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853

Article: Profile

Billie Holiday Fifty Years Later: A Tribute and Reassessment

by Victor L. Schermer
July 17, 2009

Fifty years ago, on July 17, 1959, Billie Holiday died an untimely death at age 44 in a New York hospital from complications of drug and alcohol dependency. Now, half a century after her passing, it is an appropriate hommage to reflect once again on her legacy as a singer, an African American woman, a victim-- ...

537

Article: Album Review

Don Byas: Laura

by Mike Neely
July 9, 2009

Don Byas was clearly a rising star when he walked away from fame. He was the first to hold the Lester Young chair in the Count Basie Band, before his 30th birthday. After two years with Basie he moved to New York City, where he played and recorded with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Coleman ...

1,297

Article: Interview

Chris Potter: Way Above Ground with Underground

by R.J. DeLuke
June 29, 2009

Saxophonist Chris Potter, at age 38, has long been fast-tracked to the head of his class to become regarded as one of the strongest players on the scene. It doesn't seem that long ago that he was first making waves on recordings, and then became part of the superb Dave Holland quintet, where his strengths were ...

150

News: Video / DVD

Lester Young, 1950

June 1, 2009

For a project connected with his Jazz At The Philarmonic operation, the impresario Norman Granz filmed Lester Young with trombonist Bill Harris, Pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Buddy Rich. Although they bypass the melody, the piece is “Pennies From Heaven." For decades, there has been speculation, but no proof, that because of technical ...

983

Article: Interview

Deborah Brown: Jazz Diva Extraordinaire

by Victor L. Schermer
May 26, 2009

Deborah Brown is one of the finest jazz vocalists in the business, a “singer's singer" with a magnificent voice and mind-boggling technique. Vocalist J.D. Walter mentioned her as an inspirational teacher and mentor in a recent AAJ interview but, despite being very possibly one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, due to her own ...

742

Article: Interview

J.D. Walter: Being a Verb

by Victor L. Schermer
May 18, 2009

J.D. Walter is a jazz singers' singer--a purist and an innovator. Although his style has been compared to many vocal titans, it is in the same breath, uniquely his own, and he has become a singular phenomenon on the music scene. Respected and lauded by the great musicians of the contemporary circuit, ...

878

Article: Extended Analysis

Charlie Parker: Bird in Time 1940-1947

by Raul d'Gama Rose
May 5, 2009

Charlie ParkerBird in Time 1940-1947--Selected Recordings and Rare InterviewsESP-Disk2008 Let us now praise a famous ghost... embracing the spirit of Charlie Bird Parker. They are like feathers fluttering down from a spirit up above. Bird feathers. I make haste to collect them as the settle around me ...

299

News: Recording

1959--Jazz's Greatest Year - Columbia/Legacy Celebrates 50th Anniversary of "Time Out, "Sketches of Spain," and "Mingus Ah Um"

May 1, 2009

Genre-defining albums by Columbia artists Miles Davis (Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain), Dave Brubeck (Time Out) and Charles Mingus (Mingus Ah Um) all celebrate their 50th anniversaries in 2009, alongside John Coltrane's Giant Steps and Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz To Come Following the release of Kind of Blue: Legacy Edition in January, Columbia/Legacy ...

756

Article: New York Beat

Queens: Home of Jazz and Flushing Town Hall

by Greg Thomas
May 1, 2009

When most people think of jazz in New York City, Manhattan readily comes to mind. The “East Coast" stride piano style was developed in Harlem, where venues such as the Savoy Ballroom, Small's Paradise, the Cotton Club and Minton's Playhouse presented the big bands and small groups of jazz lore. 52nd Street became known for its ...

930

Article: Interview

John di Martino: Piano Man In/On Demand

by Marcia Hillman
March 31, 2009

John di Martino is a New York area based pianist, composer, arranger and Venus recording artist. He is a sought after musical director and is in demand by many singers as an accompanist, having accompanied such singers as Jon Hendricks, Sylvia Sims, Diane Schuur and Billy Eckstine. His talents as a pianist and arranger can be ...