Articles by Randall Robinson

Trying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon

by Randall Robinson
January 2, 2020

This article was originally published at All About Jazz on June 5, 2008. Finding Validation Trying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon is a film that tells the story of trumpeter-vocalist-actor-comedian Jack Sheldon's remarkable life and career. Beginning with his impoverished childhood in segregated Florida and proceeding to his formative Hollywood teenage years with the legendary Chet Baker, the film follows Sheldon's career as he swings through the Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman bands, creating ...

Charlie O the Jazz Man

by Randall Robinson
December 21, 2008

Charlie Ottaviano's biggest passion in life was jazz. He always dreamed of opening a jazz club and he did just that in August 2000, little by little converting the small neighborhood establishment into a real jazz venue. He started small with music one night a week with John Heard and Earl Palmer performing and soon it grew to live jazz seven nights a week. The club became very successful and there have been thousands of nights of music and all ...

David Myers: Cameraman To The Rock Stars

by Randall Robinson
September 17, 2008

Of the film documenters of rock's history, cameraman David Myers was the one truly at the epicenter of rock film nirvana. Just one of Myers' major friends and filmic collaborators was Bob Dylan, who in April 2008 received an honorary Pulitzer Prize, cited for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." With Dylan having a banner year, it might be appropriate to take a look at Myers' film ...

Daihachi Oguchi: Taiko Drum Master Silenced

by Randall Robinson
July 15, 2008

A former jazz drummer, Daihachi Oguchi took ancient rhythms, broke them down and created new arrangements and compositions to accommodate an ensemble of drummers. He helped turn the traditional form into a dramatic performance spectacle. Elevating the traditional folk sounds of taiko to modern music played in concert halls, not just festivals and shrines. He led and starred in the performance of drumming and dance at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Taiko is a powerful ...

Dave Carpenter Remembered

by Randall Robinson
July 2, 2008

A Passing Glance Last week, jazz lost a gentleman and journeyman artist valued for his dependability, versatility and swing. One of the west coast's finest session bassists, Dave Carpenter died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 48. After studying music at Ohio State University, he launched his professional career playing with three giants of jazz: Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman. Most recently, Carpenter had been in drummer Peter Erskine's trio, which also included ...

Jack Schaeffer: Strumbola

by Randall Robinson
April 16, 2008

Jack Schaeffer is a longtime Marin county saxophonist who, since the 1970s, has frequently been showcased at San Francisco and Sausalito nightclubs. Schaeffer is a staple of Mill Valley's Sweetwater Inn, opening the club with his AnExchange Quartet back in the 1970s. Still playing these many years later, Schaeffer frequently gigs with his Hot House Swing Band.“Saxophonist Jack," as he is affectionately known, has piqued interest and curiosity with his conversion, invention or, perhaps, contraption, the tiple-styled multi-string ...