-
Frankie Newton: The Forgotten Trumpeter (part I)
Despite appearing on some of the greatest jazz records of the 1930s, and possessing one of the most personal sounds in jazz history, trumpeter Frankie Newton is barely remembered today. His biography is filled with contradictory information, and his discography has several mysterious gaps. Thomas Cunniffe sorts out the conflicting details and discusses all of…
-
Frankie Newton: The Forgotten Trumpeter (part II)
In the second part of this extended Historical Essay, Thomas Cunniffe explores Frankie Newton’s life and music from 1938 through his death in 1954. In addition to examining Newton’s recordings, Cunniffe also discusses the likely reasons for Newton’s absence in the studios from 1939-1943 and 1946-1954.
-
Fats Waller at the Pipe Organ
Fats Waller recorded over 70 sides on pipe organs in Camden, New Jersey and London, England. Thomas Cunniffe examines this unique recorded legacy in an extended essay.
-
The Earliest Recordings of “Body and Soul”
Before it was interpolated into the Broadway revue, Three’s A Crowd, Johnny Green’s Body and Soul had been a hit in England. As the show went through tryouts, the lyrics of the song underwent a complete rewrite before its Broadway premiere. In this interactive Historical Essay, Thomas Cunniffe examines 17 recordings of B&S recorded between…
-
JATP at The Opera House
In 1957, Norman Granz launched the 18th tour of Jazz at the Philharmonic. The concerts yielded 5 separate albums featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge and the JATP All-Stars. All of the albums were titled At the Opera House but on four of the…
-
Mel, Marty & the Dek-tette
The recorded collaborations between vocalist Mel Tormé and arranger Marty Paich were arguably the highlights of each man’s career. The albums they recorded with a 10-piece studio ensemble, the Marty Paich Dek-tette are some of the finest vocal LPs ever made. Thomas Cunniffe’s study of this music was originally part of his Master’s Thesis, and…
-
Sheila Jordan: The Bass/Voice Duets
Sheila Jordan once said, I think I may have been a bass player in a previous life. My favorite way to sing is with the bass. Jordan’s duo recordings with bass accompaniment have been some of her finest work. This month, Jordan’s biographer Ellen Johnson, offers the first part of a two-part Historical Essay on…
-
Shelly Manne and His Men featuring Joe Gordon and Richie Kamuca
One of the most beloved recorded collections in jazz history features extended live performances performed by a band with no major stars except its leader. In this Historical Essay, Thomas Cunniffe reviews the recordings of Shelly Manne and His Men featuring Joe Gordon and Richie Kamuca, including the magical albums recorded over three nights at…
-
48 versions of “St. Louis Blues”
W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues was written nearly 100 years ago, and it has inspired thousands of recorded versions. Thomas Cunniffe examines four dozen jazz versions in this month’s Historical Essay. A playlist is available for readers who want to listen along.
-
Tommy Flanagan’s Composer Tributes
Between 1975 and 1993, pianist Tommy Flanagan recorded six tribute albums featuring, in turn, the music of Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, Bud Powell, Harold Arlen, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Thad Jones. Thomas Cunniffe explores these albums in this month’s Historical Essay.