Updated November 2021: Three days ago, November 25th, would've been the great late Paul Desmond's 97th birthday. A new post in honor of Mr. Desmond will show up here in the near future, but in the mean time, here's an older post from three years ago featuring some rare photography taken by Paul Desmond himself. [...]
It's Sunday, which means West Coast Jazz. Last week, a reader left a comment on a post mentioning (requesting?) Barney Kessel, a guitarist severely associated with all things West Coast. His comment brought on the realization that I haven't really spotlighted him at all in the many years I've run this humble blog, which is [...]
As I write this, Vince Guaraldi's classic album 'Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus' is spinning on the turntable. "Moon River", to be specific. Guaraldi always did dig a good Mancini tune. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Some context is in order. For years now, I've gravitated towards playing that special brand (some would say [...]
I love when my different hobbies and interests intersect. Sometimes, this happens in pretty blatant ways, like my love of jazz colliding with my love of birds a la Charlie 'Bird' Parker. Occasionally, though, the overlap is more subtle and on a deeper level. Take Ivy, for instance. Ivy League style, that is. Mealtime at [...]
Yesterday, October 26th, the world of comedy lost one of its more original and trailblazing members when Mort Sahl passed away. At 94 years old, he had certainly seen a lot, and his acerbic wit and style of comedy was directed not only at daily observations and absurdities but at political figures. From the beginning [...]
To answer a question no doubt on many of your minds, no, this blog has not slipped into inactivity. This despite nary a peep from yours truly in months. Not to get too personal, but working as a nurse (on night shift, no less) during the past couple of years has been an experience, to [...]
Well, jello again. It's ME, Jack Benny. No, but seriously, after a lengthy pause, I'm back, and boy do I have a lot of albums that I'm excited to share with you all. Lots. But before taking that plunge into the sea of the new and exciting, here's an old and familiar album that I've [...]
Here's an album off the beaten trail that I find myself frequently grabbing on Sunday mornings, an album perfect lazy days. Listen closely enough and you can hear the pancakes sizzling on the griddle. Now I'm making myself hungry... Every April and May, I engage in some musical silliness on my humble blog where I [...]
It's been a while, I know. Three whole entire months with nada. I and the entire Raggy Waltz staff apologize for this AWOL, and will attempt to do better going forward. Ok, I feel better now. ANYwho... Today is International Women's Day (or it was when I started writing this), and as such, it gives [...]
Pianist, composer, arranger, and all-around nice guy Dave Brubeck was a remarkable individual and musician from the very beginning, and his life and music continues to be discussed today. Born December 6, 1920, this year would've been his 100th, yet despite passing away in 2012, his legacy and controversy has been celebrated in articles and [...]
It's A Raggy Waltz 