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One LP
One LP is a portrait on location of a musician with a favourite album by another artist. The photo is accompanied by an interview with the musician where they talk about the highly personal significance of their chosen record - and often the profound influence it has had on their lives a compelling insight into the person's musical DNA.
Benny Golson: Dizzy Gillespie Sextet with Dexter Gordon: Blue 'n' Boogie
Well--I've been around for a long time, and during the time when I got started there were no such things as albums so there were no covers! This was the time of the 78 recording with three minute at tops for each recording so whatever the person was going to present they had to present it within the three minute framework. That's what I grew up with when I started. I had many heroes in the beginning, my ...
read moreJon Faddis: Dizzy Gillespie & Roy Eldridge, Soul Mates
Jon Faddis: Wigan Arena, July, 2014 Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge Soul Mates (Verve, 1954) “I remember getting this as a present from my sister on my 11th birthday and I just remember how excited I was. I listened to that record thousands of times. It wasn't my first Dizzy Gillespie record but I think it was one of the most important because I couldn't stop listening to it. Dizzy-Roy back and forth, Dizzy-Roy ...
read moreJoe Lovano: Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight
Joe Lovano: Birdland, NYC, 21st September 2014 “Well, I would have to say Miles Davis, 'Round About Midnight (Columbia, 1957). I grew up listening to this recording as a kid and the poetic expression -the ensemble playing between John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones just captured my attention from an early age. And of course their solos within each tune were just so masterful you know. But yet, as ...
read moreSheila Jordan: Charlie Parker, Now's The Time
Sheila Jordan: At home, New York City, 11th February 2014 “This is the first jazz recording I ever heard, it's not even bebop! It's a rebopper! Charlie Parker's Reboppers. “There's a whole story behind this record. Charlie Parker alto, Miles Davis, trumpet, Curley Russell, bass and who's on piano? Hen Gates: that was Dizzy [Gillespie]--he couldn't give his real name --and Max Roach on drums. So on the other side is “Billie's Bounce" ...
read moreJack Bruce: L'ascension, Olivier Messiaen
"It's called L'ascension by Olivier Messiaen who was a French composer I have loved for most of my life. Why I love his compositions is he shows that music has always existed. Humans only stole it. We borrowed it -but it's in nature. It holds the universe together, ask any skylark or ask any blackbird, they'll tell you." Jack Bruce: Band on the Wall, Manchester, 24th March, 2011 This One LP appears ...
read moreKenny Burrell: Duke Ellington, The Great Paris Concert
Kenny Burrell: University of California, Los Angeles, 7th May 2013 The record the maestro recorded in Paris in 1963; there are many great things on this recording. One that I particularly like--it's one of my favorite pieces in all of Ellingtonia and all music--is “Tone Parallel To Harlem," known as “Harlem Suite." This was commissioned in 1950 by Arturo Toscanini of The NBC Symphony Orchestra of New York. Duke Ellington at that point was pretty popular ...
read moreOrbert Davis: Clifford Brown with Strings
Orbert Davis: Symphony Centre, Buntrock Hall, Chicago. 15th May, 2013 This is Clifford Brown with Strings (EmArcy, 1955). I was a teenager when I first heard this incredible album--the depth is in its subtleties--and Clifford is so perfect with the string writing of Neal Hefti. It's a true blending of classical and jazz. The first thing I knew--this is funny--I recognized the name Neal Hefti from the Batman theme! For me as a trumpet ...
read moreJimmy Heath: Charlie Parker with Strings
Jimmy Heath: Langston Hughes Library, Flushing, New York, 30th April 2013 It was impossible to make a choice! This is Charlie Parker with Strings (Mercury Records, 1950)--a compilation of all the Charlie Parker with Strings--not just the one studio performance; there's some live performances. Someone at The Charlie Parker organisation that used to give the benefits for Charlie Parker--the Foundation that his wife started--made this compilation and they gave them out to some of the sponsors ...
read moreAnnie Ross: Billie Holiday, Lady in Satin
She was my hero, she was my mentor, she was my idol. I got to know her very very well and I was very proud that I did, because she was a real buddy of mine. I think there's a whole life in this voice for her to sing the songs that she sings; I mean, you could cry listening to her and I just think she was like a beautiful ebony statue. Great songs.
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