Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com If you want to get a feel for what jazz is all about, start with a classic, must-have, essential recording. The right one, even if it's not a "live" recording, will immediately transport you to a smoke-filled, rowdy but respectful jazz club. Essential recordings give you a taste of jazz … Continue reading Essentials: The Real McCoy, by McCoy Tyner
Tag: piano
LIVE: Bill Evans at Ronnie Scott’s
Photo by Lucian Potlog on Pexels.com Three of my faves all in one spot! I've never been to Ronnie Scott's but it is still very high on my list of places to be. The club opened in 1959. That is a very long time and a very apt description of success. The number of greats … Continue reading LIVE: Bill Evans at Ronnie Scott’s
Essentials: 06/11/21
Photo by Elviss Railijs Bitu0101ns on Pexels.com Editor's picks for this week: The Story of Jaz by Jazmin Ghent The New Cool by Bob James and Nathan East A Thousand Kisses Deep by Chris Botti **** Jazz, jazz, and nothing but jazz. Mostly. Listen on TIDAL: The Story of Jaz The New Cool A Thousand … Continue reading Essentials: 06/11/21
Please Stand By
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Pre- corona plan: For the month of April, Smoothe will be celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) with posts about the founders of jazz from the U.S., as well as abroad. "Invited" artists include Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, and . . . … Continue reading Please Stand By
Spotlight – Cava Menzies & Nick Phillips
She plays piano, and he plays trumpet. Together, they make music. She is Cava Menzies and he is Nick Phillips. In 2014, they gave us an offering entitled “Moment To Moment”, and they have been going strong ever since. I don’t know how they managed to find each other and create such a monumental team, … Continue reading Spotlight – Cava Menzies & Nick Phillips
LIVE!! – The Koln Concert, by Keith Jarrett
The Koln Concert, by Keith Jarrett, was performed on January 24, 1975, and the album was released later that year. This was a concert which was doomed for failure. Despite the obstacles that stood before Jarrett, including an extremely unfit piano that he was forced to employ, he pulled off one of the … Continue reading LIVE!! – The Koln Concert, by Keith Jarrett
Jazz(y) – Mo’jardo
While not all music is jazz, there are some out there that come relatively close, as in “jazz(y)”. Mo’jardo is one such group. And, it’s an artist. And, they are a recording company. Mo’jardo “enlists” artists from around the world to create unique listening experiences. One unique listening experience comes in the form of a … Continue reading Jazz(y) – Mo’jardo
LIVE!! – Les McCann (ft. Eddie Harris)
Of all the live recordings that I have been privy to, Live At Montreux, showcasing Les McCann (ft. Eddie Harris), is, by far, one of my favorites. The album was recorded in 1969, a time when live festivals were at one of their greatest points. Les McCann was on piano and singing, while Eddie Harris … Continue reading LIVE!! – Les McCann (ft. Eddie Harris)
Spotlight 2/18/20 Tom Harrell
I first heard music by Tom Harrell on jazzradio.com and the first song that I heard just blew me away! The song was Journey To The Stars, with Tom Harrell on the horn, featuring Danny Grissette on piano. That song came from the recording Number Five, released in 2012. Journey To The Stars: Listen on … Continue reading Spotlight 2/18/20 Tom Harrell