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Video / DVD

More Harry James in Hi-Fi

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 14, 2020

Throughout the 1950s, Count Basie saw Harry James in his rear-view mirror. For James, Basie was an inspiration and a model on which to record. Their connection dated back to 1939, when James recorded Two O'Clock Jump, a trumpet-driven interpretation of Basie's popular One O'Clock Jump credited to Basie, James and Benny Goodman. The update became James's closing theme and an exercise in attempted one-upmanship. In 1952, when Basie formed his New Testament Band, a re-tooling of his dance band ...

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Video / DVD

Paul Bley: Early Trios

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 12, 2020

Pianist Paul Bley is often thought of today as a free-jazz trailblazer and avatar of the avant-garde. But in the beginning, in the early 1950s, Bley was a swinging modernist, leaning heavily on bop. Bley led a trio in New York and recorded three albums—Introducing Paul Bley (Debut), Autobiography in Jazz (Debut) and Paul Bley (Emarcy). The two 10-inch albums for Charles Mingus's Debut label were recorded in November 1953 and featured Bley (p), Mingus (b) and Art Blakey (d). ...

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Video / DVD

Sound That Seduced the World

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 11, 2020

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The BAG legacy, part 3

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
May 10, 2020

This week, StLJN's look at music from former members of the Black Artists Group (BAG) continues with some videos featuring the sounds of trumpeter Baikida Carroll and multi-instrumentalist J.D. Parran. You can see part one, featuring videos of BAG-related ensembles the World Saxophone Quartet, Clarinet Family and more, plus some links to background info, here. Part two, with music from saxophonists Oliver Lake and Hamiet Bluiett, is here. Like Lake and Bluiett, both Carroll and Parran have enjoyed diverse and ...

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Video / DVD

Sonny Greenwich in 10 Clips

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 8, 2020

Yesterday I received an email from Bob Miller in Canada. In his note, he mentioned Sonny Greenwich, a guitarist who is little-known in the U.S. but a favorite among musicians north of the border. Canada, of course, has produced its share of great jazz musicians, including Greenwich, multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson, saxophonist Moe Koffman, pianist Oscar Peterson and guitarists Lenny Breau and Ed Bickert, plus dozens of others. Today I'm showcasing Greenwich, whose style has always been distinct and whose edgy ...

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Video / DVD

Chuck Israels and Alec Katz

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 6, 2020

Bassist Chuck Israels and I have become fast pen pals. Every since my interview with Chuck in 2019 (here), he sends along wonderful notes with insights into the historic subjects of my posts. I share many of them with you. Recently, Chuck sent along a thrilling album featuring his trio live at a club in Tel Aviv. The album features pianist Alec Katz and drummer Yonatan Rosen. If you're unfamiliar with Katz, he's a gloriously sensitive player with swing. Chuck ...

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Video / DVD

Lenny Breau and Brad Terry

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
May 5, 2020

Back in October 1978, guitarist Lenny Breau and clarinetist Brad Terry found themselves in the living room of Terry's mother's farmhouse in Maine. A tape recorder was there as well. Breau and Terry decided to record several songs. Both musicians were so proficient, the results sounded as if they had rehearsed in advance of the farmhouse session. In fact, they didn't. Over a series of visits by Breau to the house, the pair completed 23 tracks in the living room ...

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Video / DVD

Chet Baker: Sweden, 1985

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 22, 2020

On June 30, 1985, Chet Baker performed in the library of Sonet Records in Lidingö, Sweden, backed by French pianist Michael Graillier and Belgian bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse. As with the Zoot Sims video posted earlier, Red Mitchell conducted an interview that was interspersed between songs. [Photo above of Chet Baker courtesy of YouTube] Chet played the following songs and sang on some of them: Candy, Love For Sale, Tempus Fugue-It, Sad Walk, Red’s Blues, Nardis, Bye Bye Blackbird and My ...

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