Home Music Archive by category "Jazz" (Page 2)

Category: Jazz

Victor Wooten – Born September 11, 1964)

Victor Wooten playing bass

Originally posted at Me, Myself, Music and Mysteries…..

So this morning as I was looking at the people born on this date. I thought how badly you must feel every year, now, as you celebrate your birthday on this tragic date. I think I’d celebrate either the day before or the day after, or maybe you just say, hey it was my day before you ruined it!

Two names stood out Leo Kottke, born on this day in 1945 in Athens Ga. I didn’t know that Leo is one of those musicians whose music I should listen to more often!! Oh, by the way I didn’t know he was born in Athens!! read more

Khan Jamal – Jazz Vibraphone – 7/23/46

One of the methods I started to use, when I began exploring jazz music in  more depth a few years ago was to check the list of Jazz Musicians birthdays at All About Jazz, on a daily basis.

I would look for both older and younger artists whose music I was not familiar. I would also check out artists with foreign names or foreign instruments. Finally, I would look for musicians, who played my favorite instruments, particularly, vibraphone, Hammond B-3 and guitar.

Khan Jamal – Vibraphone  – July 23, 1946

One of the musicians I discovered using this method was Jazz vibraphonist Khan Jamal. Jamal was born in Jacksonville, Florida in July 23, 1946 read more

Five Great Jazz Finds at the Princeton Record Exchange

So for the first time in a long time, my son and I made a trip to the Princeton Record Exchange (PREX) I believe it’s our first of 2020. Of course, the pandemic was a major reason for the length of time between our visits! Anyway, the five albums shown above are part of of the haul I brought home. All total, I bought eight albums for less than twenty dollars!

Four of the albums are from jazz greats from the past.  One album is from saxophonist Tim Warfield, who is still making great music. His latest release Jazzland was released in 2018. read more

This Day in Music January 23, 1943 – Happy Birthday – Gary Burton!!

Gary Burton
On this date in 1943, the great vibraphonist and one of my favorites Gary Burton was born in Anderson, Indiana. Whenever I have “One of those days” it’s usually Gary Burton’s vibes that calm and relax me. Here is some background information on Burton from Wikipedia:

Beginning music at six years old, Burton for the most part taught himself to play marimba and vibraphone.[2] He also began studying piano at age sixteen as he finished high school in Princeton, Indiana (56–60). Burton has cited jazz pianist Bill Evans as a main inspiration for his approach toward the vibraphone. read more

New CDs From the Princeton Record Exchange – Yeah!

While we were raising four kids my wife and I rarely spent money on ourselves. So when it came time that two oldest boys started to buy CDs,  I was thrilled when we found Tunes Used CD store in Marlton,N.J. At the time they had bins and bins of  cheap used CDs. Thanks to the fact that my taste was slightly different than their typical clientele my CD collection skyrocketed. I found albums from a ton of Americana artists that I couldn’t find anywhere else, at prices I could afford!! Texas music artists like: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram and Pat Green along with Americana musicians like Jack Williams and Chris Knight. read more

New Music from Vincent Herring Joins My Music Rotation. Part 1

I do believe, two of the albums that have been in my music rotation for a few weeks. Now highlight my eclectic taste in music. One is the latest from jazz saxophonist Vincent Herring, while the other is from a bluegrass band Trout Steak Revival. While I don’t think I am alone with my live for both these genres of music, I would think I am in the minority.
Anyway here is my take on the first of these two albums.

Hard Times – Vincent Herring

The first time I listened to this album the two other instruments that stood out besides Vincent’s saxophone were the guitar and piano.
The other day when I looked closely at the album cover I discovered why! The pianist is none other than the great Cyrus Chestnut. While the guitar is provided by the equally great Russell Malone. read more

Louis Hayes Treats with a Serenade for Horace

Serenade for Horace – Louis Hayes

This morning I was looking over the Jazz Charts at the Roots Music Reports. There were several albums on the chart by artists who I am unfamiliar with that I want to check out. But the album at number two was the one that first caught my attention. It’s title is Serenade for Horace by jazz drummer Louis Hayes.  Now two things combine here to make this album interesting to me. First, I know little about Louis Hayes. Now I’ve become familiar with Horace Silver’s music over the last few years. The reason is that many times when I listened to jazz on the radio, a song would come on that caught my attention. So I’d look to see who it was and many times it was Horace Silver!! Anyway when I saw the name Horace Silver I knew I would probably like the album. Guess what, I was right!! read more

DEC 24, 2016 – From Earlier in the Week- Jimmy Smith and More..

DEC 24, 2016 – What You Missed Earlier in the Week (Thanks to Me not Writing About It!)

So Wednesday my  granddaughter Zoe and I ran some errands. The trip included: Walmart, the library and Lowe’s. For the trip to the library was an album that ‘i picked up at the Princeton Record Exchange a while back. It is a compilation album of tracks from albums that Jimmy Smith recorded on the Milestone label, during his brief tenure with the label. The album is titled Milestone Profiles: Jimmy Smith.

Milestone Profiles: Jimmy Smith.

Jimmy Smith has always been a jazz favorite of mine. My first exposure to jimmy Smith’s dynamic organ playing was the album The Dynamic Duo, he recorded with Wes Montgomery. Eventually Jimmy Smith’s Greatest  Hits album  became a favorite in my music rotation. That album introduced me to Jimmy’s  hits like “The Champ” and “The Sermon” Through the years many Smith albums have been added to my music library!! read more

New Morning Exercises & Hank Crawford’s Bday!

Ed K (Renaissance Granddad) – Day 23823 (Dec 21, 2016)

Woo! Hoo! Today is the Winter Solstice!! That of course means, today is either the shortest day of the year or the longest night! I prefer to look at it as the shortest day and from here until the Summer Solstice the days keep getting longer!! I used to hate it when it was dark when I went to work in the morning and again when I came home in the evening.

For years i ran at 5:30 after work. I always hated it when daylight savings time ended and it would get dark before 5! I particularly hated it the night I sprained an ankle coming off of a sidewalk and not seeing the two by fours that someone had put along the curb so they could jump the curb! From that night on I have been leary of running at night! read more

Melvin Rhyne – Jazz Organ – Born October 12, 1936

Melvin Rhyne an Original Member of the Wes Montgomery Trio and More!

One of my favorite things to do is to scroll down the daily list of birthdays at All About Jazz. I always check for names I am unfamiliar with and/or musicians who play instruments that I enjoy! Today as I looked over the list I noticed a Hammond B-3 Organ player Melvin Rhyne.  I didn’t recognize Melvin’s name. However, after reading the following synopsis of the early years Rhyne’s career, I do believe I probably have heard his Hammond B-3 before……

Biography

Melvin Ryne was born on October 12, 1936 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her starte playing piano at an early age. He became a part of the city’s jazz scene at the age of 19 whenwhen….. read more