Category Archives: It’s been a ball!

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

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 →

Posted in Anniversary, Bebop, Celebration, Dedication, Dizzy Gillespie, It's been a ball!, Jazz History Lecture, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Jive, Madness | Comments Off

DIZZY GILLESPIE & “MANTECA”

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Brew

Posted in Celebration, coolness, Cubop, Dedication, Dizzy Gillespie, Francy Boland, Free Style, It's been a ball!, Jazz History Lecture, Jazz Standard, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Manteca | Comments Off

Since (almost!) absolutely nothing will change, a re-re-re-repost: FOR SOME REASON MOSTLY ALL BUT NOT IN THE KEY OF ‘C’ a.k.a. COLOGNE CARNIVAL 2017

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Brew

Oh yeah! — That’s all (as last year!) still very, very, I mean: Absolutely kinda like super-duuper-funny. It’s actually just laughably-ridiculously deeelightful. …LOLL. And so: Enjoy once again! CARNIVALESQUE BLUES & JAZZ FOLKS 1. While We Danced At The Mardi Gras … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Band Vocalist, Blogging is swell!, Carnival, Delikatessen...LOLL., Etymology, Exoticism, It's been a ball!, It's gonna be a ball, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Madness, Mardi Gras, Swing Era | Tagged bad habits, big band, Clarinet, great american songbook, jazz, jazz vocal, oldie | 2 Comments

BREW BAKER’s HOLIDAY THREE – ‘Live’ @Nunk Music – June 4, 2016

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Brew

Here’s to you, KD, my love Cheers! “THE TRANSLUCENT BLOOZE OF THE RUSSIAN MUSE” by Bruno Leicht (trumpet & composition) & Band: “MISS K.-ATTYA, MY DEAREST” by Bruno Leicht (trumpet & composition) & Band:

Posted in Blogging is swell!, Blues, Chet Baker, Dedication, Exoticism, It's been a ball!, Jazz Rhumba, Jazz Standard, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, June, Love, Minor Blues, Poetry, Portrait, Tongue In Cheek | Tagged great american songbook, guitar, harmon mute, jazz, jazz ballad, love, standard | Comments Off

ROY ELDRIDGE & GENE KRUPA – “SAINT LOUIS BLUES” – Two exciting takes from December 1942

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Brew

You don’t wanna know how those two tracks sounded before I laid my hands on them and erased the umpteen clicks, pops, blops, and last but not least before I corrected their pitches. As far as I know – … Continue reading →