Category: Jazz

Song Of The Day – Donald Byrd – Falling Like Dominoes

Cover of "Places & Spaces"
Cover of Places & Spaces

 

I heard this song in a tapas bar in Barcelona and it blew us away.  The song is off a Donald Byrd album, “Places and Spaces” and was released in 1975.  Donald was born in 1932 and has recorded since the 1950’s.  An accomplished trumpet player, he has over 46 albums to his credit and many more as a sideman to such artists as Kenny Clarke, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.  We need more players like this to be in the forefront of music.  Makes a lot of today’s talent look imbecilic, doesn’t it.

 

Falling Like Dominoes

 

 

Remembering Andy Hamilton

Andy Hamilton (left) and Scott Hamilton

Andy Hamilton, a sensational jazz sax player, passed away on June 3 at the age of 94.  Originally from Jamaica, he stowed away on a banana boat and travelled to the UK.  He paid his dues ( a 14 day jail term for this transgression) and left jail to pursue his music.  This guy was the real deal as you will hear in the 2 clips I have inserted here.  Wow, wow, wow!!!!

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Here he is playing his song, “Orocabessa” in 2007 at the age of 89.

Remembering Faruq Z. Bey

Alto saxophone
Alto saxophone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

June 1 saw the passing of American jazz saxophonist, Faruq Z. Bey . He was best known for his time with Griot Galaxy, a free jazz band from the 1970’s and 80’s.  In the mid 80’s, he was forced to leave the band after a bike accident that left him in a coma for some time.  He returned to playing in the mid 90’s.  I have posted a couple of videos here in tribute to this outstanding musician.  The first is with his band “The Northwood Improvisers”.  The second is with the Griot Galaxy.  Love Jazz.

 

Mystery of Love

 

 

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Androgyny

 

 

Song Of The Day – Moses Dillard and the Tex Town Display – Tribute To Wes

The Jazz Shelf
The Jazz Shelf (Photo credit: Andrei Z)

Couldn’t leave without at least one tune.  Be cool, be very cool, this song lays down an amazing groove.  Heard it on Breaking Bad of all places.  Best 2 minutes and 24 seconds you will have today, or this month, or year maybe.

Remembering Pete Cosey

Miles Davis
Miles Davis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pete Cosey, guitarist extraordinaire, passed away on May 30, 2012.  He was 68.  He was a session guitar player at Chess Records until 1973, playing on recordings by Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, among many others.  In 1973, he joined the Miles Davis Band and played with them until 1975.  When the band broke up in 1975, he pretty much disappeared, surfacing from time to time to play on someone’s record.  He resurfaced somewhat in 2001, forming a band, The Children of Agharta.  Check out the clips I have included.  The guy was amazing.

Pete Cosey Jamming

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Calypso Frelimo

Song Of The Day – Thievery Corporation – Lebanese Blonde

 

English: Thievery Corporation
English: Thievery Corporation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

This tune is a bit different from my usual, but I just love the groove.  Thievery Corporation is a DC based duo who play with a variety of supporting artists.  A touch of Jazz, a morsel of electronica, a dash of reggae, they all combine to create a terrific song.  And the song, Lebanese Blonde may bring back memories of a certain hashish from back in the day.

Thievery Corporation Home Page

Thievery Corporation on iTunes

Thievery Corporation on Facebook – who cares

Thievery Corporation on Twitter

 

Lebanese Blonde

 

 

Song Of The Day – Sarah Vaughan – "Lover Man"

 

English: Sarah Vaughan, possibly Cafe Society,...
English: Sarah Vaughan, possibly Cafe Society, NYC, ca. August 1946. Photography by William P. Gottlieb. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

It is a great day to be swept away by a singer with exceptional talent.  The late great Sarah Vaughan was such a singer.  This track was taped in 1958 and is Sarah’s version of “Lover Man”.  A standard jazz song that has also been recorded by such greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James. Norah Jones, Billie Holiday and, strangely enough, Michael Jackson.  The song was written for Billie Holiday in 1941 by Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez and James Sherman.  The original by Billie was inducted to Grammy Hall of Fame in 1989.

 

Lover Man

 

 

Remembering Janet Carroll

 

Cover of "Risky Business"
Cover of Risky Business

 

Actress, singer Janet Carroll passed away on May 22.  She was 71.  Better known as an actress (think Tom Cruise’s mother in Risky Business and Gary, the owner of the shoe store Al Bundy worked at on Married…With Children) she was also an accomplished singer with many credits on Broadway and with a wide variety of jazz bands.  Her career spanned over 40 years.  Here is a sample of her work with The Hot Frogs Jumping Jazz Band, recorded in 1988.

 

That Terrific Rainbow

 

 

Song of The Day – The Meters – “Come Together”

The Meters (album)
The Meters (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My trivia question on George Harrison’s cover version of “Got My Mind Set On You” set me to thinking.  Hmmm, George, Beatles, great songs, covers.  Made me want to hear a Beatles song, but not by the Beatles, and not a cover that was well-known.  I settled on one of my favourite songs by them, “Come Together” and remembered this version done by The Meters.  These guys were a New Orleans funk band that were together in the 60’s and 70’s.  They did not have much mainstream success but were held in high regard by many in the know.  They backed up a lot of people, names like Dr. John and Robert Palmer.  This cover has a great edge to it, as edgy as the original I would venture.  As a special add-on, Ii have also included an all time funk classic.  Enjoy.

Come Together

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Cissy Strut

Song Of The Day – Remembering Carrie Smith

 

English: Jazz Singer Carrie Smith in France Fr...
English: Jazz Singer Carrie Smith in France Français : La chanteuse de Jazz Carrie Smith à Bagneux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Carrie Smith, a terrific jazz and blues singer was taken from the world of music on May 20.  She was 86.  Her career spanned 50 years and she was still recording as recently as 2002.  In this period she recorded at least 13 albums and appeared with many contemporaries.  Here is a terrific example of her style.

Am I Blue

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A second song.  This one shows the depth of her classic blues voice.  A terrific band as well.  And check out the tap dancing.

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