gvopedz

Helen Jones Woods, who played trombone with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a history-making all-female big band that toured widely during World War II, died of COVID-19 on July 25 in Sarasota, Fla. She was 96… After the Sweethearts disbanded in 1949, Woods joined the Omaha Symphony, only to be fired after her first performance. Her father, who had a darker complexion, came to pick her up, which prompted symphony management to realize she was Black… https://www.wbgo.org/post/helen-jones-woods-groundbreaking-female-trombonist-has-died-covid-19#stream/0

Many years ago, I obtained a copy of Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert because I heard a critic say, “The chicks dig it.” And yes, the critic was correct.

“Erik Satie's Vexations — an enigmatic work that exists on a single printed page but devours many hours in performance — isn’t going back into hibernation after pianist Igor Levit’s recent highly-publicized streaming marathon. Only a minute-or-two long, but repeated 840 times, Vexations is alternately called minimalist, Dada-ist, or Outsider Art when it resurfaces every few years… “ https://www.wqxr.org/story/saties-vexations-visionary-creation-or-musical-stalker/

Frank Zappa did release the Piquantique CD and, according to its notes, the recording has at least part of the 21 August 1973 Stockholm concert (including at least part of “Dupree’s Paradise”). Zappa experts can probably provide more details about Piquantique. The CD was part of Zappa's “Beat the Boots” effort: "Beat the Boots is a collection of bootleg recordings of performances by Frank Zappa which were originally distributed illegally but were released officially by Rhino Entertainment in 1991 as part of Zappa's campaign to dissuade his fans from buying illegal recordings of his concerts. The recordings were available as individual CDs and as an CDs, LPs or cassette box set." Some details are here: https://www.discogs.com/Frank-Zappa-Mothers-Piquantique-Stockholm-1973/release/1180047

Here is a Lena Horne video that some people say shows Gabor Szabo playing guitar in the background. Can anyone confirm that it is Szabo? The two recorded an album together in 1969.

Benson's autobiography might have some relevant details regarding the song "Breezin". But I do not have the book and the library I would go to has been closed since March.

Regarding Carlos Santana and Szabo - You can hear a brief excerpt of Szabo’s arrangement of “Breezin” about 5 minutes and 5 seconds into the song “Let Us Go into the House of the Lord” (in the Carlos Santana/John McLaughlin album Love Devotion Surrender). If I remember correctly, Santana performs a similar excerpt somewhere in “Free Form Funkafide Filth” (in the Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live! album) and in a few other live recordings.

"Risks of playing a wind instrument are probably different than those involved in singing, though there are similarities. The flute, for example, creates a strong airflow, though other instruments do not. But airflow does not tell the whole story. Playing a wind instrument involves deep breathing, sometimes forceful exhalation, and possible aerosolization of the mucus in the mouth and nose, along with secretions from deeper airway structures…." https://medicine.uiowa.edu/iowaprotocols/wind-instrument-aerosol-covid-era-covid-19-and-horns-trumpets-trombones-euphoniums-tubas-recorders

“Two years until we hear a live choir? In COVID-19 pandemic, choral music may be too risky for a very long while.” https://www.inquirer.com/arts/choir-coronavirus-covid-19-cdc-report-philadelphia-mother-bethel-the-crossing-reaction-20200517.html

Jorge Santana and the Fania All Stars:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a study of the incident: High SARS-CoV-2 Attack Rate Following Exposure at a Choir Practice — Skagit County, Washington, March 2020 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919e6.htm?s_cid=mm6919e6_w If the weblink does not work, there is this one for CDC coronavirus reports https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/Novel_Coronavirus_Reports.html

On March 10, 60 singers showed up. A receptionist offered hand sanitizer at the door, and members refrained from the usual hugs and handshakes. After two and a half hours, the singers separated at 9 p.m. Almost three weeks later, 45 were diagnosed with COVID-19 or ill with symptoms, at least three were hospitalized and two died. https://www.fr24news.com/n24/2020/03/the-practice-of-the-choir-becomes-fatal-highly-suspected-airborne-coronavirus.html

For those who have not heard the news: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/the-beatles-peter-jackson-get-back-let-it-be-disney-1203530267/

Hard to forget the rating that a Down Beat (15 June 1967) review gave to Coltrane’s Kulu Se Mama. The review began with “Rating: see below” and ended with “Rating: None. All.”

The Smithsonian has placed some of its images (including images related to jazz) on an open access website https://www.si.edu/openaccess