I look forward to every new JazzWax post every single day. And that happens with very few of the publications I read. I think I found you about 7-8 years ago on the "old" platform, where all your publications were totally free. I think it is absolutely right that you are now charging a small fee for your valuable work. Any serious jazz fan should have no hesitation whatsoever about showing their appreciation for you in this way every month. I also think it's good that you still have 2-3 free posts a week. That way, new subscribers can decide whether they want the paid version. Another aspect of Jazzwax is that you also frequently write about other musical styles and artists. And as a very big movie and TV fan -I take that just as seriously as jazz- I love your weekly streaming tips. 📺 And your weekly "Editor's Note" on Saturdays is also one of my favorites.
I think it's really great that you wrote a little about the history of JazzWax today. Fascinating stuff! And I love what you wrote about Terry Teachout.
So keep up your great work and and keep taking these great New York photos. 😄👍
Happiest of Anniversary’s Marc. I am grateful to Hal McKusick who introduced me to JazzWax. To think it nearly perished a year ago makes me shutter. Terry’s books on Pops and Duke are among my very favorites in my large jazz book collection(too large, like Jackie O, they have become side tables). Funny too, Joe Mooney’s ultra cool vocals struck me when I by chance found that Sauter-Finegan record very early on. I had a family friend growing up who saw the band in the ‘50s, and he told me they had a microphone on every instrument. That’s how much they cared about the arrangements. He never forgot it. JazzWax has been a daily affirmation and education. A touchstone and an azimuth. Cheers, and keep on keepin’ on!
Dear Peter, I'm big fan of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and I think I have all of their records. I always wondered that there was no good re-release of their albums. Perhaps on Mosaic Records - "The Complete RCA Studio Recordings Of The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra". - That would be something. 🙂
Of course I have all the re-releases on CD that were published later. But I want a BIG BOX. 😄
I'm sure I'm not the only fan of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra here in Germany. But over the years I often talked to Jazzfans and one sentence was always there: "They don' swing". I think this orchestra is one of the interesting group of musicians ever. Especially the arrangements. 👍
I knew Eddie Sauter late in his life, and in 1980 I did a long interview with him for the NEA Jazz Oral History Program that is on file at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers/Newark. (I also played the Sauter/Finegan music in the 1980s with Harvey Estrin's 92nd Street Y Studio Orchestra.)
For years, I tried to interest Michael Cuscuna in doing a Mosaic box of the Sauter/Finegan recordings, but without success. There were several problems, I believe. One was that there was simply too much material, making producing such a box cost-prohibitive. (You may want a BIG BOX, Christian, but not too many listeners are willing to pay for one.) Another was that Michael seemingly thought that too much of the Sauter/Finegan music had little or no jazz content; it simply was not his cup of tea.
Hi Bill. Michael wasn't wrong, and your points above are spot-on. Today, I find that vast amounts of the Sauter-Finegan material hasn't aged well, ranging from magnificent to tripe. Hard to do a comprehensive box when quite a bit is dated and falls into Readers Digest pop. Not a knock, just that "It's Mutual" and "Doodletown Fifers" are worlds apart. Would need a curator/editor to pull the best stuff and leave the rest behind. Then again, much of the better material is already out on Jasmine and other labels. I saw Bill Finegan conduct the S-F Orchestra (modified) in concert at Town Hall in 1987. It was quite exciting, throwing the head into a Norman Rockwell mindset—a good thing!
Thanks so much for that information, Bill. I haven't listened to those recordings in years. I've really got the urge to listen to a CD later this evening. 👍
Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan did not set out to have a swing band, anymore more than Stan Kenton did. They felt, as did Artie Shaw, that by the 1950s the swing band format had been exhausted. They had a jazz orchestra with pop music appeal, which was actually brainy and esoteric. It was an arrangers band, led by two arrangers.
I cannot adequately relate how much this blog has meant to me both in its current formate, and earlier. I am so glad Marc could find this groove and continue. I have a wall full of diplomas earned from learning and experiencing so much of Jazz history and other Marc-isms. Every day is a joy to see more flowing from this Mecca of jazz lore, history, and love. Thank you kind sir.
Happy 19th Marc! It's an amazing body of work that you've accumulated/documented that is a jazz Library of Alexandria. As Churchill would say, "Well done!"
Hi Bill, my great journalism professor at Northeastern University! Thanks so much. If I can give readers some serenity for 10 minutes each day and educate them on the best music, I've done my work. No better hobby than making people feel great. Hope you're having a lovely summer.
I can't believe that it has been 19 years. JazzWax has enriched our jazz community. A journey that was worth taking. Thanks, and best wishes for 19 more.
Happy 19th Birthday to JazzWax, Marc. 🎹🎶🎸🎺🎷🥁🥳
I look forward to every new JazzWax post every single day. And that happens with very few of the publications I read. I think I found you about 7-8 years ago on the "old" platform, where all your publications were totally free. I think it is absolutely right that you are now charging a small fee for your valuable work. Any serious jazz fan should have no hesitation whatsoever about showing their appreciation for you in this way every month. I also think it's good that you still have 2-3 free posts a week. That way, new subscribers can decide whether they want the paid version. Another aspect of Jazzwax is that you also frequently write about other musical styles and artists. And as a very big movie and TV fan -I take that just as seriously as jazz- I love your weekly streaming tips. 📺 And your weekly "Editor's Note" on Saturdays is also one of my favorites.
I think it's really great that you wrote a little about the history of JazzWax today. Fascinating stuff! And I love what you wrote about Terry Teachout.
So keep up your great work and and keep taking these great New York photos. 😄👍
Thank you Christian. Lovely words, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying!!!
Congrats on your 19th JazzWax anniversary. You've performed a helluva service.
And I too miss Terry Teachout--one of the classiest people I've ever known.
Congratulations on your JazzWax anniversary! Thanks!
So many thanks, Lisa. Glad you're aboard and enjoying!!
Happiest of Anniversary’s Marc. I am grateful to Hal McKusick who introduced me to JazzWax. To think it nearly perished a year ago makes me shutter. Terry’s books on Pops and Duke are among my very favorites in my large jazz book collection(too large, like Jackie O, they have become side tables). Funny too, Joe Mooney’s ultra cool vocals struck me when I by chance found that Sauter-Finegan record very early on. I had a family friend growing up who saw the band in the ‘50s, and he told me they had a microphone on every instrument. That’s how much they cared about the arrangements. He never forgot it. JazzWax has been a daily affirmation and education. A touchstone and an azimuth. Cheers, and keep on keepin’ on!
Dear Peter, I'm big fan of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and I think I have all of their records. I always wondered that there was no good re-release of their albums. Perhaps on Mosaic Records - "The Complete RCA Studio Recordings Of The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra". - That would be something. 🙂
Of course I have all the re-releases on CD that were published later. But I want a BIG BOX. 😄
I'm sure I'm not the only fan of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra here in Germany. But over the years I often talked to Jazzfans and one sentence was always there: "They don' swing". I think this orchestra is one of the interesting group of musicians ever. Especially the arrangements. 👍
I knew Eddie Sauter late in his life, and in 1980 I did a long interview with him for the NEA Jazz Oral History Program that is on file at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers/Newark. (I also played the Sauter/Finegan music in the 1980s with Harvey Estrin's 92nd Street Y Studio Orchestra.)
For years, I tried to interest Michael Cuscuna in doing a Mosaic box of the Sauter/Finegan recordings, but without success. There were several problems, I believe. One was that there was simply too much material, making producing such a box cost-prohibitive. (You may want a BIG BOX, Christian, but not too many listeners are willing to pay for one.) Another was that Michael seemingly thought that too much of the Sauter/Finegan music had little or no jazz content; it simply was not his cup of tea.
Hi Bill. Michael wasn't wrong, and your points above are spot-on. Today, I find that vast amounts of the Sauter-Finegan material hasn't aged well, ranging from magnificent to tripe. Hard to do a comprehensive box when quite a bit is dated and falls into Readers Digest pop. Not a knock, just that "It's Mutual" and "Doodletown Fifers" are worlds apart. Would need a curator/editor to pull the best stuff and leave the rest behind. Then again, much of the better material is already out on Jasmine and other labels. I saw Bill Finegan conduct the S-F Orchestra (modified) in concert at Town Hall in 1987. It was quite exciting, throwing the head into a Norman Rockwell mindset—a good thing!
It's Mutual...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9Gbz4gO9RU
... with Joe Mooney. Thanks for the link. 🙂
Thanks so much for that information, Bill. I haven't listened to those recordings in years. I've really got the urge to listen to a CD later this evening. 👍
Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan did not set out to have a swing band, anymore more than Stan Kenton did. They felt, as did Artie Shaw, that by the 1950s the swing band format had been exhausted. They had a jazz orchestra with pop music appeal, which was actually brainy and esoteric. It was an arrangers band, led by two arrangers.
I cannot adequately relate how much this blog has meant to me both in its current formate, and earlier. I am so glad Marc could find this groove and continue. I have a wall full of diplomas earned from learning and experiencing so much of Jazz history and other Marc-isms. Every day is a joy to see more flowing from this Mecca of jazz lore, history, and love. Thank you kind sir.
We, my dear man, are grateful
Happy 19th Marc! It's an amazing body of work that you've accumulated/documented that is a jazz Library of Alexandria. As Churchill would say, "Well done!"
Thanks, Bobby!!
Love to send you a birthday gift. How can I do that for a one time gift?
So sweet. The fact that you're a fan is enough of a gift, Roberta. Your support leaves me overjoyed. Truly.
Zelle you. PM me your mobile phone number, please.
Congrats to a great writer and jazz savant-
Hi Bill, my great journalism professor at Northeastern University! Thanks so much. If I can give readers some serenity for 10 minutes each day and educate them on the best music, I've done my work. No better hobby than making people feel great. Hope you're having a lovely summer.
Congrats - I’ve read so many of your posts over the (now) decades and remain in awe of your knowledge, fortitude and curiosity..💪🏽
So glad you're aboard and enjoying. A joy for me to share.
Thanks for 19 years, Marc! As a reader, I can hardly keep up. How you manage it 6 days a week is remarkable. I'm grateful for your energy!
Love and passion, Earl. And a desire to give readers a short break through music. Soothes the savage beast, I hear. Glad you're aboard and enjoying.
I can't believe that it has been 19 years. JazzWax has enriched our jazz community. A journey that was worth taking. Thanks, and best wishes for 19 more.
Thanks Sid. A joy to write it each day. And congrats to you for being the best jazz radio host around today. No soap radio.
Thanks for educating me over these many years.
You're welcome, Marc. Glad you're aboard and enjoying!
Congratulations. You are the Cal Ripken,Jr. of Jazz.
Ripken never missed a game because of a technical glitch at a web hosting server
Ha! Thanks, Dennis!!
Happy 19th anniversary, Marc. Great, interesting article. Look forward to reading you every day. Many thanks for the great work that you do.
Thank you, Marc-Antoine! A joy to bring it to you.
Congratulations Mark. It is amazing how a love for music can take you on such an amazing journey. So glad I discovered JazzWax.
Thanks, Jack. So glad you’re aboard and enjoying.