Sunday, August 30, 2026

John La Porta - The Brothers Sandole • Rare and Obscure Jazz Albums, Modern Music from Philadelphia - Conceptions

 



Description from Fresh Sound Records (Blue Sounds):
Modern Music from Philadelphia: Operating solely on an artistic basis, The Brothers Sandole band was not a commercial venture, but a band decidedly different, daring and experimental. Dennis and Adolph Sandole were music teachers in Philadelphia, who actually wanted to keep teaching but felt that their music was completely original, and so harmonically different in scope that it deserved to be heard on its own merits. The dense, full character of its original figures gave the unit a distinct big band sound, and all the improvisation fits into a well-written pattern. Four of the ten scores presented here are by Dennis, two of them so concise they are over in a matter of seconds; the rest are by Adolph. All compositions by the Sandole brothers are actually cleverly planned pictures, and flawlessly performed. You'll find the entire album to be a rewarding experience, but unfortunately, it was the only one they recorded. A must-have for any jazz collector.

Conceptions: John La Porta was a most skilled musician — clarinetist, alto saxophonist, composer, arranger and teacher. His compositions contain all the elements of modern music — complex rhythmic patterns, rich harmonic colors, and fresh melodic ideas. This set of original compositions for various combinations of instruments illustrates his unusual conception of jazz forms. A more original and creative use of these modern sounds would be hard to find.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/sandole-brothers-john-la-porta-albums/54788-modern-music-from-philadelphia-conceptions-2-lp-on-1-cd.html

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Descripción de Fresh Sound Records (Blue Sounds):
Modern Music from Philadelphia: Operando exclusivamente sobre una base artística, la banda de The Brothers Sandole no era una empresa comercial, sino una banda decididamente diferente, atrevida y experimental. Dennis y Adolph Sandole eran profesores de música en Filadelfia, que en realidad querían seguir enseñando pero sentían que su música era completamente original, y tan diferente en alcance armónico que merecía ser escuchada por sus propios méritos. El carácter denso y completo de sus figuras originales le daba a la unidad un sonido distintivo de big band, y toda la improvisación encaja en un patrón bien escrito. Cuatro de las diez partituras presentadas aquí son de Dennis, dos de ellas tan concisas que terminan en cuestión de segundos; el resto son de Adolph. Todas las composiciones de los hermanos Sandole son en realidad cuadros hábilmente planificados, e interpretados impecablemente. Encontrarás que el álbum completo es una experiencia gratificante, pero lamentablemente fue el único que grabaron. Imprescindible para cualquier coleccionista de jazz.

Conceptions: John La Porta era un músico muy hábil — clarinetista, saxofonista alto, compositor, arreglista y profesor. Sus composiciones contienen todos los elementos de la música moderna — patrones rítmicos complejos, ricos colores armónicos e ideas melódicas frescas. Este conjunto de composiciones originales para diversas combinaciones de instrumentos ilustra su inusual concepción de las formas del jazz. Difícilmente se podría encontrar un uso más original y creativo de estos sonidos modernos.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/sandole-brothers-john-la-porta-albums/54788-modern-music-from-philadelphia-conceptions-2-lp-on-1-cd.html


Michel Petrucciani • The Blue Note Years



Piano virtuoso Michel Petrucciani was born on December 28th 1962 in Orange France to Italian parents. He grew up surrounded by music as his father was a guitarist and his brothers were a bassist and a guitarist. He discovered the piano very young and one of his early influences was Duke Ellington. Because he was born with osteogenesis imperfecta; a condition that stunts growth and causes fragile bones and respiratory disorders, he had to have special extensions made for him to reach the pedals of the piano. The condition did not affect his hands, however, and he was able to study classical piano for 8 years. He gave his first professional concert at age 13 at the Cliousclat Festival where he was discovered by Clark Terry. Terry introduced him to a number of expatriate jazz musicians and this encouraged the young Petrucciani to embrace jazz as a musical idiom rather than classical music. At age 16 he met drummer Aldo Romano who was impressed by the teenager’s musical prowess and took him under his wing and 2 years later helped him launch his recording career with Flash. Petrucciani recorded a number of excellent albums for the French label Owl including a duet with Lee Konitz. In 1981 he performed at the Paris Jazz Festival and caused a sensation.
In 1982 he moved to the US and was introduced to Charles Lloyd. The latter was so impressed by the pianist that he helped him launch his American career. During this stay he met and married his first wife Erlinda Montaño. The marriage lasted 3 years. During he stay in the US Petrucciani had the opportunity to play with lot of the giants of jazz including Dizzy Gillespie. In 1986 he became the first Frenchman to sign a contract with the legendary Blue Note label. In 1990 he married classical pianist Gilda Butta with whom he had two children. This marriage also ended in divorce in the late 90s. He spent the 90s touring Europe and recording for Dreyfus Records. Near the end of his life he was trying to establish a jazz school in Paris.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/michelpetrucciani

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El virtuoso del piano Michel Petrucciani nació el 28 de diciembre de 1962 en Orange, Francia, de padres italianos. Creció rodeado de música ya que su padre era guitarrista y sus hermanos eran bajistas y guitarristas. Descubrió el piano muy joven y una de sus primeras influencias fue Duke Ellington. Debido a que nació con osteogénesis imperfecta; una condición que impide el crecimiento y causa huesos frágiles y desórdenes respiratorios, tuvo que hacer extensiones especiales para que llegara a los pedales del piano. Sin embargo, la afección no afectó sus manos y pudo estudiar piano clásico durante 8 años. Dio su primer concierto profesional a los 13 años en el Festival Cliousclat donde fue descubierto por Clark Terry. Terry le presentó a un número de músicos de jazz expatriados y esto animó al joven Petrucciani a abrazar el jazz como un lenguaje musical en lugar de la música clásica. A los 16 años conoció al baterista Aldo Romano, quien quedó impresionado por la destreza musical del adolescente y lo tomó bajo su ala, y dos años más tarde lo ayudó a lanzar su carrera discográfica con Flash. Petrucciani grabó varios discos excelentes para el sello francés Owl, incluyendo un dúo con Lee Konitz. En 1981 actuó en el Festival de Jazz de París y causó sensación.
En 1982 se trasladó a los Estados Unidos y fue presentado a Charles Lloyd. Este último quedó tan impresionado por el pianista que le ayudó a lanzar su carrera en Estados Unidos. Durante esta estancia conoció y se casó con su primera esposa Erlinda Montaño. El matrimonio duró 3 años. Durante su estancia en los Estados Unidos, Petrucciani tuvo la oportunidad de tocar con muchos de los gigantes del jazz, entre ellos Dizzy Gillespie. En 1986 se convirtió en el primer francés en firmar un contrato con el legendario sello Blue Note. En 1990 se casó con la pianista clásica Gilda Butta con quien tuvo dos hijos. Este matrimonio también terminó en divorcio a finales de los 90. Pasó los años 90 de gira por Europa y grabando para Dreyfus Records. Casi al final de su vida estaba tratando de establecer una escuela de jazz en París.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/michelpetrucciani
 
 
 

 

VA • Sun Records Originals 52 Rockabilly Rarities

 



Description from Sun Records / Bandcamp:
Sun Records, known as the birthplace of rock and roll, was arguably also the originator of the rockabilly sound that would define rock from Memphis and the surrounding areas in the 1950s and early 1960s. This compilation of 52 Rockabilly Rarities celebrates the lesser-known rockabilly gems in the Sun catalog, like Jimmy Haggett's "Rock Me Baby," Onie Wheeler's "Walkin' Shoes," Dickey Lee's "Hey Heart," and more.
https://sunrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sun-records-originals-52-rockabilly-rarities

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Descripción de Sun Records / Bandcamp:
Sun Records, conocida como la cuna del rock and roll, fue también, podría decirse, el origen del sonido rockabilly que definiría el rock de Memphis y las áreas circundantes en los años 50 y principios de los 60. Esta compilación de 52 Rockabilly Rarities celebra las joyas rockabilly menos conocidas del catálogo de Sun, como "Rock Me Baby" de Jimmy Haggett, "Walkin' Shoes" de Onie Wheeler, "Hey Heart" de Dickey Lee y más.
https://sunrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sun-records-originals-52-rockabilly-rarities


Saturday, August 29, 2026

Kenny Dorham • Jazz Contrasts

 



Review by Scott Yanow
Some of trumpeter Kenny Dorham's finest recordings were his sessions as a leader for Riverside in the '50s and fortunately all of that music has been reissued on CD. This album is a bit brief in time (41 minutes) but contains many memorable selections. Three of the songs ("Falling in Love with Love" a 12-minute version of "I'll Remember April" and the trumpeter's "La Villa") match Dorham in an all-star quintet with the great tenor Sonny Rollins, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Max Roach. The other three numbers (of which only "My Old Flame" includes Rollins) adds a fine harp player (Betty Glauman) and focuses on Dorham's lyricism.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-contrasts-keepnews-collection-mw0000267564

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Reseña de Scott Yanow
Algunas de las mejores grabaciones del trompetista Kenny Dorham fueron sus sesiones como líder para Riverside en los años 50 y afortunadamente toda esa música ha sido reeditada en CD. Este álbum es un poco breve (41 minutos) pero contiene muchas selecciones memorables. Tres de las canciones ("Falling in Love with Love" una versión de 12 minutos de "I'll Remember April" y "La Villa" del trompetista) hacen coincidir a Dorham en un quinteto de estrellas con el gran tenor Sonny Rollins, el pianista Hank Jones, el bajista Oscar Pettiford y el baterista Max Roach. Los otros tres números (de los cuales sólo "My Old Flame" incluye a Rollins) añaden una excelente arpista (Betty Glauman) y se centran en el lirismo de Dorham.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-contrasts-keepnews-collection-mw0000267564


Detroit 67 The Year That Changed Soul

 


Detroit 67 is the story of Motor City in the year that changed everything. Twelve chapters take you on a turbulent year-long journey through the drama and chaos that ripped through the city in 1967 and tore it apart in personal, political and interracial disputes. It is the story of Motown, the break-up of The Supremes and the damaging disputes at the heart of the most successful African-American music label ever.

Set against a backdrop of urban riots, escalating war in Vietnam and police corruption, the book weaves its way through a year when soul music came of age and the underground counterculture flourished. LSD arrived in the city with hallucinogenic power and local guitar band MC5 – self-styled holy barbarians of rock – went to war with mainstream America. A summer of street-level rebellion turned Detroit into one of the most notorious cities on earth, known for its unique creativity, its unpredictability and self-lacerating crime rates.

The year 1967 ended in social meltdown, rancour and intense legal warfare as the complex threads that held Detroit together finally unravelled.

 

Stuart Cosgrove (Autor)