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The Virtues of Jazz
by Douglas Groothuis
Any jazz aficionado knows the musical virtues of jazz, whether they are a musician, a jazz writer, or simply a committed jazz listener. In classical Western thought (that is, in the musings of cats like as Aristotle and Plato), a virtue is a kind of excellence in performance that flows from a settled habit. One who ...
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: Rotterdam 1969
by Chris Mosey
Right up to the end Duke Ellington maintained an ability to surprise lesser mortals with his impish wit. In 1969 he visited the White House to celebrate his 70th birthday and kissed President Richard Nixon on the cheek four times. When Nixon asked why four times, Ellington replied, “One for each cheek." Tricky ...
Art Pepper: Art Pepper Live at Fat Tuesday’s
by C. Michael Bailey
The discovery and release of Art Pepper Live at Fat Tuesday's is a surprising and welcome event that has some precedence in jazz reportage. “Art Pepper, 1926-1982" is a much anthologized obituary on Pepper by jazz writer Gary Giddins, originally published in his book Rhythm-a-ning (Da Capo Press, 1985) written shortly after the saxophonist's death. In ...
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, Vol 20
by Chris Mosey
What makes this album stand out among the welter of Treasury Show releases is that most of the tracks feature Oscar Pettiford on bass. Duke Ellington hired many excellent bass players but only two who were great. The first was Jimmy Blanton. In the short time he was with the band--from 1939-1941--he transformed ...
Ben Webster and Johnny Hodges
In the fall of 1960, Ben Webster was on the West Coast freelancing and recording. Johnny Hodges was out there as well with the Duke Ellington Orchestra to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival. On Nov. 22, two days before Thanksgiving, Webster and Hodges were in San Francisco to record an album for the Verve label ...
Hayden Chisholm: Breve
by Dan McClenaghan
Saxophonist Hayden Chisholm, who hails from New Zealand, has set up shop in in Germany. His debut set as a leader for Germany's Pirouet Records, Breve, features a teaming with fellow Kiwi, bassist Matt Penman, and British piano legend John Taylor, The sound, untethered by the rhythmic anchoring of a drummer, has a smooth, clean, almost ...
Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia Tribute to Strayhorn and Golson at the Kimmel Center
by Victor L. Schermer
Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia Spring Concert Honoring Billy Strayhorn and Benny Golson Perelman Theater Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA May 9, 2015 This concert was billed as “A Tribute to Billy Strayhorn," but it was, in fact, evenly divided between Strayhorn's music and that of ...
Matthew Shipp & Mat Walerian Duo / The Uppercut: Live At Okuden
by Mark Corroto
Jane Austen was mistaken when she wrote “Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable." Passing away at the age of 41 in 1817, she would not have had the opportunity to hear either jazz, nor the music of Matthew Shipp and Mat Walerian. The surprise here ...
Alto Saxophone
by Bob Bernotas
Of the many members of the saxophone family, the alto and tenor have emerged as its most prominent siblings. From the mid-1920s onward, many big band alto saxophonists have filled a dual role, best personified by the multi-talented Benny Carter, serving as the lead voice in the saxophone section as well as a featured solo improvisor. ...
Art Pepper
by C. Michael Bailey
Alto Saxophonist Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr. (1925-1982) wanted to be known as the “greatest alto saxophonist in the world," a tall order considering contemporaries like Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, and Paul Desmond. In spite of this, Pepper outlived all of them while forging a unique and personal sound. Pepper, along with Desmond and Lee Konitz, were ...
