Paul Bley Blindfold Test
This highly extended blindfold test with Ted Panken finds Paul Bley in irascible, riotous form. It is by no means unusual to find musicians challenging the limitations of the “blindfold test” format; here, Bley prods Panken, the tester, to give him something challenging to listen to and digest \u2014 not so different, after all, from what intelligent and perceptive listeners to the art form should demand.
-Nick Moy
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Rejoicing on the Analog Planet
The analog jazz galaxy saw some form of convergence in the past week: a high-end hi-fi show, replete with turntables, descended on New York City; Michael Fremer, the mastermind behind Analog Planet, the website about matters analogic, delivered good news on jazz station WBGO about the outlook for vinyl; and vinyl lovers greeted news of Mosaic’s upcoming John Coltrane Complete Sun Ship Session release with rejoicing. Listen to Michael Fremer’s interview, waxing lyrical about his lifetime of collecting jazz on vinyl. (In the photo, Fremer and WBGO’s Doug Doyle tussle over Mosaic’s Sonny Stitt set.)
-Nick Moy
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Booker Little: Rare Footage
Wow, now this is a find. Footage of Booker Little playing with Max Roach’s quintet. This genius was taken from us at the age of 23. Just check out his solo on the first tune here “Minor Mode Blues” to hear what we lost.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Chicago Tenor Sax
Crownpropeller’s Blog is great and digging into vintage R & B that overlaps with jazz. Chicago was a major scene for such endeavors and this spotlight on the early work of tenor saxophonist Eddie Johnson contains some early ‘50s rareties. Of course, to fully appreciate Johnson’s work, one should check out his 1981 album Indian Summer (Nessa).
-Michael Cuscuna
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Chick Webb: His Reign at the Savoy
In this blog post in JazzTimes,Tom Reney explores the legend of the singular drummer and bandleader Chick Webb, whose life has recently been documented in “The Savoy King,” a documentary film that recently made the rounds in jazz festivals and certain theaters. Keep your eyes peeled: Mosaic plans to release all of Chick’s celebrated Brunswick and Decca sides sometime this year.
-Scott Wenzel
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Where Gretchen Parlato is Coming From
In this interview, singer Gretchen Parlato chats with Brian Howe about her roots, the ethnomusical studies that colored her development, and how her sound and vocal style reflect her artistic intentions. A revealing video of Parlato’s performance of Blue in Green fills out this look at this singer and her approach to her art.
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Read MoreHerbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage
Ah, this brings back memories. This performance of “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter and Tony Williams comes from the first Mt Fuji/Blue Note Jazz Festival, an event for which I was musical director and co-producer for 10 years. It was a great even musically and a yearly reunion for many of us amid the beauty of rural Japan. The Japanese audiences are truly amazing.
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Herbie Hancock Birthday: April 12, 1940
This 1987 episode of Marian McPArtland’s Piano Jazz features Herbie Hancock in conversation about his early years in Chicago, his Blue Note years, the film “‘Round Midnight” and his many projects. He plays gorgeous solo versions of “Chan’s Song” and “Dolphin Dance.” Beyond his extraordinary talent, Herbie’s a warm, brilliant person and that comes through in this conversation.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Harlem’s Jazz Rebirth: A New Chapter
The New York Times carried this fascinating story about iconic jazz clubs returning to Harlem. The in-fighting that destroyed the Lenox Lounge is sad to read, but the revival of Minton’s Playhouse under Richard Parsons is very encouraging, mainly because he is respecting the past (rather than living in it) and envisioning a club that will be vital to jazz today.
-Michael Cuscuna
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How Dave Holland Joined Miles Davis
Peter Blasevick pointed to this interview with Dave Holland, conducted by Dr.David Schroeder for NYU’s Steinhardt Jazz Studies Program. Dave relates in genial and often amusing detail the circumstances leading to his hiring by Miles Davis, and his first performances with the band. Listen to Dave Holland’s account, and watch the video clip the Daily Jazz Gazette recently posted of the Miles Davis Second Quintet, and get an immediate, colorful sense of the Miles Davis experience of the day.
-Nick Moy
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