Pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock was born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. Hancock’s classical piano training started at age 7 and at eleven he performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 26 in D Major with the … Continue reading
September 16 Coincidentally enough, two of the greatest practitioners of jazz on the classical guitar were born on this date. In addition to this similarity both Byrd and Klugh were noted for styles that used latin rhythms extensively. Happy Birthday, … Continue reading
This week, in celebration of the birth of creative genius John Coltrane, we focus on Trane’s Interstellar Space. Coltrane recorded this masterpiece in 1967, the year of his death, and Impulse! Records released it in September 1974. Plainly Astounding In a … Continue reading
John Coltrane, the tenor saxophonist, who was considered one of the most gifted modern jazz musicians of this decade, died on this day 50 years ago at Huntington Hospital, Huntington, Long Island. He was 40 years old. Coltrane was born … Continue reading
One of a handful of musicians who can be said to have permanently changed jazz, Charlie Parker was arguably the greatest saxophonist of all time. He could play remarkably fast lines that, if slowed down to half speed, would reveal … Continue reading
Eric Dolphy: June 20, 1928 – June 29, 1964 Eric Dolphy was a true original with his own distinctive styles on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. His music fell into the “avant-garde” category yet he did not discard chordal improvisation … Continue reading
From their first work together on the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, Miles Davis and Gil Evans forged a unique relationship as great soloist and brilliant arranger. The real opportunity to explore their shared vision didn’t come until … Continue reading
Tenor saxophonist and flutist Charles Lloyd was born March 15, 1938 in Memphis, TN. Lloyd recieved his first saxophone at age 9, and his childhood teachers included pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr. and saxophonist Irvin Reason. was voted Down Beat’s “Jazz Artist of the Year” in … Continue reading
Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Ralph Towner was born in Chehalis, WA in 1940, moved to Oregon at age five and grew up there. He began to improvise at the piano at age four, imitating recordings from the WW II era. … Continue reading
Happy 85th Birthday, Sonny Rollins! Saxophonist and composer Theodore Walter “Sonny” Rollins was born on September 7, 1930 in New York City, New York. As a high schooler, Rollins played in bands with his friends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor, all of whom … Continue reading