Thursday, April 06, 2017
Happy 91St Birthday to Randy Weston, a truly Great man.
Happy 91st Birthday. One of my second fathers. I learned so much from this man. One of my heroes. I spent a lot of time with him in the early eighties. I had the good fortune of hosting him at my home here in Atlanta in 1989. For four days my home was like Hemingway's "Movable Feast".
Tuesday, April 04, 2017
Arthur Blythe, acclaimed jazz musician, dies aged 76 | Music | The Guardian
OMG, Arthur based. I knew Arthur well during the 1980s and 1990s. I met him first in the 70s. He was a great player. I did a show with him at the Atlanta jazz festival in 1991 where he played just before Jackie McLean. At one tome his "In The Tradition" quartet with John Hicks on piano, Fred Hopkins on bass and Steve McCall on traps was this hippest quartet inn the City. Arthur was a lot of fun. I remember one time he was visiting my Bronx apartment with a mutual lady friend of ours and I played a record by blues guitarist Johnny Copeland which I had an alto saxophone solo on it. I jokingly asked Arthur who was [;lying saxophone. He said he did not know. I said it is you Arthur. We had a good laugh. I really liked Arthur. He singled handedly brought the tuba back into small group jazz wit his trio then later quintet recordings with tuba player Bob Stewart. Arthur had a searing tone on alto that reminded be of a cross between Johnny Hodges's beauty and a blow torch. His tone was unmistakeable and incredibly appealing. He will be missed.
Arthur Blythe, acclaimed jazz musician, dies aged 76 | Music | The Guardian: ""
Saturday, April 01, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
John Coltrane Documentary Chasing Trane Coming to Theaters | Pitchfork
"A new trailer has been released for a forthcoming documentary about John Coltrane, titled Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Story. Watch it below via Vanity Fair. Combining archival footage, photographs and performances, the film tells the story of the jazz musician's short but powerful life. Since Coltrane gave minimal radio interviews and never gave a television interview before he died at age 40, Denzel Washington narrates his words. ‘In many of his roles Denzel radiates an exceptional quiet strength,’ said director-writer John Scheinfeld in a statement. 'Coltrane, many of his friends told me, embodied a similar strength.’
The documentary also features Common, Kamasi Washington, Carlos Santana, Wynton Marsalis, Bill Clinton, Sonny Rollins, Dr. Cornel West, and more, who discuss Coltrane's significance and impact. His family and the labels that own his catalogue all lent their support to the film's production.
Chasing Trane will be screening at the IFC Theater in New York City beginning April 14 with a wider release to follow.
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(Via.). John Coltrane Documentary Chasing Trane Coming to Theaters | Pitchfork: