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Cleo Laine (1927-2025)
Cleo Laine, Britain's finest and most-celebrated jazz-pop singer who, with tenor saxophonist Johnny Dankworth, began recording together in 1951 but became much better known in the U.K. than in the U.S., died on July 24. She was 97. Dankworth and Laine married in 1958, and over the course of her career, she was showered with British ...
Backgrounder: Clarke/Boland - Latin Kaleidoscope
Today, the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band still doesn't get the respect it deserves. Perhaps that's because the band was comprised of American and European musicians, many of whom were little known to record buyers. The band also did much of its touring abroad. But there were other reasons. Most of their records were released on ...
Perfection: Bird - Almost Like Being in Love (1952)
In March 1952, producer Norman Granz had Charlie Parker record with a big band for his Clef label. He assembled a stunning collection of New York talent: Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Poole, Al Porcino and Bernie Privin (tp); Bill Harris, Lou McGarity and Bart Varsalona (tb); Charlie Parker, Harry Terrill and Murray Williams (as); Flip Phillips and ...
Chuck Mangione (1940-2025)
Chuck Mangione, a trumpeter, flugelhornist and keyboardist who, along with George Benson, and a few other jazz musicians, successfully crossed over to pop in the late 1970s and pioneered what became known as smooth jazz, died on July 22, He was 84. Mangione, along with his brother, Gap, was born in Rochester, N.Y., a region with ...
Backgrounder: Count Basie's Sinatra Tribute (1963)
In 1963, Count Basie was persuaded by producer Norman Granz to record a tribute album to singer Frank Sinatra. Though Creed Taylor was Verve's executive producer by then, Granz held onto several of his artists, including Basie and Ella Fitzgerald, after the label was sold to MGM. By then, Sinatra and Basie had recorded and released ...
Take Five with Bassist Phil Ravita
by AAJ Staff
Meet Bassist Phil Ravita One of the Mid-Atlantic's most versatile and sought-after bassists, Phil Ravita leads Ravita Jazz and appears with many other jazz and classical ensembles and orchestras. He is also host of a weekly radio program on WMTB 89.9 FM. Tune in on Mondays at 8 PM EST. He has shared the stage with music ...
Perfection: Wes Montgomery - Lolita
Pianist Barry Harris composed the song Lolita in 1960. He first recorded it for his album Barry Harris at the Jazz Workshop, recorded live at San Francisco's Jazz Workshop in May 1960. Barry's recording is alternating between bop and Latin. Guitarist Wes Montgomery picked up on this feel when he recorded the song in 1963 for ...
Concert Video: Frank Sinatra in Tokyo, 1962
In 1962, Frank Sinatra went out on a world tour to raise money for underprivileged children. He personally funded the tour, with stops in Mexico, Japan, China, Israel, Greece, England, France, Italy and Monaco. A large chunk of the tour involved performing at benefit concerts and visiting hospitals and orphanage. Accompanying him on stage were Emil ...
Take Five with Trumpeter Gregory Haubrich of Butter And The Genre
by AAJ Staff
Meet Gregory “Butter" Haubrich Gregory “Butter" Haubrich is a lifelong musician, songwriter and arranger whose sound bridges the soulful roots of jazz with accessible melodies and spontaneous storytelling. A trumpet player with a deep emotional range and a background that includes keys, harmonica and vocals, Butter brings both grit and grace to every performance. From rural ...
Sir Charles Thompson in 15 Tracks
Pianist Sir John Thompson could play anything. And he did, from swing and jump blues to bebop and pop, on recording session after recording session. Lester Young dubbed him “Sir" in the early 1940s when they were both performing at Cafe Society in New York. Prez laid the moniker on Thompson to honor his elegant keyboard ...
