2013: Highlights of the "A" Train

© Ehsan Khoshbakht

The year 2013 marked a drastic rise in the number of visitors to this blog. For that, I must thank those readers who frequently returned to this venue and I hope what I've offered has been worthy of their time. Since it has become a contagious fad to list the best of this and the worst of that toward the end of the year, I simply provide links to more popular posts on this blog, in case you have missed them.

Image of the Day: Tubby Hayes + Charles Chaplin

Today I spotted the great British tenor saxophone player, Tubby Hayes, in a scene from Charles Chaplin's A King In New York, shot in Shepperton Studios in England, 1957. Other band members seen in this shot are Tony Crombie, playing the drums (while his cymbal is positioned exactly on Chaplin's head) and Jimmy Logan, bass. Does anyone know the trumpet player? [update: the trumpeter is probably Les Condon. See comments.]

Soul Brothers: Ahmad Jamal Meets Yusef Lateef

AHMAD JAMAL MEETS YUSEF LATEEF

Recorded live in Marciac, France, August 8, 2011.

Ahmad Jamal (piano), Yusef Lateef (tenor sax, flute), James Cammack (bass), Herlin Riley (drums), Manolo Badrena (percussion).

Set List:

Masara

Exatogi (?)

Brother Hold Your Light (vocal: Lateef)

Swahililand

Trouble In Mind (vocal: Lateef)

One

Call Me Lateef

"When the soul looks out of its body, it should see only beauty in its path. These are the sights we must hold in mind, in order to move to a higher place. Time after time in our hearts and soul we find love. No static, no pain – so pure, so happy to be alive. Waves of love consume us. We find no hatred – just love for all." -- Yusef Lateef

A couple of years ago, one of my friends from Iran, a lady of many talents and virtues, got married to an English gentleman. Later on, they decided to undertake their first trip to the country of birth of the bride, Iran. Now when a non-Muslim marries to a Muslim, for obtaining a spouse visa, in a wired ritual which of course is just pure formality, the non-Muslim needs to chose an Islamic name. It is an artificial religious conversion which has become part of the bureaucracy.

It was under these circumstances that the couple called me to get a suggestion for an Islamic name. Of course, I immediately said: Lateef! Then I tried to say why Lateef, and of course, I gave a lengthy lecture on Dr. Yusef Lateef and why I think, because of the man, it is the best name.

Some days later, I heard from the couple that the embassy staff hasn't accepted Lateef for a name (Lateef means gentle and it sounds more feminine than masculine) and when the couple have explained why they want to chose Lateef, the snooping staff suggests the name of Yusef instead of Lateef. My friends who see no other way to get the travel documents accept the given name. So James became Yusef.  In any case, Yusef is still half of Yusef Lateef.

RIP Herb Geller (1928-2013)

The last two months of 2013 left us with heavy hearts as the news of the death of many jazz giants (as well as many cinema people), though not quite unexpectedly, reached us. Yesterday, in the recent chain of deaths among jazz greats, Doug Ramsey announced Herb Geller's passing in Hamburg at the age of 85:

"We have word from Herb Geller’s family that the venerable alto saxophonist died on Thursday in a Hamburg, Germany, hospital. He succumbed to pneumonia. Geller had been under treatment for the past twelve months for a form of lymphoma...Geller remained not merely active but energetic until fairly recently, performing in clubs and at festivals throughout Europe. He had lived in Hamburg since 1965. Until his mandatory retirement at age 65 he was a key soloist with the NDR Big Band, then spent much of the next 20 years touring and recording in a solo career."

50 Years After Dinah Washington

DINAH Washington sessions with Junior Mance, Clark Terry, Charles Mingus, Milt Jackson, Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Harold Land, Maynard Ferguson, Lucky Thompson, etc.

Dinah Washington who once was given the title of "Queen of the Blues" and became a best-selling artist for labels such as Mercury and Roulette, died unexpectedly on December 14, 1963 at the age of 39. Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of her death while her musical heritage remains almost untouched.

Dinah Washington's death certificate

No Man's Band: For the 20th Anniversary of Diva

"The most dramatic, indeed thrilling, evidence of the emancipation of women in jazz is the big band Diva," wrote critic Nat Hentoff. "These girls can play — and I mean play," said another critic, Geoff Burdett, while confessing to "being very surprised by the sheer power and spirit of the band, quite apart from the very high level of musical ability on display."

The Diva Jazz Orchestra, formed by drummer Sherrie Maricle, started giving concerts in 1993 which makes this post a kind of their 20th anniversary celebration, as a part of ongoing series Women in Jazz.

According to Diva's leader, Sherrie Maricle, the band is nothing less than an international jazz institution for those women who can play. "The women in Diva are from all over the world," Maricle says, "[and] we are carrying on the tradition initiated by the legendary big bands of the past. We are dedicated to the cause of keeping big band music alive and swinging because we all have a passion for that music."

RIP Jim Hall (1930-2013)

Just half an hour ago the sad news reached us that Jim Hall has passed away. I will never forgive myself for missing the opportunity to meet this incredibly sharp, charming and exquisite man backstage the Queen Elizabeth Hall during his last performance in London in 2012.

Here is one of my favorite Jim Hall recordings from a Tokyo concert on October 28, 1976 with Don Thompson (bass) and Terry Clarke (drums). Mr. Hall's interpretation of Billie's Bounce (Charlie Parker) is first rate.

Diana Krall Trio: Frim Fram Sauce

I must confess I've never been a Diana Krall fan. I have no patience nor musical interest to listen to any of her songs through the end. It seems to me that her success, more than proving her talent, is a great lesson in using new means of gigantic publicity machines of big time companies, if it doesn't remind of the conformity among so called jazz critics. But as the theme of the month on this blog happens to be Women in Jazz, I try to see the whole width of the spectrum and with such intention a superstar like Krall cannot be ignored.

This is, again, from my old VHS tapes of the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland, 1997. Here, Krall is accompanied by great Georgian guitar man, Russell Malone who is the most rewarding player on this song. In addition to Malone, Neal Caine who was a remember of Elvin Jones band before joining this touring trio is on bass. Neal, after staying for one year, left for Betty Carter's band. Very wise indeed!

They perform Frim Fram Sauce.

Blues for an African Friend

In Memoriam: Nelson Mandela (1918-2003)

Tony Scott Quartet: Sung Heroes (Sunnyside SSC 1015)
Tony Scott (cl) Bill Evans (p) Scott LaFaro (b) Paul Motian (d)
NYC, October 28, 1959

Blues For An African Friend

The Tree Of Jazz By Mary Lou Williams

The history of jazz tree, by Mary Lou Williams, 1979.

VHS Diaries#2: Betty Carter

Betty Carter performing her composition Tight in Switzerland, 1997.