Recorded 2005, Barcelona, Spain. It’s a bit difficult to understand how, after more than four decades of playing guitar, Derek Bailey developed a debilitating case of carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s not like holding a pick was something new to him, but the condition (fortunately confined to his right hand) made it such that he was no longer able to hold a “plectrum.” This fact comes out … Continue reading Derek Bailey – Explanation & Thanks (2005)
Step Across the Border is a 1990 avant-garde documentary film on English guitarist, composer and improviser Fred Frith. It was written and directed by Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzel and released in Germany and Switzerland. The film was screened in cinemas in North America, South America, Europe and Japan, and on television in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. It was also released … Continue reading Fred Frith – Step Across The Border (1990)
From the album The Berlin Concerts, recorded in Berlin in 1961. Eric Dolphy (as), Benny Bailey (tp), Pepsi Auer (pf), George Joyner (b), Buster Smith (ds) [Dedicated Ronnie Rocket with a Happy Birthday] Continue reading Eric Dolphy – Hot House (1961)
“The Earth” from Akira Ishikawa “African Rock” (1972). Continue reading Akira Ishikawa – The Earth (1972)
In December 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker made history by bringing the frenetic sounds of bebop—then primarily an underground scene for in-the-know musicians—from the East to the West Coast for a two-month residency at Billy Berg’s Hollywood jazz club. It was the beginning of a harrowing and occasionally productive two year-stint for Parker bumming around L.A., showing up at jam sessions, crashing on people’s … Continue reading Charlie Parker – Relaxin’ at Camarillo (1947)
“I think Miles would’ve loved Erykah,” pianist and producer Robert Glasper told Rolling Stone recently, during a conversation about Everything’s Beautiful, an upcoming album on which he reworked snippets of Miles Davis’ studio recordings to create entirely new tracks. One of the highlights of the release, which stemmed from Glasper’s soundtrack work for Don Cheadle’s audacious Davis biopic, Miles Ahead, is a simmering bossa nova … Continue reading Miles Davis, Robert Glasper ft. Erykah Badu – Maiysha (So Long) (2016)
Here is the first edition of the new ‘Now That’s What I Call New Jazz United’ compilation series. The 10 tracks here are all brand new releases and you can get most of them on vinyl. If anyone tells you that jazz is dead, just pass them this blog link! Photo: Saxophonist Oliver Lake. Continue reading Now That’s What I Call New Jazz United, Vol. 1
