Jazz – past Newsletters

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Dear members of Listening to Jazz

Thanks to all of you who have responded to my request for your thoughts on rejoining the group meetings in late September.  Most replies have been positive, but with concerns over the venue.  The allocation of rooms in the Community Centre remains a central issue and will presumably be under discussion by our U3A committee.

Can I give a gentle reminder to those of you who have not yet responded.  This will help the committee to assess the situation and make some decisions concerning the future.

In the meantime, here is my April listing.

We start appropriately with the Count Basie Orchestra’s rendition of their 1957 version of ‘April in

Paris’.

(311) Count Basie & His Orchestra: April In Paris (1957) – YouTube

Staying with the French theme, enjoy Tatiana Eva-Maria and friends performing ‘Lullaby of the Leaves’.

Lullaby of the Leaves – Tatiana Eva-Marie – YouTube

Louis Armstrong with his Hot Seven and featuring Vic Dickenson on trombone, ‘I Want A Little Girl’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbAhnTb5cpU

Moving from trad to mainstream, we have the Vic Dickenson Sextet with their 1953 version of ‘Russian Lullaby’ with Ruby Braff on trumpet and Edmond Hall on clarinet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AclXBAHmU6Q

Next up is the bluesy tenor saxophone of Gene Ammons, ‘Hittin’ the Jig’, with Tommy Flanagan on piano. (1960)

(312) Hittin’ the Jug – Gene Ammons – YouTube

In 1962, Tubby Hayes and his quintet sent this message (Message to the Messengers) across the Pond to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Very cool!

(312) Message to the Messengers – YouTube

Finally, New Jazz Forms from the USA.  Don’t let the name put you off.

(312) Snarky Puppy feat. Väsen – Shapons Vindaloo (Family Dinner – Vol. 2) (Bonus Track) – YouTube

Kind regards

Michael

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Dear Listeners to Jazz

Sad news this month as Chris Barber died, aged 90.  He had recently retired having led his band for 64 years.  As a tribute, let’s enjoy this early (1955) recording of St Louis Blues with singer Ottilie Patterson.

(240) Chris Barber’s Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson – St Louis Blues – YouTube

I received a request for ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin singing ‘Skylark’.  This is her original version dated 1963.

(240) Aretha Franklin-Skylark – YouTube

Dr John with his song ‘Such a Night’.  This is a live version on Jools Holland’s annual Hootenanny in 1995.

(240) Dr John – Such a Night (ft. Eric Clapton) (Jools’ Annual Hootenanny 1995) – YouTube

Lee Konitz on alto with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker live on stage in 1953, playing ‘ Lover Man’.

(240) Gerry Mulligan Quartet & Lee Konitz – Lover Man (1953) – YouTube

Pat Methany on guitar with Charlie Haden on bass playing ‘Waltz for Ruth’ from the album ‘Beyond the Missouri Sky’.

(240) Pat Metheny With Charlie Haden – Waltz For Ruth – YouTube

Chick Corea also died this month and we remember him in partnership with vibraphonist Gary Burton in their version of the Beatles classic ‘Eleanor Rigby’.

(240) Chick Corea & Gary Burton – Eleanor Rigby – YouTube

Finally, listen to the young British singer Celeste and her song ‘Strange’ from her debut album ‘Not Your Muse’,

(240) Celeste – Strange | A COLORS SHOW – YouTube

Enjoy!

Best regards, Michael

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Dear  Jazz lovers

We have received just one request this month and it is from Alan, our erstwhile leader.  It is the much loved jazz classic, ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet of 1966.  Brother Nat Adderley is on cornet.

(202) Cannonball Adderley Quintet – “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” (1966) – YouTube

Here is my current list:

The Temperance Seven ‘You are Driving me Crazy’

(202) The Temperance Seven – You’re Driving Me Crazy – YouTube

GoGo Penguin ‘ Hopopono’  (Official video).  This is a very current jazz based trio from Manchester.

(202) GoGo Penguin – Hopopono [OFFICIAL VIDEO] – YouTube

Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli   ‘Golden Earrings’ from the album ‘Family Fugue’.  They are father and son guitarists.

(202) Golden Earrings – YouTube

‘More than just a Fairytale’ by Laura Jurd.  The album is ‘Human Spirit’. Laura is a young jazz trumpeter from Hampshire and she leads a quartet named Dinosaur.  The singer is Lauren Kinsella.

(202) More Than Just a Fairytale – YouTube

Keith Jarrett Trio playing ‘God Bless the Child’.  This version is a live concert recorded in Tokyo in 1985.

(202) God Bless The Child — Keith Jarrett Trio – YouTube

Also on YouTube, if this is your kind of jazz, then you might like the Keith Jarrett Trio ‘The Selected God Bless the Child’ which presents four live concert versions taken from the world tour in 1985.  The four venues are Tokyo, Antibes, The Hague and San Sebastian.

Hope you enjoy all this month’s offerings.

Michael

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I have received two requests.  The first is from Dennis for a YouTube clip  of “Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion.”  You may recall that Ginger Baker first came to prominence as the much acclaimed drummer of the Seventies progressive rock trio, Cream.  Later in his career, Ginger headed several jazz combos including Jazz Confusion, which consisted of Abass Dodoo on percussion, Peewee Ellis on tenor sax and Alan Dankworth (son of John and Cleo) on bass.  Alan’s playing is outstanding on this clip.  (159) Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion – TVJazz.tv – YouTube

Margaret Pike would like to hear the Dutch Swing College Band.  Margaret particularly requested ‘You Are Driving me Crazy’, which reminds her of her teenage years dancing at the Bromley Court Hotel.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find this track on YouTube.  So I hope ‘Tin Roof Blues’ by the 1950s make up of the band will be an acceptable alternative.  (159) Dutch Swing College Band Tin Roof Blues 1950 – YouTube

Here is my selection for this month.

Mississippi Fred McDowell ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’
‘Walking Blues’ by Robert Johnson played by Keb’mol’, ‘Playing for Change’
Avalon Jazz Band ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ sung by Tatiana Eva-Marie
Louis Armstrong and his All Stars ‘Basin Street Blues’.  This is a version from the late Forties.
Miles Davis ‘Love for Sale’.  Cool jazz from 1958 with the same line-up as ‘The Kind of Blue ‘ album.
Mozdzer Danielsson ‘Fresco Sortorello’.  Gdansk 2005
Happy Listening,
Michael
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Welcome to our third NEWSLETTER:

Is there light at the end of the Covid tunnel and lockdown blues?  The recent good news on vaccines surely signifies a return to something like normality, some time next year.  If this is the case, perhaps we can dare to hope that we may, just may, be able to come together again in the not too distant future.

With this optimistic scenario in mind, I would like to reach out to the membership to find out how many of you wish to rejoin ‘Listening to Jazz’ next year.

At present, we have a list of 35 members signed up on the 2019/20 register.  It would be most helpful to get some indication of possible membership numbers and  I therefore request that you contact me by email indicating your intentions.

Here is my list for your December listening:

‘Lullaby of Birdland’ by the Spanish Sant Andreu Jazz Band, featuring Scott Hamilton on tenor sax and a Bach inspired intro by pianist Ignasi Terraza.

(69) Lullaby of Birdland – Andrea Motis Joan Chamorro Quintet & Scott Hamilton – YouTube

Chris Barber’s Jazz Band, playing ‘Buddy Bolden Blues’. Pat Halcox is on trumpet in 1984

(69) Chris BARBER Jazz Band: Buddy Bolden Blues (with Pat Halcox) – YouTube

Paris Washboard at Dixie Days Festival playing Duke Ellington’s ‘Caravan’.  Louis Mazetier playing stride piano.

(69) Paris Washboard at Dixie Days Festival – Caravan – YouTube

Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder ‘Statesboro Blues’ live from Nashville in 2014.

(69) Taj Mahal Ry Cooder Statesboro Blues – YouTube

Leszek Mozdzer and Lars Danielsson fresco ‘Incognitor’  live in Gdansk.

(69) Leszek Mozdzer Incognitor (L. Mozdzer) – YouTube

Blossom Dearie singing ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’, which is a much loved 1959 version.

(69) Blossom Dearie — Someone To Watch Over Me (1959) – YouTube

Miles Davies ‘Autumn Leaves’ with Julian ‘Canonball’ Adderly.  This is the definitive version of the jazz standard.

(69) Cannonball Adderly & Miles Davis – Autumn Leaves – YouTube

Happy listening and stay safe,

Michael

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Welcome to you all, this is the first NEWSLETTER for the 2020/ 2021 season of ‘LISTENING TO JAZZ’

As you are aware , meeting up as we did in ‘normal’ times is no longer feasible but we are where we are. 
So for the time being I will follow Alan’s example and suggest some jazz available on Youtube for your listening pleasure.
 
Here’s the list.. Just follow the links :- 
 
‘Minor Swing’ by the Spanish Sant Andreu Jazz Band led by Joan Chamorro and featuring Elia Bastida on violin.
 This is in the style of the Hot Club of Paris..
 
‘Percolating Blues’ by The Smoking Time Jazz Band. This is a street band from New Orleans.
‘First Klass’.  This is a taste of contemporary British jazz [live at Leeds] by Alan Barnes and Scott Hamilton on saxes.
The Hot Sardines – When I am low, I get high.  A polished promo video.
‘Suffering’. [Don’t let the title put you off]. This is Swedish jazz led by bassist Lars Danielsson with Leszek Mozdzer on piano. Very cool.
‘Dat Dere’ by Art Blakey [drums]. Classic Hard Bop by the Jazz Messengers
 with Lee Morgan on trumpet; Wayne Shortwe on tenor sax; Bobby Timmons on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass.
‘Bags Groove’. Modern Jazz Quartet.’ John Lewis, piano; Milt Jackson, vibes; Percy Heath, bass; Connie Kay, percussion. Great bass solo.
 
Alan has handed over two crates of jazz CD’s which belong to the group. Also, Alan has a large collection that he has offered to us. Together this makes up a sizable library of lazz CD’s.
We need to collectively decide what to do with this asset, as storage would be a major problem. Perhaps you would email me with your thoughts and suggestions
 
Finally, may I remind members that Alyn Shipton hosts Jazz Record Requests on BBC Radio 3 every Sunday at 4.00pm. Please have a listen and let me know what you think.
 
Best Wishes,
 
Stay safe and well.
 
Michael
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Dear ‘Listening to Jazz’ members

Welcome to my Christmas themed selection.  As usual, I have chosen from a wide range of jazz styles from Gospel to Bop.  Something I hope for everyone.  So settle back with a glass of what you fancy and enjoy some Yuletide jazz.    Here is my selection:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe ‘Didn’t it Rain?’,  live 1964. Sister Rosetta was born in 1915 and rose to prominence in the 1930s as a gospel singer.  She is credited as an early influence on Rock and Roll.

 (99) Sister Rosetta Tharpe- “Didn’t It Rain?” Live 1964 (Reelin’ In The Years Archive) – YouTube

Chris Barber ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’.  This is a joyful live recording made in 1997.

 (99) Chris Barber – Just A Closer Walk With Thee – YouTube

Roland Kirk ‘We Free Kings’, 1961.  The talented multi-instrumentalist, often playing several at once.

 (99) Roland Kirk – We Free Kings – YouTube

Wynton Marsalis and friends, including Taj Mahal and Eric Clapton, playing ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’.  It is interesting to compare this with the Chris Barber version.

(99) Wynton Marsalis Eric Clapton Just A Closer Walk With Thee DVD Rip1 – YouTube

Ella Fitzgerald ‘Christmas Songs’ (full album) of 15 songs.  My choice is The Christmas Song’, which has a good vibraphone solo.

(99) Ella Fitzgerald – Christmas Songs (FULL ALBUM) – YouTube

The Modern Jazz Quartet  ‘Variation Number 1, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen’, a jazz classic from 1956.

(99) The Modern Jazz Quartet – Variation No. 1. On ‘god Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ (1956) – YouTube

Have a merry Christmas and safe New Year.

Michael

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