Category Archives: Jazz

Etta James, Dead at 73

Yet another great blues/R&B singer has passed. Here’s her obit from the NY Times and a video of her most well-known song, “At Last”:

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Today’s Music: Franny Beecher

Most people have never heard of Franny Beecher, but he was lead guitarist for Bill Haley and His Comets, the first hit rock band that promoted itself as a rock band in 1955. Beecher has always been underrated and rarely … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Erik Satie

French composer Erik Satie (1866 – 1925) is an acquired taste and either you like him or hate him, but there is no denying his impact on modern music, not only classical, but jazz, as well. His sparse, languid piano … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Miles Davis “All Blues”

American jazz has travelled a rocky trajectory from the Ragtime of the early 20th century to ’20s Dixieland to the ’30s Big Band Era to post-war Bebop to ’50s Cool Jazz to late ’60s Fusion to Whatever It Is Now. … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Two by Coltrane

What’s that? You’ve never heard of sax genius John Coltrane? Learn up here. While you’re reading, listen to Coltrane doing “Freight Trane” in 1958 with one of my favorite guitarists, Kenny Burrell, and the landmark “Giant Steps” in 1959.  BTW, … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: “Hello There, Universe” by Mose Allison

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Today’s Music: Ton Van Bergeyk: “Grizzly Bear”

I don’t know much about Ton Van Bergeyk except he plays a hell of a ragtime guitar. The cut below was recorded in 1973, but Van Bergeyk is still out there playing. Click here for more info on this fine … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Ramsey Lewis Trio: “The In Crowd”

The Ramsey Lewis Trio proved in 1966 that you could get a jazz arrangement of a pop tune, such as “The In Crowd,” on the rock charts, even though the experts of the time said it was impossible. (Of course, … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Charles Brown, “Merry Christmas, Baby”

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Today’s Music: Big Walter Horton Two-Fer

I met Big Walter Horton years ago at a North Side Chicago blues bar. Although his playing was loose, almost to the point of kidding, with his band, he told them to stop playing at one point and then, just … Continue reading

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