Showing posts with label Cool Jazz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cool Jazz. Show all posts

Monday, November 9, 2026

Don Patterson with Sonny Stitt & Booker Ervin • Patterson's People



Biograph:
Inspired to switch from piano to organ by Jimmy Smith, Don Patterson was one of the Hammond B-3's most bop-rooted players, able to play bluesy soul-jazz grooves or break out of the pocket for some nimble, sharply defined solo lines. Though he led numerous recording dates for Prestige and later Muse, he was best-known as Sonny Stitt's favorite organist, proving eminently compatible with the Parker-influenced saxophonist. Patterson was born in Columbus, OH, on July 22, 1936, and began studying piano as a child. His first major influence was Erroll Garner, and some of that flavor remained in his playing even after he heard Jimmy Smith in 1956 and changed instruments. Patterson made his professional debut on the organ in 1959, and played with a number of groups before Stitt discovered him. The association helped make Patterson's name, and he began recording for Prestige in 1964, often with a trio featuring guitarist Pat Martino and drummer Billy James. Patterson also played with numerous other soul-jazz sax greats over the course of the '60s, before settling in Gary, IN, toward the end of the decade. Drug addiction curtailed his recording activities somewhat, as only a few sporadic sessions for Muse appeared during the '70s. He did revive his career somewhat after moving to Philadelphia, but his health worsened, forcing him to take dialysis frequently; he died on February 10, 1988.

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Biografía:
Inspirado por Jimmy Smith para pasar del piano al órgano, Don Patterson fue uno de los intérpretes más arraigados del Hammond B-3, capaz de tocar ritmos de soul-jazz o de salir del bolsillo para obtener líneas solistas ágiles y bien definidas. Aunque dirigió numerosas grabaciones para Prestige y más tarde para Muse, era más conocido como el organista favorito de Sonny Stitt, demostrando ser eminentemente compatible con el saxofonista influenciado por Parker. Patterson nació en Columbus, OH, el 22 de julio de 1936, y comenzó a estudiar piano de niño. Su primera gran influencia fue Erroll Garner, y parte de ese sabor permaneció en su forma de tocar incluso después de escuchar a Jimmy Smith en 1956 y cambiar de instrumento. Patterson debutó profesionalmente en el órgano en 1959, y tocó con varios grupos antes de que Stitt lo descubriera. La asociación ayudó a hacer el nombre de Patterson, y comenzó a grabar para Prestige en 1964, a menudo con un trío que incluía al guitarrista Pat Martino y al baterista Billy James. Patterson también tocó con muchos otros grandes del saxo soul-jazz durante los años 60, antes de establecerse en Gary, IN, hacia el final de la década. La adicción a las drogas redujo un poco sus actividades de grabación, ya que sólo unas pocas sesiones esporádicas de Muse aparecieron durante los 70. Revivió un poco su carrera después de mudarse a Filadelfia, pero su salud empeoró, forzándolo a tomar diálisis frecuentemente; murió el 10 de febrero de 1988.
 




Saturday, November 7, 2026

Warne Marsh Quartet • Ne Plus Ultra

 



The passing of time has done nothing to reduce the singularity of Warne Marsh's art, and this set, recorded at the end of the 1960s, is an excellent working definition. Marsh was always a musician for whom points of reference in terms of influences were never helpful. To say, for example, that he shared a certain afinity with Lester Young is to overlook the wholesale differences in their musical worlds.

The same can be said for any reliance Marsh might have had on licks or certain phrases. Sheer depth of invention usurped any such need quite early on in his career. Similarly, never has a saxophonist employed tonal nuance as an end in itself in the way that he did. This is apparent here on "317 E. 32nd," an example of how one of Lennie Tristano's lines always provided Marsh with maximum stimulation.

The Tristano ideal of the quietly ticking rhythm section is not present on Ne Plus Ultra, however, and the music is all the better for it. Drummer John Tirabasso is an interventionist when the time is right and a master of touch when that's required, and bassist Dave Parlato prompts as much as he accompanies. This makes for what might be called whole group music, despite the attention that the saxophones of Marsh and Gary Foster perhaps inevitably command.

This quality ensures that the listener's attention doesn't wander during the fifteen minutes of "Touch And Go," where the music is fashioned in the moment and the players pay close attention to the contributions of the others, fashioning their own accordingly.

There were countless things that Warne Marsh wasn't as a musician. He wasn't a bopper anymore than he was an adherent of any particular school once he'd reached maturity, and while there will always be those for whom his music is too cerebral, the point seems more than a little specious when he could put out music as endlessly fascinating as this.
By Nic Jones
June 22, 2006
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ne-plus-ultra-warne-marsh-hatology-review-by-nic-jones

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El paso del tiempo no ha hecho nada para reducir la singularidad del arte de Warne Marsh, y este conjunto, grabado a finales de los años sesenta, es una excelente definición de trabajo. Marsh siempre fue un músico para el que los puntos de referencia en términos de influencias nunca fueron útiles. Decir, por ejemplo, que compartía cierta afinidad con Lester Young es pasar por alto las grandes diferencias de sus mundos musicales.

Lo mismo puede decirse de la dependencia que Marsh pudiera tener de los licks o de ciertas frases. La mera profundidad de la invención usurpó cualquier necesidad de este tipo bastante pronto en su carrera. Del mismo modo, nunca un saxofonista ha empleado el matiz tonal como un fin en sí mismo de la forma en que él lo hizo. Esto es evidente aquí en «317 E. 32nd», un ejemplo de cómo una de las líneas de Lennie Tristano siempre proporcionaba a Marsh el máximo estímulo.

Sin embargo, el ideal de Tristano de una sección rítmica silenciosa no está presente en Ne Plus Ultra, y la música es mucho mejor por ello. El batería John Tirabasso es un intervencionista cuando es el momento adecuado y un maestro del toque cuando es necesario, y el bajista Dave Parlato incita tanto como acompaña. Esto da lugar a lo que podría llamarse música de grupo, a pesar de la atención que los saxos de Marsh y Gary Foster acaparan inevitablemente.

Esta cualidad garantiza que la atención del oyente no se desvíe durante los quince minutos de «Touch And Go», donde la música se crea en el momento y los músicos prestan mucha atención a las contribuciones de los demás, creando las suyas propias en consecuencia.

Había innumerables cosas que Warne Marsh no era como músico. No era un «bopper» como tampoco era un seguidor de ninguna escuela en particular una vez que había alcanzado la madurez, y aunque siempre habrá aquellos para quienes su música es demasiado cerebral, el punto parece más que un poco engañoso cuando podía producir música tan infinitamente fascinante como ésta.
Por Nic Jones
22 de junio de 2006
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ne-plus-ultra-warne-marsh-hatology-review-by-nic-jones



Friday, October 30, 2026

Dorothy Donegan • Live at the Floating Jazz Festival 1992

 

 



Dorothy Donegan (April 6, 1922 — May 19, 1998) was a classically trained jazz pianist primarily known for performing in the stride piano and boogie-woogie style - She also played bop, swing jazz, and classical music - Obituaries for her argued that her flamboyant personality, tendency to mix unrelated genres in the same concert, and willingness to do lounge music may have caused her to be undervalued in jazz circles.
The program presented on this CD runs like a typical concert performance - It sounds as if it was taken from a single concert - Great songs such as "When i Fall in Love", "Body and Soul", "Saga Stage Strut" are included on this album - This is how one would have heard Dorothy at a typical concert.

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Dorothy Donegan (6 de abril de 1922 — 19 de mayo de 1998) fue una pianista de jazz de formación clásica conocida principalmente por tocar el piano stride y el estilo boogie-woogie; también tocaba bop, swing jazz y música clásica.Los obituarios de ella argumentaban que su personalidad extravagante, su tendencia a mezclar géneros no relacionados en el mismo concierto y su disposición a hacer música lounge pueden haberla hecho infravalorada en los círculos del jazz.
El programa presentado en este CD funciona como una actuación típica de un concierto, suena como si hubiera sido tomado de un solo concierto, grandes canciones como "When i Fall in Love", "Body and Soul", "Saga Stage Strut" están incluidas en este álbum. Así es como uno habría escuchado a Dorothy en un concierto típico.


Sunday, October 25, 2026

Scott Hamilton • Race Point.



En una epoca de obediencias estilisticas plurales, Scott Hamilton toca swing y nadie se atreve a reprocharselo dada la calidad con que lo hace. El cuarteto que le acompaña en este disco es un equipo compacto que le da fuerza y categoria a la grabacion. El disco es uno de los mejores de la decada de los noventa y está incluido en el libro: "Los 100 mejores discos de Jazz". Imprescindible.
http://www.apoloybaco.com/jazz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=755&Itemid=47

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In an era of pluralistic stylistic obedience, Scott Hamilton plays swing and no one dares to reproach him for the quality of his playing. The quartet that accompanies him on this album is a compact unit that gives strength and category to the recording. The record is one of the best of the nineties and is included in the book: "The 100 best jazz records". Indispensable.
http://www.apoloybaco.com/jazz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=755&Itemid=47

www.scotthamiltonsax.com ...



Tuesday, October 6, 2026

John La Porta • The Jazz Message Of John La Porta

 



Back in the 50’s, John La Porta was the rare bird among the alto saxophonists. He played like no one else, and these 1956 recordings are a poignant signature of his stimulating profile. La Porta’s sound and phrasing were extremely distinct. His playing was emotionally striking, with a hard, plunging attack that underlines the solidity of his style, spiced with an occasional nod to Charlie Parker but without being overwhelmingly influenced by Bird.

La Porta builds up intriguing solos, cohesive and well-shaped from individual ideas, as is evidenced in charging, up-tempo performances like Budo and Volcano. He also stands out in the introspectively impressive Yesterdays, which is almost entirely his showcase. The other horn on Jazz Message is trumpeter Donald Byrd. He is in flowing form, playing with a feeling for wholeness in his choruses, as he demonstrates in Volcano and La Porta—Thority.

In the rhythm section, Kenny Clarke’s vital presence is constantly felt. His ever swinging drumming, together with the dependable and melodic voice of Wendell Marshall on bass, goes along effortlessly and effectively, pursuing the feeling and the changes of the tunes. They both take creative advantage of their solo space on Message and Volcano. Pianists Horace Silver and Ronnie Ball, either merging with the rhythm section or in their solos, contribute greatly to the success of these performances. In Budo and Message, Horace swings with his roaring depth of pulsation, and in I Married an Angel, he also shows how smooth and deep he can be when playing a ballad.

Throughout the second date, Ronnie is shown as a subtle and imaginative pianist, with a constant and throbbing interest in ideas —I Hear a Rhapsody and Play, Fiddle, Play are both good examples. The entire album is an excellent endeavor thanks to the cohesive work of the musicians involved in the collective quintet.
—Jordi Pujol
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/john-la-porta-albums/54793-the-jazz-message-of-john-la-porta.html



American jazz saxophonist (alto, tenor and baritone), clarinetist and composer, arranger and aducator
Born 1 April 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died 12 May 2004 in Sarasota, Florida, USA

He was a founding member of the Jazz Composers Workshop. He played with Bob Chester, Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Neal Hefti, Bill Harris, Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Billy Eckstine and many others. In the 1980 he was a featured soloist with Herb Pomeroy's big band and retired in the late 1990s. He is also known as an author of several books.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/453850-John-Laporta

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En los años 50, John La Porta era una rareza entre los saxofonistas altos. Tocaba como nadie y estas grabaciones de 1956 son una firma conmovedora de su estimulante perfil. El sonido y el fraseo de La Porta eran extremadamente distintos. Su forma de tocar fue emocionalmente impactante, con un ataque duro y profundo que subraya la solidez de su estilo, aderezado con un guiño ocasional a Charlie Parker pero sin estar abrumadoramente influenciado por Bird.

La Porta construye solos intrigantes, cohesivos y bien formados a partir de ideas individuales, como se evidencia en actuaciones cargadas y aceleradas como Budo y Volcano. También destaca en la impresionante e introspectiva Yesterdays, que es casi en su totalidad su escaparate. El otro trompeta de Jazz Message es el trompetista Donald Byrd. Está en una forma fluida, tocando con un sentimiento de plenitud en sus coros, como lo demuestra en Volcano y La Porta—Thority.

En la sección rítmica, la presencia vital de Kenny Clarke se siente constantemente. Su forma de tocar la batería, siempre oscilante, junto con la voz confiable y melódica de Wendell Marshall en el bajo, acompañan sin esfuerzo y de manera efectiva, persiguiendo el sentimiento y los cambios de las melodías. Ambos aprovechan creativamente su espacio en solitario en Message y Volcano. Los pianistas Horace Silver y Ronnie Ball, ya sea fusionándose con la sección rítmica o en sus solos, contribuyen en gran medida al éxito de estas actuaciones. En Budo y Message, Horace se balancea con su rugiente profundidad de pulsación, y en I Married an Angel, también muestra cuán suave y profundo puede ser cuando toca una balada.

A lo largo de la segunda cita, Ronnie se muestra como un pianista sutil e imaginativo, con un interés constante y palpitante por las ideas (I Hear a Rhapsody y Play, Fiddle, Play son buenos ejemplos). Todo el álbum es un excelente esfuerzo gracias al trabajo cohesivo de los músicos involucrados en el quinteto colectivo.
—Jordi Pujol
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/john-la-porta-albums/54793-the-jazz-message-of-john-la-porta.html



Saxofonista de jazz estadounidense (alto, tenor y barítono), clarinetista y compositor, arreglista y aductor
Nació el 1 de abril de 1920 en Filadelfia, Pensilvania, Estados Unidos
Fallecido el 12 de mayo de 2004 en Sarasota, Florida, EE.UU.

Fue miembro fundador del Jazz Composers Workshop. Tocó con Bob Chester, Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Neal Hefti, Bill Harris, Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Billy Eckstine y muchos otros. En la década de 1980 fue un solista destacado con la big band de Herb Pomeroy y se retiró a finales de la década de 1990. También es conocido como autor de varios libros.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/453850-John-Laporta


www.freshsoundrecords.com ...


Friday, October 2, 2026

Johnny Smith • The Complete Roost Small Group Sessions 1952-1964

 



"Virtually every jazz-oriented cut in the Mosaic set, Johnny's complex but listenable single-note improvisations are legendary in the annals of guitar lore.” - Wolf Marshall, Vintage Guitar Magazine


Review by Ken Dryden
Johnny Smith is an exquisite jazz guitarist known mostly to fellow musicians and serious jazz fans. This beautifully packaged and expertly annotated eight-CD limited-edition boxed set from Mosaic includes his complete small-group recordings for Roost, most of which have languished out of print for decades. Smith's unique voicings on his instrument set him apart from other players, yet he maintains a lush, crystal-clear tone no matter the tempo or setting. Smith draws from a wide range of sources within the 22 featured sessions, ranging from show tunes and standards ("My Funny Valentine," "Yesterdays," "'I'll Remember April," and "Body and Soul") to jazz compositions by Duke Ellington, George Shearing, John Lewis, and Bud Powell, along with a number of his superb originals, which have been unjustly overlooked. The best-known material comes from the three 1952 sessions which made up Moonlight in Vermont, featuring Smith with either Stan Getz or Zoot Sims, and a meeting with some of New York's busiest session musicians (Hank Jones, George Duvivier, and Ed Shaughnessey). Especially rewarding is the first of two solo efforts by Smith, which draws from the vast Jimmy Van Heusen songbook. The guitarist is never disappointing, even on the few dates which fall outside of jazz. Pick up this valuable boxed set right away before you have to resort to paying an exorbitant price through an auction.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-complete-roost-johnny-smith-small-group-sessions-mw0001255900

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"Prácticamente todos los cortes orientados al jazz del set Mosaic, las complejas pero escuchables improvisaciones de una sola nota de Johnny son legendarias en los anales de la tradición guitarrística". - Wolf Marshall, Vintage Guitar Magazine


Reseña de Ken Dryden
Johnny Smith es un exquisito guitarrista de jazz conocido sobre todo por sus colegas músicos y por los aficionados serios al jazz. Esta edición limitada de ocho CD de Mosaic, bellamente empaquetada y expertamente anotada, incluye sus grabaciones completas en pequeño grupo para Roost, la mayoría de las cuales han languidecido agotadas durante décadas. Los singulares voicings de Smith en su instrumento le distinguen de otros intérpretes, aunque mantiene un tono exuberante y cristalino sin importar el tempo o el entorno. Smith recurre a una amplia gama de fuentes en las 22 sesiones que se incluyen, desde melodías de espectáculos y estándares ("My Funny Valentine", "Yesterdays", "'I'll Remember April" y "Body and Soul") hasta composiciones de jazz de Duke Ellington, George Shearing, John Lewis y Bud Powell, junto con una serie de sus magníficos originales, que han sido injustamente pasados por alto. El material más conocido procede de las tres sesiones de 1952 que constituyeron Moonlight in Vermont, en las que Smith colaboró con Stan Getz o Zoot Sims y se reunió con algunos de los músicos de sesión más activos de Nueva York (Hank Jones, George Duvivier y Ed Shaughnessey). Especialmente gratificante es el primero de los dos trabajos en solitario de Smith, que bebe del vasto cancionero de Jimmy Van Heusen. El guitarrista nunca decepciona, ni siquiera en las pocas citas que se salen del jazz. Consiga esta valiosa caja antes de que tenga que pagar un precio desorbitado en una subasta.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-complete-roost-johnny-smith-small-group-sessions-mw0001255900
    

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Warne Marsh • Warne Marsh

 

 

 

Biography
by Scott Yanow
Along with Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh was the most successful "pupil" of Lennie Tristano and, unlike Konitz, Marsh spent most of his career exploring chordal improvisation the Tristano way. The cool-toned tenor played with Hoagy Carmichael's Teenagers during 1944-1945 and then after the Army, he was with Buddy Rich (1948) before working with Lennie Tristano (1949-1952). His recordings with Tristano and Konitz still sound remarkable today with unisons that make the two horns sound like one. Marsh had occasional reunions with Konitz and Tristano through the years, spent periods outside of music, and stayed true to his musical goals. He moved to Los Angeles in 1966 and worked with Supersax during 1972-1977, also filling in time teaching. Marsh, who collapsed and died on stage at the legendary Donte's club in 1987 while playing "Out of Nowhere," is now considered legendary. He recorded as a leader for Xanadu, Imperial, Kapp, Mode (reissued on V.S.O.P.), Atlantic, Wave, Storyville, Revelation, Interplay, Criss Cross, and Hot Club.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/warne-marsh-mn0000193802/biography

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Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Junto con Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh fue el "alumno" más exitoso de Lennie Tristano y, a diferencia de Konitz, Marsh pasó la mayor parte de su carrera explorando la improvisación de acordes a la manera de Tristano. Este tenor de tono frío tocó con los Teenagers de Hoagy Carmichael durante 1944-1945 y, después del ejército, estuvo con Buddy Rich (1948) antes de trabajar con Lennie Tristano (1949-1952). Sus grabaciones con Tristano y Konitz todavía suenan de forma notable, con unísonos que hacen que las dos trompas suenen como una sola. Marsh se reunió ocasionalmente con Konitz y Tristano a lo largo de los años, pasó periodos fuera de la música y se mantuvo fiel a sus objetivos musicales. Se trasladó a Los Ángeles en 1966 y trabajó con Supersax durante 1972-1977, ocupando también tiempo en la enseñanza. Marsh, que se desplomó y murió en el escenario del legendario club Donte's en 1987 mientras tocaba "Out of Nowhere", es considerado ahora una leyenda. Grabó como líder para Xanadu, Imperial, Kapp, Mode (reeditado en V.S.O.P.), Atlantic, Wave, Storyville, Revelation, Interplay, Criss Cross y Hot Club.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/warne-marsh-mn0000193802/biography


Sunday, September 13, 2026

John LaPorta • Debut

 



American jazz saxophonist (alto, tenor and baritone), clarinetist and composer, arranger and aducator
Born 1 April 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died 12 May 2004 in Sarasota, Florida, USA

He was a founding member of the Jazz Composers Workshop. He played with Bob Chester, Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Neal Hefti, Bill Harris, Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Billy Eckstine and many others. In the 1980 he was a featured soloist with Herb Pomeroy's big band and retired in the late 1990s. He is also known as an author of several books.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/453850-John-Laporta

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Saxofonista de jazz estadounidense (alto, tenor y barítono), clarinetista y compositor, arreglista y aductor
Nació el 1 de abril de 1920 en Filadelfia, Pensilvania, Estados Unidos
Fallecido el 12 de mayo de 2004 en Sarasota, Florida, EE.UU.

Fue miembro fundador del Jazz Composers Workshop. Tocó con Bob Chester, Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Neal Hefti, Bill Harris, Charles Mingus, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Billy Eckstine y muchos otros. En la década de 1980 fue un solista destacado con la big band de Herb Pomeroy y se retiró a finales de la década de 1990. También es conocido como autor de varios libros.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/453850-John-Laporta

 

Monday, September 7, 2026

Ahmad Jamal • Happy Moods




Review from AllMusic (by Dave Nathan):
Ahmad Jamal's 1960s trio, with Israel Crosby on bass and Vernell Fournier on drums, was, to some, one of the more influential small groups in jazz. To others, his work was just a mere cut above lounge playing. Recorded almost two years to the day after his most popular trio album At the Pershing, Happy Moods is a program of mostly standards, a flirtation with a classical piano piece and two Jamal originals. Playing with his patented sneaky left-hand voicings and his jingling right hand, interspersed with block chords all within a lean framework, the performances offered by this album are representative of Jamal's work of the period. He takes a piece of fluff like "Little Old Lady" and transforms it into a fugue replete with the counterpoint that personifies this classical form. An up-tempo "You'd Be So Easy to Love," highlighting Vernell Fournier's brushes, is tastefully garnished with runs and chords borrowed from fellow Pittsburgher Erroll Garner. Billy Strayhorn's "Raincheck" features heady arpeggios as well as quotes from "I'm Beginning to See the Light."
https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-moods-argo-mw0000869725

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Reseña de AllMusic (por Dave Nathan):
El trio de Ahmad Jamal de los años 60, con Israel Crosby en bajo y Vernell Fournier en bateria, fue, para algunos, uno de los grupos pequeños mas influyentes del jazz. Para otros, su trabajo era apenas un poco mas que musica de lounge. Grabado casi dos años exactos despues de su album de trio mas popular At the Pershing, Happy Moods es un programa de principalmente estandares, un flirteo con una pieza de piano clasico y dos originales de Jamal. Tocando con sus patentadas voicings de mano izquierda sigilosos y su mano derecha tintineante, intercalados con block chords dentro de un marco austero, las interpretaciones ofrecidas por este album son representativas del trabajo de Jamal del periodo. Toma una pieza insignificante como "Little Old Lady" y la transforma en una fuga repleta del contrapunto que personifica esta forma clasica. Un "You'd Be So Easy to Love" a ritmo acelerado, destacando los cepillos de Vernell Fournier, esta sabiamente adornado con runs y acordes tomados prestados de su compatriota de Pittsburgh Erroll Garner. "Raincheck" de Billy Strayhorn presenta arpeggios embriagadores asi como citas de "I'm Beginning to See the Light."
https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-moods-argo-mw0000869725


Sunday, August 30, 2026

Eddie Costa • Guys & Dolls Like Vibes



Biography by Ken Dryden
Eddie Costa emerged from an unlikely background into a heralded -- if too brief -- career in jazz. Born in a rural coal mining town, Costa studied piano with his brother Bill and developed a taste for the swing greats; later, exposure to Bud Powell turned him to bop. Self-taught on vibes, Costa became known as an excellent sight reader, which produced a lot of studio work. On piano, his trademark sound was the emphasis of the middle and lower registers while nearly ignoring the top two octaves. In addition to recording as a sideman with Tal Farlow, Woody Herman, Johnny Smith, the Bob Brookmeyer-Clark Terry Quintet, and Bill Evans, Costa led his own trio and quintet dates. Sadly, most of Costa's recorded output remains unavailable on CD, with the notable exception of the VSOP reissue of his Quintet LP. Costa died when his car careened off of a busy New York parkway in 1962.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-costa-mn0000793779#biography

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Biografía de Ken Dryden
Eddie Costa emergió de un trasfondo improbable hacia una anunciada, aunque demasiado breve, carrera en el jazz. Nacido en un pueblo rural minero de carbón, Costa estudió piano con su hermano Bill y desarrolló un gusto por los grandes del swing; más tarde, la exposición a Bud Powell lo convirtió en bop. Autodidacta en vibes, Costa se hizo conocido como un excelente lector visual, lo que produjo una gran cantidad de trabajo de estudio. En el piano, su sonido característico era el énfasis en los registros medio e inferior, mientras que casi ignoraba las dos octavas superiores. Además de grabar como acompañante con Tal Farlow, Woody Herman, Johnny Smith, el quinteto Bob Brookmeyer-Clark Terry y Bill Evans, Costa dirigió sus propias fechas de trío y quinteto. Lamentablemente, la mayor parte de la producción grabada de Costa sigue sin estar disponible en CD, con la notable excepción de la reedición en VSOP de su LP de Quinteto. Costa murió cuando su automóvil se salió de una concurrida avenida de Nueva York en 1962.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-costa-mn0000793779#biography


Friday, August 28, 2026

Dick Garcia • A Message From Garcia



Electric guitarist Dick Garcia taught himself the instrument at the age of nine before ever taking any lessons. He played with Tony Scott's quartet in 1950, then worked until the mid-'50s with Charlie Parker, George Shearing and Joe Roland. Garcia again played and recorded with Scott in 1955, also recording with Milt Buckner, Lenny Hambro and his own bands, while also recording with Johnny Glasel and Bobby Scott. Garcia continued into the '60s touring and recording with Shearing and Kai Winding.

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Electric guitarist Dick Garcia taught himself the instrument at the age of nine before ever taking any lessons. He played with Tony Scott's quartet in 1950, then worked until the mid-'50s with Charlie Parker, George Shearing and Joe Roland. Garcia again played and recorded with Scott in 1955, also recording with Milt Buckner, Lenny Hambro and his own bands, while also recording with Johnny Glasel and Bobby Scott. Garcia continued into the '60s touring and recording with Shearing and Kai Winding.


Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Wardell Gray • Central Avenue

  


Biography by Scott Yanow
Wardell Gray was one of the top tenors to emerge during the bop era (along with Dexter Gordon and Teddy Edwards). His Lester Young-influenced tone made his playing attractive to swing musicians as well as younger modernists. He grew up in Detroit, playing in local bands as a teenager. Gray was with Earl Hines during 1943-1945, recording with him (1945). That same year, he moved to Los Angeles and he became a major part of the Central Avenue scene, having nightly tenor battles with Dexter Gordon; their recording of "The Chase" was popular. Gray recorded with Charlie Parker in 1947 and yet his style appealed to Benny Goodman, with whom he played the following year. Among his own sessions, his solos on "Twisted" (1949) and "Farmer's Market" (1952) were turned into memorable vocalese by Annie Ross a few years later. Back in New York, Gray played and recorded with Tadd Dameron and the Count Basie septet and big band (1950-1951); "Little Pony," his showcase with the Basie orchestra, is a classic. Gray was featured on some Norman Granz jam sessions ("Apple Jam" has a particularly heated solo) and recorded with Louie Bellson (1952-1953). Ironically, Wardell Gray, who in the late '40s was an inspiration to some younger musicians due to his opposition to drug use, himself became involved in drugs and died mysteriously in Las Vegas on May 25, 1955, when he was just 34.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wardell-gray-mn0000235881#biography

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Biografía de Scott Yanow
Wardell Gray fue uno de los mejores tenores que surgieron durante la era del bop (junto con Dexter Gordon y Teddy Edwards). Su tono, influenciado por Lester Young, hizo que su forma de tocar resultara atractiva tanto para los músicos de swing como para los jóvenes modernistas. Creció en Detroit y tocó en bandas locales durante su adolescencia. Gray estuvo con Earl Hines durante 1943-1945, grabando con él (1945). Ese mismo año se trasladó a Los Ángeles y se convirtió en una parte importante de la escena de Central Avenue, manteniendo batallas nocturnas de tenor con Dexter Gordon; su grabación de "The Chase" fue muy popular. Gray grabó con Charlie Parker en 1947 y, sin embargo, su estilo atrajo a Benny Goodman, con quien tocó al año siguiente. Entre sus propias sesiones, sus solos en "Twisted" (1949) y "Farmer's Market" (1952) fueron convertidos en vocales memorables por Annie Ross unos años más tarde. De vuelta a Nueva York, Gray tocó y grabó con Tadd Dameron y el septeto y la big band de Count Basie (1950-1951); "Little Pony", su presentación con la orquesta de Basie, es un clásico. Gray participó en algunas jam sessions de Norman Granz ("Apple Jam" tiene un solo especialmente acalorado) y grabó con Louie Bellson (1952-1953). Irónicamente, Wardell Gray, que a finales de los años 40 sirvió de inspiración a algunos músicos más jóvenes por su oposición al consumo de drogas, se metió él mismo en las drogas y murió misteriosamente en Las Vegas el 25 de mayo de 1955, cuando sólo tenía 34 años.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wardell-gray-mn0000235881#biography



Monday, August 24, 2026

Webster Young • For Lady

 



Review from AllMusic (by Jim Todd):
While trumpeter Webster Young pays tribute to Billie Holiday on this, his only studio date as a leader, the set is equally a tribute to Young's musical role model, Miles Davis. Young has Miles' soft-focus tone from the early to mid-'50s and, according to Ira Gitler's liner notes, he is actually playing Miles' cornet on the date. The similarities between the two players make this 1957 session a satisfying companion to Miles' work circa 1951-1953. Young is nicely matched here with tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette, with the two of them using a pleasantly blowsy approach to weave loose, discursive counterpoint around each other. Guitarist Joe Puma distinguishes the set with thoughtful, understated playing that calls to mind Kenny Burrell's own Prestige dates from this period. Pianist Mal Waldron, drummer Ed Thigpen, and bassist Earl May infuse the performances with a cohesive, relaxed swing. They give each other lots of space, and Waldron makes astute choices in his chord selection, phrasing, and comping strategies. The tracks comprise five pieces associated with Holiday and one Young original, written in homage to Lady Day. True to Holiday's approach, the mood is world-weary, bordering on bleak, but with breaches of light like those that would briefly suffuse Holiday's songs. "Strange Fruit" is the one track that misses the mark. Where Holiday allowed the stark irony of the lyrics to carry the song, Young's instrumental version labors the point by including an execution squad drum roll. This could have been effective had it been limited to the intro and ending, but when Thigpen's martial snare also crops up midsong it breaks the subtle, macabre atmosphere of the piece.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-lady-mw0000087852

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Reseña de AllMusic (por Jim Todd):
Mientras el trompetista Webster Young rinde homenaje a Billie Holiday en esta, su única fecha de estudio como líder, el set es igualmente un tributo al modelo musical de Young, Miles Davis. Young tiene el tono de enfoque suave de Miles de principios a mediados de los años 50 y, según las notas del liner de Ira Gitler, en realidad está tocando el cornete de Miles en la sesión. Las similitudes entre los dos músicos hacen de esta sesión de 1957 un compañero satisfactorio del trabajo de Miles alrededor de 1951-1953. Young está bien emparejado aquí con el saxofonista tenor Paul Quinichette, utilizando ambos un enfoque agradablemente suelto para tejer un contrapunto discursivo entre sí. El guitarrista Joe Puma distingue el set con un toque reflexivo y discreto que recuerda las propias fechas de Kenny Burrell para Prestige de este período. El pianista Mal Waldron, el baterista Ed Thigpen y el bajista Earl May infunden las interpretaciones con un swing cohesivo y relajado. Se dan mucho espacio entre sí, y Waldron hace elecciones perspicaces en su selección de acordes, fraseo y estrategias de acompañamiento. Los temas comprenden cinco piezas asociadas con Holiday y un original de Young, escrito en homenaje a Lady Day. Fiel al enfoque de Holiday, el clima es cansado del mundo, bordeando lo sombrío, pero con destellos de luz como los que brevemente impregnaban las canciones de Holiday. "Strange Fruit" es el único tema que no da en el blanco. Donde Holiday permitía que la cruda ironía de las letras sostuviera la canción, la versión instrumental de Young fuerza el punto incluyendo un redoble de tambor de pelotón de fusilamiento. Esto podría haber sido efectivo si se hubiera limitado a la intro y el final, pero cuando la caja marcial de Thigpen también aparece en medio de la canción rompe la atmósfera sutil y macabra de la pieza.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-lady-mw0000087852


Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Ken Mcintyre • Home

 


Review
by Scott Yanow
This excellent outing by multi-reedist Ken McIntyre ranges musically in his ten originals from a blues, the ballad "Charlotte," and a tribute to John Coltrane ("Sea Train") to freer pieces. McIntyre is heard on alto, flute, bassoon, oboe and bass clarinet and is joined by a stimulating rhythm section consisting of pianist Jaki Byard (who plays electric piano on the title cut), bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrei Strobert. The post-bop music is consistently inventive and easily recommended.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/home-mw0000856573


Biography
by Scott Yanow
A versatile player with a thoughtful style who can play quite freely, Ken McIntyre has never been a major name in jazz despite his talents. After serving in the military and graduating from the Boston Conservatory, he arrived in New York in 1960 and made a strong impression. He recorded two albums for New Jazz that year, including one on which he held his own against Eric Dolphy. McIntyre also led two now-scarce records for United Artists during 1962-1963 (including one titled Way Way Out) but became involved in education, teaching in public schools starting in 1961. He continued playing on a part-time basis (recording with Cecil Taylor in 1966). McIntyre led five albums for SteepleChase during 1974-1978, including his definitive set Hindsight (which finds him spotlighting each of his five horns in a quartet). He also recorded with Craig Harris in 1983 and put together an Eric Dolphy tribute set for Serene in 1991, but Ken McIntyre never gained the recognition he deserved. In the early '90s, he adopted the first name of Makanda and in June 2001, he released his first recording in years, entitled A New Beginning. Multi-instumentalist and music educator Dr. Makanda Ken McIntyre passed away at the age of 69 as a result of a heart attack on Wednesday, June 13, 2001, at his home in Harlem, NY .
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-mcintyre-mn0000766122/biography

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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
Esta excelente salida del multireedista Ken McIntyre varía musicalmente en sus diez originales desde un blues, la balada "Charlotte", y un homenaje a John Coltrane ("Sea Train") hasta piezas más libres. McIntyre toca el contralto, la flauta, el fagot, el oboe y el clarinete bajo, y está acompañado por una estimulante sección rítmica formada por el pianista Jaki Byard (que toca el piano eléctrico en el corte que da título al disco), el bajista Reggie Workman y el batería Andrei Strobert. La música post-bop es consistentemente inventiva y fácilmente recomendable.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/home-mw0000856573


Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Un músico versátil con un estilo reflexivo que puede tocar con bastante libertad, Ken McIntyre nunca ha sido un nombre importante en el jazz a pesar de su talento. Después de servir en el ejército y graduarse en el Conservatorio de Boston, llegó a Nueva York en 1960 y causó una fuerte impresión. Ese año grabó dos álbumes para New Jazz, incluido uno en el que se enfrentó a Eric Dolphy. McIntyre también dirigió dos discos, ahora escasos, para United Artists durante 1962-1963 (incluido uno titulado Way Way Out), pero se dedicó a la educación, dando clases en escuelas públicas a partir de 1961. Siguió tocando a tiempo parcial (grabando con Cecil Taylor en 1966). McIntyre dirigió cinco álbumes para SteepleChase durante 1974-1978, incluido su conjunto definitivo Hindsight (en el que destaca cada una de sus cinco trompas en un cuarteto). También grabó con Craig Harris en 1983 y preparó un conjunto de homenaje a Eric Dolphy para Serene en 1991, pero Ken McIntyre nunca obtuvo el reconocimiento que merecía. A principios de los 90, adoptó el nombre de Makanda y en junio de 2001 publicó su primera grabación en años, titulada A New Beginning. El multiinstrumentista y educador musical Dr. Makanda Ken McIntyre falleció a la edad de 69 años como consecuencia de un ataque al corazón el miércoles 13 de junio de 2001 en su casa de Harlem, Nueva York.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-mcintyre-mn0000766122/biography


Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Sal Salvador • Tribute To The Greats

 



Biography by Ron Wynn:
A versatile guitarist and onetime head of the guitar department at the University of Bridgeport, Sal Salvador was a capable soloist and accompanist whose single-string style, shaped by his early interest in the music of Charlie Christian, was augmented by extensive studies of guitar technique. Salvador's years of research, playing, and analysis eventually led to his writing guitar methodology books, among them Sal Salvador's Chord Method for Guitar and Sal Salvador's Single String Studies for Guitar in the '50s and '60s. He became interested in jazz during his teens, and began playing professionally in Springfield, MA, in 1945. He worked with Terry Gibbs and Mundell Lowe in New York at the end of the '40s, then joined Stan Kenton's orchestra in 1952. Salvador worked with Kenton until the end of 1953, and appeared on the New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm album. He led bebop bands featuring Eddie Costa and Phil Woods. Salvador was featured in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day and headed a big band in the late '50s and early '60s. He worked in a guitar duo with Alan Hanlon in the early '70s, and began recording again as a leader later in the decade. He re-formed his big band in the '80s, and was named to his position at the University of Bridgeport. Salvador led recordings for Blue Note (1953), Capitol, Bethlehem, Decca, Jazz Unlimited, Dauntless (1963), Bee Hive, GP, and Stash; he died September 22, 1999, at the age of 73.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sal-salvador-mn0000241002/biography

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Biografía de Ron Wynn:
Un guitarrista versátil y una vez jefe del departamento de guitarra de la Universidad de Bridgeport, Sal Salvador era un solista y acompañante capaz cuyo estilo de una sola cuerda, formado por su temprano interés en la música de Charlie Christian, fue aumentado por extensos estudios de la técnica de la guitarra. Los años de investigación, interpretación y análisis de Salvador finalmente lo llevaron a escribir libros de metodología de la guitarra, entre ellos el Método de Acordes para Guitarra de Sal Salvador y los Estudios de Cuerdas Sueltas para Guitarra de Sal Salvador en los años 50 y 60. Se interesó en el jazz durante su adolescencia, y comenzó a tocar profesionalmente en Springfield, MA, en 1945. Trabajó con Terry Gibbs y Mundell Lowe en Nueva York a finales de los años 40, y luego se unió a la orquesta de Stan Kenton en 1952. Salvador trabajó con Kenton hasta finales de 1953, y apareció en el álbum New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm. Dirigió bandas de bebop con Eddie Costa y Phil Woods. Salvador apareció en la película Jazz on a Summer's Day y dirigió una gran banda a finales de los 50 y principios de los 60. Trabajó en un dúo de guitarras con Alan Hanlon a principios de los 70, y comenzó a grabar de nuevo como líder a finales de la década. Volvió a formar su gran banda en los 80, y fue nombrado para su puesto en la Universidad de Bridgeport. Salvador dirigió grabaciones para Blue Note (1953), Capitol, Bethlehem, Decca, Jazz Unlimited, Dauntless (1963), Bee Hive, GP y Stash; murió el 22 de septiembre de 1999, a la edad de 73 años.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sal-salvador-mn0000241002/biography

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Zoot Sims, Al Cohn & Phil Woods • Jazz Alive! A Night At The Half Note

 



Review by Ken Dryden
Zoot Sims and Al Cohn always made great music together; this live recording documents portions of two nights' work together at the Half Note in New York City, assisted by pianist Mose Allison, bassist Nabil Totah and drummer Paul Motian. Their brisk setting of "Lover, Come Back to Me" features Cohn, Sims and Allison soloing in turn, building the fire before the eventual trading of fours between the tenor saxophonists. After a relaxed rendition of "It Had to Be You," alto saxophonist Phil Woods is added to the mix for the next two numbers, recorded the very next evening. The guest sets up the percolating mid-tempo setting of "Wee Dot," with the tenors following him. The delightful interplay within the long workout of "After You've Gone" signals the chemistry between the three friends. Bop and cool fans will want to make any effort to hear this excellent release.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-alive-a-night-at-the-half-note-mw0000038034

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Zoot Sims y Al Cohn siempre hicieron gran música juntos; esta grabación en vivo documenta porciones de dos noches de trabajo juntos en el Half Note en la ciudad de Nueva York, asistidos por el pianista Mose Allison, el bajista Nabil Totah y el baterista Paul Motian. Su enérgico escenario de "Lover, Come Back to Me" presenta a Cohn, Sims y Allison en solitario, encendiendo el fuego antes del eventual intercambio de cuatros entre los saxofonistas tenores. Después de una interpretación relajada de "It Had to Be You", el saxofonista alto Phil Woods se añade a la mezcla de los dos números siguientes, grabados la noche siguiente. El invitado prepara el escenario de medio tiempo de "Wee Dot", con los tenores siguiéndole. La deliciosa interacción dentro del largo entrenamiento de "After You've Gone" señala la química entre los tres amigos. Los fans del Bop y del cool querrán hacer cualquier esfuerzo para escuchar este excelente lanzamiento.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-alive-a-night-at-the-half-note-mw0000038034


Friday, July 31, 2026

Warne Marsh • Jazz of Two Cities

  



With Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b) & Jeff Morton, plus special guest Art Pepper (as).
29 tracks recorded on October 1956-March 1957 recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollwood, CA + unreleased session for "Stars of Jazz".

Warne Marsh (October 26, 1927 - Decemeber 17. 1987) became one of the pre-eminent saxophonists of the Tristano-inspired Cool School, along with Lee Konitz. He was often recorded in the company of other Cool School musicians, and remained one of the most faithful to the Tristano philosophy of improvisation. His distinctively sombre, grainy tone (which set Marsh apart from other Lester Young-influenced saxophonists); uncannily fluent use of the high register; and rhythmically subtle lines are immediately recognizable. He has been called by Anthony Braxton "the greatest vertical improviser" and described by the British critic Alun Morgan as "one of the greatest improvisers our music has ever known". He famously died onstage at the Los Angeles club Donte's in 1987, in the middle of playing "Out of Nowhere". Though he remains something of a cult figure among jazz fans and musicians, his influence has grown since his death; younger players such as Mark Turner have increasingly been borrowing from his music as a way of counterbalancing the pervasive influence of John Coltrane. Marsh's discography remains somewhat scattered and elusive, as much of it was done for small labels, but more and more of his work has been issued on compact disc in recent years...
https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/1018/warne-marsh/jazz-of-two-cities


"These tracks date from the time Marsh spent back in his hometown - well, Los Angeles - from February 1956 to November 1957, leading a quintet that was something of a Tristano student reunion.

Disc one reprises the material that once appeared on the Imperial and Kapp labels, and there are some very familiar characteristics: improbably tricky themes deriving from familiar harmonic territory - Ball, Brown and Marsh all contribute - propelling the improvisation into fascinating demonstrations of agility. Marsh and Brown are never exactly competitive, but clearly stimulate each other intensely; at times they wrap around themselves almost organically, prodded on by Ball's perfectly-judged piano work.

Yet there's also a wider aspect to it; the two tenors give the front line a somewhat heavier character than you might expect from the experience of Marsh and Konitz: bassist Tucker gets to feature on his own "Ben Blew" and Jeff Morton gets to play with the sticks, which he never did with Lennie. By the time "I Never Knew" comes along, with its drum-breaks, stop-time bounces and Condon Gang coda, there's a distinct feeling that school's out.

Disc two introduces Art Pepper into the mix: nine tracks - "Aretha" through "Arrival" - feature him. Originally on a Vanguard LP, it was in fact Brown's date, came out under his name, Marsh no more than a bystander and adviver. A further move away from Tritano's influence, less convolution, though the two noted above, by Ball, and Marsh's "Long Gone", set up more thematic obstacle-courses. Pepper copes well, sometimes superbly, and also makes you realise why Konitz fitted so easily into his chair in the Kenton band.

The final 15 minutes is back into the Marsh-Brown configuration, and is taken from a TV show of the period. Bobby Troup does the talking, and shows an understanding of the music. A good, though inevitably brief, version of "Background Music", plus two minutes of improvising on "Pop Goes The Weasel". Really.

These sessions mark the start of Marsh's career as leader and organiser, and as such fill an important gap in his history."
Jack Cooke -Jazz Review

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Con Ted Brown (ts), Ronnie Ball (p), Ben Tucker (b) y Jeff Morton, más el invitado especial Art Pepper (as).
29 temas grabados en octubre de 1956-marzo de 1957 grabados en Radio Recorders, Hollwood , CA + sesión inédita para "Stars of Jazz".

Warne Marsh (26 de octubre de 1927 - 17 de diciembre de 1927). 1987) se convirtió en uno de los saxofonistas preeminentes de la Cool School inspirada en Tristano, junto con Lee Konitz. A menudo se grababa en compañía de otros músicos geniales de la Escuela, y seguía siendo uno de los más fieles a la filosofía Tristano de la improvisación. Su tono distintivamente sombrío y granulado( que distingue a Marsh de otros saxofonistas influenciados por Lester Young); uso asombrosamente fluido del registro agudo; y líneas rítmicamente sutiles son inmediatamente reconocibles. Anthony Braxton lo ha llamado "el mejor improvisador vertical" y el crítico británico Alun Morgan lo describió como "uno de los mejores improvisadores que nuestra música haya conocido". Murió en el escenario del club Donte's de Los Ángeles en 1987, en medio de tocar "Out of Nowhere". Aunque sigue siendo una figura de culto entre los fanáticos y músicos del jazz, su influencia ha crecido desde su muerte; músicos más jóvenes como Mark Turner han tomado prestado cada vez más de su música como una forma de contrarrestar la influencia generalizada de John Coltrane. La discografía de Marsh sigue siendo algo dispersa y esquiva, ya que gran parte de ella se hizo para sellos pequeños, pero cada vez más de su trabajo se ha publicado en disco compacto en los últimos años...
https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/1018/warne-marsh/jazz-of-two-cities


Warne Marsh • Jazz Of Two Cities

  



Review
by Brandon Burke  
A classic album of Tristano-school cool jazz with subtle leanings toward the avant-garde. While this set is not without a number of typical West Coast jazz tendencies (i.e., cool reed tones, a stiff rhythm section, happy-go-lucky heads, etc.), it has an interestingly wide-open and probing vibe. This band was simply bursting with ideas. On "Ear Conditioning," for example, the tenor tandem of Marsh and Ted Brown weaves in and out of the head with the proficiency and grace displayed -- admittedly, to greater effect -- on Lennie Tristano's "Wow," a tune also featuring Marsh, only with Lee Konitz on alto instead of Brown on tenor. Like "Ear Conditioning," "Smog Eyes" and the title track both employ long and busy heads. In a manner typical of compositions by Tristano's associates, many of these themes are very complicated and take several measures to achieve resolution. That having been said, comparisons to the Tristano Capitol sessions are simply inevitable, as they laid the foundation for everything heard here. To judge the quality of one versus the other, though, is trivial. Jazz of Two Cities has many treasures all of its own. Thankfully, both historic sessions have been reissued together on the Capitol Jazz CD Intuition. Included in the collection are both the stereo and mono takes of four different pieces from the Marsh date. This is because Jazz of Two Cities was issued once in mono and later in stereo with the new title The Winds of Marsh. The two versions of the record feature altogether different takes of two numbers ("Jazz of Two Cities," "I Never Knew") and different solos on the other two ("Ear Conditioning," "Lover Man"). In other words, fidelity is not the only difference between Jazz of Two Cities and The Winds of Marsh; though in and of itself, that's probably not reason enough to spend an arm and a leg on both copies, since they're quite rare and all versions are included on the CD. This is some very fine music by a band with an exceptionally rich collective imagination. It is clear that, in the hands of this combo, every theme is treated like a question with an absolutely limitless amount of harmonic and melodic answers.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-of-two-cities-mw0000732028


Biography
by Scott Yanow
Along with Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh was the most successful "pupil" of Lennie Tristano and, unlike Konitz, Marsh spent most of his career exploring chordal improvisation the Tristano way. The cool-toned tenor played with Hoagy Carmichael's Teenagers during 1944-1945 and then after the Army, he was with Buddy Rich (1948) before working with Lennie Tristano (1949-1952). His recordings with Tristano and Konitz still sound remarkable today with unisons that make the two horns sound like one. Marsh had occasional reunions with Konitz and Tristano through the years, spent periods outside of music, and stayed true to his musical goals. He moved to Los Angeles in 1966 and worked with Supersax during 1972-1977, also filling in time teaching. Marsh, who collapsed and died on stage at the legendary Donte's club in 1987 while playing "Out of Nowhere," is now considered legendary. He recorded as a leader for Xanadu, Imperial, Kapp, Mode (reissued on V.S.O.P.), Atlantic, Wave, Storyville, Revelation, Interplay, Criss Cross, and Hot Club.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/warne-marsh-mn0000193802/biography

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Reseña
por Brandon Burke  
Un álbum clásico de cool jazz de la escuela de Tristano con sutiles inclinaciones hacia la vanguardia. Si bien este conjunto no carece de las típicas tendencias del jazz de la Costa Oeste (es decir, tonos de caña fríos, una sección rítmica rígida, cabezas alegres, etc.), tiene un ambiente interesantemente abierto y de prueba. Esta banda estaba simplemente llena de ideas. En "Ear Conditioning", por ejemplo, el tándem de tenores formado por Marsh y Ted Brown entra y sale de la cabeza con la destreza y la gracia que se muestra -de hecho, con mayor efecto- en "Wow" de Lennie Tristano, un tema en el que también participa Marsh, sólo que con Lee Konitz como contralto en lugar de Brown como tenor. Al igual que "Ear Conditioning", "Smog Eyes" y el tema que da título al disco emplean cabezas largas y ocupadas. De manera típica en las composiciones de los socios de Tristano, muchos de estos temas son muy complicados y requieren varios compases para lograr su resolución. Dicho esto, las comparaciones con las sesiones de Tristano en Capitol son simplemente inevitables, ya que sentaron las bases de todo lo que se escucha aquí. Sin embargo, juzgar la calidad de una frente a la otra es trivial. Jazz of Two Cities tiene muchos tesoros propios. Afortunadamente, ambas sesiones históricas se han reeditado juntas en el CD Intuition de Capitol Jazz. En la colección se incluyen tanto las tomas en estéreo como en mono de cuatro piezas diferentes de la fecha de Marsh. Esto se debe a que Jazz of Two Cities se publicó una vez en mono y posteriormente en estéreo con el nuevo título The Winds of Marsh. Las dos versiones del disco presentan tomas totalmente diferentes de dos números ("Jazz of Two Cities", "I Never Knew") y diferentes solos en los otros dos ("Ear Conditioning", "Lover Man"). En otras palabras, la fidelidad no es la única diferencia entre Jazz of Two Cities y The Winds of Marsh; aunque en sí misma, probablemente no sea razón suficiente para gastar un brazo y una pierna en ambas copias, ya que son bastante raras y todas las versiones están incluidas en el CD. Se trata de música muy fina de una banda con una imaginación colectiva excepcionalmente rica. Está claro que, en manos de este combo, cada tema es tratado como una pregunta con una cantidad absolutamente ilimitada de respuestas armónicas y melódicas.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-of-two-cities-mw0000732028


Biografía
por Scott Yanow
Junto con Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh fue el "alumno" más exitoso de Lennie Tristano y, a diferencia de Konitz, Marsh pasó la mayor parte de su carrera explorando la improvisación de acordes a la manera de Tristano. Este tenor de tono frío tocó con los Teenagers de Hoagy Carmichael durante 1944-1945 y, después del ejército, estuvo con Buddy Rich (1948) antes de trabajar con Lennie Tristano (1949-1952). Sus grabaciones con Tristano y Konitz todavía suenan de forma notable, con unísonos que hacen que las dos trompas suenen como una sola. Marsh se reunió ocasionalmente con Konitz y Tristano a lo largo de los años, pasó periodos fuera de la música y se mantuvo fiel a sus objetivos musicales. Se trasladó a Los Ángeles en 1966 y trabajó con Supersax durante 1972-1977, ocupando también tiempo en la enseñanza. Marsh, que se desplomó y murió en el escenario del legendario club Donte's en 1987 mientras tocaba "Out of Nowhere", es considerado ahora una leyenda. Grabó como líder para Xanadu, Imperial, Kapp, Mode (reeditado en V.S.O.P.), Atlantic, Wave, Storyville, Revelation, Interplay, Criss Cross y Hot Club.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/warne-marsh-mn0000193802/biography


Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Ad Van Den Hoed Kwartet • King's Clarinet



Dutch jazz musician and bandleader. Plays clarinet and saxophone.


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Músico holandés de jazz y director de banda. Toca el clarinete y el saxofón.