Setting here on a Sunday morning listening to Michael Petrucciani’s 1985 Cold Blues album. Perfect down time, look at the Sunday paper, and second cup of coffee music. Michael’s playing is a cross between Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, very intellectual. The bass work here by Ron McClure is very bright. Michael Petrucciani was a French jazz pianist who trained for years as a classical pianist but jazz remained as his main interest. He passed Jan. 6th, 1999 and left a good body of work. Along with his fellow country man Martial Solal they are France’s premere jazz pianist. He is one of my favorite, Discover!!
Fantasy Records salutes the famed pianist, who, despite gold records and global acclaim as a renowned jazz artist, will always be best known for his cheerful, uplifting work with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Although he passed away at the young age of 47 in 1976, Vince Guaraldi will always live on in the minds and hearts of jazz and music fans of all ages; and this special 2-CD set is the ideal salute to this very deserving artist. The ablum includes 2 previously unreleased tracks and features extended liner notes by noted jazz historian Doug Ramsey.
Febuary 1961, a famous gig took place at a location well known for being the birth place of Bebop.
Up At Minton’s
Stanley Turrentine a great tenor saxophonist, Grant Green on guitar and the Horace Parlan Trio played at New Yorks “Mintons Playhouse”. This album is a true classic, full of energy and will have you jumpin in your seat. It has been discontinued but still available as a MP3 download from Amazon.
Jazz Icons a series of DVD’s from studio and concert performances of some of the greatest in jazz history. Beautifully transfered from the original masters, featuring video in many cases have never been seen by the public.
Jazz Icons
Titles sold seperately or individually, series 1-4 are available for anyone who loves jazz music.
Ramsey Lewis (born May 27, 1935) is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. He has been referred to as “the great performer”, a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, etc.) along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received five gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.
He has released approximately 80 albums over a 50-year career. After several years of live performances and over a dozen albums which only caught the attention of jazz fans, the Ramsey Lewis Trio made a huge impression on mainstream audiences with the 1965 album The In Crowd. The title-track was a No.5 pop hit, and the album reached No.2. Moving further towards a pop version of Jazz, “Wade In The Water” and “Hang On Sloppy” the following year were also commercial successes.
His most successful album of the 70s was Sun Goddess.
The Legends Of Jazz television series now on DVD and CD format, hosted by Lewis was broadcast on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray, Lonnie Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny and Tony Bennett.
Hank Jones Trio’s 1956 Savoy album “Bluebird” is a joy!!! Discontinued as an album but still available as an MP3 download. The sound reproduction is good and clear and his special guest ( Herbie Mann, Joe Wilder, Donald Byrd, Kenny Clarke, Wendell Marshall, Jerome Richardson, and Matty Dice) playing on the album perform wonderfully. This is a Gem of an album, a find, something you may not see in everyone’s jazz collection, but it’s is some hot, hoppin’ jazz!!!
