Articles by Monk Rowe
Jazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound, Part 2
by Monk Rowe
The jazz life is not an easy one and the life skills learned along the path can be relevant to anyone, in any field of endeavor. Season 4 ends with profound statements from Charles McPherson, Stefon Harris, Karolina Strassmayer, Maria Schneider, Denis DiBlasio, Joe Williams, Harold Ousley, and Gregory Caputo. ...
Continue ReadingJazz Advice: The Practical and the Profound, Part 1
by Monk Rowe
Veteran jazz musicians share their wisdom in the form of advice to those who wish to follow in their footsteps. Phil Woods, Jerry Bergonzi, Dan Barrett, Wayne Bergeron, Tom “Bones" Malone , Terri Lyne Carrington, and Rick Montalbano offer practical guidance, gained from decades of gigs. ...
Continue ReadingMilitary Music: Part 2
by Monk Rowe
Music played a positive, even lifesaving role for soldiers during the Korean and Vietnam War years. In this episode, we hear from Jake Hanna, Frank Foster, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Junior Mance, and Hal Espinosa. ...
Continue ReadingMilitary Music: Part 1
by Monk Rowe
Jazz musicians were not exempt from service in the U.S. military. Jay McShann, John Bunch, Louie Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Clark Terry, Orrin Keepnews, George Wein, Joe Bushkin, and Bobby Johnson speak about their experiences during WWII. ...
Continue ReadingScrolling Down the Leaderboard
by Monk Rowe
A band leader sampler. Veteran sidemen Eddie Bert, Peter Erskine, Don Menza, and Marshall Allen provide inside stories about Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Sun Ra, and Joe Zawinul. Maria Schneider weighs in on the role and responsibility of a leader. ...
Continue ReadingBenny Goodman: The King of Swing
by Monk Rowe
Benny Goodman played a marvelous clarinet and his bands sold a ton of records while packing audiences into dance halls and Carnegie-style halls. He was also enigmatic and frequently oblivious of his surroundings. Jerry Jerome, Sonny Igoe, Bucky Pizzarelli, Flip Phillips, and Skitch Henderson share their memories of working with “The King of Swing." ...
Continue ReadingSwing Bands
by Monk Rowe
For pure swing, the bands led by Count Basie will never be equaled. Harry “Sweets" Edison, Ed Shaughnessy, Snooky Young, Gerald Wilson and Joe Williams offer personal anecdotes and insights that help us understand the man who personified big band swing. ...
Continue ReadingThe Duke Ellington Story
by Monk Rowe
Our first four episodes look at iconic big band leaders beginning with Duke Ellington. Former sidemen and associates Clark Terry, Phoebe Jacobs, Bill Berry, Buster Cooper, Grover Mitchell, Louie Bellson and John Lamb offer inside stories that illuminate the Duke's unique talent and personality. ...
Continue ReadingJazz International: Part 2
by Monk Rowe
Season 3 wraps up with powerful stories of aspiring jazz players who were willing to follow their passion even if it meant leaving their homeland. Joe Temperley, James Moody, Pierre Boussaguett, Ada Rovatti, Arturo Sandoval and Rossano Sportiello help us understand the jazz calling. ...
Continue ReadingJazz International: Part 1
by Monk Rowe
Jazz was the first American music to be embraced and copied around the world. Its infectious swing and message of democracy between musicians rang a bell from Scotland to Japan. Steve Allen, Dave Brubeck, Alan Raph, Ignacio Berroa, Eiji Kitamura and Toshiko Akiyoshi speak to the magnetic attraction of American jazz. ...
Continue Reading
