An Exciting Performance From Benny Goodman
From Disneyland in late May or early June of 1961. I’m sure many of the people in the crowd heard the original BG band live in the mid 30s, and although the sidemen were different, this performance must’ve made them feel like they were in a time warp experiencing the spark of a Goodman ensemble. Ray Sherman is the pianist and not sure who the trumpeter is, although the section contained Cappy Lewis, Mannie Klein, John Audino and George Werth.
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
View Video
Bobby Hackett: Capitol Sessions
Bobby Hackett’s lyrical trumpet and cornet was equally welcome in the hot groups led by Eddie Condon, playing rhythm guitar and occasional cornet solos for Glenn Miller’s band and as a soloist for the mood music of Jackie Gleason’s lush orchestras that recorded for Capitol. Marc Myers gives the Mosaic set of Bobby Hackett’s Capitol sessions a nice review for JazzWax.
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Al Grey: the Art of the Trombone and the Plunger
The late Al Grey, trombonist extraordinaire, deserves more attention, and here NPR does a fine job of taking a look at his long and varied career. He was a master of the plunger, as the title suggests, and he still is in a class with a few who were able to master the art of the plunger!
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Exhibit of Miles Davis Artwork On the Way
Musicians and actors who also paint often get treated with kid gloves over work that would not get any attention if done by an unknown. Not so with Miles Davis, who had a wonderful technique and a unique sense of form and color. I recently walked into the conference room at a New York law firm which was filled Miles’s work. It’s really quite vibrant up close.
-Michael Cuscuna
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Jazz Day: Ten Reasons To Be Cheerful
April 30, 2013 was the second International Jazz Day, with events happening around the world. Howard Mandel, president of the Jazz Journalists Association, chose the day to spell out 10 reasons to be cheerful about the state of jazz, in this rather gloomy and contentious world we find ourselves in.
-Michael Cuscuna
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Jazz Women of the 1940s
The opportunities that were afforded female jazz performers during the days prior to World War II were pretty scarce. It was a man’s world, and except for a few like Mary Lou Williams and Lil Hardin Armstrong, many found the road an uneasy one to travel. Night Lights takes a look at Jazz Women of the 1940s and the exceptional music that was made during this time.
-Scott Wenzel
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
Renee Rosnes Talks to Today’s Wayne Shorter Quartet
Pianist Renee Rosnes, who was an important part of Wayne Shorter’s best ‘90s ensemble, interviews the amazing quartet that Wayne has led since 2001, an astonishing ensemble that keeps growing and never gets stale.
-Michael Cuscuna
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
The James Moody Story
Jazz is full of enigmatic, humorous, brilliant individualists. This 1997 NPR Jazz Profile on Moody is hosted by Nancy Wilson. The documentary is filled with classic recordings and wonderful stories from Moody, told in his inimitable style.
-Michael Cuscuna
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read MoreWoody Shaw Live
A killer performance of drummer Victor Lewis’s brilliant “Seventh Avenue” written in 7/4 and dedicated to the Village Vanguard and complete with the sound of the car horns on Seventh Avenue. The band is Woody Shaw, Carter Jefferson, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Stafford James and Victor Lewis at the 1979 Antibes/Juan-Les-Pins Festival in Southern France.
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
View Video
Phil Woods: Right To Swing
Marc Myers’ column on Phil Woods’ latest album “Right To Swing,”with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble, explores Phil’s illustrious career with the great modern big bands of Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson and so many others. Even at 81, Phil can still swing harder than any saxophonist I can think of, but what made him first call with every arranger is that he could sight read the most difficult chart with the right feeling and no mistakes. He really is a marvel in every way.
-Michael Cuscuna
Follow: Mosaic Records Facebook Tumblr Twitter
Read More
