Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Sonny Clark was born Conrad Yeatis Clark on July 21, 1931 in Herminie, Pennsylvania, learned to play the piano and by age 12 was living in Pittsburgh. When visiting an aunt in California at age 20, he decided to stay and began working with saxophonist Wardell Gray. Clark went to San Francisco with Oscar Pettiford and after a couple months, began working with clarinetist Buddy De Franco in 1953, subsequently touring the U.S. and Europe until 1956. It was then he became a member of The Lighthouse All-Stars, led by bassist Howard Rumsey.

Wishing to return to the east coast, Clark served as accompanist for singer Dinah Washington in 1957, allowing him to relocate to New York City. He became an often-requested sideman partly because of his rhythmic comping. Frequently recording for Blue Note Records, Sonny held a sideman chair for such luminaries as Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Philly Joe Jones, Hank Mobley, Charles Mingus, Lee Morgan and Billie Holiday among a host of others.

As a leader Clark recorded albums Dial “S” For Sonny, Sonny’s Crib, Sonny Clark Trio with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, Cool Struttin’ and Sonny Clark Trio with George Duvivier and Max Roach.

Pianist Sonny Clark, who mainly worked in the hard bop idiom, died of a heart attack in New York City on January 13, 1963. It is thought by some commentators that his drug and alcohol abuse contributed to his premature death.

 

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MONTY ALEXANDER

Nearly sixty years after he moved to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica, his hometown, GRAMMY® nominated pianist Monty Alexander is an American classic, touring the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. A perennial favorite at Jazz festivals and venues worldwide and at the Montreux Jazz Festival where he has appeared 23 times since 1976, his spirited conception is one informed by the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition.

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to a repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expressions—the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Documented on more than 75 recordings and cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing), the Jamaican government designated Alexander Commander in the Order of Distinction in 2000 and conferred on him the national honor of the Order of Jamaica in 2022 for “Sterling Contributions to the Promotions of Jamaican Music and the Jazz Genre Interpretations Globally”.

The Trio:
Monty Alexander, piano
Lorin Cohen, bass
Jason Brown, drums

Cover: $45.00 ~ $55.00 +fees | Streaming: $15.00 +fee

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Requisites

Something in Common ~ Houston Person and Ron Carter | By Eddie Carter

After a challenging day and an exhausting week, I was looking for something gentle to help me unwind and restore my energy. This morning’s discussion, submitted for your approval, came after I listened to a few duet releases in my library and features two of my favorite musicians, Houston Person and Ron Carter. Something in Common (Muse Records MR 5376) is a digital recording pairing the tenor saxophonist and bassist in a thoroughly enjoyable program of cool jazz, one of my go-to albums for soothing my senses. The copy I own is the 1990 U.S. stereo release.

The opener, Blue Seven by Sonny Rollins, gets things off to a good start with Houston’s big-toned, warm, relaxed melody and Ron walking beside him with a perfect bass rhythm. Houston catches sunlight in the opening solo, using a subtle tone that builds into a textbook performance. Ron walks comfortably at an easy pace into the theme’s reprise and climax. I Thought About You by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer begins with the duo handling the melody as if sharing a personal secret with the listener. Ron is the featured soloist here, expressing his feelings with tenderness and sentimentality through the duo’s restatement of the theme and compassionate finale.

Mack The Knife by Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein, and Bertolt Brecht is a jazz classic from the twenties, and the duo puts a lively, fresh take on the opening chorus. Houston captures the spirit of this timeless tune with a wonderfully inventive first performance. Ron thoughtfully makes every note shine in a charming solo, leading smoothly into Houston’s beautifully crafted postscript that guides us into the closing chorus. Clifford Brown’s Joy Spring begins with the duo’s relaxed, easygoing theme, inviting Ron to stroll confidently through the opening statement. Houston responds with a warm, laid-back interpretation before the melody makes its lovely return.

Good Morning Heartache by Ervin Drake, Dan Fisher, and Irene Higginbotham is one of the album’s definitive highlights. Houston treats the melancholy theme as a story, shaping each verse of the song’s only solo, with Ron supporting him effortlessly until the tender reprise and ending. The beat moves upward for Anthropology by Charlie Parker, and the melody unfolds with relaxed assurance from two masters with nothing left to prove. Houston’s opening solo flows seamlessly through every phrase. Ron puts an indelible stamp on the closing statement, and the theme’s restatement concludes perfectly.

Once In A While by Michael Edwards and Bud Green closes the album on a warm, gentle note, opening with Houston and Ron’s beautiful, dreamy melody. Ron takes a walk through the song’s only interpretation as it builds toward the duo’s tender reprise and climax. Houston Person and Ron Carter produced Something in Common with Rudy Van Gelder handling the recording console. The album has a beautiful soundstage and is a joy to listen to from start to finish. If you’re in the mood for a terrific album that’s especially enjoyable any time of day or night, I invite you to check out Something in Common by Houston Person and Ron Carter on your next record-shopping trip. It’s a terrific album by two jazz masters, and a title I’m sure you won’t be able to listen to just once!

~ I Thought About You, Mack The Knife, Once In a While – Source: JazzStandards.com
~ Anthropology, Good Morning Heartache, Joy Spring – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2026 by Edward Thomas Carter



CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Cliff Jackson was born Clifton Luther Jackson on July 19, 1902 in Culpepper, Virginia. Learning to play stride piano he played in Atlantic City until moving to New York City in 1923. He played with Lionel Howard’s Musical Aces in 1924, recorded with Bob Fuller and Elmer Snowden, led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, for recordings in 1930, and following this group’s dissolution he played extensively as a solo pianist in several New York nightclubs.

During this time Jackson accompanied singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin and Clara Smith. He recorded with Sidney Bechet in the early Forties and would record as a soloist or leader by mid-decade and again in the Sixties. His greatest success came as house pianist at Cafe Society from 1943-5; but he also toured with Eddie Condon, and played with Garvin Bushell, J.C. Higginbotham and Joe Thomas.

Cliff married singer Maxine Sullivan, had his powerful stride piano style showcased on such solo recordings as “Limehouse Blues”, and his left-hand techniques highlighted and explained in detail in books Ricardo Scivales’ method Jazz Piano: Left Hand. Stride pianist Cliff Jackson passed away of heart failure on May 24, 1970 in New York City.

 

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Nat Pierce was born on July 16, 1925 in Somerville, Massachusetts. Learning to play piano as a child he went on to attend the New England Conservatory. After graduation he worked as an amateur musician around Boston, then led his own band featuring Charlie Mariano from 1949-51. He would go on to play with Woody Herman through 1966 as chief arranger and asst. road manager.

Taking up residence in New York City, Nat freelanced with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, Emmett Berry and ruby Braff, to name a few. From 1957-1959 Pierce led his second band off and on which featured Buck Clayton, Gus Johnson and Paul Quinichette. He recorded with a number of other well-known musicians as well, including Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell.

Pierce arranged the music for The Sound of Jazz, a 1954 CBS television special hosted by John Crosby. Most of the pieces he composed and arranged were predominantly created for the use in big bands. Pianist Nat Pierce passed away on June 10, 1992.

 

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