Articles by Larry Grogan
The Andy Bey Quartet
by Larry Grogan
In a world where the term 'jazz singer' has been usurped by a generation of Quiet Storm R&B crooners and cabaret hangers on, the rare chance to be in the presence of true greatness is rare. So the opportunity to see Andy Bey in one of his (tragically) rare live appearances was all the more gratifying.Though the increasing notoriety that his brilliant albums bring is rendering the labeling of Bey as an 'unsung' master obsolete, the juxtaposition of his ...
read moreGrant Green
by Larry Grogan
By Sharony Andrews Green Miller Freeman Books
To fans of the Blue Note label - and in the history of jazz there has never been a label with such a clearly defined ethos or sense of purpose - the name Grant Green is a very familiar one. Like label mate Bobby Hutcherson, Green was not only prolific as a leader, but also a ubiquitous session sideman as well. His name appears on scores of those dynamic Reid Miles ...
read moreAndy Bey: Experience and Judgement
by Larry Grogan
When Andy Bey's 1996 album, 'Blues Ballads and Bey' appeared on the scene, the first impression was of a genius, cut from whole cloth. Like Kaspar Hauser, he appeared as if from nowhere, fully formed. But Andy Bey was no newcomer. He had a recording and performing history that stretched back almost 40 years. He recorded as a child prodigy, then with his sisters in Salome and Geraldine, and after they parted ways in the mid-60's he recorded with Duke ...
read moreVarious Artists: Blue Movies: Scoring For The Studios
by Larry Grogan
Another volume in 'The Blue Series', the deceptively titled 'Blue Movies' (actually compiled from a variety of (now) Capitol owned labels such as Blue Note, Pacific Jazz, Roulette and Tower, and a quarter of the cuts originating with TV) is one of the better entries in the series. Featuring a few rarities, a couple of absolute classics and only a few duds, the thematic coherence of 'Blue Movies' may be contrived but there's plenty to like.
Drawing from the 60's ...
read moreVarious Artists: Blue Bacharach
by Larry Grogan
The current (waning) resurgence in “Lounge" culture (loosely covering everything from soundtrack music, to lightweight pop-jazz, and the proto-World music of Martin Denny and Les Baxter) has created a corresponding demand for all things Bacharach. This icon of the 'swinging 60's', though long past his prime is finding new life as a nostalgic totem of Gen-X ironic detachment. This is really a shame because in his prime, Burt Bacharach was virtually unmatched in songwriting/arranging prowess, covering the bases from film ...
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