How a ’50s-era recording of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie helped pave the way for updated songs like the Beatles’ “Now and Then.”

With the long-deferred release of ‘The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s,’ there is now a significant new addition to the Charles Mingus catalog to discover and marvel at.

NEA jazz master Chico Hamilton, whose career highlights included stints with Lester Young and leading his own celebrated West Coast-jazz band, has died. The legendary drummer was 92. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Loving covers of popular music is a grand jazz tradition. From blues vamps to show tunes to popular song of the day, jazz musicians have explored the harmonic opportunities found in pop music. You May Also Like: Anthony Braxton – ‘Quartet (Standards) 2020’ (2021) Thumbscrew [Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek +Read More

To Canadians, as the new 2012 liner notes to this historic meeting of the jazz minds so rightly notes, Massey Hall is a building. To fans of this music worldwide, it’s something else You May Also Like: ‘Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings’ (2023) Giancarlo Tossani’s BigRead More

New York City circa 1958, for the jazz aficionado, was the place to be. Possibly no other artifact can confirm this statement with more clarity than photographer Art Kane’s landmark portrait A Great Day in Harlem. You May Also Like: Esquire featuring Nikki Squire, “Ministry of Life” (2016): One TrackRead More

Jazz legend Chico Hamilton celebrated turning 90 last month — how else? — but issuing another album. With Revelation, the NEA Jazz Master’s 60th project, Hamilton continues to build on a remarkable recording career dating back to 1941. You May Also Like: Paul Jolly, free jazz musician, club owner andRead More

by Nick DeRiso Even a passing fan can purchase with some confidence the touchstone jazz recordings of the last century. But what next? How to explore deeper into the legacy? SomethingElse! is here to help, with an ongoing guide to what we like to call “if/then” jazz listening … IFRead More

by Nick DeRiso Bassist Charles Mingus, an enlightening yet stormy presence, clearly felt he had unfinished business with some of his earlier work. So, he used “Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus” and a move to the more creatively open Impulse! label to take another pass at them. That turned intoRead More

by Nick DeRiso A line-up from jazzer nirvana is one thing. Wringing such ringing performances out of the guys is quite another. Call this cool vibes from vibrophonist Hampton, who certainly knows where to mail the invitations — a veritable who’s-who of jazz for the newbie: Pianist Hank Jones, trumpeterRead More