In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Don Chadwick, co-designer of the Aeron chair, for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). The ergonomic Aeron was first introduced in the late 1990s. Instead of upholstery, the chair's seat and back were constructed of a tightly woven two-way suspension system. It feels like you're sitting in a taut net. Not bad for guy who started out as a kid building model planes and trains.
Here's Don on the Aeron...
SiriusXM. If you missed me on SiriusXM's Feedback last Thursday with co-hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski, we talked about Don Schlitz's writing and Kenny Rogers's recording of The Gambler. Here's a link to a SoundCloud of the broadcast...
For a bunch of fab Tweets on the show, go here.
Oscar Pettiford. Following my post last week on Oscar Pettiford, arranger, producer and trumpeter Marty Sheller sent along the following email:
"Hi Marc. I hope all is well. Your article on the Pettiford recording brought back fond memories. I came into New York in September of 1957 and heard that music in the summer of 1958. I wore out the two LPs (The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Vols. 1 and 2) and had to buy them both a second time. Pettiford's albums were and still are one of the hippest little big-band jazz recordings ever. I listened to it today and was gassed all over again. The arrangements, the soloists, the sound…slick as ever. Big thanks!"
Charlie Parker Records. Following my post on Alice Darr and Kevin Gavin last week, both of whom recorded one great album each in 1962 for Charlie Parker Records, Wayne Greene alerted that the entire Charlie Parker Records catalog is available on a 30-CD box set here.
Antonio Carlos Jobim radio. Next Friday, January 25, WKCR-FM in New York will present its annual Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim Birthday Broadcast for 24 hours. The tribute will begin on Thursday night at 11:59 p.m. (EST) and then all day and night on Friday. You can listen from anywhere in the world on your phone or computer by going here. Here's Jobim with João Donato on piano in 1964...
Stan Kenton fans will enjoy Terry Vosbein's All Things Kenton web site. A site with information and photos as well as a gateway to other sites that sell CDs, arrangements and other Kenton-related items. This is an orchestra! Go here.
Black Jazz. Following my post on the Black Jazz label and Doug and Jean Carn, Michael Eldridge writes that the Black Jazz catalog was most recently licensed by Snow Dog Records of Japan. Select titles are still available from ImportCDs and Forced Exposure.
Miles Davis. Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services sent along a link to a video featuring a gathering of former members of Miles Davis's electric band at the Jazz Congress in New York. Go here.
What the heck: Here's Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson on Soul Train in 1979 singing Smokey and Pete Moore's Ooo Baby Baby...
Oddball album cover of the week.
Yep, not exactly Chet Baker's finest 45 minutes, but in 1965, jazz musicians made money in the strangest ways to stay afloat.
