Monthly Archives: May 2010

Today in Jazz 5/28

Pianist Russ Freeman born Chicago, Ill., 1926.  Freeman made is name performing with Shelly Manne.  Manne and Indianapolis native J.J. Johnson were both part of the Jazz at the Philharmonic. Tweet

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Today in Jazz 5/27

Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater born 1950 in Memphis, TN.  Bridgewater was a performer at the 2000 Indy Jazz Fest on Friday, June 14th. Tweet

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Today in Jazz 5/26

Trumpeter Harold “Shorty” Baker born 1914 in St. Louis, MO.  Baker was a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra when I Got it Bad (and That Ain’t Good) was recorded.  Indiana native Jamey Abersold did a version of this song … Continue reading

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100 Years of Artie Shaw

NPR Music did a great job in this piece about Artie Shaw to celebrate his 100th birthday.  Shaw was a musician that focused on his original work, resisting the popular music of the time, ironically turning Shaw into a pop … Continue reading

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Today in Jazz 5/25

Trumpeter Miles Davis was born, 1926 in Alton, IL. Tweet

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Today in Jazz 5/24

Tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp born 1937 in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.  Shepp played with Indianapolis native Freddie Hubbard on John Coltrane’s albums, Ascension and The Major Works of John Coltrane, (both 1965). Tweet

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Jazz and Politics

John Coltrane, Alabama, 1963, what a great song!  Written after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing. Tweet

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Today in Jazz 5/21

Bassist Christian McBride born 1972 in Philadelphia, PA.  McBride played on Indianapolis native Freddie Hubbard’s albums, Live at Fat Tuesday’s (1992) and God Bless the Child (1998). Tweet

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Silence speaks

From there website: “Set to a musical score by Wynton Marsalis and Louis Moreau Gottschalk and performed by the Wynton Marsalis Septet and pianist Cecile Licad, LOUIS is a film homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and the birth of … Continue reading

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Today in Jazz 5/20

Drummer Ralph Peterson born 1962 in Pleasantville, NJ.  Peterson played on Indianapolis native James Spaulding’s 1988 album, Gotstabe a Better Way. Tweet

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Derrek Phillips

Derrek Phillips is a name that may not be as well known as his sound, however he does more than march to the beat of his own drum.  Born in to a musical family, both parents were trained musicians and … Continue reading

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Today in Jazz 5/19

Vocalist Sarah Vaughan records Nice Work If You Can Get It with trumpeter Miles Davis, 1950.  This song was on the album, Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi and also included an alternative take on Indiana native Hoagy Carmichael’s The Nearness of … Continue reading

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Hank Jones, He Played Your Song

Both the jazz world and the regular world are in mourning over the death of pianist Hank Jones died Sunday, May 16th at a hospital in the Bronx, he was 91. Born into a musical family, Hank was one of … Continue reading

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Today in Jazz 5/18

English bassist/composer Spike Hughes records with Benny Carter’s band 1933.  Carter’s first recordings were issued under the Chocolate Dandies name for Okeh records and featured Indiana native Hoagy Carmichael’s song Stardust. Tweet

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Royal toast, it's not just for breakfast anymore.

Sourdough toast with strawberry jam and butter is one of the greatest food combination to ever be created.  That’s not what we are talking about here though, Royal Toast is the new album by The Claudia Quintet and it’s this … Continue reading

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