NOTES FROM THE EDITOR 06-25
Changes are here for Jazz History Online! Please read the Notes from the Editor for details, links to new articles, and a list of the jazz musicians who left us in 2024.
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KING OLIVER’S CREOLE JAZZ BAND: “CENTENNIAL” (Archeophone 6014)
For years, jazz history professors had to beg their students to listen to the recordings of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. These important sides (featuring the recording debuts of the entire band, including Louis Armstrong) were made before the advent of microphones and the sound was boxy and lacking in both dynamics and bass response. A new collection from Archeophone, King Oliver “Centennial” features breathtaking new transfers of these classic recordings, making them sound clear and natural. Thomas Cunniffer reviews the set and offers insights on the restoration methods.
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TREASURES FROM THE ARCHIVES
While major record companies continue to fall by the wayside, small labels like Mosaic, Resonance and Reel-to-Real thrive with limited edition collections of classic jazz. All of the sets included in the present Retro Reviews feature previously issued music from iconic musicians, including Don Byas, Nat Cole, Art Tatum, Shelly Manne and Sonny Rollins. Thomas Cunniffe provides his thoughts on this rich treasure chest of sounds.
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STOMP OFF, LET’S GO: THE EARLY YEARS OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG (by Ricky Riccardi)
While multi-volume biographies exist for many composers, only a few jazz musicians have been presented with the honor. Ricky Riccardi’s book “Stomp Off, Let’s Go”, detailing the early life of Louis Armstrong, completes Riccardi’s trilogy of Armstrong biographies. Thomas Cunniffe discusses the many qualities (and a few flaws) in this JHO Book Review.
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MONK’S MUSIC: AN ILLUSTRATED DISCOGRAPHY (by Dub Taylor)
Jazz discographies are typically dry volumes, loaded with names and numbers for recording sessions. However, a new discography, “Monk’s Music”, breaks the rules with full color printing and impressive graphic design. Does it still fulfill the basic requirements of a discography? Thomas Cunniffe tells you the best and worst points in this Book Review.
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MEL POWELL ON VANGUARD (1953-1955)
In 2023, Scott Wenzel and the late Michael Cuscuna commissioned JHO’s Thomas Cunniffe to write liner notes for two Mosaic collections of classic recordings from the Vanguard label. Produced by John Hammond between 1953 and 1959, the Vanguard Jazz Showcase presented a wide range of jazz musicians performing at peak creativity, and captured with exquisite audio fidelity. The sets were released in late 2024 and early 2025, and Mosaic graciously allowed JHO to reproduce a portion of his liner notes. Cunniffe selected his discussion of Mel Powell’s Vanguard sessions for inclusion here.
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2024 CD REVIEWS
There were many fine new jazz CDs released during 2024, and it was difficult to our reviewer Thomas Cunniffe to get through them all. The 14 albums reviewed in this survey represent some of the best releases of the year (although a few others may still be reviewed in the coming months). Happy scrolling!
CONCERT JOURNAL: SPRING 2025
Jazz History Online’s Concert Journal continues to cover the finest jazz concerts from the Eastern US. Thomas Cunniffe is your guide to the wide variety of jazz performed from Boston to DC.
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CONCERT JOURNAL AUTUMN 2024
In the Autumn of 2024, Thomas Cunniffe reviewed concerts in North Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. Here are capsule reviews of a very busy fall.
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CONCERT JOURNAL: FIVE DAYS IN NEW YORK, JULY 2024
To celebrate his birthday, JHO’s Thomas Cunniffe traveled to New York City to attend a series of seven concerts. Among the artists were Dena DeRose, Alyssa Allgood, Bill Charlap, Catherine Russell, Kenny Barron, Jon-Erik Kellso, Houston Person, Ed Neumeister, Evan Christopher, Helen Sung, and Marilyn Maye. Read about the spectacular music in this special edition of “Concert Journal”.
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CONCERT JOURNAL WINTER-SPRING 2024
Jazz History Online’s Concert Journal continues to cover the finest jazz concerts from the Eastern US. Thomas Cunniffe is your guide to the wide variety of jazz performed from Boston to DC.
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HYEONSEON BAEK: “LONGING” (You & Me)
For his debut recording, “Longing”, Korean vocalist Hyeonseon Baek has combined his love for contemporary pop and progressive jazz to create arresting versions of jazz standards and original compositions. While the timbre of his voice is eerily reminiscent of Chet Baker, Baek’s interpretations reveal far more flexibility than the late trumpeter ever imagined. Working with
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“HOT HOUSE: THE COMPLETE MASSEY HALL RECORDINGS” (Craft 684)
Previously reissued as “The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever”, the 1953 concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and Max Roach actually lives up to most of the hype. With a new Craft reissue of the complete concert tapes (including the bass parts Mingus overdubbed later), Thomas Cunniffe discusses the legendary stories and remarkable music from that memorable night.
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LIVE JAZZ FROM THE 1950s AND 1960s
The unissued live recordings discussed in this special Retro Review were released during the 2023 holiday season. Thomas Cunniffe offers his reactions to newly released concerts from Dave Brubeck, Wes Montgomery, Les McCann and Ahmad Jamal.
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