Jazz

Friedwald, the author of books like –Jazz Singing: Americas Greatest Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop to Beyond—, –Sinatra! The Song is You: A Singers Art— and a contributor to Tony Bennetts autobiography –The Good Life.— Most recently, he wrote the liner notes for Mosaic Records release of –The Complete Columbia Mildred Bailey Sessions,— a comprehensive 10 disc set of the legendary singers recordings. He talks today about Baileys influence in American music.

J.J. Johnson, a pioneer of the modern jazz trombone died Sunday at his home in Indianapolis. He was 77. It was an apparent suicide. Johnson was considered the definitive trombonist of the bebop generation. He played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Wood Herman, and Miles Davis, often balancing that with leading his own band. Later in life, Johnson moved to Hollywood to work as a composer and arranger for television.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the reissue The Eminent J.J. Johnson, Volume 2

His new biography of Bing Crosby is called, Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams—the Early Years, 1903-1940 (Little Brown and Company). From 1930s to the 50s, Crosby was a pop culture icon, dominating American entertainment with his hit records and movies. In this first volume of the biography, Giddins chronicles the rise of Crosbys career. Giddins may be best known as a jazz columnist for the Village Voice. He won the 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award for his book Visions of Jazz. He was one of the experts featured in Ken Burns Jazz series on PBS.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new series of recordings called Live at the Left Bank"

We remember jazz bassist Milt Hinton. He died yesterday at the age of 90. Hinton was one of the great jazz bass players, having played with musicians like Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. Throughout his career, Hinton photographed the musicians he worked with, and the surroundings he moved through. His books of photographs are "Bass Line: The Stories and Photographs of Milt Hinton" (Temple University Press), and "Overtime: The Jazz Photographs of Milt Hinton"

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Carambola,” the new C-D from composer Chico O’Farrill, who is also the leader of the Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band in New York.

Big Sandy is the lead singer of the Fly Rite Boys a band that combines rockabilly, western swing, and hillbilly boogie sounds. They are currently on tour and have a new album “Night Tide” (High Tone Records). With it, they’ve taken a darker more personal bent. Big Sandy and his Fly Rite Boys have been making music together since 1988 and have recorded seven albums all told, including BIG Sandy's solo do-wop tribute, “Dedicated to You.”

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews pianist Uri Caine’s new 2 C-D set, “The Goldberg Variations” (Winter & Winter).

Jazz clarinetist Andy Biskin. His latest CD is “Dogmental,” (GM Recordings) by the Andy Biskin Quintet. Biskin is also a composer. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and is now based in Manhattan.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “4x4” (WATT/ECM) the latest CD by pianist and composer Carla Bley.

Jazz guitarist Russell Malone. The 35-year-old self-taught guitarist is widely acknowledged as one of the most versatile and complete jazz guitarists of his generation. Malone has played with a diverse group of artists including vocalist/pianist Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Clarence Carter, Little Anthony and Bucky Pizzarelli. He also fronts his own band. His new CD is called Look Who’s Here (Verve).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Contemporary Jazz, a new CD from saxophonist Branford Marsalis (Columbia Records).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Dogmental (GM label), the new CD by the Andy Biskin Quintet.

Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Called one of the greatest improvisers in the history of jazz, Jarrett was famous for his wildly passionate solo recitals. In 1996, Jarrett came down with a mysterious illness—- an interstitial bacterial parasite-- that caused him to stop performing for about two and a half years. Jarrett has started performing and recording again, but he still keeps a low public profile, so his condition will not worsen again. His newest CD, Whisper Not (Universal Classics), will be released next month.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Thelonious Monk: The Complete Prestige Recordings” (Prestige)

Jazz saxophonist James Carter. He has just released two new CDs— “Chasin’ the Gypsy” and “Layin’ in the Cut” (Atlantic Records). The 31-year-old New York based musician was discovered at the age of 17 by Wynton Marsalis. He’s played with Marsalis, the late Lester Bowie and Kathleen Battle. He has been praised by jazz musicians and critics alike; Richard Harrington of the Washington Post once wrote, “To hear saxophonist James Carter is to be blown away.”

We’ll speak to Kathryn King about her mother, jazz singer Jeri Southern. King co-produced a new re-issue of her Southern’s work from the fifties (The Very Thought of You: Jeri Southern/The Decca Years, 1951-57/GRP Records). Miles Davis once said she was his favorite singer. She’s been described as “smoky-voiced.” Southern died in 1991 at the age of 64. King has worked in the record industry for 25 years as a corporate executive and independent producer.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Malinke” (Omnitone) the new recording by Marty Ehrlich.

Screenwriter/actress Polly Draper and jazz pianist Michael Wolff have co-produced “The Tic Code.” The new film is about a mother and her son, a musical prodigy with Tourette’s syndrome. The syndrome is a nervous disorder that produces uncontrollable facial tics and jerky muscular spasms, as well as causing strange noises to be emitted from those who have the disorder. Polly Draper wrote the film based on the life of her husband, Michael Wolff.