\u003Ch2\u003EJazz Experts Sound Off on “The Great Gatsby”\u003C/h2\u003E
\u003Cp\u003EThe line has been forming for people who have something to say about Baz Luhrmann’s new film \u003Cem\u003EThe Great Gatsby\u003C/em\u003E. Not surprisingly for a story based on the Jazz Age, the jazz world has been eager to find out how the film measures up. \u003Cem\u003EThe Atlantic\u003C/em\u003E asked jazz scholars to weigh in with their views of the film’s soundtrack, and its fidelity to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story and the age it depicts. Check out their reactions.\u003C/p\u003E
\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022content\u0022 href=\u0022http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/05/great-gatsby-soundtrack-reviews/64831/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERead Article…\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E
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\u003Ch2\u003EGene Ammons: Ultimate Redemption\u003C/h2\u003E
\u003Cp\u003EOn the occasion of the 2012 induction of Gene Ammons into the Down Beat Hall of Famem Ed Enright wrote a beautiful biography and appreciation of this soulful, big toned tenor master, whose father was a great boogie woogie pianist and whose brother was a Catholic bishop!!\u003C/p\u003E
\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003E-Michael Cuscuna\u003C/p\u003E
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EMI Wins Dispute Over Duke Ellington Net Revenue
Yet another story about the byzantine web of compensation for jazz musicians: this one about what Duke Ellington’s family can actually collect for many of the hit songs Ellington wrote.
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Elsewhere On the Great Day in Harlem
Marian McPartland posted this wonderful photo on Facebook. She writes: “I believe this photo was taken by Dizzy the day of the ‘A Great Day in Harlem’ Photo shoot. With Ronnie Free, Mose Allison, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Rouse and Oscar Pettiford.” Thanks for sharing this, Marian.
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Read MoreLee Morgan Performance
This is a beautiful performance of Benny Golson’s “I Remember Clifford” by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Lee Morgan and Golson. This is probably from a November 1958 European tour.
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Marion Brown: Rare Video
I never knew this existed. It’s an interesting 1967 short film profiling Marion Brown with a performance by his quartet with Dave Burrell, Sirone and Bobby Kapp. While the majority of the post-Coltrane saxophonists tended toward the tenor sax and punctuated their solos with growls or screams, Marion stood out as the gentle, lyrical voice on the alto.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Blue Note and ArtistShare Form New Label to Promote Young Artists
Bruce Lundvall has been a lifelong champion of young and innovative artists, especially in jazz. As recording straight-ahead jazz became more and more economically difficult at Blue Note, which Bruce had headed until recently, he came up with a brilliant idea that has just come to fruition. Blue Note has partnered with ArtistShare, enabling the label to help record a lot of young artists who may not be profitable in the major label world. From JazzTimes.
-Michael Cuscuna
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Wayne Shorter Talks Saxophone and Saxophonists
This 1992 interview of Wayne Shorter by fellow saxophonist Mel Martin is wonderfully in-depth and revealing. Wayne talks about horns, meeting John Coltrane and Lester Young, joining Blakey and Miles and other early career highlights.
-Michael Cuscuna
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A Conversation with Charles Lloyd
Jeffrey Brown’s interview with Charles Lloyd on the occasion of his 75th birthday is only about six minutes long, but covers a lot of ground with some fascinating stories about his early Memphis years. Scroll down the post for a beautiful version of “You’ve Changed” by Charles and Jason Moran from their duet album, “Hagar’s Song.”
-Michael Cuscuna
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Celebrate the Birthday of Gil Evans: Born May 13, 1912
Gil Evans, arranger, composer and bandleader extraordinaire, would have been 101 years old this May 13.
Some ways to celebrate: New Yorkers can check out nearly a week’s worth of Gil’s music played live by Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project at the Jazz Standard. Or, pull out some of Gil’s music at home: if you’re lucky enough, maybe Mosaic’s out-of-print box set: Miles Davis/Gil Evans - The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings.
In his frontespiece for the notes for that set, Quincy Jones wrote:
“In a little less than three years time, beginning in May 1958 and completed by March 1960, the collaborative efforts of jazz giants Miles Davis (trumpet-flugelhorn soloist) and Gil Evans (arranger-composer-conductor) resulted in the making of three landmark recordings still unsurpassed in the history of jazz.
“These albums, Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and Sketches of Spain, are the masterpieces created by the reunion of two great masters.
“If ever pushed for a choice of desert island music, Miles and Gil, these albums would indubitably be my top three. This is as good as it gets. Timeless!”
Timeless to be sure. Happy birthday, Gil.
Photo of Gil Evans by William Claxton, via @jazzstagenet.
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