Today would have been the birthday of Philly Joe Jones.He was an American Jazz drummer playing in the original Miles Davis quintette and a favorite of Bill Evans. Jones collaborated on three albums with Evans: "Interplay"; "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" and "California Here I Come".He also played along side the likes of Chet Baker Ben Webster Sonny Rollins Art Farmer John Coltrane Kenny Burrell Red Garland Benny Golsen the list is endless its more like who he didnt play along side
Today would have been Ornette Colemans Birthday. Ornette was an American Jazz Saxophonist trumpeter violinist and composer he was one of the main innovators of the "free jazz movement" in the 60's . Ornette recororded the album Free Jazz which was just the albums name but his growing reputation placed him firmly at the front of Jazz innovation and it became a new music genre.
Today is George Colman's 81st Birthday. George is an American Hard bop saxophnist bandleader and composer known mainly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960's he also worked along side many greats such as Chet Baker Jimmy Smith BB King Lionel Hampton and Max Roach. George was also made National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master 2015 .......... Happy Birthday George have an amazing day and thank you for your music
Today would have been Wes Montgomery's Birthday born in 1923 Wes was an American Jazz guitarist. Wes is considered one of the major Jazz guitarist. Wes was basicaly self taught not being able to read music but being able to play complex melodies riffs by ear.
Jimmy Dorsey born this day in 1940 was an American Jazz saxaphone clarinetist trumpeter composer and was a band leader
Today is sadly the 2nd anniverserary of Paco De Lacia passing. He was a virtuoso Spanish Flamenco guitarist, composer and producer Paco was well known for his fast and fluent (picardos) "finger runs" he quite often used to switch from these to soft slow "flemenco strumming" and adding abstract chords and tones which many were from a jazz influence he was the first Flemenco guitarist to switch over successfully to other genres of music including Blues and Jazz playing with the likes of Eric Clapton and Richard Chapman this is one of those bloggs that could go on for ever and a day this man was well put simply a "GENIUS" his Discography is vast somewhere near or over 100 albums his career spanned six decades will there ever be another like him doubt it
Today is Richard (Rick) Laird's Birthday a Jazz Bassist born in Ireland and started his love for music there playing guitare and piano then at the age of 16 moved to New Zealand and started to play jazz in many jam bands and started his love affair with the upright Bass, after touring New Zealand he moved to Australia and played with many of the top jazz musicians in the very early 60's Rick moved to England and became house Bassist at Ronnie Scotts as you can imagen Rick played with all the greats Sonny Stitt Sonny Rollins Wes Montgomery Stan Getz Yuseff Lateef Stan Tracey Chick Corea and many more besides including touring with Buddy Rich and his band. Today Richard is a very succsessful photographer i wish him well on his Birthday today and hopes he has a fantastic day
Today is Clark Tracey's Birthday, Clark is a jazz Drummer band leader and composer, Clark started playing piano but switched to drums as a teenager and never looked back turning professional at 17 then playing in various ensambles and with his father and jazz pianist Stan Tracey even one called the Fathers and Sons with Johnny and Alec Dankworth Clark has also played with many our older Jazz musians as well as todays Jazz musicians the list of which is amazing Art Farmer Barny Kessel Ronnie Scott Jimmy Smith Elaine Delmar and others including Sting and Sinead O'Conner i could go on and on so Clark happy 55th Birthday i hope you have a fantastic day
Today would have been Stan Getz Birthday born 2nd Febuary1927 the American saxophinist known as "The Sound" because of his warm lyrical tone Stan played Bebop Cool jazz and helped to make Bosonova music popular mainly for the song "The Girl From Ipanema" in 1964 Stan played for Nat King Cole Lional Hampton jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman Stan gaind wide attention when he was playing with Woody Herman's band "The Second Heard" as one of the 4 sax players which were known as the "Four Brothers" the others being Zoot Sims Serge Chaloff and Herbie Steward Stan went on to play with the likes of Chet Baker Bill Evans Dizzy Gillespie Gary Burton and many more
Today would have been Sonny Stitt's Birthday born this day in 1924.Sonny was an American Jazz saxophinist playing bebop and hardbop Sonny recorded over 100 albums and toured relentlesly earning himself the nickname "The Lone Wolf" Sonny could be playing an upbeat Bebop piece one moment then quickly turn to play a spine tingaling captavating ballard. Sonny was best known for his partnership with Gene Ammons but Sonny played along side many other great musicans of the day including Stan Getz Eddie lockjaw Davis Zoot Sims even playing for Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie there is a quote from Sonny's autobiography that says "That when a dude is posessed with the "Jazz Mojo" you just cant stop him playing Sonny was that kind of cat"
