Martial Solal and Eddy Louiss.
RIP Roger.

Robin D.G. Kelley Interview

Author Robin D.G. Kelley is featured in a long interview about his recent biography on Thelonious Monk. Enjoy!

Book News (2) : Michael Connelly

Coming Next From Michael Connelly - THE REVERSAL Michael is currently busy writing his next novel, THE REVERSAL. Here is a brief plot summary: Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change sides and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. Together, Bosch and Haller set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years. With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again.

THE REVERSAL will be released in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand later this year. We'll give you more specific information, including cover art, the release dates, and an excerpt, as soon as we possibly can. Stay tuned!

Book News (1) : James Ellroy

Goods news for you Ellroy die-hards. After 'The Hilliker Curse' which appears this year we only will have to wait for two years before the first of a new LA4tet will be pubished under the title 'Perfidia'. You can read more about it here.

Ed Thigpen R.I.P. (2)

It seems the news is coming through, at last the NYT published it's obituary...

NPR offers Lee Konitz

Live At The Village Vanguard

Free Download: Lee Konitz Trio Live

'Case you hadn't noticed, alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is still making music as rich and crookedly beautiful as ever -- even at age 82. He put together an unconventional trio of piano and drums to hit at the Village Vanguard this week, and WBGO was there to record and live-stream the early set on Wednesday night. There's a free MP3 and a photo gallery just waiting for your mouse clicks. Elsewhere: Django Reinhardt at 100, Cedar Walton on Piano Jazz and a Benny Golson birthday bash. Happy listening.

—Patrick Jarenwattananon

An offer we can't refuse... 

Robert P. Parker R.I.P.

Robert B. Parker, crime writer by excellence passed away monday. Read the NYT obituary for all details.

Miles Davis & John Lennon

Miles at John Lennons birthday party June 12th, 1971

L.F. Céline in the NYRB

Uncovering Céline is the title of a 7 page article/review of several novels by Céline who are translated in English.Enjoy the read!

Ed Thigpen R.I.P.

Ed Thigpen passed away on January 13 th. No more details available yet, see here.

James Ellroy : a Demon Dog Overdose

Since my good friend Didier W. directed my attention on James Ellroy's tour in France (part of bigger promotion tour in western Europe) i'm having an overdose of Ellroy. It's not dangerous just addictive. I found a lot of interesting sites with articles, interviews and readings from Blood's A Rover.
Here are some : NPR, NYRB, Rolling Stone, artandliterature, kqed, ThePhlog, zocalopublicsquare.
He was interviewed at France Inter monday 11th of January and should be available on their website, i haven't found the link yet...
Enjoy in the mean time the stuff you goto to read and listen at.

Eric Rohmer R.I.P.

Eric Rohmer passed away at 89 years old. Obituaries are written everywhere : Le Monde, Libération and the NYT.

Jay Jay Johnson : Amsterdam 1957

A recording of Jay Jay Johnsons quintet at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw is being released by 'Muziek Centrum Nederland'. Jay Jay Johnsons quintet featured besides the leader Bobby Jaspar, Tommy Flanagan, Wilbur Little and Elvin Jones. The booklet contains unique pictures from the concert which were taken by dutch photographer Ed van der Elsken.

I just ordered my copy ;-)

Delen

Thelonious Monk article

David Jaffe wrote a review/article on the new biography on Thelonious Monk written by Robin D.G. Kelley for the Nation. Hm i really will have to buy this one..

Enjoy the read and have a nice weekend!

P.S. I googled 'Monk' for finding a picture of Thelonious Monk and had as results pictures of a certain Adrian Monk and a certain Sophie Monk.

Albert Camus update

Since my previous post on Albert Camus other french newspapers also published articles.

Le Figaro has an interview with the daughter of Albert Camus and a portrait.

Le Monde has a portrait written by Bernard Henri-Lévy.

Enjoy!

ROIO Of The Week : Jeru Vol. 5

Here's the next one in our Gerry Mulligan series of ROIO's. I'll try to publish a complete listing of the 6 volume series soon... Enjoy!



W 9005 " JERU " VOL. 5
CONCERT JAZZ BAND LIVE
Don Ferrara, Conte Candoli, Nick Travis (tp),
Bob Brookmeyer (vtb), Willie Dennis (tb),
Alan Raph (b-tb), Gene Quill (cl, as),
Bob Donovan (as), Jimmy Reider, Zoot Sims (ts),
Gene Allen (bars, b-cl), Gerry Mulligan (bars, p),
Buddy Clark (b), Mel Lewis (dm)

GOTHENBURG NOVEMBER 2, 1960
1.UTTER CHAOS
2. I WANT TO LIVE
3 - 5. BLACK NIGHTGOWN &
GO HOME
6.SWEET AND SLOW
7. MY FUNNY VALENTINE
8. I'M GONNA GO FISHIN'

COPENHAGEN, OCTOBER 31, 1960
9. UTTER CHAOS
10. BLACK NIGHT GOWN
11. 18 CARROTS FOR RABBIT
12. APPLE CORE
13. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
14. I'M GONNA GO FISHIN'

Albert Camus

Today it's 50 year ago that Albert Camus passed away due to an motor car accident. The french newspaper Libération has quite a long and apparently very interesting article here.

French public radio France Culture spends the whole week attention to Camus. An overview of all programs can be found here.
I hope they make some podcasts available since it's to much to listen and record at once during working hours.

R.I.P. Tibet

Tibet, the author of the comic series 'Rik Ringers / Ric Hochet" and Chick Bill passed away in the night of saturday on sunday. You can read a short obituary here.

Holiday Season

I'll be gone for 10 days or so, spending Christmas and New Year with family everwhere a bit. I won't have the opportunity to update the blog i presume so that will be it for this year. Thanks a lot for passing by and hope to see you soon in 2010. Best wishes to all!

Terry Pollard R.I.P.

http://jazztimes.com/articles/25540-jazz-pianist-terry-pollard-dies-at-78

12/22/09
Jazz Pianist Terry Pollard Dies at 78
By Aubrey Everett


Terry Jean Pollard, a leading female jazz pianist during the thriving Detroit jazz scene of the 1940s and 50s, died in New York Dec. 16 after a long illness. She was 78.

An enthusiastic cheerleader and tireless Jazz supporter who told others she was from “the home of the pros in Detroit,” Pollard got her professional start at the age of 16, and recorded one solo album before settling down to raise a family.

Born on August 15, 1931, Pollard got her first taste of the prolific Detroit jazz scene by recording with Billy Mitchell in 1948. She then collaborated with Johnny Hill from 1948-1949 and the Emmitt Slay Trio from 1950-1952.

From 1952–1953, while Pollard was again working closely with Mitchell, she was discovered at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit by well-known vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and asked to join his North American tour as part of the Terry Gibbs Quartet. Pollard played piano and second vibes with the group, recording many songs with Gibbs and Dick Garcia, which set her on track to ultimately hit the highest point in her Jazz career.


Pollard won a recording contract with Bethlehem Records and recorded one solo self-titled album in 1955. The following year she won the prestigious DownBeat Magazine New Artist award. During this time Pollard performed alongside John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald, and appeared with Gibbs on the Tonight Show hosted by Steve Allen.


Shortly after recording her solo album, in the late 1950’s, Pollard decided to return to Detroit to raise a family. She continued to participate in the music scene, performing with local artists Yusef Lateef and Dorothy Ashby, and headliners Bert Myrick, Earl Klugh and Diana Ross & The Supremes in the Detroit area.


Pollard was a 60-year-member of the Detroit Federation of Musicians Local 5 in Southfield, Mich., and won many awards during her career. She was featured in the 2001 book Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit 1920-1960 by Lars Bjorn and Jim Gallert.


Pollard leaves one son, Dennis Michael Weeden; a daughter, Corby Marlene Swindle and their families. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

ROIO OF THE WEEK : JERU VOL. 4

I got this recording in a trade a few years ago, only got around listening to it recently. The sound is quite good. Enjoy the music. The links are were they ought to be.



W 9004 " JERU " VOL. 4
G.M.6ET
Jon Eardley (tp), Bob Brookmeyer (vtb), Zoot Sims (ts), Gerry Mulligan (bars, p*), Peck Morrison
(b), Dave Bailey (dm)

BASIN STREET CLUB, NYC,OCTOBER 1955
1. APPLE CORE
2. MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT
3. NIGHT AT THE TURNTABLE
4. BROADWAY

BASIN STREET CLUB, NYC,DECEMBER 3, 1955
5. UTTER CHAOS
6. THE RED DOOR
7. SOFT SHOES
8. MAKIN' WHOOPEE
9. BERNIE'S TUNE

MILANO, TEATRO DELLA FIERA, FEBR. 25, 1956
TV BCAST, RAI TRE, SCHEGGE PROGRAM
10. BERNIE'S TUNE
11. WALKIN' SHOES
12. ONTET *

G.M. 4ET
Bob Brookmeyer (vtb), Gerry Mulligan (bars),
Bill Crow (b), Dave Bailey (dm)
NY CITY, CBS TV " CAMERA 3 "
TV BCAST
July 29, 1956
13. LINE FOR LYONS
14. MY FUNNY VALENTINE
15. FIVE BROTHERS

Pete King R.I.P.

Pete King, who died on December 20 aged 80, was the co-founder of Ronnie Scott's jazz club and in charge of its day-to-day running from the opening night. Read the full obit here.

Wintertime

Took these pictures when we out for a walk yesterday afternoon in our village.

Tony Williams article

Peter S. from the U.K. brought my attention to this older article on Tony Wiliams. Enjoy the read!

Miles From India

Here's the concert, direct recording on HD of the radio broadcast and brought to you in FLAC...

Enjoy!

Miles From India
Cité de la Musique, Salle des concerts
November 2nd 2009
RB
France Musique 17.12.2009

1. Intro Radio Ann.
2. All Blues
3. Ann R.M.
4. IASW
5. So What
6. Blue In Green
7. Ife
8. Jean Pierre
9. Ann & crowd
10. Encore Miles runs the Voodo down
11. Radio outro

Nicholas Payton , Trompette
John Beasley, Clavier
Adam Holzman, Clavier
Rudresh Mahanthappa, Saxophone
Darryl Jones, Contrebasse
Badal Roy, Tabla
U. Shrinivas, Mandoline
Ndugu Chancler, Batterie
Vince Wilburn, Batterie
V. Selvaganesh, Khanjira
V. K. Raman flûte, Voix
Anantha Krishnan, Mridangam

Links are in the comments section !

Miles From India

This evening at 20.00 PM France Musique will broadcast the following concert :

Miles from India
Concert donné le 2 novembre 2009 à la Cité de la Musique, Salle des concerts
Nicholas Payton , Trompette
John Beasley, Clavier
Adam Holzman, Clavier
Rudresh Mahanthappa, Saxophone
Darryl Jones, Contrebasse
Badal Roy, Tabla
U. Shrinivas, Mandoline
Ndugu Chancler, Batterie
Vince Wilburn, Batterie
V. Selvaganesh, Khanjira
V. K. Raman flûte, Voix
Anantha Krishnan, Mridangam

House honors Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue"

Miles Davis
House honors Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue"
Dec. 15, 2009, 2:28 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fifty years after jazz legend Miles Davis recorded "Kind of Blue," the House voted Tuesday to honor the landmark album's contribution to the genre.

Davis collaborated on the record with saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, pianists Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb.

Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat who sponsored the measure, H.Res.894, said the group "made musical history and changed the artistic landscape of this country and in some ways the world." The resolution recognizing the album's 50th anniversary passed on a 409-0 vote.

Columbia Records released the album in August 1959. The original album — only 37 minutes — had a huge impact that extended beyond jazz to other types of music — from rock musicians such as the Allman Brothers and Carlos Santana to minimalist composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass.

Davis, one of the greatest trumpeters in jazz history, died of a stroke in 1991 at age 65. He was renowned for morphing his cool jazz into fusion and experimental sounds that later gave way to jazz funk and hip-hop grooves. Cobb is the only musician from the "Kind of Blue" sessions who is still alive.

A quote by René Magritte

"We mustn't fear daylight just because it almost always illuminates a miserable world."

"Il ne faut pas craindre la lumière du soleil sous prétexte qu'elle n'a presque toujours servi qu'à éclairer un monde misérable"

René Magritte

A whole night of Dave Brubeck on France Musique

As they did for Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis recently (and earlier on for Trane, Chet,..) France Musique spends tonight a whole night with Dave Brubeck. You can find more info here. It's possible i'll record it, don't know yet. It starts at 01.00 A.M. and lasts until 07.00 A.M.

ROIO OF THE WEEK : Marcus Miller NSJF, 2002

I recorded this in the early days of my 2nd radio recording career;-). A Marcus Miller show from the North Sea Jazz Fesitval, The Hague in 2002. It's a radio broadcast as far as i may remember, or possoibly a soundrip from a tv broadcast. Anwyay decent sound after all. I thought it fits perfectly with the 'We want Miles' expo in Paris and the concerts Marcus Miller is doin here in Europe these days.
Links are at its usual place.
Enjoy!



Marcus Miller
NSJF, The Hague
00.07.2002
RB/TB? -) EAC -) HD -) FLAC

1. So What
2. Ann.
3. Lonnie's Lament
4. Killing me Softly
5. When Your Life Is Low
6. Tutu

Marcus Miller el. b.
Michael Stewart tp
Lalah Hathaway voc on 4 & 5
Dean Brown g
Poogie Bell ds
Roger Byam sax
Bruce Flowers keyb

We Want Miles article by George Cole

The Guardian published a review of the 'We Want Miles' expo written by 'The Last Miles' author George Cole. Enjoy the read!

Empress Josephine: The woman who taught France to drink

Empress Josephine: The woman who taught France to drink By John Lichfield
10:30 AM Thursday Dec 10, 2009

An exhibition at Paris' Chateau de Malmaison (pictured) examines the role Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife, the Empress Josephine, had in changing France's wine tastes. Photo / Wikimedia Commons image from user Wabill


When Marie-Josephe-Rose de Tascher de La Pagerie died in 1814, she left a heap of unpaid bills and a golden legacy to social historians.

Marie-Josephe-Rose, better known as the Empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, was, among other things, a great connoisseur and collector of clothes, and an innovative gardener and botanist.

The written inventory of her final possessions in her chateau west of Paris has inspired learned studies and exhibitions on subjects as varied as the fashion trends and gardening styles of the early 19th century.

Josephine was also a celebrated hostess and, although not a great drinker, a great collector of wine.

The official inventory of her possessions at her death includes more than 13,000 bottles of wine from all over the world, from the Cape to Hungary to Champagne.

Study of her 1814 "wine list" reveals something that may seem unsurprising but was, at that time, extraordinary. Almost half of her bottles and barrels came from vineyards around Bordeaux.

Most of them, though little-known in France at that time, would later come to be recognised as among the greatest names in wine: the four "top" Medoc chateaux of Latour, Lafite, Margaux and Haut-Brion.

At the time of the Revolution 25 years earlier, the wine cellars of King Louis XVI had contained not a single bottle from the vineyards of south-west France. In aristocratic French society in the 18th century, Burgundy and Champagne reigned supreme.

Bordeaux was regarded as fit mostly for the English (who had been stubborn lovers of claret, or red Bordeaux wine, for four centuries).

Was the Empress Josephine a precursor of the great switch in French wine tastes which allowed the vineyards of Bordeaux, and especially the great chateaux of the Medoc, to emerge by the mid-19th century as the most prized wines in France and the world?

This is one of the subjects explored in an entertaining exhibition, La Cave de Josephine (Josephine's Cellar), which has started at the Chateau de Malmaison, west of Paris. It was here that Josephine lived for the last 15 years of her life, and died in June 1814, aged 50.

The exhibition, which will move to Germany and Italy next year, also examines other changes in the art de vivre of the French nobility which followed the fall of the monarchy.

Before the Revolution, an aristocratic French dinner-party was a kind of immense, stand-up buffet in which all dishes were served at once. Wine glasses were kept on trays by servants and topped up as required.

After the revolution, France gradually adopted the "Russian" style, now universal, of serving different, sit-down courses one after another.

Wine glasses began, finally, to be placed permanently on the table. These changes were driven partly by the post-Revolutionary dearth of legions of ill-paid servants.

France had also finally cracked the "industrial secret" of how to make crystal wine glasses, something previously known only to the British.

Elisabeth Caude, the joint curator of the exhibition, and joint curator of the chateau itself, says the Empress Josephine did not originate these shifts in the style of French dining but she did become one of their most celebrated exponents.

The Chateau de Malmaison, when bought by Napoleon and Josephine in 1799, was in wooded, open countryside beside one of the great loops of the river Seine west of Paris.

The site has now been enveloped by the suburban sprawl of the French capital but the chateau has been restored by the French state and looks, inside and out, much as it did in 1814.

When Napoleon divorced Josephine in 1809, he gave her the building and its contents. Josephine retained the title of Empress and maintained a kind of second imperial court. Hence her well-stocked wine cellar and her debts.

The new exhibition provides an entertaining insight into Josephine's life in Malmaison but also offers a freeze-frame of a pivotal moment in the history of wine.

In the late 18th century, two-thirds of all the vines planted in the world were in France. Domestic French tastes were dominated by white wine, mostly sweet, and by wine from Burgundy and Champagne.

The Emperor Napoleon was something of an exception. He would drank only Chambertin, a wonderful red wine from Burgundy which he insisted - following the habit of the times - in drowning in iced water.

How then did the cellar of the Empress Josephine, a dedicated follower and maker of fashion, contain so many barrels and bottles of unfashionable Bordeaux? How did it come to be dominated by red wine, rather than white?

The exhibition has borrowed huge, dusty ledgers from, among other places, the Chateau Latour in Medoc, showing the Empress Josephine's wine orders inscribed in ornate hand-writing.

It displays, among other things, the beautiful, porcelain labels which were hung around the necks of wine bottles before paper stick-on labels became common.

Of the 13,286 bottles of wine in her collection, no less than 5,973 came from Bordeaux. Only 419 (and one half) bottles came from Burgundy.

"Partly, you have to put those figures in perspective," Ms Caude said.

"We know there had been a great deal of entertaining just before Josephine's death. It is likely that the stocks of Burgundy and Champagne had been run down and were waiting to be replenished."

All the same, she says, the presence of so much Bordeaux, and not just any Bordeaux, is intriguing. The Napoleonic wars had cut off the traditional, British markets of the Bordeaux negociants, or traders.

One of Josephine's "knights of honour" and the manager of her household was Andre Bonnin de la Bonniniere, the Marquis of Beaumont. He was also the co-proprietor of the Chateau Latour vineyard in Medoc.

"It is obvious Bordeaux was desperate, at that time, to find new markets in France," Ms Caude said.

"One can also presume that the Marquis de Beaumont influenced Josephine's wine purchases, in an attempt to introduce the best kinds of Bordeaux to the imperial court and, therefore, to leading French society.

"But Josephine was also a woman of great character and great taste. She would certainly not have served her guests wine that she hadn't, herself, tasted and approved of. We can, therefore, say Josephine, as a leading figure in the new Imperial society of the early 1800s, did point the way to a change in the French taste in wine, which, by mid-19th century, had enthusiastically embraced Bordeaux."

The rest is oenological history. The days when British wine-lovers had the best Bordeaux chateaux to themselves have long gone.

The Empress Josephine died of pneumonia, after she wore a fashionably light gown outside on a chilly day. She was taking the Tsar of Russia on a tour of her famous gardens at the time.

She would have done better to stay inside and introduce him to her wine collection.

- INDEPENDENT

By John Lichfield

Sonny Rollins at The Kennedy Center

Source :

By Sriram Gopal in Arts and Events on December 3, 2009
During the 1960s, a great debate among jazz aficionados was over who was the better saxophonist, John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins. A fool's errand, really, as they had completely different approaches to music. Both were master technicians who could run the gamut, from aggressive to serene. Coltrane's playing had a deeper spirituality, while Rollins was the more mischievous, always playing with a witty edge. And while 'Trane's group was probably more groundbreaking, Sonny deserves a great deal of credit for his sheer longevity and high quality output over a 50+ year career. Few jazzers of his generation remain, making the 79-year-old saxophonist an artistic treasure, and totally deserving of the standing ovation that greeted him as he took the Concert Hall stage last night at the Kennedy Center.

Though walking with a bit of a hobble due to age, any sign of frailty disappeared the second Rollins brought the horn to his mouth. Opening with and uptempo swinger, he prowled about the stage, upper body bobbing back and forth, like a prize fighter throwing musical jabs at each of his bandmates. His tone was as powerful as ever, and the elder was the only band member who did not take a seat for the duration of his two-hour, two-set performance. Time has also not diminished Rollins's stylish flair. Always known for being one of the cleanest cats on the scene, yesterday he was looking quite dapper, with his hair slicked back while sporting a white blazer, dark pants, and his trademark sunglasses. Rollins even changed during intermission, returning to the stage with an equally eye-catching bright red shirt.

The evening's heartwarming moment came just before the band performed the ballad, "Cabin in the Sky," the title song to the 1943 picture starring the wonderful Lena Horne. Rollins recalled seeing the picture as a youngster at a movie theater in Annapolis, while on a trip to the nearby Carr's Beach and Sparrow's Beach, waterfront spots available to African-Americans during segregation. Rollins went on to tell a story of how he saw a big band while at the beach, and was heartbroken to see his crush sitting on the bandstand. But that same concert also planted the seed of his love of jazz, something he remembers, he said, every time he plays in this area. The song itself featured a soulful trombone solo from Clifton Anderson, who also shined on a moving tribute to J.J. Johnson, the trombonist who gave Rollins one of his early breaks.

While this was clearly Sonny's show, he gave his formidable bandmates plenty of space to shine. The first set closed with a Rollins original, "Nice Lady," an island theme that showcased the musicality of percussionist Victor Y. See Yuen, who gave a clinic in balancing technical prowess with taste and restraint. The second set began with another uptempo number that saw Rollins trade phrases with Kobie Watkins, a versatile young drummer with no shortage of chops, but who is also steeped in tradition. Guitarist Bobby Broom was given several solos throughout the evening, and rocked out on "Sonny, Please," the title track to the 2005 release. Bass guitarist Bob Cranshaw, who has been collaborating with Rollins since the late 1950s, spent most of the night holding things down, but was given a moment on the closer, "Don't Stop the Carnival." An homage to his parents' Virgin Island roots, the Rollins staple is built on an instantly hummable melody played over an infectious calypso groove, which brought the boisterous crowd to its feet once more.

In an interview conducted last year, Rollins told DCist that he does not listen to much music anymore. That remark struck us as odd, given the inherent desire artists have to grow and evolve. But like a grandfather who is unapologetically set in his ways, even artists of Rollins' stature probably reach a point where they don't feel that inner fire lighting an explorer's spirit. Instead, they are content to express the emotions and knowledge they have amassed over decades. And like that same grandfather who doles out words of wisdom for us to cherish, last night's audience could feel blessed that Rollins is still around to lend us his sweet, sweet sound.

New York Times : review of 2 books on Jazz

The NYT reviews two books on jazz : 'POPS A Life of Louis Armstrong' by Terry Teachout is reviewed here and there's 'JAZZ' written by Gary Giddins and Scott DeVeaux which is reviewed here

Great way to start the weekend!

Miles Davis in Belgrade 1971

BBC Radio Scotland broadcasted yesterday a small excerpt of Miles' concert at Belgrade 1971. I captured it from the net and the links can be found in the comments section.

More info on the complete concert can be found here

Miles Davis
November 3, 1971
Dom Sindikata, Belgrade (Yugoslavia)

1. Radio Intro
2. Yesternow (inc)
3. Radio Ann

Miles Davis (tpt)
Gary Bartz (ss, as)
Keith Jarrett (el-p, org)
Michael Henderson (el-b)
Ndugu Leon Chancler (d)
Charles Don Alias (cga, perc)
James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)

George V. Higgins : The Friends of Eddie Coyle

A month ago wbur.org published an article on George V. Higgins which you can read here. Be sure to check out the commentary section as well! It makes me realise it's ages ago i saw the film, and check out the book as well again.
Enjoy!

John Coltrane & Elvin Jones

as remembered by german bassist Lothar Meid :

ROIO Of The Week : Imani Winds

Now for something different, after the jazz ROIO's here some actual classical music brought to you by Iamni Winds. They played together with Wayne Shorter at different festivals and concerts and at thisn concert they play a Wayne Shorter composition.
Sit back, relax and enjoy!

More on Imani Winds can be found on their here and on this wiki.




Imani Winds
Perelman Theater
Kimmel Center
Philadelphia
Fresh Ink Series
Friday, October 24, 2008 | 7:30pm
FM>Total Recorder>HD>CD Wave>FLAC Frontend (level 8)

Valerie Coleman, flute
Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe
Mariam Adam, clarinet
Jeff Scott, French horn
Monica Ellis, bassoon

01. Station ID 0:29
02. Introduction 2:52
03. Call (Toyin Spellman-Diaz) 5:49
04. Announcement 4:08
05. Speech and Canzone (Valerie Coleman) 13:51
06. Announcement 2:40
07. Cane (Jason Moran) 11:15
08. Announcement 1:24
09. Terra Incognita (Wayne Shorter) 10:39
Total Time: 53:09

Performed but not included on this recording:
Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet (Gyorgy Ligeti)
Contrabajissimo (Astor Piazzolla - Arr. Jeff Scott)

Dick Katz R.I.P.

Dick Katz passed away on November 10th.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/arts/music/13katz.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries

November 13, 2009 - NY TIMES - By Ben Ratliff
Dick Katz, 85, Jazzman of Many Gifts Over 6 Decades, Is Dead

Dick Katz, a pianist, record producer, educator and writer whose
knowledge of jazz from the stride-piano era to 1960s modernism made
him a valuable presence on New York’s jazz scene for six decades, died
on Tuesday in Manhattan. He was 85.

The cause was lung cancer, said his son Jamie.

Mr. Katz’s piano idols were soloist royalty: Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum,
Fats Waller. But he was a more reserved musician, finding his place
somewhere between accompanist, arranger and subtle improviser.

One of his breakthrough moments was his role as pianist on the
saxophonist and composer Benny Carter’s 1961 album “Further
Definitions,” meshing with a first-class multigenerational crew
including swing-era veterans and younger musicians. Another was his
1965 collaboration with the singer Helen Merrill, “The Feeling Is
Mutual,” an arty, cooled-out album of jazz standards of which he was
co-leader, arranger and producer.

Richard Aaron Katz, born in Baltimore on March 13, 1924, was already
playing in local clubs there as a teenager before he left for the
University of North Carolina to study music. He joined the Navy in
1942 and fought in the battle of Saipan; in 1946 he became a
professional musician in New York.

While working for his father’s advertising agency, he studied at the
Manhattan School of Music, where John Lewis, later of the Modern Jazz
Quartet, was a fellow student. In 1950 he took private lessons with
Wilson. By the early 1950s he was performing regularly with the
clarinetist Tony Scott’s group at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem and
making a string of records with Mr. Scott, including “Music After
Midnight” and “Jazz for G.I.’s.”

For several years in the mid-’50s, Mr. Katz played in the house rhythm
section at the Cafe Bohemia in the West Village with the bassist Oscar
Pettiford and the drummer Kenny Clarke, backing Miles Davis, among
others. He also toured with the popular twin-trombone band led by J.
J. Johnson and Kai Winding and played with the trumpeter Kenny
Dorham’s Jazz Prophets.

His old friend Lewis helped Mr. Katz secure a record deal with
Atlantic in 1958, which resulted in the album “Piano and Pen.” Through
the ’50s and ‘60s he appeared frequently as a sideman, on records by
the vocalist Carmen McRae, the saxophonist Sonny Rollins and others.
Starting in the late ’60s, two of his most frequent collaborators were
the trumpeter Roy Eldridge and the saxophonist Lee Konitz — brilliant
players on opposite chronological sides of bebop, jazz’s great
stylistic divide.

In 1966 Mr. Katz and the veteran record producer Orrin Keepnews
founded the jazz label Milestone. Staying with the company until the
early ’70s, he produced records by Mr. Konitz and others, as well as
“Alone Together,” a highly regarded duet album by the guitarist Jim
Hall and the bassist Ron Carter.

Beginning in the middle ‘80s Mr. Katz worked with the American Jazz
Orchestra, a repertory ensemble directed by Lewis, and the saxophonist
Loren Schoenberg’s big band. From the ’80s onward he taught at the New
School, the Manhattan School of Music and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Mr. Katz was also among a select group of jazz musicians who wrote
well about their art. His astute essays about Davis and Tatum in The
Jazz Review, published in 1959 and 1960, led to other writings, for
books and album liner notes. He received Grammy Award nominations for
the notes he wrote for “Jazz Piano: A Smithsonian Collection” (1990)
and “The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio” (1993).

Mr. Katz’s first marriage, to the former Edith Shapiro, ended in
divorce. He is survived by his wife, the former Joan Seifer, as well
as four sons — Jamie and Frank, of Manhattan; Jeffrey, of Washington;
and Ivan, of Brooklyn — and two grandchildren.

Spending a night with Miles : Yes we can!

This night from 23.30 on you have the opportunity to spend a night with Miles. Look at the marvelous program here.

Having connected my radio and my pc i must be able to record it all in FM quality.... I'll try to post the different parts the coming days - weeks as MP3.

Have fun!

Sonny Rollins to Perform Benefit Concert for Pete Seeger's Clearwate

Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins and his band will perform a special benefit concert for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY. The concert will begin at 2:00 pm.

Rollins's performance in Tarrytown on behalf of Pete Seeger's Clearwater will mark the first time the renowned environmental organization has ever hosted a benefit concert dedicated solely to jazz, and is also the first time that the saxophonist has performed a fund-raiser for any cause. The concert, to be presented by Jazz Forum Arts, is Rollins's only 2009 New York area appearance.

Performing with Sonny Rollins will be his working band: Clifton Anderson, trombone; Bobby Broom, guitar; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Kobie Watkins, drums; and Victor See-Yuen, percussion. Tickets for the concert range from $75 to $100; a limited number of premium tickets (which include a reception with Rollins) are also available. For information and ticket purchases, visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org or call 877-840-0457. The theater is located at 13 Main Street, Tarrytown.

In 1998 Sonny Rollins, for years an ardent environmentalist, released an album called Global Warming, which included songs such as "Echo-Side Blue," "Mother Nature's Blues," "Clear-Cut Boogie," and the title track, which he frequently performs to this day. The CD package contained a poem by Rollins, reading in part: "We got to stop assumin' / We can just go on consumin' . . . Live light on the planet, sister and brother / 'Cause if we kill it, there ain't no other / Not that much time left neither."

"My views have changed a little bit since then," says Rollins. "I still agree that people should be more aware of the environment and their own personal habits--like throwing stuff out of the window. Overall I see the environmental crisis less as 'us versus them' and more as part of the big picture. It's okay in a way. But people still have to take action. It doesn't affect what we should be doing. It's more of a moral question. Being against the environment is being against yourself and your neighbor."

Rollins has resided since 1972 in an old farmhouse in Columbia County, New York, in the Hudson River Valley. He eagerly accepted the opportunity to lend his talents for an organization founded in 1969 by another Hudson Valley musical icon and environmentalist. "Pete Seeger and I have the same heroes and beliefs," says Rollins. "We are in the same family. He is my brother."

Presently in the midst of an eight-city European tour--which takes in Groningen, Toulouse, Paris, Milan, Zagreb, Salzburg, Rome, and London--Rollins is also scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on 12/2. While in Salzburg (11/8), he will be awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class. The award is one of Austria's highest honors, given to leading international figures for distinguished achievements. The only other American artists who have received this recognition are Frank Sinatra and Jessye Norman.

John Le Carré

John Le Carré left his publisher Hodder. Read more about it in John Sutherlands article for The Guardian.

Saint-Exupéry

Le Figaro publishes today in his 'Livres'annex an article and a preview of a book on the heritage of the famous writer.You can read it here and here.

RIP Stacey Rowles

Got this from another list :

"Stacey Rowles, daughter of another jazz giant - pianist Jimmy Rowles - passed away yfriday october 30th at the age of 54. To me she was a highly underrated musician and a very original and entertaining singer to boot. RIP Lady Stacey."

Further information i got says she was victim of a head on car accident.

We Want Miles Expo

So we went on thursday to Paris, let me share my impressions with you :

*(this may contain spoilers for those of you who will visit it in the future)*

general oberservations :
- negative : a) no english catalogue available, it MIGHT become available SOMEWHERE in November, not able to order by internet;
b) the poster of the expo : not available wedon't have an agreement with the photographer YET
c) you get at the entrance some earphones (no not the MD designed ones - shoud have been cool though to see everyone with those ones) which had to be used at certain point during the parcours to listen at mainly the well known music (All Blues, etc.) but at each point there are only four contacts to branch your earphones so a waiting line is easily formed
so yes it's a real french organisation ;-)

- then the positive observations who do prevail :
The expo is build on a chronological base and takes place on two floors. The main color which is used is BLACK (i thought otherwise seeing the pictures taken by George Cole). The MUSIC is omnipresent, everywhere where you pass

The main facts of Miles' life and music are of course known to most of us so what was most interesting for me where some smalle items on display :
- a (to me unknown) picture of the Billy Eckstine orchestra during a concert;

- a lot of pictures of the Paris 1949 concerts

- an original record from that 1949 concert (by Miles with TADD DAMERON) wheron the french radio recorded directly the broadcast

- a recipe from the Ascenseur pour l'échafaud session where Miles signed he received payments for the recording session :
"Received ....

Miles Davis
Motherfucker"

- a letter from Teo to Columbia for the FDK album :
"Miles lets me know he want all titles on the album mentioned in french; HELP, anybody here speaks french?"

- at various places big screens where are shown : extracts of Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, a concert extract with the 2nd quintet, isle of wight festival and a special theatre where the july 1991 La Villete show is shown. Although we know the music, it's a very nice experience to see and hear it on a 5 by 5 meter screen and changes from the usual television screen experience...

- if memory is correct at least 4 trumpets used by Miles are shown as well as a saxophone by Trane used by him in the 50's. The drums photographed by George Cole are an assembly of parts of Philly Joe Jones drums as well as those from Tony Williams.

- a short movie from 1971 filmed at the place of John Lennons manager , Miles and Betty were invited by John Lennon to share the afternoon with them at the party, you see Miles playin' basketball.

- another short movie where you see Miles boxing

- then a real treasure filmed in 1972 by a Japanese guy Teppei Okuchi (?) during a recording session(s) for On The Corner and Big Fun where you see how Miles direct the members of the band, explain to Al Foster to what kind of rhythm he wants... it's about 10 minutes or so (haven't checked onmy watch)

- then a lot of video's are available from the period 1980 -1991 (saturday night live, publicity clips, tutu, etc.) as well as drums, guitar, the pancartes he used with the first name of the musicians, the jacket he wore for the cover of You're under arrest, the Villette 1991 concert etc., also a film taken in 63 in paris upon Miles arrival in Paris at the train station with wife and kids (must be in july before the Antibes concert)

- covering all periods original charts are shown beginning with the BOTC period "Rouge" where the various parts of each instrument are shown, then indeed the charts of various compostions of the sities, ESP ( For Miles - Wayne), Dolores, Capricorn, Little One, Pinocchio... AND
one very curious chart from the 1962 sextet period of Miles with Jay Jay and Hank Mobley, probably a composition by Jay Jay and the parts of JJ, Miles and Hank are shown a track which was never played later by Miles (don't remember the title of it, Ersch or Eric J if you go try to memorize of write down the title please)
although i can't read any music at all, i found these charts very interesting to look and try to read the instrcutions written on it ...

That's about it, it took us a good 2 hours but we didn't listen to all music and videos available so you can spend easily a well spent afternoon at the expo.

Passez la nuit avec Wayne Shorter

Ce soir il faut à nouveau écouter France Musique à partir d'une heure le matin. il y aura du beau monde qui est invité et apparement il y aura un interview avec Mr. Shorter. Espérons que la traduction ne gache pas la voix of the man himself ;-)

Je ne serai pas dans la possibilité de l'enregistrer car on est à Paris pour voir et entendre à la Salle Pleyel le quartet de Wayne Shorter.

We Want Miles : here we come!!!

Tomorrow we're of to Paris for the 'We Want Miles' expo. I'll post again this weekend and will as well try to publish some pictures.