Does Jazz have an Audience?? Long Live Jazz!!

NPR Music: Kurt Ellenberger: ‘It Can’t Be Done’: The Difficulty Of Growing A Jazz Audience So in this articles Ellenberger asks the question – “How can we convince people to embrace music that is no longer part of the popular culture?” and I ask the question is that true?  is jazz  not a part of the popular culture? can the same thing be said about folk? certainly within their niches both are still vibrant, but neither have the mass appeal that they once did, can it be restored? or is it like Ellenberger says make the music you love and…

Continue reading

Lunchtime Music – The Deep Blue Organ Trio!

So last night I was looking at the Roots Music Report for some new jazz and the album at number 13 jumped right out at me! The album was Wonderful by the Deep Blue Organ Trio. If you know me I’m a fan of Jimmy Smith, so any group with a lead organ is good by me. When I listened last night, I was impressed.  As  the Wall Street Journal must have been when they listened, because they  made the album their No 1 Jazz album for 2011. The trio based out of Chicago consists of Chris Foreman on Hammond…

Continue reading

New Jazz – Hailey Niswanger – Confeddie

Ok so the other night I discovered the world of Pandora. Yeah, I knew what it was but had never really tried it on my first go around I started a blues channel and put in the names of some of my favorite blues musician. Several tracks by artist’s whose names I knew came on followed by one I didn’t Jimmy D. Lane the track was “It’s Time” from the 2007 release of the same name. The track sounded pretty good so I checked out the full album and out it on the iPod, bottom line the album and the…

Continue reading

Life’s Soundtrack – from Art Blakey to Jimmy and Wes!

Ok so the soundtrack for today continued this afternoon with some more jazz this time from drummer Art Blakey and his album Live at Slug’s N.Y.C. The album was recorded at Slug’s in New Your (duh) in August of 1968 and features along with Blakey; Billy Harper on tenor saxophone; Bill Hardman on trumpet; Julian Priester on trombone and Ronnie Mathews adds the piano. CDUniverse says this about the album “While longtime Blakey fans will likely opt for performances released on bigger labels, jazz neophytes may enjoy this disc”. Well I guess I’m a jazz neophyte because I enjoy this…

Continue reading

Some Lunchtime – Chet Baker!

So this morning was a jazz morning I listened to a good mix of jazz on the iPod including tracks from Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith. But as I listened to Chet Baker I thought how I always can recognize Baker’s trumpet and that it’s funny how some musicians are distinctive even when playing the same instrument as others! Another one is Carlos Santana you always know when it’s his guitar! So does anyone else have a musician they can always pick out! Here’s a little Chet Bkar!

Continue reading

Life’s Soundtrack – A Jazzy – Blues Monday!

So the Doofus of the Day Award for yesterday goes to yours truly. As he went to work at 3:00 yesterday in the midst of the torrential downpour only to discover that he was not scheduled to start work until 6:00!  When he returned to work at 6:00, he discovered that both people scheduled to work in front of him had called out!! Oye what a night! Anyway, today was a jazz day at work a nice mix a little Miles, a little Coltrane, some Montgomery Brothers, Jimmy Smith, and Gary Burton. A couple of times I checked to see…

Continue reading

Some Thursday Vibes from Bobby Hutcherson

So at work this afternoon I listened to some vibes from renowned jazz vibes player Bobby Hutcherson. On the iPod I have his 1982 release Solo/Quartet. The LP was split one side was Hutcherson solo and the second side had ensemble tracks featuring  McCoy Tyner on piano and Billy Higgins on drums. On  the solo  Hutcherson plays on vibraphone, marimba, chimes and bells. On the quartet side he is joined by pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Billy Higgins. The album was recorded in September & October 1981 and February & March 1982.  Hutcherson has influenced younger vibraphonists…

Continue reading

Jazzy Morning – Wes and the Wynton Kelly Trio

So this morning was as jazzy kind of morning as I was out and about doing some errands I had Smokin’ at the Half Note by Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly playing on the iPod! The album was recorded live in late June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City, and September 22, 1965 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and released by Verve. The album features Montgomery teamed with the Wynton Kelly Trio. The Wynton Kelly Trio is basically Kelly with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Cobb and bassist Paul Chambers had…

Continue reading

Another Trip to the Princeton Record Exchange!

Originally posted Jan 2011 updated and revised May 2026 So I spent the night tonight listening to a few tracks from most of the albums that I picked up today at the Princeton Record Exchange and watching the Falcons get destroyed by the Packers! I picked up a variety of albums, a few blues, some folk and bluegrass. Here they are: Princeton Recond Exchange Finds The Blues Walter Trout – livin’ everyday (1999) – a blues favorite love both his vocals and guitar playing! Tommy Castro – Soul Shaker (2005) – another blues favorite – I’ve heard this album and…

Continue reading

A Jazz Interlude – The Oscar Peterson Trio

So I listened to a lot of bluegrass on this Twang Tuesday but at one point this morning when I was doing some writing and the bluegrass was put on hold and I listened to some jazz. I put on something different and listened to A Night on the Town an album by the Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and of course Oscar Peterson on piano. Now I have listened to Oscar Peterson before and am not really a big fan mostly because I really don’t jazz piano all that much, but this…

Continue reading