Count Basie and Ray Charles - together at last
- Pete Marsh
- 26 Aug 06, 01:10 PM
Concord records and Starbucks are planning a release this autumn that features , all accomplished through the marvels of digital technology. The two never played together while they were alive, of course. This kind of thing has been done before, but as far as I know it's the first time two dead musicians have been united post-mortem. It does seem to be entirely contrary to the spirit of the music to do something like this, and makes me wonder if the music industry has any more 'collaborations that never were' up their sleeves. Perhaps we'll get to hear Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix together after all. Perish the thought.
Jazz Rage ?
- Helen Mayhew
- 25 Aug 06, 04:57 PM
I saw ex-coltrane drummer with his exciting young band playing at London's Pizza on the Park last Sunday, and interviewed him the following day for Radio 3's Jazz Line Up programme. He arrived for the interview still annoyed about having to use a set of borrowed drums for the gig, because of the ongoing security situation at American and UK airports. His musicians have all had to buy hard cases for their instruments, and were worried that baggage handlers might mislay them en route. In addition, having a Muslim name means he is routinely subject to extra scrutiny at security checkpoints, a new trial for someone who converted to Islam in the early 1960's. His mood lifted, however, at the chance to reminisce about life in Philadelphia in the 1950's, when as a young boy he regularly went to 'Jazz Matinees', at which visiting and local jazz luminaries played their nightclub sets for children in the afternoons ! Memories of eating ice-cream and popcorn while watching Miles and Coltrane with Red Garland and company, and of Miles playing a solo then leaving the bandstand to go back to his digs, leaving Coltrane blowing a solo that went on for the next half hour or so !
Remembering Duke
- Alex Webb
- 25 Aug 06, 11:01 AM
No, the other Duke - pianist who died on August 8 in Denmark at 84. There are a lot of jazz cats dying these days but Duke was special, and he leaves only one living link with 's classic bebop group of 1947 (drummer Max Roach).
Continue reading "Remembering Duke"
Tony tells it like it is
- Pete Marsh
- 24 Aug 06, 12:56 PM
Tony Bennett has had at his home country for not contributing anything to world culture other than jazz..."Fifty years from now people will be bowing to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, just like impressionist painters like Monet, who were starving in their day. The Americans don't even know what they have come up with."
Unsurprisingly Tony's come in for as a result. Which seems a bit unfair really...
Brecon and all that jazz in Wales
- Andy Roberts
- 24 Aug 06, 12:03 PM
The Welsh market town of Brecon hosted its 23rd annual jazz festival two weeks ago - organisers hailed it as another successful year, but many visitors were disappointed by the reduction in street music claiming the town lacked its usual festive atmosphere. Brecon Jazz directors said the decision had been taken with public safety and police costs in mind, but they've promised to take a fresh look in the light of public reaction - see the full range of comments on the . Meanwhile the festival season continues in Wales with events in (Sept 1-3), (Sept 15-17) and (Oct 6-8). See my for more details and other news.
London Jazz Festival on the way
- Pete Marsh
- 23 Aug 06, 05:33 PM
This year's looks pretty strong...already scribbled in my diary is 's 60th birthday gig, which also features . Somehow I've never managed to see either of them, so joy will be unconfined that night....
We've one.