Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Bobby Jones was born on October 30, 1928 in Louisville, Kentucky and played drums as a child, starting on clarinet at age 8. His father encouraged him to explore jazz and

From 1949 into the mid-1950s he played with Ray McKinley, and then with Hal McIntyre before rejoining McKinley later in the decade. During a stint in the Army, he met Nat and Cannonball Adderley as well as Junior Mance. After getting his discharge, he played country music and rock & roll as a studio musician and did time with Boots Randolph and Glenn Miller before returning again with McKinley from 1959 to 1963.

Briefly playing with Woody Herman and Jack Teagarden in 1963, after the latter’s death, Bobby retired to Louisville and started a local jazz council and taught at Kentucky State College. In 1969 he moved to New York City and from 1970 to 1972 played with Charles Mingus, touring Europe and Japan with him. He also recorded sessions under his own name in 1972 and 1974.

Late in life saw him moving to Munich, Germany, where he ceased performing due to emphysema. Over the course of his career, he only recorded two albums as a leader,  15 as a sideman ~ 8 with Mingus and seven with Bill Cosby, Glen Miller, Woody Herman, Jimmy Raney, Willie Thomas and Bunky Green. Saxophonist Bobby Jones passed away on March 6, 1980 in Munich, Germany.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Continuing to social distance, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager has decided he requires some vocals and has selected an album by Helen Merrill titled Clear Out Of This World. Her haunting voice gives this cool vocal jazz album a consistent and memorable session full of subtle surprises.

The album was recorded in Manhattan, New York on August 1st, & 2nd  and September 3, 1991 in Los Angeles, California. It was released in 1992 on Polygram’s French label Gitanes. Making appearances are Wayne Shorter on tracks 1, 9; and Tom Harrell on tracks 3, 4, 8.

The album was produced by Jean-Philippe Allard, engineered by Brian Scheubl, mixed by J. Newland. The cover photography was shot by Carol Friedman, the liner photography of Wayne Shorter was taken by Amy Cantrell, and the liner photography was by Cheung Ching Ming.

1. Out Of This World | Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer ~ 6:17
2. Not Like This | Jeremy Lubbock ~ 3:03
3. I’m All Smiles | Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin ~ 7:09
4. When I Grow Too Old To Dream | Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg ~ 6:35
5. Maybe | Shelton Brooks ~ 6:35
6. Some Of These Days | Shelton Brooks ~ 3:58
7. A Tender Thing Is Love | Torrie Zito ~ 4:16
8. Soon It’s Gonna Rain | Tom Jones / Harvey Schmidt ~ 4:40
9. Willow Weep For Me | Ann Ronell ~ 7:44

• Helen Merrill ~ vocals
• Roger Kellaway ~ piano, arrangements
• Red Mitchell ~ bass
• Terry Clarke ~ drums
• Wayne Shorter ~ tenor saxophone
• Tom Harrell ~ Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Listen and enjoy this wonderful addition to the jazz catalog, continue to social distance, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Jothan Callins was born October 29, 1942 in Birmingham, Alabama. The third of nine children he received his childhood education in Ensley at Council Elementary School and Western-Olin High School. Obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida A&M University, he subsequently became a member of the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and performed with Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sun Ra, Cecil McBee, Consuela Lee, George Coleman, Geri Allen, Joseph Jennings, Jeff Watts and many others.

In 1978, Jothan became the first Jazz Artist-In-Residence for the Birmingham Public Schools and helped found the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and City Stages. In 1982, after receiving a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, he obtained a Masters’ Degree in Ethnomusicology and Jazz Studies and remained there for five years teaching jazz history. As a prolific, creative artist, Jothan was a performer, composer, arranger, educator, consultant, musical director, and cultural catalyst, who earned the respect and admiration of fans, musicians, and critics throughout the world.

With his band, The Sounds of Togetherness, he toured and performed around the United States and the world. He specialized in Jazz performances and workshops for children and adults. In the ‘90s, Callins founded the Birmingham Youth Jazz Ensemble, Inc. (BYJE), serving as Director until his death. Trumpeter, flugelhornist, electric bassist, and composer Jothan Callins, who was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979, passed away on April 30, 2005 at Baptist-Princeton Medical Center.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Glen Moore, born October 28, 1941 in Portland, Oregon started his performing career began at age 14 with the Young Oregonians in Portland. It was at this time where he met and played with Native American saxophonist, Jim Pepper.

Graduating with a degree in History and Literature from the University of Oregon, his formal bass instruction started after college with Jerome Magil in his hometown, James Harnett in Seattle, Washington, Gary Karr in New York City, Plough Christenson in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ludwig Streicher in Vienna, Austria, and Francois Rabbath in Hawaii.

Moore is a founding member of Oregon but worked also regularly with Rabih Abou-Khalil, Vasant Rai, Nancy King, and Larry Kar. For the past 30 years, has played a Klotz bass fiddle crafted in Tyrol circa 1715 on which he has made extensive use of a unique tuning with both a low and high C string. He has recorded ten albums as a leader, twenty~eight with Oregon, and twenty as a sideman. Double bassist Glen Moore, who also plays piano, flute, and violin continues to perform and record.

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Three Wishes

Pannonica inquired of Marshal Royal what his three wishes would be if given and his response was: 

1. “Health.”
2. “Life.”
3. “Happiness.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter

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