Results for "AAJ Staff"

Jack Sheldon (1931-2019)

January 7, 2020

Jack Sheldon, a West Coast jazz trumpeter who, in the 1960s, as jazz recording opportunities dried up, began to diversify into film studio work, TV acting, comedy, singing and a regular vocal part on the children's animated series School of Rock, died on December 27. He was 88. Sheldon was most notable for his clean, round ...

Jack Sheldon, 1931-2019

January 2, 2020

It is sad to report that the great trumpeter Jack Sheldon has died at the age of 88. Sheldon sang with spirit, style, phrasing and good humor that paralleled his trumpet playing. This video is from his 1984 appearance at Lulu White’s Mahogany Hall in the New Orleans French Quarter. The other members of his band ...

Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum 1928 - 2019

December 27, 2019

Hugh “Peanuts" Whalum, a pianist, singer, and tenor saxophonist who was part of the St. Louis music scene from the late 1940s into the 21st century, has died. He was 91 years old. News of Whalum's passing on Christmas day spread on social media via Facebook posts from Jeff Anderson, who played bass with Whalum for ...

Rounding up the "Best Jazz of 2019" lists

December 27, 2019

It's that time of year again, as jazz journalists, DJs, critics, podcasters, and bloggers are publishing their annual “Best Of" lists. And once again, for the 13th consecutive year, St. Louis Jazz Notes eschews the compilation of such a list, instead offering readers a meta-list with links to all of the other “Best Jazz of 2019" ...

Stan Kenton: Back to Balboa

December 19, 2019

Back in the early 1980s, I headed out to Los Angeles to visit a friend in Huntington Beach for a few days. For the summer trip—my first to the L.A. area—I packed my Sony Walkman and a bunch of West Coast jazz cassettes. The tapes weren't to entertain. My motive was more anthropological. I wanted to ...

Doc: Sal Mosca (Un-Sung)

December 17, 2019

For years, cool-school pianist Sal Mosca labored as a student of Lennie Tristano, recording only sporadically. He avoided touring with top stars as their accompanist to be with his family and to teach his students. Before Mosca died in 2007, James M. Lester was able to make this wonderful short documentary—Sal Mosca (Un- Sung): To read ...

Videos: Ben Paterson

December 14, 2019

Unfamiliar with Ben Paterson? Stick a pair of glasses on him and he'll remind you of Bill Evans, circa 1958—but in much better shape. As for his playing, Paterson is extraordinary on both the piano and the Hammond organ. And he can sing! The other day, my friend Jimi Mentis emailed me YouTube links. When Jimi ...

Roberto Magris: Sun Stone

December 13, 2019

Roberto Magris is an Italian jazz pianist with a fondness for drama. His albums always explode in stormy excitement and robust flavor. His latest release, Sun Stone, was recorded with his sextet at the Hit Factory in Miami in 2017 and features Shareef Clayton (tp), Ira Sullivan (as,sop,fl), Mark Colby (ts), Roberto Magris (p), Jamie Ousley ...

George Shearing: Quintet Xmas

December 12, 2019

At JazzWax, 12 is the number of years I've posted annually on my selection for the JazzWax Vintage Holiday Album Hall of Fame. The point of this is to offer up perfect holiday music that conjures up feelings of a time long past or is just superbly executed seasonal music. Combined on your iTunes or Spotify ...

Documentary: Jim Hall

December 11, 2019