HOLIDAYS

Have wonderful holidays and listen to some good jazz and other music if you get a chance.

ANOTHER GIFT POSSIBILITY

I really enjoy Nina Simone and recently rediscovered her four cd box set "Four Women".   It's on  Philips and has some of her great versions expressing her thoughts about several topics.  The albums that are covered were done in the 1960 era.  If you like Nina I think you'll be pleased with this. Nina is quoted in the notes of this box set, "Freedom, to me, is the definition of what jazz is."  Buy it for yourself. 

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/wyntonmarsalis/posts/10152832454392976 Hopefully this link will get you to a Facebook post by Wynton Marsalis honoring Clark Terry.  Have the tissues nearby when you read it.  Music, Jazz, and Musicians - THANK THE GOOD LORD

MORE HOLIDAY GIVING

The Modern Jazz Quartet, "The Complete Last Concert".  A great two record set.  Two plus hours of great jazz from one of the best jazz quartets ever!  Give it to yourself if you don't have it.

KIND OF BLUE 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET

In the spirit of giving gifts, I highly recommend the 50th Anniversary Box Set Edition of Miles' Kind of Blue album.  Give it to someone you know is a devout fan of Miles and this album, or , get somebody to give it to you!  It is great!  There are lots of wonderful goodies included.  Happy Holidays!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

If you are looking for a Christmas album to provide tasteful background music during the holiday season I highly recommend Kenny Burrell's "Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas".  This gem has been around since 1966 and still provides a classy touch during this time of year.  Of course, it's by a master so it can be enjoyed any time of year.

Once again I was the beneficiary of great live jazz at BEYU Caffee last night.  The Michael Jones Trio made even the quiet members of the audience shake their head, pat their feet, clap their hands and shout oh yeah.  Big thanks to the performers and BEYU.  Whenever you are in or around Durham, NC check out the BEYU and find out where Michael Jones is playing - get there.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

My friend, college classmate and fellow employee, Mickey Schwerner will be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, posthumously today by President Obama.  How fitting that our first Black president will be making the award to three young men who lost their lives working to get voting rights for Blacks in Mississippi fifty years ago.  Mickey was a big Ray Charles fan, so I'll be listening to "What'd I Say" and other Ray Charles goodies all day in fond memory of Mickey and his fellow civil rights workers.

MORE FREE JAZZ

A reminder  -  Thursday, Nov 20, 7:30pm - Trombone Summit, B N Duke auditorium NCCU campus.  Top flight jazz musicians - Robert Trowers, Vincent Gardner.  This should be another good one.

WNCU GOSPEL MUSIC

A take away from my listening time with the Sunday Gospel programs on WNCU 90.7 on the FM dial and streaming at wncu.org -  Never look down on a man unless you are in the process of picking him up. 

FREE LIVE JAZZ

FREE LIVE JAZZ

NCCU campus B N DUKE AUDITORIUM  7pm tonight  jazz studies instrumental and vocal groups

NCCU  campus B N DUKE AUDITORIUM  7:30pm THURSDAY  TROMBONE SUMMIT

Happening tonight at Duke University Chapel,  first time ever jazz vespers.  Check with Duke for more details.

If you are looking for a group to perform good sounding jazz but with an African slant check out Muningu.  They  hail from the Congo and have a full rich sound - piano, guitar, electric bass, drums.  I believe they are available - contact  Nelson Smith,  Sugar Creek Entertainment, 154 Mciver Street, Sanford,, NC 27330,  919-542-7712, sugarcreek1953@gmail.com.  I've heard them three or four times at the Wednesday night jam session at BEYU Caffe in Durham.  They somewhat reminded me of Hugh Masekela.  Enjoyable. You will find them if you do a google search.  They did not have the American singer with them on the nights I saw them.

Lenora Helm, Lynn Grissett are not connected to the radio show.  A little more on them in a bit. Meanwhile you will find them if you do a search.

The radio show on 10/21 was a bunch of fun, my favorite kind of activity.  I can send a file if you missed it and would like to give a listen.  Check out Lenora Helm.  Also give a listen to Lynn Grissett.

Give a listen on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 to WNCU 90.7FM or online at wncu.org (they stream) about 1pm for maybe an hour or so.  I'm scheduled to be a guest host on the Bop, Blues, and Ballads show with the regular host Aasim Inshirah.  It's the membership/fundraising time for the station.  I hope to be able to spin a few tunes that folks don't get to hear too often (and a few that they hear a lot).  This should be fun.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/353256144/jazzset-signs-off  A summary of the 23 year history of a very good and informative jazz program.  You'll most likely find lots of things to follow up on.

http://beyucaffe.com/events/the-ira-wiggins-quartet-5/  I was in the house for a performance by these folks on 9/13/2014.  Good mainstream sounds.  If you find the Ira Wiggins quartet playing anywhere near you go check them out.  As you can probably tell I am also a fan of the BEYU Caffe.  It's a great place to hear live jazz and other good music, or just to hang.  The following week I got to hear John Brown who's the head of the jazz program at Duke University here in Durham in concert http://www.jbjazz.com/john-brown-quintet-concert/  It was big fun with outstanding performances by the entire group.  Cyrus Chestnut - WOW.  Durham, NC and surrounding areas getting better and better for jazz.

Talent plus

http://beyucaffe.com/events/akua-allrich/  check this lady out if you hear of her being anywhere you can get to.  Heard her last night.  She was outstanding.  If you are in the DC area you should have a good chance of catching up with her.

Birthdays today - two greats,  John Coltrane & Ray Charles.

We lost Joe Sample on September 12, 2014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/09/13/348213148/a-talent-that-bridged-genres-jazz-pianist-joe-sample-dies.  He made some great contributions.  Listen to anything by the Crusaders and you'll remember/discover how great he was. Condolences to his family.

It's fifty years since Coltrane's release of "A Love Supreme".  There was an excellent session on this work last night in Durham, NC.  It was led by the author of "A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album", Ashley Kahn and Branford Marsalis.  Marsalis recorded a version of "A Love Supreme" in 2004.  The recording and book might be something to check out.

Lest we forget.  Click this link for some 1978 generated excitement that still is smokin' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

Take a look at the newspaper article at this link http://www.heraldsun.com/news/showcase/x571857000/WNCU-kicks-off-20th-anniversary-celebration  I'm quoted near the end.  The article provides some interesting info on WNCU 90.7 FM, the great jazz station in Durham, NC.

Check out the rare performance of  Stan Getz, John Coltrane, and Oscar Peterson playing together for what was probably the only time they did appear together at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCGdmrP8Xc.  Very enjoyable. Ed

The 21st of  June fifty years ago, Mickey Schwerner and two of his comrades went missing in Philadelphia, Mississippi.  Their bodies were not recovered until August 4th, approximately 40 days later.  Mickey was my college classmate and friend.  He loved Ray Charles, especially "Baby What'd I Say".  In honor of  the sacrifice Mickey and his comrades made for Civil Rights I'll  be listening  to a lot of  Ray Charles for the next month or so.  I throw in Nina Simone doing "Mississippi Goddamn" just for good measure.  Feel free to listen and remember when you get a chance.

We lost Horace Silver yesterday.  He provided lots of folks with lots of great music for a long time.  For your listening pleasure catch  Horace doing "Senor Blues", "Song For My Father", and "Sister Sadie".  That's just for starters.  He'll be missed.

For your listening pleasure give Blue Monk by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band on their album My Feet Can't Fail Me Now,  and Papa Was A Rolling Stone by Ray Brown and others on the album SuperBass2 a listen.  Some great sounds that we probably don't get to hear too often.

OH YEAH!

Sometimes letting things just happen works out pretty good.  I let my mp3  player operate in the whatever is next mode.  I rediscovered how good Hubert Laws is to have in your collection.  His version of  "Come Ye Disconsolate" is amazing.  If you've been neglecting Mr. Laws you owe it to your soul to give him an audience very soon.

I meant to mention the names of a couple of Hubert Laws' albums that I've been enjoying - "Afro-Classic (Remaster) "  and  "In The Beginning".

"KILLER JOE",    Any idea where he lived?

HELLO

Hey!  Stay tuned for a good time to be had by all!