<![CDATA[JazzWax: 2007-2025]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/s/2007-2025https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sAB3!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f3ff2bb-398c-4a58-a3e1-8916bad4a60f_256x256.pngJazzWax: 2007-2025https://www.jazzwax.com/s/2007-2025SubstackThu, 07 May 2026 12:13:50 GMT<![CDATA[A Note to JazzWax Readers]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/a-note-to-jazzwax-readershtmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/a-note-to-jazzwax-readershtmlWed, 27 Aug 2025 23:13:24 GMT
After 18 years, nearly 6,000 posts and 10 million page views, JazzWax on this platform has come to an end. It's not a sad day but one of transition. That's why the image above is of a sunrise, not a sunset.

Yesterday, I received news from TypePad, which hosts JazzWax, that it's shutting down its blogging services, as of September 30. All of the platform'…

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]]><![CDATA[Video: Dizzy Gillespie in Denmark (1970)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/video-dizzy-gillespie-in-denmark-1970htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/video-dizzy-gillespie-in-denmark-1970htmlWed, 27 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
On Nov. 4, 1970, Dizzy Gillespie performed in Denmark with the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band, an all-star orchestra. The concert took place at the Tivoli Gardens Concert Hall in Copenhagen.

The band:

Dizzy Gillespie (tp,vcl); Benny Bailey, Art Farmer, Dusko Gojkovic and Idrees Sulieman (tp); Ake Persson, Nat Peck and Eric van Lier (tb); Derek Humb…

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]]><![CDATA['Brazil on Guitar': Powell, Gilberto and Bonfa]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/brazil-on-guitar-powell-gilberto-and-bonfa-htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/brazil-on-guitar-powell-gilberto-and-bonfa-htmlTue, 26 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
By 1958, the acoustic guitar, in one form or another, had been the instrument of folk music for centuries. This was true in virtually every country in the world, from Britain’s citra to stringed instruments used to play America's blues, Cuba's bolero, French jazz, England's skiffle and much more.

There are three primary reasons for the guitar’s popularit…

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]]><![CDATA[Monica, Zarna and Doc]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/monica-zarna-and-dochtmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/monica-zarna-and-dochtmlSat, 23 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Due to the hundreds of emails I received last week imploring me not to end my weekend post, I'm going to meet you halfway by producing one that takes me less time. It will include links to my Wall Street Journal articles for the week and a few clips and a couple of worthy new albums. We'll see how that goes. [Photo above of Monica Lewinsky on the set of

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]]><![CDATA[Backgrounder: Frank Wess - 'Trombones + Flute' ('56)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-frank-wess-trombones-flute-56htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-frank-wess-trombones-flute-56htmlFri, 22 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
In July 1956, during a brief summer break by the Count Basie band, the trombone section went into Rudy Van Gelder's Hackensack, N.J., studio and, with the addition of trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, recorded five pieces. Two were composed by Basie tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, who arranged by all five.

What made the session for Savoy special was that Basie…

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]]><![CDATA[Perfection: Jackie Paris - 'Skylark' (1953)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-jackie-paris-skylark-1953htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-jackie-paris-skylark-1953htmlThu, 21 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
For me, the finest and most perfect vocal rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's Skylark is by Jackie Paris. Recorded for Coral Records in August 1953, the session was arranged by Neal Hefti. The band featured Billy Taylor (p), George Barnes (g), Sandy Block (b), Eddie Grady (d), Harry Breuer (vib) and 10 strings, with Hefti conducting.

It's one of the only ver…

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]]><![CDATA[Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Norway (1969)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/cannonball-adderley-quintet-in-norway-1969htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/cannonball-adderley-quintet-in-norway-1969htmlWed, 20 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
On March 18, 1969, the Cannonball Adderley Quintet was in Europe on tour, performing at the Centralteatret in Oslo, Norway. The group featured Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), Nat Adderley (trumpet), Joe Zawinul (piano), Victor Gaskin (bass) and Roy McCurdy (drums). [Poster above from the same tour]

The concert aired on NRK-TV, Norway's broadcast ne…

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]]><![CDATA[Newport in Nice, France (1979)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/newport-in-nice-france-1979htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/newport-in-nice-france-1979htmlTue, 19 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
In July 1979, the Grande Parade du Jazz was held in Nice, France, for 10 days and presented by George Wein and the Newport Jazz Festival.&#0160;

On Friday, July 13, an all-star quintet took the stage that spanned the full length of post-war jazz: Milt Jackson on vibes, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Slam Stewart on bass and Duffy Jack…

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]]><![CDATA[B.B. King at the Apollo (1990)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/bb-king-at-the-apollo-1990htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/bb-king-at-the-apollo-1990htmlMon, 18 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
My apologies for skipping my Weekend post. I had way too much work last week to spend the necessary time on it last Friday. [Photo above of B.B. King courtesy of Universal Music Group]

I've also decided to suspend my Weekend post. While readership has been good on these days, it's not good enough to continue, since the numbers are lower than my weekday p…

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]]><![CDATA[Backgrounder: London Jazz Four - 'The Beatles' (1967)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-london-jazz-four-the-beatles-1967htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-london-jazz-four-the-beatles-1967htmlFri, 15 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
The London Jazz Four were Mike McNaught (piano and harpsichord), Ron Forbes (vibes), Brian Moore (bass) and Len Clarke (drums). In some respects, the chamber group was formed in the spirit of America's Modern Jazz Quartet. Except the London Jazz Four most often jazzed up pop of the day with a sophisticated touch.

On The London Jazz Four Take a New Look a…

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]]><![CDATA[Perfection: The Dorseys - 'Just Swingin' ' (1955)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-the-dorseys-just-swingin-1955htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-the-dorseys-just-swingin-1955htmlThu, 14 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
In 1954, at the dawn of the 12-inch LP era and hi-fidelity sound, Tommy Dorsey and his brother, Jimmy, joined forces. Billed as the Fabulous Dorseys, the two bands were combined and great songwriters and arrangers were called in to compose for the superband.

Both orchestras were enormously elegant, largely because the brothers had spent a lifetime playin…

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]]><![CDATA[Sheila Jordan (1928-2025)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/sheila-jordan-1928-2025htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/sheila-jordan-1928-2025htmlWed, 13 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Sheila Jordan, a jazz and scat vocalist whose passion for bebop and the friendship of Charlie Parker lasted for much of her professional life, transforming her into a heroic figure and mentor to a generation of younger singers, died on Aug. 11. She was 96. [Photo above of Sheila Jordan at a 52nd St. club in 1953, courtesy of Sheila Jordan]

Back in 2012, …

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]]><![CDATA[Documentary: Ben Webster - 'Big Ben' (1971)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/documentary-ben-webster-big-ben-1971htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/documentary-ben-webster-big-ben-1971htmlTue, 12 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Shot for the Danish national television network in 1971, Big Ben profiled the tenor saxophone great Ben Webster two years before his death. Jazz players didn't come sweeter or more soulful than the Brute. In the film, Webster records with strings, performs with trumpeter Charlie Shavers and talks about his life. [Photo above of Ben Webster]

It is impossi…

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]]><![CDATA[Eddie Palmieri (1936-2025)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/eddie-palmieri-1936-2025htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/eddie-palmieri-1936-2025htmlMon, 11 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Eddie Palmieri, a pianist, composer and bandleader who pioneered a smoldering Latin-jazz sound dominated by trombones and incorporated the jazz jam session into his approach, helping him widen his music and win eight Grammy Awards, died on August 6. He was 88. [Publicity photo above of Eddie Palmieri]

Eddie was the younger brother of Charlie Palmieri, al…

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]]><![CDATA[Kristen, Louisa and KC]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/kristen-louisa-and-kchtmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/kristen-louisa-and-kchtmlSat, 09 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Eddie Palmieri, a pianist, composer and bandleader who pioneered a smoldering Latin-jazz sound dominated by trombones and incorporated the jazz jam session into his approach, helping him widen his music and win eight Grammy Awards, died on August 6. He was 88. [Publicity photo above of Eddie Palmieri]

Eddie was the younger brother of Charlie Palmieri, al…

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]]><![CDATA[Backgrounder: Barney Kessel - 'Shiny Stockings' ('77)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-barney-kessel-shiny-stockings-1977htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/backgrounder-barney-kessel-shiny-stockings-1977htmlFri, 08 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Barney Kessel's Shiny Stockings was recorded in Tokyo in February 1977. What makes it special are Kessel's extensive use of chords. As you'll hear, his chord voicings are spectacular. He's backed by Kunimitsu Inaba on bass and Tetsujiro Obara on drums.

The tracks:

  • Shiny Stockings

  • Manha de carnaval [Black Orpheus]

  • My Secret Love

  • Triste

  • Autumn in New York

  • There …

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]]><![CDATA[Perfection: Buddy Childers - 'Sentimental Sam' (1955)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-buddy-childers-sentimental-sam-1955htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/perfection-buddy-childers-sentimental-sam-1955htmlThu, 07 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Summer always reminds me of Los Angeles and the thick, humid heat. But it's not so much the heat as it is the mood. Because I'm a romantic, when I'm in L.A. in the summer, I always imagine it's 1955. A private detective with his tie loosened and light-colored suit jacket off is sitting in a black Buick Century staking out a tropical-themed, one-story ap…

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]]><![CDATA['The John Glasel Brasstet' (1959-'60)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/the-john-glasel-brasstet-1959-60htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/the-john-glasel-brasstet-1959-60htmlWed, 06 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Johnny Glasel was a superb East Coast trumpeter who began his recording career in the mid-1940s. Much of his early work was centered on Dixieland and performing in the Glenn Miller tribute band led by Ray McKinley.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, he branched out to a more modern sound, recording with leaders such as Bill Russo, Barry Miles, Johnny Carisi a…

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]]><![CDATA[New Vinyl: Golson and McIntyre]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/new-vinyl-golson-and-mcintyrehtmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/new-vinyl-golson-and-mcintyrehtmlTue, 05 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Two Prestige albums that were recorded almost exactly one year apart have just been re-issued by Craft Recordings on 180-gram vinyl. Both were cut from the original stereo masters by Kevin Gray. They are Benny Golson's Gone With Golson, recorded in June 1959, and Ken McIntyre's Looking Ahead, with Eric Dolphy, recorded in June 1960. Both albums are supe…

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]]><![CDATA[Cleo Laine (1927-2025)]]>https://www.jazzwax.com/p/cleo-laine-1927-2025htmlhttps://www.jazzwax.com/p/cleo-laine-1927-2025htmlMon, 04 Aug 2025 00:05:00 GMT
Cleo Laine, Britain's finest and most-celebrated jazz-pop singer who, with alto saxophonist and clarinetist Johnny Dankworth, began recording in 1951 but became much better known in the U.K. than in the U.S., died on July 24. She was 97. [Photo above of Cleo Laine, courtesy of the Irish Independent]

Dankworth and Laine married in 1958, and over the cours…

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