Today in Music – 1961 – Dave Robinson (vibraphonist) is born!!

This morning as I was looking down the list of jazz musicians born on October 12th, the day remembered by all the indigenous people of the Americas as the day all hell broke loose and us as Columbus day, I stopped very early in the list, actually at the third name right after Chris Botti -Dave Robinson It was a name I recognized, but only as a Hall of Fame football player with the Packers, not as a vibraphonist. But I thought, hey, let’s discovery something new this Saturday morning and I did!! At AllMusic I read: A percussionist from…

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Today in Music – 1919 – Another Great Drummer was born Mr. Art Blakey!

On this date in 1919, the great drummer Art Blakey was born I’ve only become an Art Blakey fan in the last several years. The happened because many, many times, when I was listening to jazz on the radio I’d hear something great that had some fine drums on it and then when the song was over I’d hear that it was Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers!! So I decided that I better check out their music and now several of Blakey’s albums are in my music library!! So before we hear some music, let;s find out a little…

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Yesterday in Music – 1915 – Happy Belated Birthday – Harry “Sweets” Edison!!

Yesterday, hidden among the jazz birthdays one of the many names I didn’t recognize wad Harry “Sweets” Edison. (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999)  After reading his biography at All About Jazz I realized that while I never knew his name, I most likely heard him play, From All About Jazz. Harry “Sweets” Edison is one of the few players in the history of jazz trumpet who could be instantly identified after only a few notes; along with Bobby Hackett, he was acknowledged as one of the few master trumpet accompanists…..   ….In 1952, Edison moved to California, where…

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Today in Music – 1921 – Monk was Born!

So on this date “Monk” was born. Yes, William “Monk” Montgomery the older brother of Wes, was born on October 10,1921. What’s that I hear, you say, you thought I meant the other Monk – yeah, Thelonious Monk was born on this date, too, only a few years earlier in 1917! Anyway, here’s some background on Monk Montgomery! From Wikipedia: William Howard “Monk” Montgomery (October 10, 1921 – May 20, 1982) was an American jazz bassist…..   Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Montgomery was the older brother of guitarist Wes Montgomery; younger brother, Buddy Montgomery played vibraphone and piano. The brothers released a number of albums together as the Montgomery Brothers.[1] He also had an…

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Today in Music – 1974 – Happy Birthday – jazz/blues organist Mauri Sanchis – Part 1!

As I looked down a list of musicians  that were born on this date there were no names that I recognized. So I just picked one that was interesting to investigate, the pick was Mauri Sanchis born in Alcoy, Spain on this date in 1974 (a quick geography lesson for the geography geek in me.) Alcoy (Spanish: [alˈkoi]) or Alcoi (Valencian: [aɫˈkɔj]) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. The Serpisriver crosses the municipal boundary of Alcoi. The local authority reported 61,417 residents in 2010,[1] of whom 5,334 were of non-Spanish origin.[2] Read More  Back to Mauri Sanchis at All About Jazz I discovered that Mauri has played or recorded…

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Today in Music – 1940 – Jazz Organist Larry Young was born!

On this day in 1940 jazz organist Larry Young was born. I was unfamiliar with Young’s music until recently. That may have been a result of his early passing. Young died in 1978, after entering the hospital with stomach pains, he died from untreated pneumonia However, after reading some of the information below I did hear his music back in the day, when he played on Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew and also playing  in Tony Williams’ Lifetime .  From Wikipedia: Larry Young (also known as Khalid Yasin (Abdul Aziz) (October 7, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey—March 30, 1978 in New York City) was an American jazz organist…

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Today in Music – 1966 – Jazz Guitarist Mark Whitfield is born!!

Today as a scrolled down the names of the jazz musicians who were born of October 6th, among the many names that I didn’t recognize was Mark Whitfield. Since he was holding a guitar I figured he was well worth checking out and boy am I glad I did! Here’s some background on Mark….from Wikipedia: Mark Whitfield (born 6 October 1966 in Lindenhurst, New York) is an American hard bop and soul-jazz guitarist born in Lindenhurst, New York, probably better known for his recordings as bandleader for both the Verve and Warner Bros. Recordsrecord labels. He has worked with Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Courtney Pine and Nicholas Payton, Chris Botti, among others.[1] Mark Whitfield graduated from Boston’s Berklee College of Music,…

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Hi Ho Hi Ho! It’s off to Work I Go! With the Progressive Rock Sounds of Royal Hunt

So tonight the soundtrack for the whole 30 minute ride to work and back at Target will be from the Danish progressive rock band, Royal Hunt, Show Me How To Live. the band’s 2011 release. Based upon what I’ve heard so far, I don’t think it will be too long before I try to hunt down their latest release….A Life to Die For! Some background for you and me!! Royal Hunt is a progressive metal band based in Denmark, founded in 1989 by keyboardist Andre Andersen. The band is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They made…

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Today in Music – 1950s style – Two Blues Greats! Stevie Ray and Keb’ Mo’

OK everybody all together now – whose birthday is it today – what’s that you say?? Keb’ Mo’?? Well, you are correct. He was born in 1951 (a familiar year) but does that look like  Keb’ Mo’, at the top of this post? No it does not! This is Keb’ Mo’, Of  course the other blues man who was born on this day, but in 1954, is one of the best blues rock musicians, as opposed to the acoustic blues of  Keb’ Mo’, and one of my favorites Stevie Ray Vaughan….from Wikipedia…. Stephen Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954, at Methodist…

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Burnt Belief – Colin Edwin and Jon Durant

Last night when my run ended so did the soundtrack of the run The Folk Sinner from Lee Harvey Osmond. As a result,I needed some music for the cool down. I wanted something quiet something to I could zone out to, while I was recovering. I turned to an album that’s been on the iPhone for a while now Burnt Belief from the duo of Jon Durant and Colin Edwin. Jon Durant is a guitarist, a composer and also is the  executive producer of Alchemy Records, where produces recordings for internationally acclaimed artists in his small Massachusetts-based studio. Colin Edwin is…

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