Jazz Articles about Don Alias

About Don Alias

Reassessing

In a year that has brought us a true bounty of previously unheard majesty including Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy (Impulse!), and Bill Evans; Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969), (Elemental Music) it is only fitting that Miles Davis get his due. And in a very, very big way. Seared into modern memory, modern art, the music presented on the gloriously massive, eleven LP set Miles Davis: The Electric Years ...

Reassessing

Black Market

by Jeff Winbush
June 14, 2016

As Weather Report returned to the studio to cut their next album the band was yet again in flux. Gone from 1975's Tale Spinnin' line up were percussionist Alyrio Lima and drummer Ndugu Leon Chancler. Zawinul explained the latest comings-and-goings in a 1976 interview, “We're always happy with the group, because if we're not happy, we change it. There are a lot of musicians out there in the world. All the people who have played with us are ...

Cymbalism

Don Alias and Jaco Pastorious

by Melanie Futorian
May 3, 2012

[Author's Note: This marks the last article in the four-part series for Cymbalism, a tribute to the great percussionist and my companion, Don Alias. Please look for the forthcoming photo book on Amazon.com, Don Alias: The Moments We Spent. As well, keep an eye out for my upcoming for All About Jazz interviews with David Sanborn, Miles Evans and others.]Don Alias and Jaco PastoriusI had been touring supper clubs, posh hotels and concert halls with Lou ...

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Cymbalism

Don Alias and Joni Mitchell

by Melanie Futorian
April 12, 2012

[Editor's Note: Cymbalism is an All About Jazz column featuring excerpts from an upcoming autobiography on the late, great percussionist Don Alias, co-written by Melanie Futorian, his companion for the last seven years of his life. This installment covers Alias' collaboration with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell] Joni and I were living together working on our romance. She was a prolific genius; a woman who wrote about what happened in her life. I had introduced her to my musical world ...

Cymbalism

Don Alias and Miles Davis

by Melanie Futorian
March 21, 2012

[Editor's Note: Cymbalism is an All About Jazz column featuring excerpts from an upcoming autobiography on the late, great percussionist Don Alias, co-written by Melanie Futorian, his companion for the last seven years of his life. This installment covers Alias' work on trumpeter Miles Davis' iconic Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970)]It was [drummer] Tony Williams who actually called me for that unforgettable Bitches Brew session. Man, when I walked into the studio and I saw the Bitches Brew personnel ...

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Cymbalism

Don Alias and Nina Simone

by Melanie Futorian
February 23, 2012

[Editor's Note: Cymbalism is a new All About Jazz column that will feature excerpts from an upcoming autobiography on the late, great percussionist Don Alias, co-written by Melanie Futorian, his companion for the last seven years of his life. This installment pays tribute to the sixth anniversary of his death in March, 2006.] Don Alias and Nina SimoneIt was Gene Perla who called me up one day and said, “Hey man, why don't you just try ...

Album Review

Miles Davis: Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary

Read "Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary" reviewed by AAJ Italy Staff

by AAJ Italy Staff
December 16, 2010

Lussuria. Se ci fosse una legge che limita ad una sola parola le recensioni dei capolavori, questa sarebbe la nostra scelta per il cofanetto Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary, senza alcun dubbio. Per fortuna una legge del genere (per ora) non c'è e quindi possiamo aggiungere altre riflessioni per raccontare meglio la straordinaria importanza di Bitches Brew nel panorama delle arti di ogni tempo e per sottolineare il senso di meraviglia che questo splendido cofanetto ha suscitato anche in chi di ...