Posts Tagged Jazz
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January 19, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
R.I.P. Jimmy Heath
The great American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath has died, aged 93. Heath recorded and performed with so many legendary names – Miles Davis, John Coltrane – he built lasting relationships as a sideman and collaborator with the likes of Milt Jackson, Art Farmer and Kenny Dorham among others. And he was a leader for well […]Archive
January 16, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 186
Art Blakey and The Jazzmessengers, Album of The Year (1981) One of my first drum heroes was Art Blakey and his wonderful JazzMessengers – of which there were several incarnations. I’ve really only had stuff from the classic line-up but I knew that in the 1980s he brought in a few other new soon-to-be big […]Archive
January 13, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 188
Billie Holiday, Body & Soul (1957) After getting Lady In Satin I’ve decided to start collecting up the Billie Holiday original albums – so this was the next one on the list. I just love her voice so much. And her sad story is wrapped up in the telling of so many of these songs. […]Archive
December 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gigs I Saw in 2019
I probably saw fewer gigs – and reviewed fewer gigs – in 2019 than any other year. That’s kinda nice. I also paid for a few shows too; more than other years. That’s also nice – liberating…although I’m so conditioned to writing a review to process the show that I still turn out the reviews […]Archive
December 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Dixon Nacey: The Edge of Chaos
Dixon Nacey The Edge of Chaos Rattle Auckland-based guitarist and teacher Dixon Nacey has recorded for Rattle previously as part of the trio Samson Nacey Haines – here with a record under his own name he pulls together a few of the usual suspects (Kevin Field on piano, Roger Manins manning the saxes, Andy Keegan […]Archive
December 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Stubs: # 242 – Michael Houstoun & The Rodger Fox Big Band, Wellington, 2015
An intriguing musical collaboration – and one that has worked so they’ve repeated it – and when I say repeated it, it’s always a little different. But the classically trained pianist and the big-band leader and trombonist really do find some strange alchemy – on record and in performance. I’ve seen them a few times […]Archive
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour: Live at Firehouse 12
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour Live at Firehouse 12 Sunnyside Drummer/composer Gerald Cleaver is on fire here leading his band Violet Hour through some post-bop future-classics. Ben Waltzer (piano) is an early delight on the opener, Pilgrim’s Progress, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has a chance to rip here too. And Chris Lightcap (double bass) is urgent […]Archive
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 203
Donald Byrd, Black Byrd / Slop Jar Blues [Single] (1973) The guy in the shop goes, “oh mean, you got some DJ sets coming up?” And I said, “Nah, I just want to play this at home”. Cool story, bro. Yeah, I know. But I can see how buying a single by Donald Byrd might […]Archive
December 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Jon Batiste: Chronology of a Dream – Live At The Village Vanguard
Jon Batiste Chronology of a Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard Verve The hardworking Jon Batiste has already released a previous live volume from last year’s residency at the Village Vanguard. Where that was all Monk-like (if not Monk-lite) this new one showcases Batiste’s compositional chops and the tunes are short-sharp statements in groove. His […]Archive
December 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Snorre Kirk: Beat
Snorre Kirk Beat Stunt Records / Sundance Music Ltd. Norwegian drummer Snorre Kirk leads a truly Scandinavian band (Klas Lindquist on alto sax and clarinet and Tobias Wiklund on the cornet are from Sweden, while bassist Lasse Mørck, pianist Magnus Hjorth and tenor sax master Jan Harbeck are from Denmark). And over a handful of […]Archive
December 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman