Category Archives: Anniversary

HAPPY 90th ANNIVERSARY, MR. SONNY “Saxophone Colossus” ROLLINS!!!

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Brew

Dear Mr. Rollins — You have been, and you still are, one of my main inspirations. And I’m just a trumpeter. Since I heard your grandiose album Sonny Rollins in Sweden, or your highly praised encounter with your own master, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversary, Cherokee, Saxophone, Sonny Rollins, Soul, Sweden | 1 Comment

RE: 4th of July — A SOLID AFFAIR: Duke Ellington’s Interpretation of THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER — Carnegie Hall, January 23, 1943

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Brew

Since we are living in grim times where some parody of a president is twittering confused messages nearly every hour, I’m daring to post this parody of one of the most famous war memorials of all times: The United States … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, 1954, Anniversary, Carnegie Hall, Celebration, Duke Ellington, Impersonation, It's been a ball!, January, Jazz Adaptation, Jazz History Lecture, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Madness | Comments Off

BELATED HAPPY 80th ANNIVERSARY BENNY GOODMAN & FRIENDS AT CARNEGIE HALL, January 16, 1938!

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Brew

While some folks think that all has been said about this significant event in jazz history, here are some things you might not know. One of my fellow bloggers, Mr. Eric Bogart, has detected one of two little details, only … Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, All American Rhythm Section, Anniversary, Benny Goodman, Birthday Party, Carnegie Hall, CD review, Clarinet, Dedication, Gene Krupa, George Gershwin, Harry James, It's been a ball!, January, Jazz History Lecture, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young, Martha Tilton, Ziggy Elman | Tagged big band, Carnegie Hall, Clarinet, drum feature, endless solo, great american songbook, great solo, jazz, jazz quartet, living jazz history, race, standard, Swing Era | Comments Off

Update: SONNY ROLLINS’ “AIREGIN” is about “ORIGIN” is about “OXYGEN” is about “NIGERIA”

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Brew

I guess that headline sums it up what Sonny subconsciously wanted to tell us with “Airegin” which is one of his greatest hits beside “St. Thomas”, “Oleo”, and “Doxy”. Here it is in its initial performance, as played by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversary, Chet Baker, Dedication, Etymology, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Native Americans, Portrait, Saxophone, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Trumpet, Wes Montgomery | Tagged bebop, great solo, guitar, jazz, language, living jazz history, love, race, standard, up tempo | 4 Comments

DIZZY’s big P.S. to his kinda BOSSA NOVA – 1966

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Brew

Another fantastic rendition of “No More Blues” (a.k.a. Chega de Saudade) has been broadcasted by BBC2 as part of their “Jazz 625” series in August 1966, featuring Dizzy Gillespie (tp) James Moody (as/ fl) Kenny Baron (p) Christopher White (b) … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversary, Birthday Party, Bossa Nova, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings | Comments Off

THE DIZZY GILLESPIE QUINTET in ITALY, 1960

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Brew

This is a superb set, presenting everything from, err, plain bebop to latin rhythms and also some fun vocal. Birks was at the peak of his creative powers then, and there was no one on the planet – at this … Continue reading →

Posted in Anniversary, Birthday Party, Celebration, Dedication, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings | Comments Off

JIVIN’ IN BE-BOP (1947)

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Brew

Jivin’ In Be-Bop (1947) Learn more HERE. Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra: Dave Burns, Dizzy Gillespie, Elmon Wright, Matthew McKay, Ray Orr (tp) Taswell Baird, Bill Shepherd (tb) Howard Johnson, John Brown (as) George “Big Nick” Nicholas, Joe Gayles (ts) … Continue reading →