Happy Belated Birthdays, Clifford Brown & Lou Donaldson!

“Wee Dot” from A Night At Birdland

Clifford Brown (trumpet), Lou Donaldson (alto sax), Horace Silver (piano), Curly Russell (bass), Art Blakey (drums) / recorded 1954 for Blue Note Records

Clifford Brown born Oct 30th; Lou Donaldson born Nov 1st.

New Jazz Review: Hank Mobley’s Soul Station

Hank Mobley’s Soul Station is a definitive jazz masterpiece.

Read the review here.

Horace Parlan – The Other Part of Town (Blue Note Records, 1961)

Horace Parlan – Piano
Booker Ervin – Tenor Sax
Grant Green – Guitar
George Tucker – Bass
Al Harewood – Drums

The Us3 Trio of Parlan, Tucker, Harewood were the house band at Minton’s for jam sessions at the time of this release and were often accompanied by Ervin and Green for extended workouts of theme. I believe Up’n'Down is their only quintet recording together however and this track is mainly a feature for Grant Green.

Bop and Beyond’s Rashied Ali Memorial Broadcast: Saturday, 08/15/09

It saddens me that about the only time I read about jazz in the mainstream media is when they are reporting the passing of yet another jazz legend. Rashied Ali was tremendous. He was a monster — the most important and innovative drummer to arise out of the mid-60’s avant-garde scene. We’ll be listening to a brief window of his music between 1967 and 1972 featuring the music of John and Alice Coltrane, Jackie McLean and Grachan Moncur III.

Download the program here: Rashied Ali Memorial Broadcast

Continued Evolution: More Grachan Moncur III

From Jackie McLean’s Destination Out comes my all-time favorite Moncur composition, “Love and Hate” — featuring Jackie McLean on alto, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Larry Ridley on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums. Recorded in 1963 for Blue Note Records

“Air Raid” from Moncur’s classic album Evolution (also 1963 for Blue Note) again featuring McLean, Moncur, Hutcherson, and adding Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Tony Williams on drums.