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1950s and ‘60s Blue Note – Is It All the Same?
by Marc Davis
A few years ago, a reader from California named Charlie F. started a provocative discussion in the All About Jazz forums with the title: I've decided not to buy any more Blue Note albums." Oh boy. He began, Recently, I came to notice something about Blue Note albums of the 50s-60s, which was that ...
Ben Sidran: The First Existential Jazz Rapper
by Joan Gannij
Ben Sidran is an old school hipster in the authentic sense of the word. He's a no frills, musician's musician who's got the heart, got the chops. He's been there, done that, and ready to do more. Sidran has never been interested in following trends or squeezing into categories and is not about to start now. ...
J.R. Monterose – Blue Note 1536
by Marc Davis
J.R. Monterose is that rare bird at Blue Note Records--the guy who got one shot at leading a band, then practically vanished from the face of the earth. It's odd because the history of Blue Note is filled with famous guys (almost never gals) who took up residence and stayed just about forever. Think ...
Kobie Watkins: A Drummer's Voyage
by K. Shackelford
Chicago native Kobie Watkins is a leading voice in the new generation of jazz drummers. I saw Watkins several months ago at The Jazz Room in Charlotte and his performance was bananas--the crowd was in awe and after each solo there was thundering applause. An absolute wonder to watch, his polyrhythmic creativity and concepts create unique ...
Billy Harper: A Life of Persistence and Improvisation
by R.J. DeLuke
On stage, Billy Harper puts his lips to the tenor saxophone, stands relatively erect and sings through his horn; a strong, angular, muscular sound. There little physical gesticulation, belying the effort it takes to express feelings and emotions through the instrument. But Harper's creative statements demand attention. Over the last few years, a lot ...
Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims – Blue Note 1530
by Marc Davis
The title is Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, but it should be the other way around. No knock on Jutta Hipp. She's great--a lively, fluid pianist who really could have been a big player in the 1950s bop scene if she hadn't suddenly disappeared and dropped out, forever. This is her date--a 1956 recording ...
Trio 3 + Vijay Iyer: Wiring
by John Sharpe
It really should be Trio 4 by now! For their previous four albums the threesome has added a pianist to the ranks, first Geri Allen, then Irene Schweizer, then Allen again, and lastly Jason Moran. Now on Wiring Vijay Iyer takes over the piano stool. You could argue that with their credentials saxophonist Oliver Lake (World ...
Videos: Horace Silver
I wound up on a Horace Silver jag yesterday. While writing, I let Silver run on my iTunes and found myself marveling yet again at Silver's gospel-funk syncopation and the tight, bright Latin-influenced horn lines. Silver perfected the hard bop quintet, rivaled only by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. I thought I'd share a few ...
Ezra Weiss Sextet: Before You Know It [Live In Portland]
by Edward Blanco
Portland State University professor Ezra Weiss is a prominent pianist and composer in his own right who has several recordings to his credit and is a three-time winner of the prestigious ASCAP Young Composer Award. A traditionalist who prefers the straight ahead and modern jazz styles, Weiss delivers another gem on Before You Know It [Live ...
Don Glanden: Remembering Clifford Brown
by Victor L. Schermer
Benny Golson's timeless ballad, I Remember Clifford" is but one measure of the reverence and love with which Clifford Brown was regarded by musicians, friends, family, and fans. The affection in which he was held during his lifetime was made all the more poignant by his untimely death at the peak of his rapidly advancing career. ...





