New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and for lots of folks that means... drinking. Plenty of drinking. And since there's no shortage of singers and songwriters who've had a little something to say about that particular topic, maybe some of the following tunes can serve as an appropriate soundtrack to your own joyous (or not?) imbibing of spirits. For example, there's... Jimmy Liggins with his succinct rendition of
Drunk, and there's...
[more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Dec 30, 2011 -
67 comments
One of America's most idiosyncratic musical geniuses was, of course, the great Thelonious Monk (
Wiki), and what better way to celebrate his birthday today than viewing (in its entirety!) an excellent documentary on the man and his music?
Straight, No Chaser
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Oct 10, 2011 -
25 comments
The Birka Jazz Archive is a treasure trove of record jackets from all eras of jazz. American releases are grouped by label (for example,
Columbia,
Blue Note,
Atlantic, etc.) with, in some case, further sub-categorization by designers or visual artists (such as the amazing
David Stone Martin). European releases are sorted by country (
France,
Sweden,
Germany, etc.) and it all adds up to a fabulous online resource for jazz fans and graphic design fans alike.
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Apr 17, 2011 -
9 comments
If you were to ask me "What is the most
artistic drum solo you've ever heard?", I'd say "You mean the one with the most exquisite sense of dynamics? One that doesn't bludgeon you over the head, but instead pulls you in with its subtlety and restraint? Where masterful technique is purely at the service of
musicality? That best conveys a musical vision and a deep understanding of the interrelationships of percussive timbre and tone that make up that remarkable instrument we call the drum set?" You'd say "Yeah." I'd say
this.
[more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Sep 24, 2010 -
49 comments
Back in the 1920s, when
Warren "Baby" Dodds was busy inventing jazz drumming in the company of pioneers like King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong, to "give the drummer some" usually never meant more than a couple of bars fill every now and again. Fortunately, though, come 1946, when Dodds was already an older man but still in fine playing form, someone had the wherewithal to record this seminal percussion stylist in a series of extended drum solos, displaying his
exuberant rhythmic stylings as well as his lending of
superbly playful swing to the
the rudiments. But let's jump back to the 20's again, and hear drummer Dodds, with the aforementioned King Oliver, take what's gotta be the killingest
slide whistle solo in all of jazz history.
[more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Mar 22, 2010 -
11 comments
"Men working on the river would move in time to the beat of the music. It was everywhere: on the street, in the church. In the tonks and barrelhouses where people went to be together. Like the beating of a big heart. It gave everyone a good feeling." The Cradle is Rocking is a delightful 12-minute film that, though somewhat damaged (Folkstreams has found what may be the only surviving print), is highly recommended viewing for anyone interested in American roots music: in this case, New Orleans jazz. The film's thoughtful and affable narrator is trumpeter
George "Kid Sheik" Cola, who can be heard along with Captain John Handy serving up some fine old-school Dixieland jazz
here and
here.
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Dec 9, 2009 -
13 comments
Here's a chance to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with the music of some of the great saxophonists who've made their mark in American improvised music. The following
MySpace Music pages feature audio, video, photos and text aplenty, to get your jazz mojo working. In no particular order:
Lester Young,
Hank Mobley,
Ornette Coleman,
Sonny Rollins,
John Coltrane,
Don Byas,
Pharoah Sanders,
Albert Ayler,
Charlie Parker,
Joe Henderson,
Earl Bostic,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Johnny Hodges,
Wayne Shorter,
Sonny Stitt,
Benny Carter,
Sidney Bechet and
David Murray.
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Dec 12, 2007 -
33 comments
Even if you're one of those "I don't like jazz" folks, the iconoclastic multi-instrumentalist
Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1936-1977) is probably someone you can dig. For one thing, he wasn't afraid of using a fat
backbeat, more akin to soul/R&B than most of the jazz of his time. And how can you say no to a guy who passed out little flutes to his audience members, inviting them to join in, saying
"What about a blues in W, in the key of W". Or who played 3 or 4 horns at once, followed by a nose-flute solo? God bless you,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk. [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Aug 7, 2007 -
50 comments
