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Introducing Trombonist Dan Harkins
by Sanford Josephson
Trombonist Urbie Green, who died in 2018 at the age of 92, was part of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd in the 1950s and won DownBeat's International Critics' Award for “New Star" in 1954. While revered among his colleagues, Green is not exactly a household name among the jazz listening public. But 22-year-old trombonist Dan Harkins lists ...
John Fedchock: Justifiably J.J.
by Dan McClenaghan
J.J. Johnson saved his instrument from possible obscurity. Rarely used as a front-line instrument pre-Johnson, the trombone might have faded away when bebop came along. Bebop--all those rapid-fire notes from trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. At that time, the trombone was considered too cumbersome to navigate the chord changes and the rhythmic fury ...
New World Ensemble and the Jump Ensemble at Couth Buzzard Books & Community
by Bruce Greeley
New World Ensemble / Jump Ensemble Couth Buzzard Books & Community Seattle, WA March 1, 2024 For a number of years now, some of the most creative and interesting music in Seattle has been coming out of the fairly unassuming Couth Buzzard bookstore on north Greenwood the first Friday of every ...
Michael Dease: Found in Space - The Music of Gregg Hill
by Bill Milkowski
The title itself is revealing. A clever play on words of the old '60s sci-fi show Lost in Space, it immediately suggests an irreverent wit and slightly twisted perspective; qualities that also permeate the unique music of prolific Michigan-based composer Gregg Hill. How this fairly obscure presence on the national music scene has managed ...
Nick Finzer: A Celebartion of J.J. Johnson
J.J. Johnson was one of the most admired jazz trombonists of the post-war years. In addition to playing with a superb technique and tone, he brought a certain elegant soul to the instrument as a solo artist. Johnson began recording in 1942 with the Benny Carter Orchestra, and then had a stint with Count Basie in ...
Albert "Tootie" Heath: Class Personified
by R.J. DeLuke
This article was first published on All About Jazz on March 9, 2015. Albert “Tootie" Heath is among the drummers who lived--and thrived--during what many call the golden age of jazz, the '40s, '50, early '60s. He's enjoyed the fruits of a varied and historic career, but never stayed put. Just kept working. He ...
Raul De Souza: Colors
by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
Raul De Souza's life can be seen as a one-of-a-kind story. Indeed, it would make a perfect novel or film script. It may not be as big a tragedy as 'Round Midnight or Bird, but it has drama, love, adventure, and great music. Picture this: a poor child grows up in Brazil working as ...
Louis Stewart's Out On His Own: A Landmark Solo Guitar Recording
by Ian Patterson
Dublin's finest export? Not Guinness, but Irish jazz guitarist Louis Stewart (January 5, 1944--August 20, 2016). A guitarist of tremendous skill, invention and personality, Stewart was certainly the first world-class jazz musician to emerge from Ireland and make a name on the international stage. During a fifty-plus-year career, Stewart played with Benny Goodman, ...
The Birth of Bop
Label: Craft Recordings
Released: 2023
Track listing: The Birth Of Bop, Volume 1: Charlie Parker: Romance Without Finance; Dexter Gordon: Dexter’s Minor Mad; J. J. Johnson: Jay Bird; Milt Jackson: Hearing Bells; Leo Parker: Chase ’N’ Lion (Chase’n The Lion); Stan Getz: Stan's Mood
The Birth Of Bop, Volume 2: Fats Navarro: Hollerin’ And Screamin’ (Fatso); Allen Eager: Church Mouse; Kai Winding: Always; Don Byas: Byas A Drink; J. J. Johnson: Jay Jay; Dexter Gordon: Long Tall Dexter.
The Birth Of Bop, Volume 3: Budd Johnson: Little Benny (King Kong); J. J. Johnson: Mad Be Bop; Milt Jackson: Bubu; Leo Parker: Solitude; Stan Getz: Don’t Worry ’Bout Me; Fats Navarro: Maternity (Lard Pot).
The Birth Of Bop, Volume 4: Allen Eager: Donald Jay; Kai Winding: Saxon; Budd Johnson: Dee Dee’s Dance; J. J. Johnson: Coppin’ The Bop; Milt Jackson: Junior; Dexter Gordon: Dexter Digs In.
The Birth Of Bop, Volume 5: Allen Eager: Unmeditated; Leo Parker: The Lion’s Roar (Lion Roars); Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis: Stealin’ Trash; Roy Porter: Pete’s Beat; Serge Chaloff: Pumpernickel; Morris Lane: Blowin’ For Kicks.
The Jim Self & John Chiodini Quintet: Touch and Go
by Jack Bowers
A quintet whose front line consists of tuba, guitar and trumpet. How does that work? Quite well, actually--at least when that front line includes tuba master Jim Self, guitarist John Chiodini and trumpeter Ron Stout, ably supported by bassist Ken Wild and drummer Kendall Kay, on the Jim Self and John Chiodini Quintet's album, Touch and ...
