Home » Search Center » Results: David Rickert
Results for "David Rickert"
Bill Smith: Folk Jazz
by David Rickert
Those few who recognize Bill Smith probably remember the recordings he made with the Dave Brubeck quartet replacing Paul Desmond in the horn chair (and fewer still have probably actually heard these recordings.) Yet the presence of West Coast luminaries like Jim Hall, Monty Budwig, and Shelley Manne certainly offers the possibility of a little-heard West ...
Joe Bushkin: In Concert Town Hall
by David Rickert
Piano jazz is a lot like pizza; even when it's terrible, it's still fairly good. Case in point is Joe Bushkin, a fine pianist for Eddie Condon who later watered down his style to appeal to a mass audience in concerts such as this 1963 performance. One can almost hear more passionate pianists shaking their fist ...
Duke Ellington: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
by David Rickert
The Blanton-Webster band sides represent an unparalleled burst of creativity in the history of jazz and stand without question as the best recordings of Ellington’s storied career. However, since the mid-nineties they have only been available with bland packaging and marginally acceptable sound, a woeful compromise since technological advancements had long since paved the way for ...
Earl Hines: Once Upon A Time
by David Rickert
Upon listening to Once Upon A Time for the first time, you may have to glance at the cover to confirm that you aren’t listening to an Ellington album by mistake, for this session is littered with Ellington stalwarts like Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Paul Gonsalves, and Jimmy Hamilton. You may also do a double take ...
Vince Guaraldi: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
by David Rickert
If Vince Guaraldi is known for anything beyond the Charlie Brown specials, it will be a catchy little tune called “Cast Your Fate in the Wind.” Originally the B-side to an abbreviated version of “Samba de Orfeu,” the instantly appealing tune became a radio hit and the album was repackaged to feature the song prominently on ...
Pee Wee Russell: Ask Me Now
by David Rickert
Pee Wee Russell enjoyed a significant comeback with the original release of this session. Not content to live in the past, Russell doesn’t gaze in the rearview mirror as far back as we would expect. First off, he has chosen a program of (at the time) modern works by the likes of Coleman, Monk, and Coltrane, ...
Old Dogs, New Tricks: Hines and Russell in the Sixties
by David Rickert
Once Coltrane starting bringing in the dough, the Impulse! label had the financial support to gamble on riskier ventures, such as these recordings by two jazz veterans who made their name a generation prior. Due to advanced recording techniques and the watchful eye of experienced producers, both artists were able to produce some of the finest ...
Shorty Rogers: Bossa Nova/Jazz Waltz
by David Rickert
Like Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers led a big band that featured some of the greatest names in West Coast jazz. No less than Shelley Manne, Jimmy Giuffre, and Bob Shank appeared on early classics like The Big Shorty Rogers Express and Portrait of Shorty. However, Rogers’ band always seemed like a lot more fun to be ...
Ben Webster: Soulville
by David Rickert
A photograph on the inside of Soulville 's CD cover shows Webster with his head tilted back, eyelids drooping and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. It’s a great photo, simply because Webster approaches soloing in much the same way. A relaxed and patient improviser who first made his name with Ellington’s band playing one definitive ...
Joe Zawinul: The Rise & Fall of the Third Stream
by David Rickert
The term “Third Stream" was coined to describe the marriage of classical and jazz music in composition and performance. Despite bordering on pretension, in most cases this ambitious movement created some of the worst records in history. Fans of either genre remained content to keep their music free from the perceived impurities of the other.
