Jo Stafford never considered herself a jazz singer, but her 1960 Columbia LP Jo + Jazz shows us what might have been. Arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel, and featuring an all-star band made up of Ellington veterans and West Coast jazz stalwarts, Stafford performs the most jazz-infused performances of her career. Thomas Cunniffe revisits this vocal jazz classic in this month’s Retro Review.
Jo Stafford: “Jo + Jazz” (Corinthian 108) Read More »
Vibraphonist Joe Locke’s fame has grown considerably over the last five years through a series of recordings on the Motéma label. However, he has been known as a “musician’s musician” since he first appeared on the New York scene in the early 1980s. Thomas Cunniffe reviews two new albums, scheduled to be released within the same week, which offer further evidence of his flexibility.
Joe Locke: Interpreter and Composer Read More »
At the closing concert of the University of Colorado-Denver’s Guitar Fest, John Scofield and his trio offered a wide variety of styles in their single 80-minute set. Thomas Cunniffe was there, and he offers this concert review.
John Scofield Trio at the King Center, Denver (April 6, 2012) Read More »
Most jazz fans know the vocalist Johnny Hartman for his intensely romantic album with John Coltrane. In his new Hartman biography, The Last Balladeer, Gregg Akkerman sorts through all of the myths about this misunderstood singer. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the results.
The Last Balladeer: The Johnny Hartman Story (by Gregg Akkerman) Read More »
Jazz’s coexistence of styles allows any musician of any age, gender or race to pursue any genre they wish, even if it’s not currently in style. Still the late 1970s appearance of Judy Carmichael, a white, blond and stunningly beautiful stride pianist turned several heads. In her new memoir, Swinger!, Carmichael offers a compelling narrative that jumps between various points in her life, and alternates between comedy and tragedy.
Swinger!: A Jazz Girl’s Adventures (by Judy Carmichael) Read More »
In her new album, Girl Talk, Kate McGarry refreshes an old concept (a tribute to great female jazz singers) with insightful recastings of classic songs. Thomas Cunniffe offers his reactions to the disc in this CD review.
Kate McGarry: “Girl Talk” (Palmetto 2152) Read More »
The number of bassist/vocalists in jazz history is rather small, and the number gets smaller when factoring in how many are women. Thomas Cunniffe introduces us to Katie Thiroux, whose abundant talents are displayed in her newly-released debut CD.
“Introducing Katie Thiroux” (BassKat 1001) Read More »
A longtime favorite of Bay Area audiences, vocalist Kenny Washington recently appeared with Michael O’Neill’s Quintet at Oakland’s 57th Street Gallery. Stacy Riley took a break from her San Francisco holiday for the performance, and submitted this concert review.
Kenny Washington/Michael O’Neill at 57th St Gallery, Oakland (June 16, 2012) Read More »
Todd Barkan’s Keystone Korner. was one of San Francisco’s premier clubs in the 70s and 80s. In her new book, Keystone Korner: Portrait of a Jazz Club, author/photographer Kathy Sloane offers an intimate portrait of the nightspot, complete with a CD of recordings from the club. Chris Coulter reviews the package.
Keystone Korner: Portrait of a Jazz Club (by Kathy Sloane) Read More »
Of all Dave Brubeck’s compositions, none have been as completely transformed as Koto Song. Thomas Cunniffe examines 11 Brubeck recordings of the piece and notes the gradual evolution of this delicate masterwork. All of the pieces can be heard through an embedded audio playlist and a video.
Dave Brubeck’s “Koto Song” Read More »
It would be hard Lester Young being anything except a jazz musician. His music was so emotionally transparent that it was easy to tell his mood just by the sound of his improvisations. Dave Gelly’s biography Being Prez is the first book to discuss Young’s life and music side by side. As Thomas Cunniffe notes in his book review, the lack of new revelations about Young are balanced by Gelly’s insightful connections between Young’s life and music.
Being Prez: The Life & Music of Lester Young (by Dave Gelly) Read More »
In the 1970s, many free jazz musicians were unable to find gigs in mainstream clubs. With new zoning regulations in Manhattan, many of the old factories in lower downtown were available as cheap living and performing spaces. The term loft jazz was used to describe this esoteric music, even though the moniker was quite inaccurate. Thomas Cunniffe reviews Michael C. Heller’s new monograph on the period, noting that Heller brings the era to life, but neglects to discuss the most important element: the music.
Loft Jazz: Improvising New York in the 1970s (by Michael C. Heller) Read More »
Despite a wealth of historical material on the internet, there are many otherwise well-educated people who are unaware of great musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. In this Sidetracks commentary, Thomas Cunniffe urges jazz fans to introduce newcomers to the music before our legacy vanishes.
Attracting the Lost Generations Read More »
In one of the finest books ever written on the subject, Thomas Brothers’ Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism examines Armstrong’s pioneering work from 1922-1931. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the volume, noting Brothers’ free use of the race card, but praising his method of humanizing Armstrong.
Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism (by Thomas Brothers) Read More »