April 10, 2010 - Burning for Buddy

There is something special about that sound, isn't there? It is a big, brassy, bold band, with as much collective attitude and swagger as its leader. There isn't anyone quite like Buddy, that's for sure. Growing up in Mississauga, I had the good fortune of seeing Buddy and the band a number of times in the late-'70's through to the mid-'80's, and was always amazed by the incendiary sound the band would create. It started from the drum kit and moved out from there. Buddy would start a rhythm, shout a number to the band, and it was a riot watching them riffle through their music folders to make sure the chart was in place on the stand before Buddy hit the one. Steve Marcus (on tenor and soprano) was an absolute standout and also fanned the flames of the band.

If you want to get an idea of the sight and sound of Buddy's band from that era, I encourage you to check out "Buddy Rich: Live in '78" from the Jazz Icons DVD series
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=26896


CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
PJ PERRY - NOTA BENE - ARNIE
JOEL MILLER - TANTRAMAR - BOOGIE GAUDET
JAKE LANGLEY - HERE AND NOW - GOODBYE PORKPIE HAT
CHET BAKER - JAZZ ROUND MIDNIGHT - YOU GO TO MY HEAD
CHET BAKER AND PAUL DESMOND - UNKNOWN - AUTUMN LEAVES
CHRIS DAVIS - BAILE BONITA - SWEETIE PIE
PEPPER ADAMS - THE COOL SOUND OF PEPPER ADAMS - SKIPPY
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - MR. RYGA
DAVE BRUBECK - WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME - UNFINISHED WOMAN
TIME WARP - THE TIME WARP COLLECTION - BLUE SAXOPHONES
DECADENCE - DEMO - MARCHING HOME
THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - EDDY LOVES FRANK - DON'T YOU EVER WASH THAT THING?
SYLVIN MARC - '92 L'ANNEE DU BLUES - HALF SCALE BLUES
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THE BUDDY RICH BIG BAND - BURNING FOR BUDDY VOLUME 2 - CHANNEL ONE SUITE

April 3, 2010 - Easter Bunnies

Very special thanks to MC Mic Control (a.k.a. Matt Carter) for hosting the show this week, while I was off in the Interior of BC chasing down the Easter Bunny. Matt is truly one of the most talented people I know...co-host of the Impending Loom on CHLY and an on-air personality with Shaw Cable, Matt is also a lead vocalist and tenor player with local ska band The Kiltlifters, one of a trio of bari players in the Pocket Rockets, and baritone player with the ten-piece outfit Decadence. He composes and arranges for both these groups, and he is an in-demand session player. To top it all off, he's a great human being! He's got impeccable taste in food, beer, and jazz, and I know you liked what he spun while hosting the show. Thanks MC!


DUKE ELLINGTON - VERVE JAZZ MASTERS 4 - ST LOUIS BLUES
PJ PERRY - NOTA BENE - NICA'S DREAM
THE CORY WEEDS QUINTET - EVERYTHING'S COMING UP WEEDS - ELLA'S WALK
ELLA FITZGERALD - ELLA FITZGERALD / GOLD / GREATEST HITS - BLUE SKIES
JAMES CARTER - PRESENT TENSE - RAPID SHAVE
OLIVER GANNON - ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAZZ COMPILATION - KELOWNA
STAN GETZ & GERRY MULLIGAN - GETZ MEETS MULLIGAN IN HI-FI - SCRAPPLE FROM THE APPLE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - INTELLECTUAL BLUES
MAYNARD FERGUSON - ONE MORE TRIP TO BIRDLAND - CAJUN COOKING
STAN KENTON - KENTON '76 - A SMITH NAMED GREG
CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - TREELINES - DANCING SUNLIGHT
CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - TREELINES - RED CEDAR

March 27, 2010 - Lew, not Lou...

I got to see a great show this past Wednesday evening (the 24th) up at the Malaspina Theatre on the campus of Vancouver Island University. The Lew Tabackin Trio was holding court, with Lew on tenor and flute, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Mark Taylor on drums. It was a wonderful evening, and it is too bad that there wasn't a more substantial house. Those that were in attendance were priviliged to hear Lew's artistry on his instruments...for me the gem that was unearthed was Boris Kozlov's work on the bass...especially with the bow! You know the old line..."put down the bow and step away from the bass"? It certainly didn't apply in this case...amazing dexterity, fluidity, and musicality. Thanks to Greg Bush and the Music Department at VIU for putting on another fine evening of jazz!


CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
CHAD EBY - BROKEN SHADOWS - TIP TOE
GERRY MULLIGAN - LONESOME BOULEVARD - I HEARD THE SHADOWS DANCING
JOEL MILLER - FIND A WAY - FIRST LIGHT CEREMONY
RON ALLEN - SAXART SEES THE WORLD - HOLLOW SHEETS
CHICK COREA & JOHN MCLAUGHLIN - FIVE PEACE BAND - THE DISGUISE
RICHARD UNDERHILL - TALES FROM THE BLUE LOUNGE - SURFING
THE LEW TABACKIN QUARTET - I'LL BE SEEING YOU - LOST IN MEDITATION
CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - TREELINES - VERNAL SUITE
ROB MCCONNELL TENTET - THANK YOU, TED - LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE
NANAIMO MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION BIG BAND - DEMO - SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
NANAIMO MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION BIG BAND - DEMO - HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
PETER HERBOLZHEIMER RHYTHM COMBINATION AND BRASS - MOJOCLUB PRESENTS DANCEFLOOR - MR. CLEAN