CiTR -- The Jazz Show

Tonight's Jazz Feature is all about some of the "keepers of the Jazz flame". These five talented gentlemen are some of the busiest and most active people on the New York Jazz scene. They are all internationally known and all of them are leaders on their individual instruments. They play in other bands but they all come together as they do on this disc and make some significant music. This album re...

This beautifully introspective and reflective album features two great music masters. Gary Peacock, one of the premier bassists in the history of Jazz and improvised music and classical and 12-string guitarist Ralph Towner. The music here is also quietly intense and belies the fact that only two people are playing and acoustically at that! This wonderful album was recorded in Oslo for ECM Records...

Phil Woods was one of the great alto saxophone masters. He arrived on the New York scene in the early 50s and established himself as a major voice. Arguably the 3 young heralds of the alto saxophone after Charlie Parker's death in March 1955 were Phil Woods, Jackie McLean and a young school teacher from Florida named Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. Woods recorded as a leader and worked with Dizzy Gi...

Charles Mingus looms large as one of the true greats of American Jazz. Composer, virtuoso bassist and pianist and a man who like Duke Ellington created his own brand of music. Two different recording sessions are represented here. The first is from January 1963 with an 11 piece ensemble. Two updates of Mingus compositions featuring the passionate alto saxophone work of the late Charlie Mariano. "I...

These recordings were made for two small related labels when pianist/composer Elmo Hope returned to his native New York in 1961 after four up and down years in Los Angeles. These labels called "Beacon" and "Celebrity" were poorly distributed and sadly for Elmo Hope, received scant attention and yet they were some of his finest compositions and playing. They are fortunately more available today and...

Saxophonist Oliver Nelson was a man for all musical seasons. He played all of the saxophones specializing in alto, tenor and later soprano saxophone. He was a masterful composer and arranger. Even though he recorded prolifically and was responsible for a few real classics, this session is a little bit overlooked. It is a well organized session as all Nelson's records are but with less emphasis on...

Roy Haynes is now 91 years' old and still performing and touring and has lost nothing to age. He has always when not fully committed to a band led a small group and usually a quartet with a horn, piano, bass and himself. We go back to Los Angeles for a very rare date done in May 1964 with his Quartet. Frank Strozier is one of the unsung giant of the alto saxophone possessing a sound and individual...

The mystery behind this little Chicago based band is simple. The MJT stands for the "Modern Jazz Two" This was bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Walter Perkins. They were the most sought after rhythm players on the Chicago scene in the late 50s. They recruited two horn players and a pianist and they comprised the "+3". After a few personnel changes, the band was set. Willie Thomas, a fine brass pro...

Tonight's Jazz Feature is possibly the final recording by virtuoso bassist Gary Peacock. Mr Peacock has been at the forefront of this music for many years and has explored many avenues of this music. He is perhaps best known for his work with Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette in that magical and profound trio. Peacock has ventured out on his own as leader a few times and this album will be perhaps hi...

Ken McIntyre (alto saxophone/flute) and Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone/flute/bass clarinet) combine their talents on this wonderful one-off outing done for Prestige (New Jazz) in June 28,1960 (Eric Dolphy's Birthday). These two saxophonists had been signed by Prestige and it was suggested that they record together as they were both reflective of some of the new ideas that were coming into Jazz in the...

Howard McGhee was one of the first trumpeters to play the new Jazz music of the 40s called Bebop. Howard came out of several big bands and played with Coleman Hawkins and even more importantly, Charlie Parker during Parker's time in California in 1946/47. McGhee was at the top of his game when he returned to New York and made some historic recordings with his friend Fats Navarro in the McGhee/Nava...

This was a gathering of a group of then young men, mostly in their 20s in January 1959 in New York for this informal get-together. All of these men were now living in New York and had established themselves on the national Jazz scene. Several were part of some great working bands and some were freelancing. They all came together on this recording. All of these men were born and had their first ear...

This was the album that showed guitar great Jim Hall the door to becoming the Jazz icon that he was. This was Hall's debut date under his own name and proved that this young man in January 1957 when this date was recorded was headed for greatness. Hall went on to become one of the most influential guitarists in Jazz History and had a long and very productive career. His partners here include the l...

Walter Benton was a fine tenor saxophonist who's career was long and productive, especially as a sideman but he remained in undeserved obscurity. His only recording under his name is tonight's Jazz Feature. He deserved more but it never happened. The recording was done when Walter had ventured to New York from his native Los Angeles to join Max Roach's band. He was given this date and hand-picked...

Thelonious Monk had a long and productive contract with Columbia records but in 1968 it was coming to an end. Soon after his saxophonist of 11 years, Charlie Rouse was leaving and Monk's health was a bit fragile as well. This was the penultimate Columbia album and the final documentation of Monk's working Quartet. The album was called "Underground" and it's iconic cover won more awards and attenti...

This edition of the Stan Kenton Orchestra was one of his finest and when this 7 part suite was commissioned by Stan for composer Johnny Richards, it was perfect timing. Richards was of Mexican and Cuban ancestry although born in the USA and this suite reflects his Latino heritage. Richards was a prolific writer and arranger and this suite is one of his finest works. The big Kenton Orchestra is aug...

This amazing edition of master drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was together with this same personnel from the Fall of 1961 until the Spring of 1964. This powerful band made many great albums both live and in the studio. Tonight's album was the final statement by this band with this group of players and the four tunes on this record captured the band at it's very best just like it would sound...

This modern classic album is arguably considered to be a "perfect recording". We all know that "perfection" in art is not possible but I must say this album comes very close to that ideal. There is a total unity of purpose in this band and in Hancock's music. Herbie Hancock had by the time of this recording established himself as one of the major piano players of the 60s along with McCoy Tyner. Ha...

This historic and ground-breaking record date was done on December 24, 1954 and was a meeting of all-stars. Miles Davis on trumpet was the nominal leader and he performs with Thelonious Monk on piano, Milt Jackson on vibes, Percy Heath on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. This record date has become a Christmas Jazz Feature on The Jazz Show and an annual tradition. It's not Christmas music per se bu...

Clifford Jordan is from Chicago and is a graduate of the legendary DuSable High School music program. Many many famous musicians and performers graduated from this school and the music program was under the venerable Captain Walter Dyett who taught, reading, discipline, tone and ability to blend with other instruments. Jordan worked with Horace Silver, Max Roach, J.J. Johnson and Charles Mingus an...

The title really explains it all. This great self-taught guitarist is considered one of the finest players of his instrument in Jazz music. In 1956 Talmadge "Tal" Farlow had several long club gigs in New York with this drumless trio comprising of piano virtuoso Eddie Costa and bassist Vinnie Burke. They took the Farlow Trio into the recording studio on May 31, 1956 and recorded this wonderful upli...

Little is known about Fred Jackson except he was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 which today would make him 87 or 88. if he is still with us. He dropped out of the music scene around 1965 and nothing since. He came from a Rhythm and Blues background and worked with Little Richard, B.B. King and especially Lloyd Price where he was Mr. Price's musical director. Jackson is a tenor saxophonist in the...

This session began as a small group date with Mingus' Jazz Workshop band but because he was recording for major label Mingus convinced the powers that be to increase the budget to bring in more people. This happened and this turned out to be a date for a large ensemble...24 pieces! It was done in 2 sessions, one with the very large ensemble and the other the next day with his expanded small band....

George General "Gigi" Gryce was one of the most important Jazz musicians in the 1950s and early 60s. He collaborated with most of the major musicians as an alto saxophonist, composer or arranger. He wrote some memorable tunes and they are often played to this day. In around 1962, he quit music altogether and for the rest of his life became an inspiring inner-city school teacher. He began to use hi...

Drummer Chico Hamilton led a very successful Quintet through the late 50s that was one of the most popular groups in Jazz. The music he played was fun but very stylized and tightly arranged and it allowed some freedoms but with restrictions. Chico grew restless and was growing tired of this style of Jazz despite it's commercial success. Hamilton was hearing and being exposed to some different soun...