Category Archives: Jazz

Today’s Music: Bernard Herrmann, Colin Hay

Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite film composer, Bernard Herrmann, was born this day in 1911 (d. 1975). In his long career, he scored not only the Hitchcock classics Psycho, Vertigo and North By Northwest, but a slew of other films, among them … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Hank Garland and Gary Burton, “All the Things You Are”

And now for something completely different (sort of), here’s country swing guitar king (and one-time Elvis guitarist) Hank Garland with Gary Burton: And here’s Hank wailing on his big hit, “Sugarfoot Rag”:

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Today’s Music: Oscar Peterson, “Sweet Georgia Brown” (1985) Plus

The Oscar Peterson Trio with Joe Pass on guitar, in a 1985 concert at the Bussoladomani, Lido di Camaiore, Italy. No drummer, but this track swings like crazy. Plus, Oscar playing his own composition, “Hymn to Freedom in F”: (‘Birthdays’ … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Big Bill Broonzy, Larry Taylor

Blues legend

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Today’s Music: Clifton Chenier, Harold Melvin, Carly Simon, Allen Lanier

Zydeco king Clifton Chenier entered the world today in 1925. (He sadly departed it in 1987.) Here are some samples of his Louisiana Cajun-Creole’swamp blues’ played on the accordion that have greatly influenced modern music. Harold Melvin, of Harold Melvin … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Mick Fleetwood, Jeff Beck

Mick Fleetwood, former drummer/co-founder of Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, was born this day in 1942. With The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band: With John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1967: Guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck greeted the world this day in 1944. … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: ‘Laurel and Hardy,’ “Dueling Banjos”

Actually, it’s Bob Anthonioz dressed up like Oliver Hardy on the guitar and Philippe Bourgeois as Stan Laurel on the banjo. And here’s Don Reno and Arthur Smith doing the original “Feudin’ Banjos” upon which “Dueling Banjos” was based, way … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Kris Kristofferson, Don Henley, Todd Rundgren

Singer, songwriter and sometime actor Kris Kristofferson was born today in 1936. Here are two of his most famous compositions: Don Henley, drummer, co-songwriter and vocalist for The Eagles, greeted the world in 1947. Here’s a different version of the … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Ray Davies, O.C. Smith

Founder of The Kinks, singer and songwriter Ray Davies was born today in 1944. For anyone who cares to chart the history of power-chord, heavy metal rock music, it really started with the two Kinks tunes below. When they first … Continue reading

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Today’s Music: Chet Atkins, Brian Wilson

Guitar genius Chet Atkins was born today in 1924 (d. 2001). Here he is playing “Mr. Sandman” back in 1954: ‘Mr. Guitar’ has “Dizzy Fingers” in 1975: And Chet live with Mark Knopfler in 1987: Another genius, former-Beach Boy Brian … Continue reading

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