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 [...]
It's Tuesday, I have a rare day off, but I have a full week and some change of long days and short nights ahead. I'm pre-exhausted. When I'm pre-exhausted, there's nothing better than slipping into an easy chair, putting on a soothing record, and letting the music give me a back rub. As of late, [...]
It's another soggy grey day here in north Alabama, and as such, out comes the reflective music. Here's a record I found during my cross-country tour this summer. To the music! The Music The Tune: "Festive Minor" Recorded: 15 January, 1959 in New York City Personnel: Gerry Mulligan- Baritone Sax Art Farmer- Trumpet Bill Crow- [...]
After exploring the arranged side of jazz, let's move to another major sub-genre of jazz: 'Live jazz'. Live jazz is arguably the best type of jazz, the most free, most spontaneous type of jazz. The musicians feed off the energy of the audience, and the audience is in turn energized by the musicians. Everybody is [...]
These last few posts have been an exploration in the sub-genres of jazz, using these unofficial categories as fun way to rediscover my record collection (as well as provide a systematic way to decide which record to write about next). This post continues my focus on 'arranger jazz' with an interesting album from Gerry Mulligan. [...]
This record marked the fruitful beginning of both Gerry Mulligan's West Coast piano-less sound and the Pacific Jazz Records label. Both would do much to popularize the laid-back, more academic sound of jazz that blew in from the Coast. All of that began in 1952 with this album. The Music Tune: "Walkin' Shoes" Recorded: 15-16 [...]
It's A Raggy Waltz 