Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Beegie Adair was born Bobbe Gorin Long on December 11, 1937 in Cave City, Kentucky. She began playing the piano at the age of five and graduated from Caverna High School in 1954. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in music education at Western Kentucky University in 1958.
Relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1961 she worked as a children’s music teacher for three years. There she played in Printer’s Alley and became a member of a jazz band led by Hank Garland. Beegie would go on to accompany Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ray Stevens, Steve Allen, Chet Atkins, Cass Elliot, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. At various times she played for the Noon Show on WSM-TV, The Johnny Cash Show and other programs.
Partnering with Denis Solee in 1982 they established the Adair–Solee Quartet, which evolved into the sextet Be-Bop Co-Op. She released her debut solo album as a leader in 1988 with Escape to New York, then formed the Beegie Adair Trio, which sold more than 1.5 million albums.
Throughout her 60-year career Beegie appeared on more than 100 recordings. Of these, 35 were recorded by her trio which included bassist Roger Spencer and percussionist Chris Brown. She released a six-CD centennial collection, The Great American Songbook Collection.
Adair was an adjunct professor of jazz studies at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. She was a faculty and board member of the Nashville Jazz Workshop, where she often performed. She was named a Steinway Artist and was inducted into Western Kentucky University’s Hall of Fame, Cave City’s Hall of Fame and was the inaugural recipient of Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Heritage Award.
Pianist and bandleader Beegie Adair, whose career spanned more than 60 years, died at her home in Franklin, Tennessee on January 23, 2022, at the age of 84.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Erkki Vilhelm Aho was born December 10, 1918 in Helsinki, Finland. He led the Rytmi orchestra which was formed in 1938. In the orchestra, Olavi Virta and Raija Valtonen acted as soloists, the pianist was Toivo Kärki and another famous member was Pauli Granfelt.
Aho’s orchestra was one of the top Finnish orchestras. During the Continuation War, his orchestra consisted of 14 men before it was taken over in 1945 by drummer Osmo “Ossi” Aalto. In the spring of 1944, the orchestra recorded American evergreens arranged by Kärjen Syväri.
Trombonist, trumpeter and conductor Erkki Aho died on August 19, 2002.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Isabel Hernandez-Cata was born on December 9 and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She completed undergraduate studies in music at University of Rochester, a Masters degree in Music Education from Boston University and Jazz Studies – Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas.
She founded the Isabel Hernandez-Cata quintet featuring a fluid lineup with guitarist Greg Loman. They met while working at a community theatre. They have performed with numerous DC jazz musicians Ricky Loza, Eric Byrd, Alison Miller, and Marcus Johnson.
A classical contralto, Isabel has sung in choirs, among them the National Philharmonic Chorale and Singers. Her diverse musical interests always return her to a love of the jazz art form to perform standards and jazz treatments of tunes from other modern music genres.
As an educator she teaches vocal music and piano in Montgomery County Public Schools. She has also served as vocal director, pit conductor keyboardist, and choreographer for dozens of school and community musical productions. She has been a choral director, combo leader, and teacher of Piano & AP Music Theory in Maryland Public Schools since 2001.
Hernandez-Cata composes, arranges, and performs as a jazz vocalist and bandleader. Her choirs have performed for US Presidents fifty times and she has had backing vocal stints for Al Green and Lionel Richie.
Vocalist Isabel Hernandez-Cata continues to perform, compose, conduct and educate.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Fabrizio Mocata was born on December 8, 1977 in Sicily, Italy. He established himself as a maestro in the music business thanks to his knowledge of the primary jazz genre and proficiency in the subgenre of smooth jazz.
His music seamlessly combines the rich traditions of jazz, classical music with smooth jazz. His creativity is distinguished by his combining complex melodies and harmonies.
Mocata is a well-known talent in the jazz world and has had an enduring impression on the jazz community.
Pianist, arranger and composer Fabrizio Mocata continues to create and perform.
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Requisites
That’s Where It’s At ~ Stanley Turrentine | By Eddie Carter
Stanley Turrentine was an exceptionally prolific tenor saxophonist who garnered numerous admirers throughout his career. He is widely recognized as a key contributor to the evolution of blues-inspired hard bop and soul jazz, as well as a trailblazer in smooth jazz. This morning’s featured album submitted for your approval is a 1962 release, That’s Where It’s At (Blue Note BLP 4096/BST 84096). This record was his second collaboration with pianist Les McCann and bassist Herbie Lewis, coming on the heels of their live performance at the Village Gate just a week prior. Drummer Otis Finch completes this dynamic quartet. The copy in my library is the 2020 Blue Note Tone Poet Series stereo reissue, which maintains the original catalog number.
The album opener, Smile, Stacey by Les McCann, begins with a brief dialogue between Stanley and Les that leads into the foursome’s theme. Stanley takes charge first, delivering a driving energy and brisk articulation. Les then swings in for the second interpretation. Herbie takes a short, sharply executed walk next, which Les finishes, then
Stanley and Les share a brief exchange with Otis before the ensemble’s soft fadeout. The quartet then cools down for Soft Pedal Blues by Stanley Turrentine, which starts with the trio’s slow-burning, soulful intro. Turrentine’s notes are placed with thoughtful precision during the melody and opening statement. McCann caresses each note of the second solo, and Turrentine delicately shapes a final comment into the theme’s restatement and slow fade.
Pia by Les McCann begins with the quartet easing into a mellow groove as the melody is introduced. Les initiates the solos with some good down-home cooking. Stanley steps in next, maintaining the calm atmosphere with a thoughtful message before the ensemble reunites for the closing chorus, which gently fades away. We’ll See Yaw’ll After While, Ya Heah by Les McCann is the pianist’s lively composition with a distinctly Southern flavor. After the quartet’s theme gets things off to a good start, Turrentine leads off the first solo, delivering each verse with precise articulation. McCann responds with a spirited interpretation that gets listeners tapping their feet and grinning along until the group’s return for the ending theme.
The tempo slows down again for Dorene, Don’t Cry, I, by Les McCann, a haunting ballad that begins with the ensemble’s beautiful melody. Stanley fully embraces the opening statement by gently attending to every note with careful lyricism and sensitivity. Les follows with something significant to say in a gorgeous performance preceding the tender reprise and close. Light Blue, by Stanley’s brother, Tommy Turrentine, brings this entertaining album to a close with a lightly swinging melody that invites listeners to sit back and enjoy the ride. McCann takes the lead with a loose, relaxed reading, then Lewis provides a few moments of pure joy. Turrentine offers the final memorable moment ahead of the group’s out chorus.
Alfred Lion produced the initial session of That’s Where It’s At, and Rudy Van Gelder was behind the dials of the recording. Joe Harley supervised the audiophile reissue, and Kevin Gray mastered the album from the original analog tapes at Cohearant Audio. The album’s sound quality is outstanding, with a stunning soundstage that transports the musicians to the sweet spot in your listening room with superb fidelity. The record was pressed on 180-gram Virgin Vinyl at RTI and is dead silent until the music begins. You’re also getting high-definition gatefold photos and superb cover packaging worthy of hanging on the wall. If you’re already a member of the Stanley Turrentine or Les McCann fan club, I highly recommend That’s Where It’s At on your next record hunt. If you aren’t already familiar with either musician, this record is an excellent introduction to their extensive discographies!
~ Les McCann Ltd. In New York (Pacific Jazz PJ-45/ST 45) – Source: Discogs.com © 2025 by Edward Thomas Carter
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