Jazz Rambling & Other Idle Thoughts

On the off-chance that someone may be reading this blog (or willing to) for something other than Playlists (and with some idle time due to inclement weather), I figured I would jot down a few (jazz-related) items:

Thanks to that above-mentioned weather, I had the time to view two Jazz films; Straight, No Chaser, the Thelonious Monk documentary produced by Clint Eastwood (who is a separate jazz story) and Improvisation, the Norman Granz produced film. Seeing Monk was an education; he was certainly a character, from his spinning/dancing on stage to his flat-fingered keyboard playing. Undeniably a jazz pioneer, especially as a composer, Monk nevertheless exemplifies the hard life and relative lack of mainstream recognition of the Be-bop era musicians. But he was on the cover of Time magazine.

The critic Nat Hentoff makes the point, in the bonus feature about Norman Granz on Improvisation, that no non-musician had more impact on the development and proliferation of recorded jazz than Mr. Granz. This film gives you a sense of that, not to mention the outstanding recordings on film of a host of Hall-of-Fame performers. The piano players alone include Duke, Count and Hank Jones (still with us, and God bless him). But watching Oscar Peterson on this film (a segment recorded in Montreux c. 1977) instead of just listening reminded me once again that he was the greatest jazz piano player...ever! Other observations about this film...it seems like Ray Brown at one time or another played with everybody, and always did it well...Buddy Rich could probably play in his sleep...Diz with his cheeks puffed out looks really bizarre on film...Coleman Hawkins does a fine solo as an appreciative Charlie Parker watches, then Bird follows with his own solo in triple time; I can only wonder what Bean was thinking...I've said all along that Ella was the best female singer ever (jazz or no). In fact, the best live show I ever saw was at the Philadelphia Spectrum, and Ella was the opening act, performing with Basie and his Orchestra (you'll be able to guess who the headliner was).

From the Bargain Bin: I was in Barnes & Noble the other day, looking to burn off $35 worth of gift cards. I briefly considered Season 1 of Ally McBeal, but opted instead to check out the $7.99 CD selection, where I found a few gems: Ramsey Lewis Finest Hour, The Definitive Dinah Washington, John Coltrane Standards, Oscar Peterson Trio (Ray Brown [see] and Herb Ellis) At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, and a nice Best of Gershwin from Columbia. Two points about that last one: it's classical, but is has the definitive version of Rhapsody in Blue with the original instrumentation from Ferde Grofe's arrangement for the Paul Whiteman premier of the piece, and with the composer himself playing the piano (captured from piano rolls); and it in Sony's nifty new "Green" cardboard package.

I've now missed two weeks, so I'll be chomping at the bit for next Thursday's show. LA singer Juliet Annerino very graciously recorded a station ID for me, which you will hear then. She also sent some CDs (her newest: Scenes From A Life On Fire) and T-shirts, which I'll be giving away on the air sometime soon. Many thanks, Juliet!