BILLY HIGGINS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & CONCERT

A community gathering presented by Performers Alley, hosted by Robert J. Carmack. It’s a new jazz Series produced by Music Arts & World Stage Performance Gallery. Paying tribute to Billy Higgins, the founder’s birthday concert and celebration of his legacy since 1989. An eclectic panel on stage during show friends and past peers that played or worked with him as an artist. musical guests include  Marvin “Smitty” Smith Sextet featuring saxophonists Ralph Moore & Dale Fielder. Also very special appearances by Jazz impresario, Todd Barkin/Keystone Korner Baltimore, Willie Jones III mentored by Higgins.  The show is Live Stream to the World.

Tickets are Available NOW exclusively at View stub.com  $15/$10(ONLINE ONLY) ticket online is On Demand capability/ Access code expire in two weeks, One view only. We accept credit or debit.

Media: www.hipstersanctuary.com  More info @blues2jazzguy or pocketjazz@musician.com  call & leave info 951 560-2253

More Posts: adventure,album,club,drums,festival,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Masao Yagi was born on November 14, 1932 in Tokyo, Japan.  He became devoted to American jazz very early in the wave of Japanese jazz enthusiasm, becoming a member of the Cozy Quartet in 1956 after Toshiko Akiyoshi’s departure. During his tenure in the quartet he played alongside Sadao Watanabe.

In 1959, at twenty-six, the pianist formed his own group featuring several Thelonious Monk tunes in their repertoire, culminating in his debut album, Masao Yagi Plays Thelonious Monk, recorded in the summer of 1960. Later in the decade he played with Charlie Mariano, Hidehiko Matsumoto, and Helen Merrill.

The 1970s saw Yagi leading his own ensembles. He was well-known as a composer and arranger, and wrote copiously for film soundtracks.

More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano

Requisites

Perdido ~ The JATP All-Stars | By Eddie Carter

This morning’s column features some of the best musicians in jazz. Jazz At The Philharmonic was a series of concerts organized by Norman Granz. From 1944 to 1949, this revolving ensemble of all-stars made one of the greatest impacts on the public since the heyday of Swing. Perdido (VSP-Verve VSP-16/VSPS-16) is a 1966 reissue highlighting two performances by The JATP All-Stars from September 27, 1947. The song debuted on Norman Granz’s Jazz At The Philharmonic, Volume Eight. The personnel is Howard McGhee on trumpet, Bill Harris on trombone, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips on tenor sax, Hank Jones on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1966 US Mono reissue.

Side One gets underway with Perdido, a jazz standard written by Juan Tizol in 1941. Ervin Drake and Hans Lengsfelder added lyrics three years later. In Spanish, Perdido means lost and the song refers to the street in New Orleans. The rhythm section introduces the tune, segueing into the ensemble’s mid-tempo melody. Flip opens the solos at a deceptively relaxed groove, before elevating to a joyous swing that captures the enthusiasm of the crowd. Howard adds drive and excitement to the second reading. Illinois energizes the third statement with an invigorating power supply. Next, Hank has a good deal to say, then Bill captivates the audience in the closing statement with a mix of poise and fire ahead of the ensemble’s finish.

Side Two opens with Mordido, a jaunty tune occupying the second side. The composer is listed as Norman Shrdlu but is Norman Granz. Everyone gets an opportunity to solo, and the song gets underway with the septet’s collective melody. Illinois is up first with jubilant shouts of joy in the opening statement. Howard takes over and romps through the second solo with great passion. Hank takes the reins next and cooks with conviction. Bill follows and has an exceptionally brisk conversation with the rhythm section. Ray takes his bass for a very spirited walk, then Flip provides a scintillating statement of concentrated heat. Jo fuels the finale with energetic brushwork leading to the closing chorus and appreciative applause from the crowd.

Val Valentin engineered the concert’s original recording, and the remastering was done by Dave Greene. The sound quality of this reissue is a little bright with no distortion during the highs, midrange, and low end. However, there’s a little noise during the first few moments of the opening track. Norman Granz was one of the most successful jazz promoters and produced Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan from 1944 to 1983. He also founded five record labels, Clef, Down Home, Norgran, Pablo, and Verve. The roster of musicians and vocalists he toured with is the definitive Who’s Who in Jazz. Granz also fought for equal rights for the black musicians who worked for him, paying them the same wage as white musicians, and providing the same lodging as well.

I chose Perdido for this week’s discussion to honor one of my favorite tenor saxophonists, Illinois Jacquet whose birthday was recently observed on October 31. This album also suspends in time one of the best jazz concerts by The JATP All-Stars during the forties with an enthusiastic audience at one of the greatest concert venues in the world, Carnegie Hall. While it may not be considered an essential record for your library, I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity enough to check out Perdido by The JATP All-Stars on your next vinyl shopping trip. It’s a great introduction to the Jazz At The Philharmonic concerts, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best live jazz albums you’ll hear that still swing today!

~ Postscript – The date of the recording on my reissue of Perdido is listed as November 1947. However, when checking further in the booklet of my Japanese box set, Norman Granz’ Jazz At The Philharmonic – 1940s (1981), Perdido was recorded on September 27, 1947. Likewise, Mordido and Endido were also recorded that night. – Source: jazzdisco.org ~ Norman Granz’ Jazz At The Philharmonic, Volume Eight (Mercury Records 11000, 11001, 11002), Norman Granz’ Jazz At The Philharmonic – 1940s (Verve Records UMV 9070, 9071, 9072)  – Source: Discogs.com ~ Perdido – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ Norman Granz – Wikipedia.org © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

More Posts: choice,classic,collectible,collector,history,instrumental,jazz,music,orchestra

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Warren Bernhardt was born on November 13, 1938 in Wausau, Wisconsin. His early childhood exposure to piano was due to his pianist father and he learned some rudiments of keyboarding from his friends. At five his parents moved to New York City, where he began studying seriously under varied instructors. After his father’s death he suffered a period of depression and quit music opting to study chemistry and physics at the University of Chicago. However, exposure to blues and jazz influenced the rest of his career.

From 1961 to 1964 he worked in Paul Winter’s sextet, which led to his return to New York. He would go on to work with George Benson, Gerry Mulligan, Jeremy Steig among others. He developed a close relationship with the pianist Bill Evans, who served as his mentor. Bernhardt released several solo albums in the Seventies, and eventually became a member of the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead. In 1971, he provided the piano accompaniment on the Don McLean song Crossroads.

Warren has toured as the musical director with Steely Dan and can be heard on their Alive in America album. He has performed on Simon and Garfunkel’s Old Friends tour, on Art Garfunkel’s solo tours, and on the latter’s presentation Across America.

In 2009 he reunited with his 1973 band L’Image, featuring Mike Mainieri, David Spinozza, Tony Levin and Steve Gadd. They released the album L ‘Image 2.0. Pianist Warren Bernhardt transitioned on August 19, 2022 of natural causes.

More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

James Edward Pugh, born November 12, 1950 in Butler, Pennsylvania began playing the trombone around the age of ten. He attended the Eastman School of Music from 1968 to 1972, where he played in an ensemble under Chuck Mangione.

Pugh toured and recorded with the Woody Herman Band for four years from 1972 and briefly performed with Chick Corea in 1977. He then concentrated on studio session work for jazz and popular musicians. In 1984, he was co-leader for the album The Pugh–Taylor Project. He also composed for and played on the album X Over Trombone.

Trombonist and composer James Pugh continues to perform and record sessions for jazz, pop and Broadway soundtracks.

More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,trombone