Once Don Byas left the States for Europe (with Don Redman’s band in September of 1946) it was no turning back. He had found more freedom financially, musically and personally. And although he had made some outstanding records before his departure, Byas blossomed improvisationally while overseas. In 1948 he found himself in Spain, living in Barcelona and enjoying a lower cost of living and absorbing a robust lifestyle. Recently, a recording made for His Master’s Voice surfaced and is the subject of a Crownpropeller blog.

-Scott Wenzel

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The Latin jazz world lost one of its key figures with the passing of Bebo Valdes on March 22 at age 94. Valdes, one of the greatest pianists in the history of Cuban popular music, drew gracefully from such disparate sources as Yoruba, western Baroque music and Tatum to forge his unique and deeply influential voice. Larry Blumenfeld tells us more about the impact Valdes registered on Latin music as we know it today.

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Von Freeman anchored a generation of Chicago musicians on the forefront of a key period, on fertile ground, in the development of American improvisational music. Von Freeman’s bracing sound and singular voice spoke for themselves, but in this profile in JazzTimes, Chico Freeman (pictured above) adds his perspective on his father’s persuasive mentoring of a host of Chicago musicians — including one young musician in particular.

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From Morrison Hotel Gallery comes this surreal Bill Gottlieb image of Buddy Rich. Surreal because I expect to see Rich’s drumsticks as one big blur! A case in point is this excerpt of “West Side Story”.

-Scott Wenzel

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March 14 may have been Roy Haynes’s 88th birthday, but he still looks like he’s 40 and plays like he’s 25. Doug Ramsey has posted a very cool version of “Blue ‘N’ Boogie” from 1973 with an eclectic group that includes Cecil Payne, Lee Konitz and Ted Dunbar. It’s a feature for Roy. Check out Jimmy Owens’s hair, a great way to date the film. Incidentally Jimmy now Shaves his head.

-Michael Cuscuna

This is a very cool article about Coltrane’s house in North Philly, where he lived from 1952 to ’58 when he moved to New York City. It’s gratifying to see the street named in his honor and the house declared a landmark. I lived in Philly from 1966 to ’70 and these photos remind me of what a three-story city Philadelphia was. I’m sure that’s no longer the case.

-Michael Cuscuna

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Herman Leonard was not only one of the truly great photographers, but he was also a larger than life character who travelled the world with cameras around his neck and a smile on his face. This 2000 interview on Jerry Jazz Musician gives the reader a true feeling for Herman’s personality. In it, he talks about a recent exhibition in Berlin with the work of Bill Claxton and Bill Gottlieb. Sadly, all three are gone now but they left us a lot of visual jazz history.

-Michael Cuscuna

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Francis Marmande spoke to Manfred Eicher who is approaching 70 and whose ECM label is 44 years old and the subject of a retrospective exhibit in Eicher’s home base of Munich. Eicher has kept his label active and relevant despite all sorts of obstacles by just sticking to his guns and letting his own taste direct the sound and look of the label. It’s amazing to consider that he has issued over 1500 albums!

-Michael Cuscuna

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