Tag: Jazz

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Music Reviews

Red Garland Trio Swingin On The Korner Review

In December of 1977, jazz pianist Red Garland did a five night stint at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco with drummer “Philly” Joe Jones (with whom he’d recorded such classic Miles Davis albums as Workin’, Cookin’, and ’Round About Midnight) and bassist Leroy Vinnegar. The significance being that this was the only time this threesome would ever play together. Thankfully, someone had the foresight to record those shows, highlights of which are now available as Swingin On The Korner: Live At Keystone Corner (CD, LP, digital).

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Music Reviews

John Coltrane “Offering: Live At Temple University” Review

 

There’s no denying the greatness of jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. But there’s also no denying that his later work, when his playing often went free-form and his band followed suit, is not for everyone.

Which is what you’ll find on the newly released live album Offering: Live At Temple University, an oft-bootlegged live recording that UME and Resonance Records have released on CD and vinyl.

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Music Reviews

Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden: “Last Dance” Review

 

It’s interesting: put a mellow song on an album of otherwise upbeat tunes, and it’s a nice change of pace; but put an upbeat song on an album of otherwise mellow tunes, and it’s a mood killer that potentially ruins the album.

It’s this latter condition that slightly impedes Last Dance (CD, vinyl, digital), a collection of mostly moody jazz duets album from pianist Keith Jarrett and bassist Charlie Haden.

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Music Reviews

Paul Bley’s Play Blue: Oslo Concert Review

As you’ve probably heard since you were a little kid, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Which means you also can’t judge a movie by its poster, a video game by its box art, or a breakfast cereal by its cartoony mascot. Y’know, the one on its cover. But it’s also true of a name, as illustrated by the title of Paul Bley’s new album, Play Blue: Oslo Concert. Because while it has a playfully pun-ny title, the music is anything but goofy.

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Music

Vintage Interview: Sonny Rollins From 1998

 

Sonny Rollins isn’t considered a saxophone colossus just because he named an album that in 1956. It’s because of the music on that album, as well as such other jazz classics as 1966’s East Broadway Rundown, 1998’s Global Warming, 2001’s Without A Song: The 9/11 Concert, and on up through his latest, Road Shows Volume 3.

In 1998, I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Rollins for the pop culture magazine Bikini. And while the interview was for an advice column called Tips From Pops, we still covered a wide range of topics, including his penchant for practicing, his place in jazz history, and even The Simpsons.

What follows is a slightly edited version of that 1998 conversation, most of which has never been published before. You can also read an interview I did with him in 1996, for the music magazine Huh, here.

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Music

Vintage Interview: Sonny Rollins From 1996

 

Like supermodels, the best jazz musicians need only one name: Monk, Miles, Coltrane, and, of course, Rollins. But unlike so many of his single-name contemporaries, saxophonist Sonny Rollins is still out there, touring and recording.

In honor of his newest album, Road Shows Volume 3 — which has six tracks recorded in Japan, France, and St. Louis between 2001 and 2012, including a new song called “Patanjali” — I decided to dig up interviews I did with him in 1996 and 1998 for the music magazine Huh and the pop culture magazine Bikini.

What follows is an edited version of my 1996 interview, most of which has never been published before. You can read the 1998 one here.

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Music News

Previously Unreleased Live John Coltrane CD/LP Announced

 

Resonance Records and UME have announced that they will release Offering: Live At Temple University, a previously unreleased concert by John Coltrane, on CD and vinyl on September 23rd.

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Music Reviews

“Miles At The Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3” Review

 

Miles Davis was riding high when, on June 17th, 1970, he and his rock-infused electric septet walked onto the stage of New York City’s Fillmore East for the first of a four night stand. Bitches Brew had come out a few months earlier, In A Silent Way a few months before that, with both following the four years he’d spent leading his second great quintet.

Now, recordings of all four Fillmore East shows have been released as Miles At The Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (CD, digital).

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Music Reviews

John Coltrane: “Afro Blue Impressions” Review

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Afro Blue Impressions by John Coltrane’s classic quartet is one of the best live jazz albums ever made, by him or anyone else, and represents a high water mark in the career of a true artist.

Now this classic collection has remastered and augmented for a new expanded edition (CD, digital, vinyl). And while it does have some issues, it’s still an improved version of an already great album.

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