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Count Basie: Europe, 1972
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In the spring of 1972, the Count Basie Orchestra was touring in Europe. Two concerts were filmed, possibly for TV, and are up as one at YouTube. The first took place in Denmark. As best I can tell, the band featured Paul Cohen, Sonny Cohn, George Minger and Waymon Reed (tp); Al Grey, Mel Wanzo, Bill Hughes and John Watson, Sr. (tb); Eric Dixon (fl,ts); Curtis Peagler and Bobby Plater (as); Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis (ts); John C. Williams (bs); Count ...
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Euro Jazz Vocal Groups
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Most jazz fans are familiar with leading American jazz vocal groups of the late 1950s and early '60s. These hip harmony-rich ensembles included the Four Freshmen, the Hi-Lo's, Lambert Hendricks and Ross, the Axidentals, the Pat Moran Quartet, the John Lasalle Quartet, the Metronomes and so many others. But did you know there were vocalese groups in France, Britain and Sweden during this period as well? Here's France's Les Double Six de Paris singing Boplicity and Rat Race... Here's Britain's ...
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Stan Freberg: Clever Comedy
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Stan Freberg was many things. Dull wasn't one of them. He was an advertising copywriter and creative director, voice actor, radio personality, singer and comedian. He also was the father of the send-up single and funny TV advertisement. Freberg, who died in 2015, also loved jazz, as many fans know from Three Little Bops, the 1957 Looney Toons cartoon featuring Freberg's voiceovers and music by West Coast jazz musicians. Now, many of his artifacts are going to online auction Dec. ...
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Dave Brubeck, Gone Four Years
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Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
This is the fourth anniversary of Dave Brubeck’s death at age 91. Under the heading, “Always remembered, never forgotten,” John Bolger sent a message that included this photograph of Brubeck as listeners remember him from countless occasions—fully committed. Here he is in 1964 in Belgium with the group long known as the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet. Paul Desmond, alto saxophone; Eugene Wright, bass; Joe Morello, drums. The piece is Brubeck’s “Koto Song.” Dave Brubeck, 1920-2012. To visit John Bolger’s website ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Six from Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's check out some recent performances from saxophonist and vocalist Karl Denson, who with his band Tiny Universe is coming back to St. Louis next week for the first time since 2010 to perform on Saturday, December 10 at the Old Rock House. That relatively long absence may be attributed in part to the fact that Denson, a California native who turns 60 at the end of this month, has been spending time since 2014 as the touring ...
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Stanley Turrentine: 3 Videos
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000) had a big, full, bossy sound on the tenor saxophone—less sassy than, say, Gene Ammons, but smokier with a strong, soulful attack. He was at his best when paired with pianist Horace Parlan or his wife, organist Shirley Scott. In the following three videos, we get a sense of Turrentine's soul-jazz feel and his confident articulation: Here's Turrentine in the mid-1980s playing Stevie Wonder's Creepin'... Here's Turrentine in 1990 performing Sugar... And here's Turrentine in 1997 performing ...
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Video: Jimmy Giuffre Trio
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
From 1957 to 1959, reed player Jimmy Giuffre led a revolutionary trio. It featured Giuffre on clarinet, tenor sax and baritone sax; guitarist Jim Hall; and a series of bass players, including Ralph Peña, Jim Atlas, Red Mitchell, Ray Brown and Wilfred Middlebrooks. Even Bob Brookmeyer took a turn at the piano and valve trombone. What made the jazz group special was its passion for Americana folk with a sophisticated spin. All members of the group were daredevil players—with Giuffre ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Tomeka Reid
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's get acquainted via video with the Chicago-based cellist and composer Tomeka Reid, who will perform in a concert presented by New Music Circle next Friday, December 3 at Joe's Cafe. Reid, who grew up in Maryland near Washington DC and is now in her late 30s, is an active participant in Chicago's busy jazz and improvised music scene, moving freely between various musical projects of her own and those led by others. She also has significant classical ...
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