Return To Forever – The Complete Columbia Albums
Contributed by guest blogger Douglas Payne
After a prodigious session career in the 1960s, several solo albums that toyed with both the traditional and freer forms of jazz and a mercurial period of experimentation with Miles Davis between 1968 and 1972, pianist and composer Chick Corea crystalized the notion of his first “group” endeavor, to be known as Return to Forever. Read more
Amy Winehouse Covers “Round Midnight”
In case you missed this rare track, a few years ago the late singer Amy Winehouse recorded a funky interpretation of the Thelonious Monk classic “Round Midnight” on the b-side of her single “Take The Box.” Read more
The Traneumentary: Dave Liebman (commentary)
As we heard on saxophonist Dave Liebman’s first Traneumentary podcast episode, his passion for John Coltrane is intense, inspiring and endless. Here, Dave not only comments on one of his all-time favorite John Coltrane Quartet tracks “Crescent” (from 1964) but also provides a wealth of other information about Trane and the members of his famous quartet – McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Read more
Jazz Stylist Stan Getz
Contributed by guest blogger Douglas Payne
Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz (1927-91) is one of jazz’s best and best-known sax players. His warm, lyrical sound transcended many fads and fashions in jazz and was remarkably consistent throughout his long and varied career. Although he played everything from bebop to cool jazz, he is best remembered for popularizing the warm wave of the Brazilian Bossa Nova in America during the early 1960s, scoring huge, timeless hits with such songs as “The Girl from Ipanema.” Read more
Eliane Elias Still Lighting Fires
Eliane Elias has been recording one great album after another going back to 1986. I remember first hearing about her when she was a member of Steps Ahead and was featured on their self titled classic from 1983. But it wasn’t until her first solo recording titled Illusions where I really took notice of her artistry and became an instant fan. Read more
The Traneumentary: Robert Glasper
Pianist Robert Glasper is regarded as one of the most exciting players in jazz today. Robert’s approach to melodic playing, unpredictable improvisations, vast chord textures, use of space and varying rhythms are at the core of his style. Read more
Q&A: Houston Person
The soulful tenor sax of Houston Person is always pleasant on the ears. Whether he is fronting his own group, blowing a groovin’ solo or playing alongside and supporting the late Etta Jones, Houston’s uncanny gift of being able to send any note right smack into your heart is something only few can do. Read more
