– SONNY- By Devon Wendell Today, Monday September 7th, Sonny Rollins shall turn 85 years young. So I couldn’t help but write about what Sonny means to me. Very few artists have had the impact on my life that Sonny has had, and he’s still doing it. I don’t think a day goes by… Read More Happy 85th Birthday: Sonny Rollins
By Devon Wendell Julian “Cannonball” Adderley was making major waves in the jazz world by 1958. He was in the hippest band in the world; Miles Davis’ Sextet with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Like most alto sax players of that time, Adderley was often dismissed by critics as an… Read More Doc Wendell’s Prescription For Saxophone BeBop: “Julian Adderley Quintet – Portrait Of Cannonball”
“How Long Has This Been Going On?” By Roger Crane, the Song Scout BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION “How Long Has This Been Going On?” is an early song (1927) composed by the Gershwin brothers that expresses the delight of a first kiss. George was blessed to have a brother who was a… Read More Keeping the GAS (Great American Songbook) Flame Burning
By Devon Wendell There’s no way my piece on Clark Terry will be as journalistic and informative as my boss Don Heckman’s was in the L.A. Times obituary, but I had to say something about the master himself, in my own way. I can’t imagine life without Clark Terry. That tone on the trumpet and… Read More An Appreciation: Clark Terry
By Don Heckman Bill Cunliffe’s accomplishments are many. Not only is he a world class jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He’s also acknowledged for his many skills by his musical compatriots. He’s been honored with a Grammy Award, a Down Beat Award, multiple Grammy nominations, and several Emmy nominations. Add to that a winner’s award… Read More Live Jazz: The Bill Cunliffe Big Band and Quartet with Harry Allen at Vitello’s
The Daniel Bennett Group Clockhead Goes to Camp (Manhattan Daylight Media Group) By Brian Arsenault When Clockhead Goes to Camp this summer, you should go with him. Like summer, this album is irrepressible. I was reminded recently that Charles Mingus said “Making the simple awesomely simple . . . That’s creativity.“ The Daniel Bennett Group… Read More Jazz CD Review: The Daniel Bennett Group
By Devon “Doc” Wendell Charlie Parker is known as the creator of Bebop, the man who changed jazz as drastically as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Due to a ban on recording by the American Federation Of Musicians from 1942-44, Parker’s great musical discovery would remain a mystery until the release of his take on… Read More A Twist Of Doc: The 67th Anniversary of Charlie Parker’s “Koko” Sessions
David Basse Uptown (Cafe Pacific Records) By Brian Arsenault Uptown opens with another (yawn) jazz ode to Manhattan which is made more curious by the fact that David Basse is the acknowledged “leader” of the Kansas City jazz scene. In fact, two of the first three tracks are New York-centric which would be a little… Read More CD Review: David Basse’s “Uptown”
By Don Heckman Anthony Wilson has been a vital member of the Diana Krall quartet for nearly a decade, with all the attendant visibility that accrues from a gig with a major name talent. But he’s had another career, less high profile, but infinitely rewarding to the Angelenos who have the opportunity to hear his… Read More Live Jazz: The Anthony Wilson Nonet at Vitello’s
This is the first in a continuing series of iRoM holiday gift recommendations that will be adding new items until the end of 2009. By Don Heckman The latest entry in the Jazz Icons DVD series – Jazz Icons Series 4 – continues to provide extraordinary collections of live performances by some of the music’s… Read More iRoM’s Holiday Gift Guide: Jazz Icons Series 4
The International Review of Music 