Results for "Anthony Ortega"

Anthony Ortega

Born: June 7, 1928

Anthony Ortega is one of the finest bop reedmen of the second half of the 20th century, though he is better known in Europe than in the U.S. A highly original improviser with impeccable tone and great emotional range, Ortega's style blends bebop with forms and techniques that evolved later. He is currently active and has released "Afternoon In Paris," in 2007.

Coming out of the famed Los Angeles Central Avenue scene, Ortega was very much the peer of such sax men as Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon. After a stint in the Army, he came back in ‘51 to join up with Lionel Hampton with whom he traveled to Europe where he would garner quite a reputation. He came back to the states in ’58 and played steadily though not in the limelight until his release in ’61 of “A Man And His Horn.” This was a great hard bop set where he was accompanied by pianist Hank Jones.

John Coltrane, Dave Liebman and Others

by Jerome Wilson
February 1, 2023

This vintage episode, from November 2021, features John Coltrane playing with Miles Davis and also Dave Liebman interpreting Coltrane's music. Other musicians heard include Dave Brubeck, Archie Shepp, Al Hibbler, and Anthony Ortega. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill ...

Anthony Orgeta, Johnny Hodges & Owen Broder

by Joe Dimino
November 27, 2022

With a healthy dose of reverence, we begin the 778th Episode of Neon Jazz with Brooklyn saxophonist Owen Broder doing his take of “Royal Garden Blues" off his 2022 project Hodges Front and Center Volume 1. From there, we hear from Johnny Hodges himself with the song “Rabbit Pie" followed by the talented Melody Diachun covering ...

Bill Goodwin: Not Less Than Everything

by Victor L. Schermer
January 24, 2022

Bill Goodwin is like a breath of fresh air blowing through jazz. From the time around 1954 when he was in jny: Los Angeles and just learning the drums, and inspired by Shelly Manne, to today, around his 80th birthday, he has loved jazz and the musicians unconditionally. He has befriended and worked with so many ...

Sebastien Ammann’s Color Wheel, Kenny Warren Trio and More

by Maurice Hogue
April 29, 2020

I doubt you would get much argument that trumpet players Herb Robertson and Dave Ballou, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey are among the finest of their generation. When Robertson and Ballou decided to form a quartet back in 2005, those four musical minds coming together pretty much assured some magic would happen. In 2007 ...

Interview: Anthony Ortega (Part 4)

January 13, 2012

Personalities don't come much sunnier than Anthony Ortega's and his wife Mona's. Every time I call, I'm welcomed by enormous warmth and kindness. But their dispositions go way beyond words. You can hear an orange glow in the sound of their voices, how happy they are to be with each other and how grateful they are ...

Interview: Anthony Ortega (Part 3)

January 13, 2012

Lionel Hampton loved Anthony Ortega's playing in 1953, likening his sound on the alto sax to Charlie Parker's. There are indeed similarities, notably the yearning, bluesy tone and pushing off on the high notes. Anthony wound up in Hampton's band at just the right moment in time, when an amazing collection of musicians had assembled—including Quincy ...

Interview: Anthony Ortega (Part 2)

January 11, 2012

Before I launch into the remaining two parts of my Q&A conversation with saxophonist Anthony Ortega, I want to present you with The Street We Took (2007), a 15-minute documentary on Anthony and his wife Mona by filmmaker Andrew Rubin. Andrew generously made his short film available on YouTube after we spoke about its poetry and ...

Interview: Anthony Ortega (Part 1)

January 10, 2012

If you're a student of liner notes from the 1950s, the name Anthony Ortega should ring a bell. Anthony played saxophone on a range of well-known recordings during jazz's golden decade, including sessions led by Gigi Gryce, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Sonny Stitt, Dinah Washington, Billy Taylor, Nat Pierce, Maynard Ferguson and others. Anthony also led ...

Anthony Ortega

by Rex Butters
August 31, 2008

You know you're talking about a jazz musician when the artist in question has played and recorded with Elvis, Streisand, Sinatra, Lalo Schifrin, the Lighthouse All-Stars, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Clifford Brown, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, Paul Bley, Dinah Washington and Frank Zappa, to name a few, while still finding time to record soundtracks, release highly ...