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Documentary: John Philip Sousa
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Today being July 4th and all, what better way to celebrate America's birthday than to look at the life and music of John Philip Sousa (1854-1932). Known as the “March King," the composer and conductor of brassy, dramatic patriotic songs in the 1800s also laid the track for jazz. By the turn of the 20th century, ragtime players were interpretting on the keyboard with syncopation what Sousa had squarely accomplished accomplished with a large band, uniforms and equipment. Here's the ...
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History of the Jazz Piano
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
The history of the jazz piano starts in 1899. By my count, 20 pianists changed the direction of jazz over the course of 75 years. Here are 20 sample tracks in chronological order of those pianists. Listen for how the the piano evolves over time—the right hand, the left hand, the feel and the bounce Here's Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag. Registered in 1899 as the Original Rag, Joplin's playing was preserved on a player-piano roll. With the popularity of ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on Moon Hooch
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Today, let's check out some videos featuring Moon Hooch, who will be back in St. Louis to perform Tuesday, July 9 at the Old Rock House. Since making the transition nearly ten years ago from NYC subway buskers to an international touring act, the saxophones-and-drums trio have been regular visitors to St. Louis, performing here most recently in October of last year at the Old Rock House. Though they haven't put out any new recordings since then, Moon Hooch has ...
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Emily Remler: Firefly/Take Two
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Sometime in 1984, WKCR-FM's Bird Flight host Phil Schaap introduced me to guitarist Emily Remler. I was an early fan, and she was playing at the West End Bar near Columbia University where I had just completed grad school. As I recall, the place was half full and I was sitting in a booth when Phil graciously brought her over between sets. What I remember most were her eyes. They seemed vulnerable, like a doe's. Looking at her, it was ...
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Blue Mitchell: Smooth as Wind
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
One more Tadd Dameron album that is a masterpiece—Blue Mitchell's Smooth as the Wind. Recorded in 1960 and '61 for Riverside, the album showcased Mitchell's fleshy trumpet backed by sophisticated and sympathetic brass and strings. Seven of the songs were arranged by Dameron, with the remaining three by Benny Golson. The songs arranged by Dameron are Smooth as the Wind, But Beautiful, The Best Things in Life Are Free, For Heaven's Sake, The Nearness of You, A Blue Time and ...
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Mark Turner + Gary Foster
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Seventy years ago, on March 4, 1949, cool jazz was recorded for the first time. Given a mandate to record whatever new jazz was important, Pete Rugolo, Capitol's head of A&R, brought the Lennie Tristano Sextet into the studio to tape two songs—Wow and Crosscurrent. The music by Lee Konitz (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Lennie Tristano (p), Billy Bauer (g), Arnold Fishkin (b) and Harold Granowsky (d) featured the reeds playing bone dry (with zero vibrato), high on the upper ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Then and now with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, let's take a look at some videos of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, who are coming to St. Louis to perform next Thursday, June 27 at Powell Hall. This year's tour marking the band's 30th anniversary is one of their most extensive since original member Howard Levy rejoined in 2009, covering 21 dates this summer with more on tap for fall. Their Powell Hall appearance will be their first St. Louis show since 2012, when they played at ...
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