fasstrack

Oops. Didn't see it! Glad you enjoyed it, Bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuRdwt4KeXw Through the Eyes of a Drummer: the Life and Photography of Jimmy Wormworth. Bassist Neal Miner's loving piece on the drummer's life as a musician and amateur photographer of many great musicians (including Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Chambers, Cannonball Adderley). Jimmy talks about his early career in Utica, NY, his work with groups such as Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, and others---and the camera really likes him. The pics are great, and Jimmy narrates them. Interviewees include George Braith, Charles Davis, and Lou Donaldson.

Didn't Stephen Sondheim study with him for a while?

Kenny Burrell's association with Diz , at least on recording, goes back to around '53. He was one of Gillespie's early 'students'---along with Milt Jackson.

And he's been arraigned: https://www.yahoo.com/

Cold as hell in NYC, and no heat where I'm sitting. Brrr....

Cold and wet in NYC.

Last night I heard Peter Bochan's wonderful year-end collage of 2015 people and events. He does great work, and I still say---despite management, etc. there is hope for the station and quality programming.

It's now December for real in NYC. Reprieve over. Brrr...

Spent yesterday killing time till evening. Took a walk to the pier on Christopher St., had the worst Indian food in creation (the entrée was so bad I went for mango ice cream for $5.00 just to kill the taste---a total of $23.00 with tip ). But all was not lost: I went to hear Kendra Shank, an always interesting vocalist, in trio with guitar and bass. Very nice and varied set, with Jobim; Abbey Lincoln; Sinatra Ralph Towner; Fred Hersch; even the inevitable Christmas chestnuts sounded good. Happy holidays to everyone at O.

There will be a memorial for Simon on Monday, February 22 at the venue he used perform in, the Swift. 34 E. 4th street NYC, 7:30 PM.

Warm and rainy in NYC. We had two cold days last week, but it's been downright balmy most of the time.

Even Mimi Rosenberg sounds like she wishes she were black...

I want to say a word about my old friend Tardo Hammer. He is at the top of his game. His trio of himself, Jimmy Wormworth (drums), and Lee Hudson (bass) had a fabulous blend (at Smalls last Saturday night) that only comes with being a working group. His repertoire consists of composers like Monk, Dameron, Strayhorn, Kenny Dorham, and others. I was standing in the back with Michael Kanan, pianist; Neal Miner, bassist; and Chris Flory, guitarist---and those in the know will tell you these guys are very far from slouches---and we were marveling at the music we were hearing. Even Barry Harris knows Tardo is one of the greats on today's scene.

I think a Jaki Byard quote may be in order here: (It was said to me when I was mouthing off about somebody years ago, so I don't profess to be an angel). 'Everyone's a big-time critic, but nobody plays shit'. Exact quote, and it took some years and maturity to learn what he meant.

Yeah, like dark chocolate. But to me it's not only nice to be nice, it's smart.

Oddly enough, I just heard that someone died (not anyone I knew, but still...), so I'm sorry not to be in my usual mood for humorous banter. It no doubt spurred my comments. I do think it better for artists to show some class and let their work speak for itself. The other bullshit just leads to more of the same. As for 'a better place', all I know is the right here, right now. Life is short and music beautiful. It's ours to use or squander. OK, off the pulpit

Personally, I find this public lambasting of fellow artists to be low-class and unnecessary. Honest musical criticism is one thing, in the proper forum. The rest is an ego-fest and it doesn't do a goddamn thing but make the purveyors look like the insecure babies they are. That includes Miles, Wynton, the late Brookmeyer, Jarrett himself (trashed Marsalis w/o provocation). I'm sick to death of it. Art is supposed to make the world a better place IMO.

The original lyric to Estate is in Italian. The other obvious ones are My Ship, Speak Low, and the Barbara Song was recorded by The Gil Evans Orchestra.

Pronounced Esh-tah-tey. I don't know how to indicate the foreign pronunciation mark---whatever it's called.

Miles Davis. Joe Henderson (in a tribute to Miles CD by, I think, the same name).

Don't know to which you refer, but both Estate and Sometime Ago have been recorded multiple times. Notable examples: Chet Baker (Estate), and Joe Pass (Sometime Ago).

Samba d'Orfeo was sung in the film by those charming kids who believed that Orfeo could make the sun rise. The film ends with that scene. I also believe Manha de Carnival was sung in the film by the Orfeo character. Maybe not 'pop' songs, but songs.

Sometime Ago, bySergio Mihanovich. Estate, Bruno Martino (music) and Bruno Brighetti (lyrics). (Excuse the weird fonts,copied and pasted from a google search for the composers).

I only pay $8 (senior price--of which I fake b/c I have 4 years to go on that one) Mon.-Thurs. But they never trim it to my specifications: close and thin. I guess you get what you pay for...