My post on The Miles Davis Birth of the Cool sessions prompted some fascinating emails to the Jazz West Coast Yahoo Group from some really knowledgeable people. I am excerpting some of their comments here. From Gordon Jack (July 19, 2018): When I interviewed Gerry Mulligan for my book Fifties Jazz Talk he told me,… Read more
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The Birth of the Cool Legacy, Part 1: Miles Davis
Trumpeter and 1984 NEA Jazz Master Miles Davis (1926-1991) was a life-long innovator with an uncanny ability to discover and employ talented band members, many of whom would themselves go on to fame and fortune. He was always pushing the envelope and encouraging his sidemen to do the same. As a result, his recordings have substantially… Read more
Wes Montgomery
I have begun work on a comprehensive Wes Montgomery discography that will deal with some errors and omissions in the information currently available regarding the guitarist’s recorded history. This is something of a departure from my general focus which involves artists in need of greater recognition and acclaim. One of the most influential and respected… Read more
Stanley the Steamer 1955
A Brief Return of Dexter Gordon Nineteen fifty-five was the year that the 12-inch LP became the preferred format for issuing jazz recordings and the beginning of a decade-long period that produced some of the most revered and influential albums in the history of this music. It was also the year in which bebop would… Read more
Displaying Solo Information in Jazz Discography
In my article on compiling and displaying solo information in jazz discographies, I address the positioning and characterization of solos within a jazz performance using parameters such as the number of bars and/or choruses. An alternative involves using timings to indicate the location and duration of each solo. In the article, I only mention this… Read more
In Search of Frank Strozier – Update
Several reliable sources, including pianist Harold Mabern (a fellow Memphis native and frequent Strozier collaborator), are reporting that Frank Strozier is alive and well, living in the state of Rhode Island. He remains musically inactive (update as of February 19, 2018).