Jazz Articles about Bill Fitch

About Bill Fitch

Album Review

Cal Tjader: Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967

Read "Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967" reviewed by Stefano Merighi

by Stefano Merighi
February 5, 2025

Ancora registrazioni inedite dal Penthouse di Seattle, ancora un impeccabile documento editoriale a cura di Zev Feldman, che recupera smaglianti esibizioni del vibrafonista Cal Tjader, datate 1963-1967. Tjader è figura anomala del panorama jazzistico, scomparso anzitempo nei primi anni '80, testimone di una rara versatilità stilistica, considerato un caposaldo da maestri come Terry Gibbs e Gary Burton (le loro note sono parte del consueto elegante libretto interno). Oltre ad avere buona padronanza del linguaggio swing e ...

Album Review

Cal Tjader: Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967

Read "Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
November 17, 2023

It would be unusual to hear vibraphonist Cal Tjader mentioned alongside the all-time greats on his instrument. He is not remembered for being a fearless improviser like Bobby Hutcherson, or as deeply soulful as Milt Jackson, or as hard-swinging a presence as Lionel Hampton. Moreover, one will search in vain in his biography for the hard-fought personal struggles that have typically been the bread and butter of jazz legend: no tortured tales of substance abuse, or bouts with poverty or ...

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Album Review

Vince Guaraldi Trio: Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits

Read "Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits" reviewed by Douglas Payne

by Douglas Payne
October 1, 1998

This nice little holiday gift is easily confused with the popular soundtrack to the 1964 TV special,A Charlie Brown Christmas. But don't be fooled. Nine of the 14 tracks included here are culled from the 15 Peanuts holiday specials Vince Guaraldi scored before his untimely death at age 47 in 1976--and have never been released on disc before.Some will even startle Vince Guaraldi fans. The lovely, melodic waltzes you can hum along to are all here. But it's ...