Category Archives: Saxophone

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

Update of ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN SWING: DON REDMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA – I GOT RHYTHM – JUNE 30, 1932

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Brew

Quote: “On 30 June 1932, Don Redman and His Orchestra made the first wholly instrumental recording of “I Got Rhythm” – an early example of many black musicians’ tendency to omit Ira Gershwin’s lyrics.” … but not only was it … Continue reading →

Posted in Etymology, George Gershwin, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Jive, Saxophone, Swing Era | Tagged big band, great american songbook, great solo, jazz, living jazz history, private tape, standard, up tempo | 2 Comments

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

“AN IDENTIFYING JOHNNY HODGES MEDLEY”, said the Duke of Ellington at Carnegie Hall, on December 27, 1947

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Brew

The experts among you will immediately think: ‘Why, for heaven’s sake, did Brew take this medley as the first sound example from the very concert where the Duke and his men performed “LIBERIAN SUITE” for the very first time?’ Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, Carnegie Hall, Christmas, December, Dedication, Duke Ellington, Etymology, Exoticism, Film Noir, Germans, Jazz Stories & Tales, Invented Truths & Actual Happenings, Jive, Johnny Hodges, Poetry, Portrait, Saxophone, Sonny Greer, Tongue In Cheek, Winter, World War II | Tagged altosaxophone, beauty, big band, blues, cool, great solo, jazz, jazz ballad, language, medley, standard | Comments Off

Complete for the first time: CHARLIE PARKER’s “BARBADOS”, ‘Live’ in Paris, May 1949

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Brew

Anyone who knows the LP-version (pictured) will love this: ‘Cause it’s the very first time you can listen to this version of “BARBADOS” with all four theme statements by the Charlie Parker Quintet, and without some distortions due to the … Continue reading →

Posted in All American Rhythm Section, Charlie Parker, Dedication, Exoticism, Jazz in Paris, May, Salle Pleyel, Saxophone | Tagged bebop, blues, great solo, jazz, jazz quintet, jazz rhumba, living jazz history, private tape, standard | Comments Off

THE HAWK I LOVE — Coleman Hawkins in 1943: “CRAZY RHYTHM” & “HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN”

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Brew

Hi there, swingin’ folks — In the light of a recent article at Michael Steinman’s “Jazz Lives”, I think it’s about time to write something new, closely connected to this very entry. ‘Round twenty years ago, I went to a … Continue reading →