Results for "JazzWax by Marc Myers"

Benny Goodman: Denmark, 1981

April 15, 2014

In 1981, Benny Goodman appeared at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. It was billed as his last performance, but it wasn't. His final concert was held at the State University of New York in Purchase, N.Y. in January 1986. Goodman was joined at the Tivoli by Sven Osmussen, Chaly Antolini, Don Hass, Jimmy Maxwell, Harry Pepe ...

Sonny Rollins: Montreal, 1982

April 14, 2014

Back in 1982, Sonny Rollins appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival and brought the house down. The quality of Sonny's ideas and blowing here is truly remarkable. And he looked great—dig how his body moves with the ideas coming out of his horn. Jimi Mentis in Athens sent along a link to Sonny's performance. Backing Sonny ...

9 CD Discoveries of the Week

April 11, 2014

I've been traveling quite a bit lately, so my CD discoveries have been piling up. Finally, this past week, I had some time to write about the new albums I love... Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra—Strength in Numbers (Summit). A solid, tasteful big-band album arranged by McGuinness whose writing constantly wriggles the orchestra in and out of ...

Johnny Hodges and Will Bill

April 9, 2014

Exceptional jazz musicians win us over with a warm tone, lyrical lines, a feel for the blues, respect for space, sheer speed or stamina—to name just a handful of winning traits. But not all exceptional jazz musicians work well together and only a bunch of couplings have produced dazzling results. Perfect partnerships that come to mind ...

Duke Ellington: Diminuendo

April 8, 2014

Bob Florence: 'Here and Now'

April 7, 2014

One of the most seductive and swinging West Coast big band arrangers of the 1960s and beyond was Bob Florence. Born in 1932, Florence was a quick study, taking piano lessons at age 4 and playing recitals at age 7. In college, he was studying to be a classical pianist when he fell in love with ...

Video: Johnny Hodges, 1969

April 4, 2014

Johnny Hodges was an alto saxophonist who joined Duke Ellington in 1928 and developed a sweet, high-vibrato sound popularized in the 1930s by Benny Carter. He also was one of the smoothest swing improvisers on the instrument, praised by reed masters from Benny Goodman to Charlie Parker. Yesterday, I spent a few hours listening to “Rabbit," ...

Video: Monterey Jazz Festival, 1975

April 2, 2014

The 1970s was a transition period for jazz. Legends from the 1940s and '50s were still performing all over the place, but rock, soul and disco all took a toll on jazz greats' income and sense of direction. Aging artists weren't sure what to do to hold onto fans or how to reach new ones. They ...

Interview: Leon Russell

April 1, 2014

Two weeks ago I was in Nashville interviewing Leon Russell at home for today's Leisure & Arts page in The Wall Street Journal (go here or please buy the paper). I've always been a fan of Leon, who in recent years slipped from the radar a bit. That's what happens when you're independent. You have your ...

Videos: Around the World

March 27, 2014

Today, let's take a video break and travel around the world. Here are four clips of foreign singers who are new to you or, in the case of one, you probably weren't aware she was around before her big mid-'60s hits... Here's France's Jacqueline François in 1969 singing Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings...   Here's Britain's Petula ...