Experiencing Jazz: A Listener's Companion

 

In Experiencing Jazz: A Listener’s Companion, writer, teacher, and renowned jazz drummer Michael Stephans offers a much-needed survey in the art of listening to and enjoying this dynamic, ever-changing art form. More than mere entertainment, jazz provides a pleasurable and sometimes dizzying listening experience with an extensive range in structure and form, from the syncopated swing of big bands to the musical experimentalism of small combos. As Stephans illustrates, listeners and jazz artists often experience the essence of the music together—an experience unique in the world of music.

Experiencing Jazz demonstrates how the act of listening to jazz takes place on a deeply personal level and takes readers on a whirlwind tour of the genre, instrument by instrument—offering not only brief portraits of key musicians like Joe Lovano and John Scofield, but also their own commentaries on how best to experience the music they create. Throughout, jazz takes center stage as a personal transaction that enriches the lives of both musician and listener. Written for anyone curious about the genre, this book encourages further reading, listening, and viewing, helping potential listeners cultivate an understanding and appreciation of the jazz art and how it can help—in drummer Art Blakey’s words—“wash away the dust of everyday life.”

 

  Michael Stephans (Author)

 

Various Artists • 60s Jazz Masters

John Coltrane, Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Marty Paich, Rufus Harley, Eddie Higgins, Clifford Jordan, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Harriott, Sonny Stitt, Clare Fischer ...

 

 

 

Various Artists • 50s Jazz Masters

Charlie Parker, Art Blakey, Modern Jazz Quartet, Quincy Jones, Bud Powell, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Billy Taylor, Phineas Newborn, Jo Jones, Jimmy Rushing, Shorty Rogers, Teddy Wilson, George Wallington, Morris Nanton ...

Clark Terry • The Happy Horns Of Clark Terry

 

Biography by Scott Yanow
Possessor of the happiest sound in jazz, flügelhornist Clark Terry always played music that was exuberant, swinging, and fun. A brilliant (and very distinctive) soloist, Terry gained fame for his "Mumbles" vocals (which started as a satire of the less intelligible ancient blues singers) and was also an enthusiastic educator. He gained early experience playing trumpet in the viable St. Louis jazz scene of the early '40s (where he was an inspiration for Miles Davis) and, after performing in a Navy band during World War II, he gained a strong reputation playing with the big band of Charlie Barnet (1947-1948), the orchestra and small groups of Count Basie (1948-1951), and particularly with Duke Ellington (1951-1959). Terry, a versatile swing/bop soloist who started specializing on flügelhorn in the mid-'50s, had many features with Ellington (including "Perdido"), and started leading his own record dates during that era. He visited Europe with Harold Arlen's unsuccessful Free & Easy show of 1959-1960 as part of Quincy Jones' Orchestra, and then joined the staff of NBC where he was a regular member of the Tonight Show Orchestra. He recorded regularly in the '60s, including a classic set with the Oscar Peterson Trio and several dates with the quintet he co-led with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. Throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s, Terry remained a major force, recording and performing in a wide variety of settings, including as the head of his short-lived big band in the mid-'70s, with all-star groups for Pablo, and as a guest artist who provided happiness in every note he played. Terry died on February 21, 2015, at age 94, after an extended battle with diabetes.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clark-terry-mn0000133832#biography

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Biografía de Scott Yanow
Poseedor del sonido más feliz del jazz, el flügelhornista Clark Terry siempre tocó música exuberante, oscilante y divertida. Terry, un solista brillante (y muy distintivo), ganó fama por su voz de "Murmullos" (que comenzó como una sátira de los antiguos cantantes de blues menos inteligibles) y también fue un educador entusiasta. Adquirió experiencia temprana tocando la trompeta en el viable St. Louis jazz de principios de los 40 (donde fue una inspiración para Miles Davis) y, después de tocar en una banda de la Marina durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se ganó una sólida reputación tocando con la big band de Charlie Barnet( 1947-1948), la orquesta y pequeños grupos de Count Basie( 1948-1951), y particularmente con Duke Ellington (1951-1959). Terry, un versátil solista de swing/bop que comenzó a especializarse en flügelhorn a mediados de los 50, tuvo muchas funciones con Ellington (incluida "Perdido") y comenzó a liderar sus propias fechas discográficas durante esa época. Visitó Europa con el fallido Free & Easy show de Harold Arlen de 1959-1960 como parte de la Orquesta de Quincy Jones, y luego se unió al personal de NBC, donde era miembro habitual de la Orquesta Tonight Show. Grabó regularmente en los años 60, incluido un set clásico con el Trío Oscar Peterson y varias fechas con el quinteto que codirigió con el trombonista de válvulas Bob Brookmeyer. A lo largo de los años 70, 80 y 90, Terry siguió siendo una fuerza importante, grabando y actuando en una amplia variedad de entornos, incluso como líder de su big band de corta duración a mediados de los 70, con grupos de estrellas para Pablo, y como artista invitado que brindaba felicidad en cada nota que tocaba. Terry murió el 21 de febrero de 2015, a los 94 años, después de una prolongada batalla contra la diabetes.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clark-terry-mn0000133832#biography

Elmore James • Shake Your Money Maker The Best Of The Fire Sessions

Elmore James (27 de enero, 1918 – 24 de mayo de 1963) fue un guitarrista de blues estadounidense, considerado el padre de la bottleneck guitar o slide guitar.

Comenzó su carrera musical en Misisipi junto al armonicista Rice Miller (más conocido como Sonny Boy Williamson), con el que permaneció varios años hasta que consiguió su primer contrato de grabación en 1951. Fue entonces cuando se trasladó a Chicago, donde inició su andadura en solitario acompañado del grupo "The Broomdusters". Falleció el 24 de mayo de 1963 de un ataque al corazón.

Su estilo sin trabas y apasionado se distinguía por el sonido característico del slide blues, que puede apreciarse en canciones como "Dust my broom", "I Believe" o "It hurts me too". El sonido de James ha influenciado a músicos de blues y rock como Jeremy Spencer de Fleetwood Mac, Brian Jones de The Rolling Stones, Alan Wilson de Canned Heat, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Michael Bloomfield, Duane Allman o John Mayall. Es nombrado por los Beatles en la canción For You Blue del disco Let It Be.

Autor de una considerable cantidad de clásicos del blues, muchas de esa piezas fueron posteriormente versionadas por grandes del rock y del blues. “Dust my broom” fue grabado por Fleetwood Mac, “Bleeding Heart” por Jimi Hendrix, “Rollin´n´tumblin” por Canned Heat y Eric Clapton entre otros.

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Elmore James was an American blues slide guitarist and singer who recorded from 1951 until 1963. As with most blues artists of his era, James' recordings were issued as two-song record singles in the then-standard ten-inch 78 rpm and seven-inch 45 rpm formats. James recorded for several record companies, beginning with Trumpet Records in 1951. From 1952 to 1956, he recorded for the Bihari brothers, who issued singles on their Meteor, Flair, and Modern labels. From 1959 to 1963, he recorded for Fire Records. Along the way, James also recorded some songs which appeared on Chess Records and Chief Records, and as a sideman.

After his death in 1963, Elmore James' former companies began re-issuing a number of his singles on subsidiaries and leasing them out to other companies. These various labels also began releasing numerous compilation albums, often with significant overlap in song selection. With the advent of compact discs, this trend continued. However, some box sets have appeared that collect most or all of James' recordings for a particular label or time period.