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Interview

Buddy DeFranco on Shearing

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 17, 2011

When people talk about the “George Shearing sound," they are referring to a special combination of instruments that the pianist first assembled in late 1948—and how he arranged those instruments to produce a gentle, swinging approach to jazz. The instrument mix—piano, vibes, guitar, bass and drums—tricks the ear into thinking it's listening to a much larger band. Shearing then arranged the instruments so that they all moved together simultaneously along the melody line, but in harmony, like a vocal group. ...

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Interview

Interview: Marjorie Hyams

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 17, 2011

The George Shearing Quintet's “sound" was hugely dependent on the musical hand-holding of the piano and vibes. All of the instruments in the late pianist's quintet were vital, of course. But it was the block chords of the piano tempered by the daintiness of the vibes that both excited and charmed listeners. In the original George Shearing Quintet of 1949, those vibes belonged to Marjorie Hyams. Margie, as she likes to be called by friends, and bassist John Levy are ...

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Interview

George Shearing and Latin Jazz: More Than a Footnote

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
February 17, 2011

Pianist George Shearing died this past Monday February 14, 2011 due to heart failure, invoking an honest outpouring of love for his work and a resurgence of attention upon his impressive career. Shearing enjoyed immense popularity throughout his career, finding a balance between artistry and public appeal. His quintet that fueled his work throughout the fifties and sixties was a major attraction in the jazz world, taking his performances around the world. During the seventies, his collaborations with artists such ...

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Interview

Exfm: The Web is Your Music Library [interview]

Source: HypeBot
February 16, 2011

This post is by Alison McCarthy (@aliiimac). She's an intern at Hypebot. Recently I spoke with Charles Smith, Founder and COO of exfm, a new music discovery service that works as a browser extension for Chrome, turning the entire web into your personal music library. As you browse any website that hosts MP3s, exfm automatically catalogues every free MP3 you come across, building a virtual library that can be listened to at any time, shared with friends, and organized to your ...

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Interview

Reissuing CTI: The Richard Seidel Interview

Source: Sound Insights by Doug Payne
February 15, 2011

If you've bought more than one jazz CD in the past thirty years or so, chances are you have at least one that was made possible courtesy of producer Richard Seidel. During his two plus decades at the Verve label, Seidel was responsible for rescuing some of jazz's greatest recordings for the digital age and promoting some of the music's best and most promising talent including Shirley Horn, Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, Christian McBride, Mark Whitfield and Jimmy Smith. Indeed, ...

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Interview

Tina Sinatra Laments the Loss of Her Dad Frank and the Death of Rat Pack Cool

Source: AAJ Staff
February 15, 2011

It's been around 50 years since the Rat Pack, perhaps the world's first supergroup, hit the Las Vegas strip, and they've defined cool ever since. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. personified an era where music was smooth, cocktails were neat and the way you wore your hat meant everything. The new collection 'The Very Best of the Rat Pack' captures 18 songs by the individual members, including Sinatra standards 'Come Fly With Me' ...

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Interview

Other Places: Bill Holman Lauded

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
February 15, 2011

On his Jazz Profiles website, Steve Cerra begins a tribute to Bill Holman with this passage:In Japan, a select few of those who maintain the country's artistic traditions or make a unique contribution to them are accorded the respect of the nation by being designated as a Living National Treasure [a considerable amount of schimolies also come with the title each year]. When it comes to composing and arranging for Jazz big bands, no one is more deserving of such ...

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Interview

Moody in Norway: An Update, Illustrated

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
February 14, 2011

James Moody toured in most parts of the world and made friends wherever he went. Following his death in December, the Norwegian pianist Per Husby sent the story of his encounter with Moody a couple of decades ago and the touching question Moody asked him the day after their concert. The pictures and captions below will mean more if you first read Mr. Husby's story. It contains a link to a vocal performance by Moody that includes yodeling. Click here. ...

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