This book by jazz journalist Scott Yanow is his 12th book. Since he is a multi-published jazz journalist, but his background is less well-known, this
When Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred December 7, 1941, I was ten years old. I had an older brother who graduated from high school
Want some traditional Christmas music that’s somewhat jazzy and doesn’t sound like what you’ll hear when shopping at your favorite department store? Like the challenge
Ira Sullivan died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at home in Miami on September 21. He had performed for a couple of Pensacola JazzFests and had
Lew Shaw is a multi-faceted writer, having a dual career as both sports and jazz writer who lives in Scottsdale, AZ. Our paths crossed when
This is a delightful trio album with Rebecca Kilgore providing vocals and occasional guitar, Dan Barrett and trombone and Paolo Alderighi on piano. Since I
There was a sign in our hospital medical library which read: Any book is new until you’ve read it. Certainly this can apply to Doug
Dave Bartholomew was born in Edgard Louisiana but soon moved with his parents to New Orleans where he took music lessons from Peter Davis who
Railroad Bill was the name assigned to Morris Slater in the late 1800s. He was the Jessie James-type black desperado who would rob the trains
Some reviews almost write themselves; this is a prime example. Scott Robinson has produced a CD about his longtime love affair with his 1924 Conn
There’s a saying some circles: There are two kinds of music, TRAD and STAD. (S—t, that ain’t Dixieland.) If you’re a strict adherent to the
This live recording was made at the famed Village Vanguard. Hersh plays piano accompanied by bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson. Of the ten
Interestingly, I reviewed a previous two-CD set, Afterwords, exactly one year ago. On receiving this one, my expectations were pleasantly fulfilled. But, first some words
For those who aren’t previously acquainted with this writer, Marc Myers is a trained historian who writes about jazz for the Wall Street Journal and
Cabin in the Sky Hendrik Meurkens, chromatic harmonica; Bill Cunliffe, piano Height Advantage (hendrikmuerkens.com) Music from the Heart Roger Davidson Quartet featuring Hendrik Meurkens Soundbrush
The New York Times of July 17, 2018, carried a story about Les Lieber’s death at 106. He was a New York advertising executive and
This is an unusual jazz album—pedal steel guitar is a rarely-used instrument in jazz recording and this is a self-produced album by a group who
Here’s a CD which should appeal to clarinet and swing enthusiasts. As the title suggests all ten songs are familiar swing tunes. And there’s a
There was a sign in the medical library of the hospital in which I practiced; it stated: Any Book Is New Until You’ve Read It.
Benny Goodman’s jazz concert at Carnegie Hall on January 16, 1938, was the first jazz concert to be held there. It was historic in a
Guitarist and fellow-Mississippian Mundell Lowe died on December 2nd, 2017 at age 95. My encounters with Mundell were brief but meaningful and I’d like to
Trombonist and record producer Delfeayo Marsalis has produced his first live album. The group here group includes father Ellis Marsalis on piano, Reginald Veal, bass,
Christmas With Champian is the seventh recording for this accomplished New York City based pianist/vocalist. She is supported by bassist David Williams, drummer Fukushi Tainaka,
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly is a new and noteworthy CD by chanteuse Lisa Lindsley. She performs on two continents, usually around the San Francisco Bay
Clarinetist Dave Bennett performs on his new CD, Blood Moon, with a small combo. He has a mix of original compositions co-written with record producer
Most readers of this column would have, at least, heard of pianist/ group-leader/ composer Fred Hersch. He is now a 61 year old artist who
Fred Hersch, prolific composer, and pianist releases his newest solo CD and LP to coincide with his memoir Good Things Happen Slowly. The release date
This independently produced CD features tenor saxophonist Woody Witt collaborating with pianist Larry Ham’s trio. Rounding out the group are bassist Lee Hudson and drummer
Australian jazz musician Adrian Cunningham fronts a prestigious quartet which includes pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Cunningham is now based
John Pizzarelli is an outstanding 7-string guitarist/vocalist from a musical family. Coming up in the tradition of his father Bucky who is still performing at
Bix is a unique two-CD tribute to Bix Beiderbecke. The first CD is fourteen tracks of music associated with Bix Beiderbecke. It is performed by
Those familiar with my previous reviews of pianist Rossano Sportiello’s CDs already know that I’m among the converted. He’s a classically trained Italian pianist who
Bill Cunliffe is a prolific pianist, composer, and conductor. I am already among the converted, so was excited to see/hear Cunliffe’s newest effort. On most
This book explores the relationship between religion or spirituality and its influence, if any, on American jazz musicians. Little has been done in attempts to
What fun! Imagine a four-day leisurely jam session with great musicians and no repeat takes! Senior vibraphonist Terry Gibbs had “retired” some months previously. Neal
The back-story about the production of this CD is as fascinating as the music. Most people reading this, I hope, will recognize the name of
This year, 2017, is the centennial year for the first jazz recording, Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s Original Dixieland Jazz One Step and Livery Stable Blues,
Crystal Joy Albert’s memories of Thelonious Monk as compiled from an interview conducted by F. Norman Vickers: I was introduced to Monk by pianist John
This Arbors CD is vocalist/string bassist Nicki Parrott’s interpretation of songs associated with late vocalist/pianist Blossom Dearie. It’s interesting to compare and contrast these two
Anders Bergcrantz is a prize-winning Swedish trumpeter/composer. He has just released this recording of seven compositions, six of which are his originals and the seventh
Here’s a professionally performed CD—just vocal and piano with fifteen tunes by Gershwin, Ellington, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and others. What makes it special is
This is the third novel in the jazz series for juveniles. The reader follows a 19 year old African-American girl singer. In this fictional account,
This elegant book, 8.75” x 11”, comes at a time when the 1930 early Technicolor movie about Paul Whiteman and his band, is undergoing a
Michael Jarrett is a published author and jazz authority as well as an English professor at Pennsylvania State University at York, PA. He looks at
This is the second book of juvenile fiction by author Mick Carlon. His previous book, Riding on Duke’s Train was about a young African-American boy
Author of this book, David Hajdu, is a professor of journalism at Columbia University. He’s music critic for The Nation as well as a songwriter
There’s a saying, “Any book is new until you’ve read it.” This could apply to recordings as well. Here’s a CD from 2014 from Arbors
Greg Murphy is a seasoned pianist and composer who has assembled a great team for this, his fourth CD as leader. It’s a mix of
Martin Torgoff—journalist, author and film-maker—has taken a unique point of view in this book. He has covered the use of recreational and hence illegal drugs
Ken Peplowski assembled his team-mates for this charming CD and chose a variety of tunes, some of which are outside the usual jazz repertoire. His
Pensacola can expect an informative and pleasant treat when David Sager, trombonist and the Library of Congress’ curator of its Jukebox Project appears as part
Here’s another Harry Allen gem from Arbors Records. Harry has assembled an all-star team with fellow tenor saxophonists Grant Stewart and Eric Alexander and baritone
This is an “outside the box” recording in that it is not the standard jazz CD. It features poetry by Langston Hughes set to music
This CD features pianist/vocalist Daniela Schachter with a small group performing eleven of composer Jimmy Van Heusen’s famous tunes. She is visiting professor of voice
Let me state personal bias at the beginning of this review. Ted Gioia’s The History of Jazz is on my list of all-time favorites. He
This is the third CD by the PsychoAcoustic Orchestra under the direction of pianist/composer Pat Kelly. It is the first full recording in two decades.
The author of this interesting and complex book is a professor of physics at Brown University. He is also a jazz saxophonist who has recently
Monika Herzig is a performing pianist, educator and author. She has assembled a group of talented women musicians to perform on this recording. She brings
The New York Review of Books decided to reprint this classic 1946 hip work about the jazz world, especially New York and Harlem, by Mezz
Lisa Lindsley is a seasoned vocalist who works in the San Francisco area. When circumstances brought her to Paris for a year she sang in
This interesting book is drawn on observations of author Thomas H. Greenland on the greater New York jazz scene. When most of us consider the
In keeping with the theme, “Any book is new until you’ve read it” I followed up reading Max Gordon’s book Live at the Village Vanguard
Author Burt Feintuch, director of Center for Humanities at the University of New Hampshire has teamed with photographer Gary Samson, chair of the photography department
If the average music fan recognizes the name Harold Arlen at all, likely he remembers Arlen as composer of “Over the Rainbow” and other great
Jimmy Van Heusen, literally and figuratively, led a double life. Witty, talented, personable and dedicated to his craft of songwriting, he was in many ways
