Joe Lovano on Paul Motian: Seven Favorite Recordings
Joe Lovano’s three decades of association with the late drummer Paul Motian should give him ample credentials to name strong recorded examples of Motian’s work. In this JazzTimes feature, Lovano selects seven favorite Motian recordings, and tells us why each offers special insight into Motian’s greatness as drummer, composer, leader and collaborator.
-Nick Moy
Photo, seated L-R: Scott LaFaro, Bill Evans, Paul Motian
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Frank Foster on Basie and Much More
As gifted as he was as a saxophonist, composer and arranger, Frank Foster was one of the nicest people to know and work with. He always had a smile, a positive outlook and a solution to any musical problem. Ben Bernotas’s article and interview captures the man. Frank tells the story of sitting in with Dexter Gordon while still in the army and asking naively if they could play “Cherokee”. Typically in his modest mode, Frank says he managed to keep up with Dexter. The way Dexter told me the story, he was absolutely flabbergasted by Foster’s amazing solo at a breakneck tempo.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Tom Harrell Live from the Vanguard Tonight on NPR
Trumpeter and composer Tom Harrell is bringing a great quintet into the Village Vanguard tonight, and via live online video and radio broadcast, NPR is offfering you the opportunity to be there. Grab it.
-Nick Moy
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Charles Mingus: The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65
We are pleased to announce “Charles Mingus - The Jazz Workshop Concerts 1964-65 (Town Hall, Amsterdam, Monterey & Minneapolis).” It chronicles the essential live performances of this genius of modern music as his compositions achieved a depth and complexity we would come to know as Mingus’s most signature work. It includes (on the earlier recordings) the brilliant Eric Dolphy, along with Jaki Byard, Dannie Richmond, Johnny Coles, and Clifford Jordan — certainly one of the best assemblages of musicians ever.
The music ranges from his interpretations of Ellington, tributes to his musicians (“Praying With Eric”), an exuberant celebration of Art Tatum and Fats Waller by Jaki Byard, an enormously ambitious portrait of bop called “Parkeriana,” and Mingus’s own spectaculars: “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk;” “Meditations,” “Fable of Faubus,” and “So Long Eric.”
Mosaic’s box set includes an essay and track by track analysis by Mingus biographer Brian Priestley and many rare photographs from the concerts. Like all of Mosaic’s sets, our release is strictly limited. Our last Mingus set sold out and will never be available again. Please order yours. This is truly a find worth hearing, worth savoring, and worth collecting.
-Alan Goodman, Mosaic Records Brochure
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Charles Mingus Documentary: Fables Of Bass
NPR’s Jazz Profile of Charles Mingus hosted by Nancy Wilson is an insightful look at one of the most unique and talented artists in jazz. The story is told through the words of many including Mingus, Max Roach and Nat Hentoff among others.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Listen To Charles Mingus Tracks
“Copa City Titty” (aka “O.P. Junior”) makes its first official recorded appearance on our Mosaic set. It’s a great theme and Mingus played it occasional in the early ‘60s and again in the early ‘70s. Fortunately, Mingus had tape rolling when he played this version with his “favorite quintet.” Charles McPherson is absolutely on fire from the first note of his solo.
Parkeriana was a favorite performance vehicle for Mingus in 1964 perhaps because Eric Dolphy and Clifford Jordan just chewed up the changes. The piece is a tapestry of Charles Parker tunes woven into Tadd Dameron’s Hot House. Dolphy is absolutely incandescent on this previously unissued version from the 1964 Town Hall concert.
Listen to Track: Copa City Titty… Listen to Track: Parkerania… Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
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Charles Mingus Documentary: Fables Of Bass
NPR’s Jazz Profile of Charles Mingus hosted by Nancy Wilson is an insightful look at one of the most unique and talented artists in jazz. The story is told through the words of many including Mingus, Max Roach and Nat Hentoff among others.
-Michael Cuscuna
Listen To NPR Documentary… Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
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The Six Best Jazz Records For People Who Hate Jazz
One would expect Ryan Wasoba’s blog on “The Six Best Jazz Records For People Who Hate Jazz” to include crowd-pleasers like “Kind Of Blue” or “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” or “Poinciana.” But Ryan is targeting people who hate jazz that is retro and complacent. So he jumps into the deep end of the pool with 6 magnificent recordings that cover the last forty years beginning with Dolphy, Coltrane, Hutcherson and Hill and moving through to guitarist Mary Halvorson. A lot more fun than I was anticipating.
-Michael Cuscuna
Read Blog And Listen To Clips…
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Louis Armstrong on the Beats
This is a funny little piece on the typical ‘50s disconnect. The video features Louis Armstrong’s title tune form “The Beat Generation”, a typical superficial Hollywood treatment of a sub culture. Beyond good reefer, I don’t think Satchmo had anything at all in common with the beats. Wonder what today’s commercials with hip-hop selling phone service will look like in 20 years.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Robert Crumb’s Obsession with Records
Looks like those of us addicted to collecting records, and jazz records in particular, are in even more distinguished company. Here’s an interview from Discoholic Corner with celebrated cartoon artist Robert Crumb, who is forthright in divulging his obsession.
-Nick Moy
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