Today in Music – Oct 22, 1973 – Nick Andrew is born: Discovering Nick leads to a Music Filled Morning!!

When I looked down the list of musicians who were born on this day the first  one that caught my eye had the same first name my first son – Nick, Then I looked at his last name and it’s my second son’s first name Andrew now I was really intrigued! A look at his instrument, the electric guitar sealed the deal ! I was going to check out Mr Nick Andrew.  My first stop was his website, where I read….. Nick is a remarkably accomplished guitarist who takes ‘Fusion’ to another level with his range encompassing the full spectrum…

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Lunchtime Hammond -B3 Music from Brazil’s Hammond Grooves and Jimmy Smith!!

So the other day when I was looking for YouTube videos of Eddie Harris, I came across the jazz trio Hammond Grooves from Brazil. Since I live in a town that has a large, and very important to the community, Brazilian population the band being from Brazil caught my attention. And that it was an organ trio also raised my curiosity! Since the band is from Brazil the information on online at the usual locations was sparse. I did find the band on Twitter and then found there website and their Facebook page. The only problem was that all the…

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Yesterday in Music – Oct 20, 1957 – Happy Birthday – Anouar Brahem!

The second name on today’s list of jazz musician birthdays at All About Jazz was Anouar Brahem. The thing that caught my attention about Anouar was the instrument he was holding an Oud! Time out let;s first explore the Oud before finding out about Mr Brahem. From Wikipedia: The Oud  is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in Arabic, Hebrew/Jewish, Greek, Turkish, Byzantine, North African (Chaabi, Classical, and Andalusian),Somali and Middle Eastern music. Construction of the oud is similar to that of the lute.[2] The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths. The oud is readily distinguished by its lack offrets and smaller neck. It is considered an ancestor…

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Today in Music – Oct 20, 1956 – British Jazz Guitarist Martin Taylor is born!

Among the jazz artists who are celebrating their birthdays today is guitarist Martin Taylor. Taylor was born on October 20, 1956 and is the son of bassist William ‘Buck’ Taylor. After listening to his father play the music of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Martin became inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. “Buck” set Martin’s career path early in his life, giving him his first guitar at the age of four, by the age of eight Martin was playing in his father’s band and at fifteen he quit school with the intent of becoming a professional musician….

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Today in Music – October 17, 1976 – Happy Birthday, Gary Tu!

Among the Jazz Artist who are celebrating their birthday’s today is jazz guitarist Gary Tu, who was born on this date in 1976 and since I was married and living in student housing at that time. I am old enough to e his father and he would e my oldest son and Nick (my oldest son) would be his younger brother by three years! Not that it matters at all to you the reader, but it puts Gary in perspective for me!! Gary is originally from Taipei, Taiwan and now lives  in Chicago, His current release is Last Turn released in…

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Afro Blue – Two – The Original – The Cal Tjader Quintet with Mongo Santamaria!

“Afro Blue” was recorded for the first time live by  the Cal Tjader Sextet  on April 20, 1959, at the Sunset Auditorium in Carmel, California, with composer Mongo Santamaría on percussion, The track was included on Cal Tjader’s album Concert by the Sea, Part 1 released on  the Fantasy label. “Afro Blue” can also be found on a remastered collection of tracks from a variety of quintets led by Tjader; titled Latino, which was released by Fantasy in 1994. It received a four star rating at AllMusic from the Scott Yanow’s review: Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is heard leading five different groups throughout this CD but the identities of the flutists,…

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Today in Music – Oct. 16, 1969 – Happy Birthday Roy Hargrove!!

Today is the birthday of another of the great musicians of the last 20 years, who I only recently discovered when I listened to Earfood– what’s new!! It’s what happens when you’re paying more attention to the past and not the present. Anyway, today is the 44th birthday of trumpeter Roy Hargrove. From All About Jazz…. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove was born in Waco, TX on October 16, 1969. Inspired by the gospel music he heard in church on Sundays and the R&B and funk music that played on the radio, Roy began learning the trumpet in the fourth grade. By junior…

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Night Owl Music – Into the Morning with Coltrane and Burton and “Afro Blue”

This afternoon my daughter, Elizabeth  called and was having car problems. The check engine light came on, the battery was dead and the steering locked up. We decided to have the car towed back here to be looked at, at my local gas station, In doing so, she was left without a car, so tonight I drove the other car down to her. She drove me back to my son Andrew’s house, half way between here and the University of Delaware, then he drove me home! I was all set for the trip down there, I had two genres on…

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Today in Music – 1924 – Happy 89th Birthday – Jazz Giant Terry Gibbs!

I’ll confess that when I think of the last name Gibbs, I think football -Joe Gibbs Hall of Fame coach for the Redskins, and not vibraphone. But that will probably change after learning today that one of the best jazz vibraphonist Terry Gibbs was born on this date in 1924!! Now I’ve written before that I love the vibes and the list of players in my library includes: Gary Burton, Bobby Hutcherson. Cal Tjader, Walt Dickenson, Stefon Harris, Dave Pike and a couple of others, but no Terry Gibbs. I think I’ve seen the name, but never heard the music….

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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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