In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Chris Paul (go here), point guard for the NBA's Houston Rockets and the highest paid athlete in sports at $160 million over four years. We talked about growing up in Lewisville, N.C., and the impact his grandfather's at-home murder had on him back when he was in high school. His grandfather taught him may things, among them how to think like a boss. Here's Chris in action...
SiriusXM. This past week, I was on SiriusXM's Feedback (Volume, Ch. 106) with Lori Majewski and Nik Carter to talk about my "Anatomy of a Song" column on Donna Summer's On the Radio. If you missed me live, a SoundCloud of the complete show is here...
Meet me in St. Louis—next Wednesday at 7 p.m. when I deliver a talk complete with music and images on why cool and West Coast jazz emerged on two different coasts in 1950. I'll be at Ferring Jazz Bistro at Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Ave. in St. Louis. Stop up and say hello after.
Interview. Last week, Guy Jones (above), founder and general manager of Fog Arts, an independent record label in Sweden, interviewed me via Skype on a wide range of music topics. You'll find our frank conversation here.
Thelonious Monk radio. On Wednesday, October 10, WKCR-NY will present its annual Thelonious Monk Birthday Broadcast. Monk's music will begin at midnight October 9 and continue for 24 hours. You can access the broadcast on your computer or phone from anywhere in the world by going here.
Worth having a listen...
Alex Clough: Near, Far, Beyond. Alex Clough is a pianist, educator and composer who lives in Jersey City, N.J. When he's not playing jazz keyboards, he's accompanying New York's Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Mark Morris Dance Group or playing other gigs. This terrific album is rock solid and sensitive all the way through. It features Clough (p, el.p), David Smith (tp, flgh), Steve Kortyka (ts), John Tate (b) and Jay Sawyer (d). All of the songs are Clough originals, and the hard-bop playing is intense yet delicate. A remarkable combination. Clough's piano is lyrical, seasoned and commanding on improvisation. If I played this album for you and you didn't know who it was, you'd think the recording was a Blue Note release from the ealry 1960s. You'll find this one at Spotify. Or go here.
Dexter Gordon Quartet: Tokyo 1975 (Elemental). On Oct. 1, 1975, tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon appeared at Yubin Chokin Hall in Tokyo backed by Kenny Drew (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b) and Espen Rud (d). The tracks are Fried Bananas; Days of Wine and Roses; Misty; Jelly, Jelly, Jelly; and Rhythm-a-Ning, with a bonus track of Old Folks from a New Haven, Ct., appearance with Ronnie Matthews (p), Stafford James (b) and Louis Hayes (d). This one is a Spotify, or go here.
Woody Shaw: Tokyo '81 (Elemental). Trumpeter and flugelhornist Woody Shaw was in Tokyo in on December 7, 1981 with Steve Turre (tb), Mulgrew Miller (p), Stafford James (b) and Tony Reedus (d). They played a lengthy Rosewood, a penetrating 'Round Midnight, Apex, From Moment to Moment, Song of Songs and Theme for Maxine. A bonus track, Sweet Love of Mine, was added to this CD from July 1985 in Paris. This one is at Spotify, or go here.
Serge Gamesbourg presents Boston Goes Disco! (BBE Music). In 1975, I was in Boston when disco first moved north from Miami. The music took the city by storm. As I recall, it first appeared Sunday nights that year on WVBF, on a show called "Disco Notes" hosted by Ron Robin. Highly produced long-playing R&B records with a big beat—what could be better in a college town? It didn't take long for Boston-area musicians to form disco studio bands. As the club scene exploded in 1976, Boston had its own disco sound laced with house-party touches. DJ For this compilation, Serge Gamesbourg scoured used-record stores for home-grown artists. Takes me back every time I hear the tracks. This one is at Spotify, or go here.
Herbie Hancock. For Record Store Day his year—the Friday after Thanksgiving—Get on Down Records is producing a limited run of Herbie Hancock's Flood double LP. It's the first time the album has ever been issued on vinyl in the U.S. It was only issued in Japan and later released here digitally. Flood was recorded when Hancock was backed by the Head Hunters and features songs from Head Hunter, Thrust and Man Child. The special release, like all the others for Record Day, is geared to motivate you to support your local records stores by visiting and spending money. For a list of participating stores in your area, go here.
What the heck. Here's Candi Staton singing Victim in 1978...
Oddball album cover of the week.
This album came out in 1973, at the height of the suburban tennis craze in the U.S. Almost nothing about Covin exists online, except that he was a pianist and actor. This albums was arranged and conducted by Jimmie Haskell. I wish there were a clip but YouTube doesn't have a single reference to Covin. Thanks to Sid Gribetz.
