Italian Piano[Monday Notes no. 131] Chick Webb was one of the first great jazz drummers, his career was short but many drummers were inspired by him. Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Sid Catlett, Jo Jones and others paid homage to Chick Webb and considered him a master. We listen to his orchestra playing Blues in My Heart,…Continue readingChick Webb, Blues in My Heart
[Monday Notes no. 110] In its original version Footprints is an avant-garde piece, at the same time the simplicity of the harmonic progression has turned it into a jam session piece that anyone can play. It is difficult to think of another piece in which these opposite qualities coexist. Let us listen to and analyse…Continue readingFootprints, a jazz classic between avant-garde and jam session
[Monday Notes no. 17] Every art has its own magic places, where at a particular moment something special and decisive happened. For jazz music, one of these places is certainly Minton’s, where some musicians used to meet late at night for endless jam sessions, sometimes after playing elsewhere. Drummer Kenny Clarke was one of them.Continue readingKenny Clarke & Charlie Parker, Si Si. Bebop nights at Minton
[Monday Notes no. 64] Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers have been one of the longest-running ensembles in jazz history. The drummer featured dozens of talented young men in his band, contributing to their growth. However, Art Blakey always maintained the leadership of his band, as we see in this recording where the Jazz Messengers play Like…Continue readingArt Blakey, Like Someone In Love. An inspiring teacher for young jazz musicians.
