ghost of miles

Time to hop into the wayback machine and travel to the Land of the Past. What happened in December 1955? Check out this comprehensive timeline! 1955 Dec 1, Rosa Parks (42), a seamstress and secretary of the Montgomery NAACP, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, as she sat in a section of a bus just behind the area reserved for whites. She refused to move to the back the bus, to accommodate a white male passenger, as ordered by driver James F. Blake (d.2002 at 89) and defied the South~ez_rsquo~s segregationist laws. This prompted the Dec. 5 bus boycott, a year-long boycott of the buses by blacks, and launched the Civil Rights movement in the United States. Virginia Durr (d.1999 at 95) helped a black civil rights leader bail Parks out of jail. In 1985 Durr wrote her memoir: "Outside the Magic Circle." In 1999 Pres. Clinton authorized a Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks. 1955 Dec 1-1955 Dec 5, AFL delegates in San Francisco approved a merger wit the CIO. The next day CIO delegates voted 660-3 in favor of merging. The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO under its first president, George Meany (1894-1980). [see Feb 9] (AP, 12/5/97)(HNQ, 6/9/98)(SFC, 12/2/05, p.F2) 1955 Dec 2, Martin Luther King stepped forward with an impromptu speech that marked him as the "acknowledged leader of a major mass protest." (SFEM, 1/19/97, BR p.1) 1955 Dec 5, The US Montgomery Bus Boycott began in 1955. In Montgomery, Alabama, Martin Luther King organized a bus boycott and began the civil rights movement to end segregation. Black residents chose Mr. King to head The Montgomery Improvement Association, formed to sustain the protest against segregation policies on the municipal buses. (HFA, ~ez_lsquo~96, p.44)(TMC, 1994, p.1955)(SFEM, 2/2/97, p.8) 1955 Dec 6, NY psychologist Joyce Brothers (28) won the CBS "$64,000 Question," by answering 7 questions on boxing. (SFC, 12/2/05, p.F2) 1955 Dec 9, Sugar Ray Robinson won the middle-weight boxing crown for the third time when he knocked out Carl "Bobo" Olson in Chicago. (SFC, 6/29/96, p.E4)(HN, 12/9/98)(SFC, 12/9/05, p.F6) 1955 Dec 10, The anti-proton, discovered in October by a team of UC Berkeley scientists that included Owen Chamberlain, Emilio Segre and Clyde Wiegand (1915-1996), was confirmed by scientists at the Univ. of Rome and the Univ. of California. (SFC, 7/9/96, p.A20)(SFC, 12/9/05, p.F6) 1955 Dec 11, Israel launched an attack on Syrian positions along the Sea of Galilee. (EWH, 1968, p.1241)(HN, 12/11/98) 1955 Dec 12, 1st prototype of hovercraft patented by British engineer Christopher Cockerell. (MC, 12/12/01) 1955 Dec 14, Jsngry born. (Big O, 3/7/03) 1955 Dec 19, Carl Perkins recorded "Blue Suede Shoes." (MC, 12/19/01) 1955 Dec 22-1955 Dec 26, A "storm of the century" caused a devastating flood in northern California and left 76 people dead. Damages were estimated at $125 million. (SFC, 1/4/97, p.A14)(SFC, 1/10/96, p.A21)(SFC, 12/23/05, p.F2) 1955 Dec 24, A levee break on the Shanghai Bend of the Feather River south of Yuba City, Ca., killed 38 people. (SFEC, 1/12/97, p.C1)(SFC, 11/17/99, p.E7) 1955 Dec 25, In Iran Navvab Safavi (b.1923), a firebrand cleric, was tried and executed. He was responsible for founding of the Fadayan-e Islam group and with them the assassination of several leading Iranians. (Econ, 5/4/13, p.52)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navvab_Safavi) 1955 Dec 29, Barbra Streisand's 1st recording "You'll Never Know" at age 13. (MC, 12/29/01)

For me as well.

Richard Ford's THE SPORTSWRITER, Ingrid Monson's FREEDOM SOUNDS, Harry Shapiro's WAITING FOR THE MAN: THE STORY OF DRUGS AND POPULAR MUSIC, Rob Sheffield's LOVE IS A MIX TAPE, and Sam Tanenhaus' WHITTAKER CHAMBERS.

Belated thanks, confreres!

Noticed this morning that my credit card has now been charged for this set, so I'm assuming that shipping is imminent.

Has anybody here picked up last year's reissue of Haynes' 1971 Mainstream album Hip Ensemble? I came across it in a shop here in Bloomington earlier this evening and had them put it on hold for me... going back to get it after payday.

Coming early next year is what I've heard.

Doug is a guest on this week's Night Lights show, which is devoted to Desmond's recordings after the Brubeck quartet disbanded at the end of 1967.

Joe Henderson, THE MILESTONE YEARS.

Second the rec for BRILLIANT CORNERS, which might be the best big-band Monk I've ever heard.

We re-aired Autumn Serenades this past week on Night Lights, and it remains archived for online listening.

Elemental Music Announces Archival, Previously Unissued, 2 CD/3 LP Release By Legendary Pianist Red Garland On An Exclusive December 1977 Engagement, Recordings at San Francisco's Keystone Korner Out January 20, 2015 Swingin' on the Korner, A Rare Document In Underappreciated Pianist's Career, Reunites Garland with Former Miles Davis Colleague, Drummer Philly Joe Jones & Bassist Leroy Vinnegar The release also includes unprecedented 44 page booklet with never-before-seen pictures & new words by Nat Hentoff, Ira Gitler, Don Schlitten, Kenny Washington & others Legendary jazz critic Nat Hentoff calls him a pianist “with infectiously lyrical inherent swing — and surprises that flowed as naturally as his beat.” Renowned historian and journalist Ira Gitler calls him “one the most multi-dimensional, solid-swinging, deeply lyrical piano stylists in our music, an unmistakably multi-dimensional artist who contributed so much to the groups of Miles Davis, Coleman Hawkins, and so many others.” Torch-bearing pianist Benny Green says that each of his performances “addresses a full spectrum of emotion, and the innate sense of hipness, taste, and timing seemingly possessed by only the greatest voices of the music creates a musical brew which maintains its pure cool and freshness throughout the ages.” Universally respected drummer Kenny Washington simply calls him, “one of the masters.” Despite such high praise from these undoubted authorities, and his integral role in the first great Miles Davis Quintet, Red Garland’s name is too rarely mentioned in the pantheon of jazz greats. With the release of Swingin’ on the Korner on January 20, Elemental Music helps to remedy those oversights with the release of over 150 minutes of previously unheard live Red Garland performances on two CDs or 3 LPs, recorded in 1977 at San Francisco’s landmark Keystone Korner jazz club with a once-in-a-lifetime trio. None of this material has ever been released – officially or otherwise. This swinging treasure trove arrives with a 44 page booklet including essays by the aforementioned experts (Nat Hentoff, Ira Gitler, Don Schlitten, Doug Ramsey, Benny Green, Kenny Washington, with an introduction by producers Zev Feldman and Todd Barkan) as well as photographs taken during the actual concerts by Keystone staff photographer Tom Copi. Images, information and music combine to transport listeners back to a magical week in one of jazz’s most beloved rooms. Additionally, the booklet includes an article on Red Garland from Doug Ramsey "Seeing Red", printed with permission from Texas Monthly that ran back in 1979. As producer Zev Feldman says, "this may be one of the most important projects I've ever worked on and I've had the pleasure to co-produce this with Todd Barkan. I was determined from the start to build the most exhaustive package ever created for Garland that truly celebrates his memory. There's never been a book on Red, and this is the closest there is. We built this and I couldn't be more proud. He deserves it". Fans will learn about Red via music but also by critical voices who have something to say about this master who has sadly been gone now for over 31 years." (he passed away in 1983). Our time machine arrives in December, 1977, as Garland is reunited with his bandmate from the Miles Davis Quintet, legendary drummer Philly Joe Jones. For the first and only time, Garland and Jones were joined for the occasion by bassist Leroy Vinnegar, best known for his recordings with Stan Getz, Chet Baker, and Lee Konitz, among others. The trio was the brainchild of Keystone Korner owner Todd Barkan, who aimed (successfully, as these recordings attest) to turn the engagement into a special, exclusive occasion. “Red played the Keystone a few other times,” says Feldman, “but this time was the most memorable because the band is so great. You couldn’t ask to have better sidemen that what we have here, and we culled through an entire week of performances to get the best stuff.” The result is a uniformly high-caliber selection, though highlights abound, including the album’s opener, a rousing, 13-minute rendition of “Love for Sale” that begins with an epic solo introduction by Garland, playfully incorporating a touch of Beethoven’s “Für Elise” before leaping into the brisk, swinging tune. "Love for Sale" delivers both power and sensitivity. The set also includes a sprinting version of “Billy Boy” (familiar from Davis’ Milestones) that shows off Vinnegar’s muscular walking lines; a prime example of Garland’s tender ballad playing on “Never Let Me Go;” and a nod to the season with a poignant take on Mel Tormé’s classic “The Christmas Song.” Of course it wouldn't be a Red Garland without blues and balads which fans will be happy to know are included in ample form. Swingin’ on the Korner follows the release of Elemental’s acclaimed set of previously unreleased Jimmy Giuffre live recordings, New York Concerts, and the label’s sophomore effort maintains its impeccable standards of quality and thoroughness. “I wanted to assemble one of the best packages ever for Red Garland,” Feldman says. “He’s one of my heroes and I wanted to help celebrate his legacy.” He achieves that goal with a set that surrounds this fantastic music with writings by Todd Barkan, providing a first-hand account of these scintillating concerts; Nat Hentoff, who discusses Garland’s rich life and legacy; Ira Gitler, who delves deep into Garland’s style and his influential use of block chords; Benny Green, who recalls discovering Garland after the pianist returned from a long dormant period in the 1960s and the profound influence he had on the younger pianist; and Kenny Washington, sharing his personal memories of the pianist, who Washington got to know in the last years of his life. Washington also offered key assistance in identifying the material, no small order when dealing with a repertoire as vast as Red Garland’s. One tune in particular proved daunting, referred to only as “Unidentified Ballad” until very late in the process. Through Feldman’s network of connections, the piece finally found its way to the ears of vocalist Sheila Jordan, who pegged it as “If I’m Lucky,” the theme song for an obscure 1946 movie originally sung by Perry Como (who also appeared in the film alongside Carmen Miranda). The package was designed & built by Burton Yount whose recent collaborations with producer Feldman include Jimmy Giuffre's New York Concerts, Bill Evans Live at Top of The Gate, and Wes Montgomery's Echoes of Indiana Avenue. On the project's origins, Feldman recalls, "In 2013 when Elemental's owner Jordi Soley and I were starting the label, we were determined to find important previously unissued recordings. These tapes came from Todd's archives and upon even seeing these tapes existed, we immediately knew how rare they were and that they needed to be issued. I'm very grateful to Jordi for his support in this project. I presented my plan to build the greatest release ever for Red and I was given free reign to do what I felt was best. The results are a one-of-a-kind reference guide in addition to wonderful recordings from an era where Red wasn't recording all that much. I am grateful to Mr. Soley." Feldman continues: “This is an important recording; a discovery coming to light from a period where Red really wasn’t recording that much. I hope it kicks the door open for people to go back and revisit his music, to stop and evaluate who this man was: a great musician and great artist.”

Part two of the Night Lights Bud Powell special with Powell biographer Peter Pullman is now up for online listening: http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/scene-life-music-bud-powell-part-2/

The AAJ forum seems to be MIA again.

Last week's Night Lights episode, "Time Flies: The Life And Music Of Bud Powell Part 1," with special guest and Powell biographer Peter Pullman, is now archived for online listening: http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/tempus-fugueit-life-music-bud-powell-part-1/ "The Scene Changes: The Life And Music Of Bud Powell, Part 2" is airing this week; you can stream it tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 6 a.m. EDT on WBGO (http://www.wbgo.org/) and Sunday evening at 10 p.m. EDT on Blue Lake Public Radio (http://www.bluelake.org/radio/index.html). I'll have that episode archived on the Night Lights website as of Monday morning. From the archives, there's also "Burning With Bud: Bud Powell Live, 1944-1953": http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/burning-bud-bud-powell-live-19441953/

Anybody heard if this book will eventually appear? https://kindle.amazon.com/work/soul-jazz-black-community-1945-1975/0195154762/0195154762

Many thanks, all! The first show to air will be part two of a Bud Powell program I did that features commentary from his biographer, Peter Pullman.

Starting this Saturday on WBGO: http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/night-lights-big-city-night-lights-debuts-wbgo-week/

The recent Night Lights tribute to Charlie Haden, "Ramblin' Man," is now archived for online listening: http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/ramblin-man-charlie-haden/ Coming soon: "Time Flies: The Life and Music of Bud Powell, Part 1" with Powell biographer Peter Pullman.

Happy birthday, MG--long may you post!

Sorry I missed that one. Tomorrow would have been Larry Young's 74th birthday, so I'm revisiting the Mosaic set of his Blue Note recordings in anticipation of playing a few sides on the show.

Just pulled out my CD and listened to these--I think he gets louder with each take! Till take 9, anyway.

Classy farewell from the fans at Fenway for Derek Jeter's finale this afternoon... felt like detente had settled over Yankee-Redsoxland for a day.

As David Kurtz at TPM points out, even the Orioles announcers sounded thrilled when Jeter got his walkoff hit last night: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/derek-jeter-final-home-at-bat