Articles by Matt Lavelle
Bird's Trumpets
by Matt Lavelle
Looking closely at all the trumpet players that played with Thelonious Monk in a piece I wrote in March 2018, I decided to continue the focus, and explore the trumpet players that played with Charlie Parker. As challenging as the trumpet is to play, playing Bebop raised the technical bar. Playing with Charlie Parker at fast tempos where he thrived took trumpet playing to an extreme that may have never been matched since. Parker certainly enjoyed the alto saxophone and ...
Continue ReadingBolden: A Movie Review And Beyond
by Matt Lavelle
Bolden Directed by Daniel Pritzker Abramorama; King Bolden LLC Release Date: May 3, 2019 Bolden is a film about jazz legend and cornetist Buddy Bolden, released on May 3rd, 2019. There was only one theater playing it in Manhattan, all the way on 12th Avenue and 57th St. The author was the only person present there for an 11:50am Monday viewing on May 13th. The film only showed for one week in ...
Continue ReadingMonk's Trumpets
by Matt Lavelle
Thelonious Monk's recording career as a leader only lasted twenty-four years, from 1947 to 1971. When it comes to horn players, most people interested in Monk associate him with the tenor saxophone, and rightfully so as Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Charlie Rouse stand tall in Monk's recorded legacy. The alto saxophone was present from his first record as a leader, but no alto players were able to contribute substantially beyond strong work as sidemen. Gigi Gryce stands ...
Continue ReadingOrnette Coleman and Humanity: Parts 1 and 2
by Matt Lavelle
Part One When we sleep, we're often in commune with our soul. As you wake, you may receive some gentle messages for you to try and remember or use. A few years back as I was waking up I felt that everything in my life was about to change in a way I could never expect. A massive shift was imminent. Shortly after that photographer John Rogers introduced me to Ornette Coleman. I'll always be very grateful to ...
Continue ReadingSir Hildred Humphries. It's all about the music.
by Matt Lavelle
Ahh Hump. My man. Hildred was my first mentor. Unlike most of the young guys today, at 44 I have spent extensive time learning from authentic masters of the Art. In 1986 legendary music educator Bert Hughes spent the summer helping me to get my chops back after 3 years of not playing so that I could be part of a big band tour to Russia. He also introduced me to Hildred Humphries. Hildred was so much more than a ...
Continue ReadingJazz Meets Death
by Matt Lavelle
There once was a great music. It was born in America and branded with the name Jazz. The music was later re-named madam Zzaj, by one of her lovers, the Duke. She grudgingly accepted the moniker of Jazz over the years. It was how she was bought and sold after all. Jazz had several intimate relationships over the years. Each one of these caused her to experience tremendous spiritual and emotional transformation. There was the great Armstrong, who raised her ...
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