mick’s blog

George Coleman Day

March 8, 2020

George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935) is an American jazz saxophonist known for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he was named an NEA Jazz Master.

Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was taught how to play the alto saxophone in his teens by his older brother Lucian Adams, inspired (like many jazz musicians of his generation) by Charlie Parker. Among his schoolmates were Harold Mabern, Booker Little, Frank Strozier, Hank Crawford, and Charles Lloyd.

After working with Ray Charles, Coleman started working with B.B. King in 1953, at which point he switched to tenor saxophone.[4] In 1956 Coleman moved to Chicago, along with Booker Little, where he worked with Gene Ammons and Johnny Griffin before joining Max Roach‘s quintet (1958–1959). Coleman recorded with organist Jimmy Smith on his album House Party (1957), along with Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, Kenny Burrell, and Donald Bailey. Moving to New York City with Max Roach in that year, he went on to play with Slide Hampton (1959–1962), Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, and Wild Bill Davis (1962), before joining Miles Davis’ quintet in 1963–1964.

His albums with Davis (and the rhythm section of Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums)) are Seven Steps to Heaven(1963), A Rare Home Town Appearance (1963), Côte Blues (1963), In Europe (1963), My Funny Valentine, and Four & More, both live recordings of a concert in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City in February 1964. Shortly after this concert, Coleman was replaced by Wayne Shorter. Nevertheless, Davis retained a high opinion of Coleman’s playing, stating that “George played everything almost perfectly…He was a hell of a musician.” Coleman played with Lionel Hampton (1965–1966), also in 1965 on Chet Baker‘s The Prestige Sessions, with Kirk Lightsey, Herman Wright, and Roy Brooks.[6] Clark Terry, Horace Silver, Elvin Jones (1968), Shirley Scott (1972), Cedar Walton (1975), Charles Mingus (1977–1978), Ahmad Jamal (1994, 2000), and many others.

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Mississippi John Hurt Day

March 8, 2020

John Smith Hurt (March 8, 1893 – November 2, 1966), better known as Mississippi John Hurt, was an American country blues singer and guitarist.

Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself to play the guitar around the age of nine. He worked as a sharecropper and began playing at dances and parties, singing to a melodious fingerpicked accompaniment. His first recordings, made for Okeh Records in 1928, were commercial failures, and he continued to work as a farmer.

Dick Spottswood and Tom Hoskins, a blues enthusiast, located Hurt in 1963 and persuaded him to move to Washington, D.C.He was recorded by the Library of Congress in 1964. This helped further the American folk music revival, which led to the rediscovery of many other bluesmen of Hurt’s era. Hurt performed on the university and coffeehouse concert circuit with other Delta blues musicians who were brought out of retirement. He also recorded several albums for Vanguard Records.

Hurt returned to Mississippi, where he died, in Grenada, a year later.

Material recorded by him has been re-released by many record labels. His songs have been recorded by Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Jerry Garcia, Beck, Doc Watson, John McCutcheon, Taj Mahal, Bruce Cockburn, David Johansen, Bill Morrissey, Gillian Welch, Josh Ritter, Chris Smither, Guthrie Thomas, Parsonsfield, and Rory Block.

Hurt was born in Teoc, Carroll County, Mississippi, and raised in Avalon, Mississippi. He taught himself to play guitar at the age of nine, stealthily playing the guitar of a friend of his mother’s, who often stayed at the Hurt home while courting a woman who lived nearby. As a youth he played old-time music for friends and at dances. He worked as a farmhand and sharecropper into the 1920s.

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World Music with Fatoumata Diawara

March 8, 2020

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Daily Roots with Rita Marley

March 8, 2020

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Urinetown the Musical Matinee & Evening Show

March 7, 2020

Today at the Illusion Theater 2pm & 730pm performances by Theater 55. Orchestra includes Neal McIntosh, Jamie Carter, Chad Green, Paul Fontara, Matty Harris and mick laBriola.

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The Cosmos with M104

March 7, 2020

Messier 104, a lenticular galaxy located 28 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, now has a new chapter in its story — an extended halo of metal-rich stars with barely a sign of the expected metal-poor stars that have been observed in the halos of other galaxies.

“Also known as the Sombrero galaxy, Messier 104 has always been a bit of a weird galaxy, which is what makes it so interesting,” said Dr. Paul Goudfrooij, an astronomer with the Space Telescope Science Institute and a member of the team who observed the galaxy using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

“Hubble’s metallicity measurements (i.e., the abundance of heavy elements in the stars) are another indication that Messier 104 has a lot to teach us about galaxy assembly and evolution,” he added.

“The observations of the Sombrero’s halo are turning our generally accepted understanding of galaxy makeup and metallicity on its head,” said Dr. Roger Cohen, also from the Space Telescope Science Institute.

The astronomers, puzzling over the new data from Hubble, turned to sophisticated computer models to suggest explanations for the perplexing inversion of conventional galactic theory.

 

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Dan Papirany Day

March 7, 2020

Dan Papirany is an Israeli Jazz pianist, composer who is based in Australia. While studying jazz piano at Massey University in Wellington Dan formed his first trio and played in local venues and mainly at “Bar Bodega”. In 2002 Dan formed his Auckland trio, The trio recorded their first album titled Session one on March 2, 2004, this album comprises standard tunes and was nominated for New Zealand music awards and was released by Ode Records.

The second album titled Session Two – Originals, recorded on April 27, 2004 comprises original tunes only. The third, fourth and fifth albums are live albums recorded with Frank Gibson Jr. on drums and Pete McGregor on bass at their residency venue The “MLC Café & Bar”.

Dan recorded his 6th album titled “2011” in 2011, and his 7th album titled “2014” which includes the original tune “Bargara”. Dan’s next album was titled “2015” and includes one original tune titled “E♭ Major Waltz”. Dan recorded his debut solo album in 2017 in a studio in Israel, and the album is titled 2018. Dan’s latest album titled 2018 is a trio album recorded in a studio in QLD Australia featuring a live session which has a raw sound employing minimal separation and mixing process.

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Giorgos Katsaros Day

March 7, 2020

Giorgos Katsaros (Greek: Γιώργος Κατσαρός) (born on 7 March 1934 in Corfu) is a famous Greek musician and songwriter. He plays the alto saxophone. He has made a variety of recordings, collaborating amongst others with Greek musical composers and singers, such as Yannis Theodoridis, Nana Mouskouri, and Mimis Plessas.

In 1972 he wrote the music for Alekos SakellariosI Komissa tis Kerkyras (Greek: Η κόμησσα της Κέρκυρας The Countess of Corfu). He is currently the art director of the Municipal Symphonic Orchestra of Athens.

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Louis Jr. Cottrell Day

March 7, 2020

Louis Albert Cottrell Jr. (March 7, 1911, New Orleans – March 21, 1978, New Orleans) was a Louisiana Creole jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He was the son of the influential drummer Louis Cottrell, Sr., and grandfather of New Orleans jazz drummer Louis Cottrell. As leader of the Heritage Hall Jazz Band, he performed at the famous Carnegie Hall in 1974.

Louis Cottrell was born into an upper-class Creole musical family. His father, Louis “Old Man” Cottrell, Sr., was a famed drummer, and cornetist Manny Perez was his godfather. The young Cottrell grew up around such great musicians as Barney Bigard, John Robichaux, and A.J. Piron. Cottrell studied clarinet under Lorenzo Tio Jr. and Bigard. He began his career in the 1920s with the Golden Rule Orchestra, and then in 1925 played with Paul “Polo” Barnes. Later in the 1920s he worked with Chris Kelly and Kid Rena, then in 1929 found work on the riverboat SS Island Queen with Lawrence Marrero‘s Young Tuxedo Brass Band and Sidney Desvigne.

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World Music with Yemi Alade ft. Flavour

March 7, 2020

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Daily Roots with Big Joe

March 7, 2020

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McCoy Tyner Jazz Legend Passes

March 7, 2020

McCoy Tyner, a pianist whose deep resonance, hammering attack and sublime harmonic invention made him a game-changing catalyst in jazz and beyond, died Friday, March 6, at his home in New Jersey. His death was confirmed by his manager. No cause of death was given. He was 81.

Tyner was the last surviving member of the John Coltrane Quartet, among the most momentous groups in jazz history. Few musicians have ever exerted as much influence as a sideman. His crucial role in the group’s articulation of modal harmony, from the early 1960s on, will always stand as a defining achievement: The ringing intervals in his left hand, often perfect fourths or fifths, became the cornerstone of a style that endures today.

But Tyner was always a more multidimensional musician than the sum of his mannerisms would seem to suggest. And he had a long, consequential post-Coltrane career as a composer and bandleader. Among his dozens of albums are a handful regarded as classics, like Reaching Fourth, The Real McCoy and Atlantis. A number of his compositions, including “Passion Dance” and “Peresina,” have entered the common repertory.

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Urinetown the Musical

March 6, 2020

Performing tonight Friday 3-6-20 by Theater 55 at Illusion Theater. 730pm show. “In an attempt to regulate water consumption, Urinetown has outlawed the use of private toilets. The citizenry must use public, pay-per-use amenities owned and operated by Urine Good Company, a malevolent corporation run by the corrupt Caldwell B. Cladwell.” Music by Music by Music by Neal McIntosh, Jamie Carter, Chad Green, Paul Fontara and mick laBriola.

 

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The Cosmos with NGC 3887

March 6, 2020

The barred spiral galaxy NGC 3887, seen here as viewed by the Wide Field Camera 3 aboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, lies over 60  million light-years away from us in the southern constellation of Crater (The Cup); it was discovered on December 31, 1785, by the German/British astronomer William Herschel.

Its orientation to us, while not exactly face-on, allows us to see NGC 3887’s spiral arms and central bulge in detail, making it an ideal target for studying a spiral galaxy’s winding arms and the stars within them.

The very existence of spiral arms was for a long time a problem for astronomers. The arms emanate from a spinning core and should therefore become wound up ever more tightly, causing them to eventually disappear after a (cosmologically) short amount of time. It was only in the 1960s that astronomers came up with the solution to this winding problem; rather than behaving like rigid structures, spiral arms are in fact areas of greater density in a galaxy’s disc, with dynamics similar to those of a traffic jam. The density of cars moving through a traffic jam increases at the center of the jam, where they move more slowly. Spiral arms function in a similar way; as gas and dust move through the density waves they become compressed and linger, before moving out of them again.

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Flora Purim Day

March 6, 2020

Flora Purim (born March 6, 1942) is a Brazilian jazz singer known primarily for her work in the jazz fusion style. She became prominent for her part in Return to Forever with Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. She has recorded and performed with numerous artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Evans, Opa, Stan Getz, George Duke, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, Santana, Jaco Pastorius, and her husband Airto Moreira.

In 2002, Purim was the recipient of one of Brazil’s highest awards, the 2002 Ordem do Rio Branco for Lifetime Achievement. She has been called “The Queen of Brazilian Jazz”. Purim was born in Rio de Janeiro to Jewish parents who were classical musicians. Her father Naum Purim played violin and her mother Rachel Vaisberg was a pianist.

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Wes Montgomery Day

March 6, 2020

John LeslieWesMontgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. One of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century, Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which granted him a distinctive sound.

Montgomery often worked with his brothers Buddy and Monk and with organist Melvin Rhyne. His recordings up to 1965 were oriented towards hard bop, soul jazz, and post bop, but around 1965 he began recording more pop-oriented instrumental albums that found mainstream success. His later guitar style influenced jazz fusion and smooth jazz.

Montgomery was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. According to NPR, the nickname “Wes” was a child’s abbreviation of his middle name, Leslie. The family was large, and the parents split up early in the lives of the children. Montgomery and his brothers moved to Columbus, Ohio, with their father and attended Champion High School. His older brother Monk dropped out of school to sell coal and ice, gradually saving enough money to buy his brother Wes a four-string tenor guitar from a pawn shop in 1935. Although Montgomery spent many hours with the guitar, he discounted this time later in life, saying he had to start over when he got his first six-string several years later.

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Howard McGhee Day

March 6, 2020

Howard McGhee (March 6, 1918 – July 17, 1987) was one of the first bebop jazz trumpeters, with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Idrees Sulieman. He was known for his fast fingers and very high notes. What is generally not known is the influence that he had on younger hard bop trumpeters, with Fats Navarro.

Howard McGhee was raised in Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he played in bands led by Lionel Hampton, Andy Kirk, Count Basie and Charlie Barnet. He was in a club listening to the radio when he first heard Parker and was one of the early adopters of the new style, a fact that was disapproved by older musicians like Kid Ory.

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Furry Lewis Day

March 6, 2020

Walter E. “Furry” Lewis (March 6, 1893 or 1899 – September 14, 1981) was an American country blues guitarist and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of the first of the blues musicians active in the 1920s to be brought out of retirement and given new opportunities to record during the folk blues revival of the 1960s.

Lewis was born in Greenwood, Mississippi. His birth year is uncertain. Many sources give 1893, the date he gave in his later years, but the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest 1899, based on his 1900 census entry, and other sources suggest 1895 or 1898. His family moved to Memphis when he was seven. He acquired the nickname “Furry” from childhood playmates. By 1908, he was playing solo at parties, in taverns, and on the street. He was also invited to play several dates with W. C. Handy‘s Orchestra.

In his travels as a musician, he was exposed to a wide variety of performers, including Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Alger “Texas” Alexander. Like his contemporary Frank Stokes, he grew tired of traveling and took a permanent job in 1922. His position as a street sweeper for the city of Memphis, a job he held until his retirement in 1966, allowed him to continue performing music in Memphis.

Lewis made his first recordings for Vocalion Records in Chicago in 1927. A year later he recorded for Victor Records at the Memphis Auditorium, in a session with the Memphis Jug Band, Jim Jackson, Frank Stokes, and others. He again recorded for Vocalion in Memphis in 1929. The tracks were mostly blues but included two-part versions of “Casey Jones” and “John Henry”. He sometimes fingerpicked and sometimes played with a slide. He made many successful records in the late 1920s, including “Kassie Jones”, “Billy Lyons & Stack-O-Lee” and “Judge Harsh Blues” (later called “Good Morning Judge”).

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Flamenco Fridays with Paco de Lucia, Paco Cepero , Camarón de la Isla y El Turronero

March 6, 2020

The most flamenco “bulerías” are in Phrygian mode (with the I chord mutation that becomes Major perfect, often combining melodic and harmonic turns on the I and VI).

The basic structure of bulerías

Bulerías, like other flamenco forms, has its own language. When we dance we are in conversation with the singer, the guitarist, and the palmeros. The structure offers a formula for clear communication, and it looks like this:

  • Salida

  • Marcaje(s)

  • Paso de bulerías (or a more upbeat marcaje)

  • Llamada

  • Patá (Patada)

  • (Another Marcaje or Paso de Bulerías)

  • Llamada

  • Final

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Daily Roots with Hortense Ellis & Clint Eastwood

March 6, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiGSmuHIysI

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Interviews