Power and Style, in the Ring and the World By Dwight Garner, The New York Times Published: November 24, 2009 SWEET THUNDER The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson By Wil Haygood Illustrated. 461 pages. Alfred A. Knopf. US$27.95. In the late 1930s, when he was still an amateur fighter, Sugar Ray Robinson began lugging an old Victrola record player around with him on the road. He’d bring a stack...
It wasn't very Islington. You could sense a deep intake of breath as a smart Friday-night Kings Place full house caught its first sight of Antonello Salis (photo credit : Fabio Presutti). A bright yellow bandana, and in its shade the impish weather-beaten face of a Sardinian approaching 60 (the salt got into his surname too). A black singlet revealing an awful lot of toned- if not exactly youthful...
European Jazz Jamboree Berlin, Germany September 18-24, 2009 20 years after the Berlin Wall came down, the global appreciation of Germany's jazz is arguably finally getting its due, with no small help from the European Jazz Jamboree (EJJ). In its sophomore year, EJJ has quickly garnered attention throughout Europe, and now the States, too, is (and/or should be) taking notice. Founded and run by entrepreneur...
I tend to avoid tribute albums. Barring a handful of gems, among them Louis Armstrong's salutes to Fats Waller and W.C. Handy, most miss the mark because they try too hard to one-up or mimic the subject of their adulation. One of the rare exceptions is Tom Talbert's Bix, Duke, Fats. Recorded in 1956 for Atlantic Records, the album features dynamic arrangements by Talbert for three different studio...
Mike Durham (tpt/vcl/narration), John Crocker (Ten/clt), Keith Nichols (pno/vcl), Keith Stephens (bjo/gtr), Bruce Rollo (bs), Pete Soulsby (dms). A tried and tested formula by the musicians involved pleased another well-attended session at Trinity Church , Gosforth - this time held in the church itself to enable Keith Nichols to play "Sugar" on the mighty church console. The evening, devoted...
Above, the headline of Terry Teachout's appreciation in today's Wall Street Journal of the master. Up top, Tatum in a 1954 TV performance of Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays." From the article: ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• For the critic, the word "best"...
... a Fats Waller tribute with Keith Nichols, John Crocker, Keith Stephens, Mike Durham, Bruce Rollo and Pete Soulsby. Tonight's recital is in the actual church rather than the centre to enable 'Fats' Nichols to recreate some of Waller's work on the 'Mighty Wurlitzer'. Another 3 figure audience is anticipated so the Gosforth Gang are doing something right in their promotion of 'The Devil's Music'....
Dick Katz, a pianist, record producer, educator and writer whose knowledge of jazz from the stride-piano era to 1960s modernism made him a valuable presence on New Yorks jazz scene for six decades, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. He was 85. The cause was lung cancer, said his son Jamie. Mr. Katzs piano idols were soloist royalty: Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Fats Waller. But he was a more reserved musician,...
I don't normally do this sort of thing, as it's always struck me as too-easy blog fodder, but I have to admit that my iPod shuffle put together a particularly nice playlist at the gym this a.m. 1: "Rub 'Til...
I don't recall exactly where I got the idea to post on my favorite jazz musician, but the idea has already paid off twice beyond the enjoyment that Fats Waller 's music always brings me. Speaking of which, I'll start this post by embedding a couple of videos of his performances of " Ain't Misbehavin' " and " This Joint is Jumpin' " from the movie, Stormy Weather , which I'd never...
After a recent meeting with Claire Delamore regarding the possibilities of incorporating some jazz into the Lit and Phil's calender of events we talked about the library's extensive music collection and the amount of jazz it contained. As a result, Claire sent the following which I am sure is of interest to North-east jazz enthusiasts. Lance. ----- The Literary and Philosophical Society (Lit &...
I found this at the boot sale recently and attracted immediatley by the cover. I love Fats Waller anyway so wondered what Neville had done to these great old tunes. Turns out he did a pretty good job despite no vocals. Certainly better than most "honky tonk" style pub pianists and probably better than Mrs. Mills, Russ Conway and Bobby Crush. Nice guitar too by Brian Fahey. No drummers name...
Nice to get invited over to our new neighbour for a kind of house warming party last night. Rob had invited a few of his old neighbours who included artists Will and Adela who sound like they do some very amusing performances and installations in the North West area. You can see Adela's blog HERE . Always good to meet up with like minded people as this rarely happens in this area. The two boot sales...
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