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“THE TEARS OF A CLOWN” SMOKEY ROBINSON and the...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:02:20 -0400

“THE TEARS OF A CLOWN” SMOKEY ROBINSON and the Miracles ~ 1967

If there was a song to reflect my present life…it would be this…written by Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. Smokey talks about the inspiration behind the song.

Miles Davis- “The Sound of Miles” NYC April 2nd,...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0500

Miles Davis- “The Sound of Miles” NYC April 2nd, 1959

(Paul Chambers on bass in the performance)

One of the premier bassists in jazz history, Paul Chambers had it all: a beautiful tone, a fluid technique, a great choice of notes, impeccable time and a magnificent sense of swing. He could even take a bowed solo and keep it interesting and in tune.

Paul Chambers was born in Pittsburgh in 1935, and grew up in Detroit, where he became part of the city’s growing jazz scene. He moved to New York, where he played in the J.J. Johnson-Kai Winding quintet. He joined Miles Davis’ first legendary quintet along with John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Garland, at the age of 20. He spent the bulk of his prime years (1955-1963) as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, participating in virtually all of Davis’ classic recordings of the era.

Paul was about 15 when he started to listen to Bird and Bud, his first jazz influences. Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown. The first bassists he admired, were followed by Percy Heath, Milt Hinton and Wendell Marshall,Charles Mingus and George Duvivier. Blanton, of course, is his all-time favorite, the perennial poll winner in his ballot.

His formal bass training got going in 1952, when he began taking lessons with a bassist in the Detroit Symphony. Studying at Cass Tech. off and on from 1952 to ‘55 he played in Cass’ own symphony, and in various other student groups, one of which had him blowing baritone sax.

Chambers made several albums as a leader, for Blue Note and Vee Jay. His Blue Note recordings were High Step, (1955) Chamber’s Music, (1956) Whims of Chambers, Paul Chambers Quintet, (1957) and Bass on Top, considered his best work, also in 1957. These are reissued in the Mosaic compilation on his output for the label. In addition, he recorded as bassist with many musicians including Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Bud Powell, Freddie Hubbard, and Donald Byrd.

Chambers holds the unique distinction, along with Coltrane and Wynton Kelly, of participating on two of the most important albums in jazz history: Coltrane’s Giant Steps, and Davis’ Kind of Blue. Both albums are radically different in style, a testament to Chambers’ ability. As a matter of fact, the song “Mr. P.C.” on “Giant Steps,” was written for Chambers (P.C. = Paul Chambers).

So it's 2012... What gonna make this year different from 2011 for you?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:31:45 -0500

The lessons that I’ve learned in 2011, I will be applying them to 2012, so i’m expecting...

Hey,

I was listening to your KillaTape and it got me wondering: which beats did you submit to enter the Red Bull contest?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:30:18 -0500

The only joints I didn’t use for the Red Bull Contest on KillaTape was: Best Beat, Room #1414,...

Donald Byrd “Cristo Redentor” Donald Byrd was born...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:00:05 -0500

Donald Byrd “Cristo Redentor”

Donald Byrd was born in Detroit in 1932, he attended Cass Tech High School, and during college, his studies at Wayne State University (1954) were interrupted by military service, during which he played in an Air Force band. He then attended the Manhattan School of Music (MA in music education). At the same time he was the favorite studio trumpeter of the bop label Presitge (1956-58), though he also recorded frequently for Riverside and Blue Note.

While still at the Manhattan School, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, as replacement for Clifford Brown. After leaving the Jazz Messengers in 1956, he performed with many leading jazz musicians of the day, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and later Herbie Hancock.

Following the death of Clifford Brown in 1956, Byrd was for a few years arguably the finest hard-bop trumpeter. He had not only a masterful technique, displayed on all his albums from this period, but also a beautiful tone.

In the 1970s, Byrd moved away from the hard-bop jazz idiom and began to record jazz fusion and rhythm and blues. He teamed up with the Mizell Brothers (producer-writers Larry and Fonce) for Black Byrd in 1972. It was highly successful and became Blue Note Records’ highest-ever selling album. His best-selling album “Black Byrd” led to the formation of his students into the Blackbyrds, a hit group of the mid-1970s.

KT: When I was about 11 years old, I discovered my parent’s jazz collection. Amongst a few of the first jazz recordings I ever liked, was Donald Byrd’s album “A New Persective” (shouts to my mom!). This album had the song Cristo Rendentor. It sounded like Jazz and church at the same time to me. I thought it was cool.

Lyman Woodard Organization “Don’t Stay...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:21:00 -0500

Lyman Woodard Organization “Don’t Stay Away”

Lyman Woodard was born in Owosso, Michigan March 3^rd, 1942. He started his formal musical training at age four on the piano. In 1962, he attended the Oscar Peterson School of Contemporary Music in Toronto, Canada. After hearing a performance of the great organist Jimmy Smith in 1963, he was convinced that this was his future and he made the switch from piano to the Hammond B3 organ. Lyman’s first Trio consisted of Melvin Davis on drums & vocals and legendary Funk guitarist Dennis Coffey.

Since the early 60s, the Detroit music scene has been largely defined by the music of Motown Records. The Motown “music machine” spawned many great R&B talents and from 1970 though 1973, Lyman got the opportunity to be a part of this heritage by landing the position of musical director for Martha and the Vandellas.

By 1974, he was anxious to have his own band again and formed the Lyman Woodard Organization. In the 1970s, his band, the Lyman Woodard Organization, took up residence at Cobb’s Corner, a Cass Corridor nightspot and became a leading showcase for jazz in Detroit. People took him like catnip, “In the ’70s he was the king of club entertainers in Detroit,” said his publicist Matt Lee. “He wasn’t just a musician, he was a personality.”

Woodard was a master of the octopus requirements of the organ, playing bass lines with his feet on the pedals and his left hand, adding riff-like chords or single-note lines with right hand and controlling the pacing and dynamics of the music like a maestro of soul. Woodward’s 1975 LP “Saturday Night Special” (Strata), regarded as a jazz-funk-soul fusion classic and highly sought after on the collector’s market.

Along with the “Saturday Night Special” album, one of my favorite songs from Lyman Woodard is “Don’t Stay Away”. When I stumbled upon the record about 7 years ago, I couldn’t stop singing this song around my house. I later sampled it on my album “Nowalataz”. Personal favorite. Much love to the music and life of Lyman Woodard. -14KT

Milt Jackson “Bag’s Groove” live in...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:06 -0500

Milt Jackson “Bag’s Groove” live in 86’

Milton “Bags” Jackson was born in Detroit, Michigan on New Year’s Day in 1923. He started on guitar when he was seven, and piano at 11; a few years later at 16, he switched to vibes. He actually made his professional debut singing in a touring gospel quartet. After Dizzy Gillespie discovered him playing in Detroit, he offered him a job with his sextet and (shortly after) his innovative big band (1946). Jackson recorded with Gillespie, and was soon in great demand. During 1948-1949, he worked with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Howard McGhee, and the Woody Herman Orchestra. After playing with Gillespie’s sextet (1950-1952), which at one point included John Coltrane, Jackson co–founded and began to record with a quartet comprised of John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke (1952), which soon became Milt’s group called the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Jackson was one of the first vibraphonists to master the bop style, and is generally regarded as one of the finest performers on his instrument in the history of jazz. His composition “Bags’ Groove” is a jazz standard (“Bags” was a nickname given to him by a bass player in Detroit. “Bags” referred to the bags under his eyes from his habit of staying up all night). Some of his other signature compositions include “The Late, Late Blues”, “Bags & Trane” (for his album with Coltrane, Bags & Trane), and “Bluesology” (a Modern Jazz Quartet staple).

Marcus Belgrave Interview Marcus Belgrave is a jazz trumpet...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:00:06 -0500

Marcus Belgrave Interview

Marcus Belgrave is a jazz trumpet player from Detroit, Michigan, born in Chester, Pennsylvania June 12, 1936. He is one of Detroit’s internationally recognized jazz trumpet greats. He came to promi- nence in the late 50’s, touring and recording with the late great Ray Charles’ Orchestra, at the height of Ray’s hit-making era. Marcus is heard as a trumpet soloist on some of Ray’s most famous “hits”, both albums and singles. He always pays tribute to Ray, who mentored him from the young age of 19. He is the only living member of Ray Charles’ small band horn section. The Great Clifford Brown also mentored Hank. Clifford’s early influence on the young Belgrave can still be heard in his tone. Belgrave then spent the early 60’s spearheading the modern jazz move- ment in New York working and recording in the bands of such major innovators as Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Max Roach.

Belgrave moved to Detroit in the early 1960’s to join Motown Records as staff trumpeter, (playing on most of the Motown hits. Marcus has established himself as Detroit’s foremost jazz musician. Marcus was awarded the singular title of the official Jazz Master Laureate for the City of Detroit. In 2010, He was also awarded the Eminent Artist award for his 46 years of service to the young musicians of Detroit. He was an original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He was a featured soloist as part of the Detroit Jazz Master’s concerts with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at Frederick Rose Hall in New York, A concert that included other Detroit Jazz Master’s Yusef Lateef, Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Charles McPherson, and his protégé’ Geri Allen., Always the teacher, Marcus continues to mentor the “next generation” of jazz musicians. His protégés include violinist, Regina Carter, bass- ist, Robert Hurst, saxophonist, Kenny Garrett, pianist Geri Allen, saxophonist James Carter, guitarist, Ray Parker Jr., drummer Ali Jackson

Hank Jones Interview on Bebop Born in 1918 in Vicksburg...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:37:00 -0500

Hank Jones Interview on Bebop

Born in 1918 in Vicksburg , Mississippi , Hank Jones grew up in Pontiac , Michigan. To hear Hank Jones is to understand why he is one of the rare individuals that the National Endowment for the Arts inducted as a ‘Jazz Master’. In over seventy years as a Jazz pianist and composer, his playing style has embodied the essence of mainstream Jazz making him one of the most sought after and recorded Jazz pianist throughout Jazz history. Some of Hank’s highlights include induced in the International Jazz Hall of Fame, Living Legend Jazz Wall of Fame, even receiving Grammy nominations for: ‘Bop Redux’, ‘Love for sale’ & ‘I Remember You’ .Throughout his career, Hank has played and recorded with the virtual who’s who of Jazz history. With over five hundred albums and CDs recorded and countless concerts, there aren’t too many significant names in Jazz that Hank has not played or recorded with.

Hank is the eldest member of a prolific Jazz musician family, which included the late drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter/composer Thad Jones. Hank was also one of the featured Jazz greats photographed in ‘A Great Day in Harlem ‘, he has also participated in other historical events such as accompanying Marilyn Monroe when she sang ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ to the late President John F. Kennedy.

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt3

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:20:06 -0500

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt3

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt2

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:10:05 -0500

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt2

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:05 -0500

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt1

Elvin Jones is one of the most important drummers in the history of Modern Jazz. Elvin Ray Jones was born September 9, 1927 in Pontiac, Michigan.

Called by Life magazine “the world’s greatest rhythmic drummer”. He had two musician brothers: Hank Jones, a jazz pianist, and Thad Jones, a trumpet and flugelhorn player. Jones entered the Detroit jazz scene in the late 1940s after touring as a stagehand with the Army Special Services show Operation Happiness. After a brief gig at the Detroit club Grand River Street, he went to work at another club, backing up such jazz greats as Parker, Davis and Wardell Grey. Elvin made his move to New York ostensibly to audition for a new Benny Goodman band. Instead, he ended up with Charles Mingus, and in subsequent years he developed his style with Bud Powell, Art Farmer, the Pepper Adams-Donald Byrd Quintet, J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis.

After leaving Miles in 1960, Coltrane was touring in San Francisco with his new group when he flew back to New York to seek out Elvin. Through 1966, Elvin contributed to some of the most controversial, influential, and ultimately important music in jazz. Among the triumphant recordings from his great association are “A love Supreme” and “Coltrane ‘Live’ at the Village Vanguard”.Jones, with his rhythmic, innovative style, became one of jazz’s most famous drummers under Coltrane.

Miles Davis Quintet feat. Ron Carter solo live ‘64 Ron...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:05 -0500

Miles Davis Quintet feat. Ron Carter solo live ‘64

Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. Carter was born May 4, 1937 in Ferndale, Michigan. He started to play cello at the age of 10, but when his family moved to Detroit, he ran into difficulties regarding the racial stereotyping of classical musicians and instead moved to bass.

With more than 2,500 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music’s greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He later toured Europe with Cannonball Adderley. From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He was named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by Downbeat magazine, and Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

In 1993 Ron Carter earned a Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, the Miles Davis Tribute Band and another Grammy in 1998 for Call ‘Sheet Blues’, an instrumental composition from the film ‘Round Midnight.

Many Hip-hop fans learned about Ron Carter from His appearance on the alternative hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest’s influential album The Low End Theory on a track called “Verses from the Abstract”.

’64 quintet was: Miles (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). Recorded October 11, 1964.

Terry Gibbs Quartet with Terry Pollard In honor of Black...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:12:00 -0500

Terry Gibbs Quartet with Terry Pollard

In honor of Black History Month, I want to attempt to highlight some great Detroit Jazz musicians! I want to start with Terry Pollard.

Terry Jean Pollard was born August 15, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan. She was inducted as a lifetime member of the Michigan Jazz Hall of fame. From 1953-1957, She performed with Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. Terry won the prestigious 1956 Downbeat Magazine New Artist award defeating the great Milt Jackson. Terry also made American history as one of the first black female jazz artists to appear on NBC’s Tonight Show in October of 1956. She performed along with Terry Gibbs on the Tonight Show, October 12, 1956.

Georgia Anne Muldrow on Beat Making

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:06:06 -0500

Georgia Anne Muldrow on Beat Making

Timbaland’s E! True Hollywood Story One of the MOST...

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:04:25 -0500

Timbaland’s E! True Hollywood Story

One of the MOST innovative and talented producers of my generation. SALUTE to Timbaland. Made me go back to the lab unlimited times. Say Word.

mosologist: eLZhi “Memory Lane” Music Video

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:25:17 -0500

mosologist:

eLZhi “Memory Lane” Music Video

theblackopera: VIDEO EnterAction: EnterView. by The Black...

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:23:46 -0500

theblackopera:

VIDEO EnterAction: EnterView. by The Black Opera

The Following Video Demonstration is a Series of Answers to Questions Asked by Followers of The Black Opera.

OUR 2nd Album “EnterMission.” is available here: http://bit.ly/ul4hJe

SPREAD THE WARNING.

EnterMission.

http://TheBlackOpEra.com

Will Sessions — Mix Takes: TAKE ONE Shouts to...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:48:34 -0500

Will Sessions — Mix Takes: TAKE ONE

Shouts to @willsessions for being so dope.

Will Sessions impressed many with the meticulous craftsmanship of their studio re-workings of the classic tracks for “The Elmatic Instrumentals.” With their new two-part video “Mix Takes,” the five-piece band is taking a similar approach in recreating some of their favorite songs—only this time it was all recorded and filmed live in real time.

GRAP LUVA - 7 More Minutes (aka PART 2) - SP1200 Beats Part...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:38:11 -0500

GRAP LUVA - 7 More Minutes (aka PART 2) - SP1200 Beats

Part 2… Grap Luva plays some unreleased SP1200 beats and talks about the making of some songs from his discography, how he got into music, his father, his brother Pete Rock, and more.

Back 2 The Lab..

“THE TEARS OF A CLOWN” SMOKEY ROBINSON and the...

“THE TEARS OF A CLOWN” SMOKEY ROBINSON and the Miracles ~ 1967

Miles Davis- “The Sound of Miles” NYC April 2nd,...

Miles Davis- “The Sound of Miles” NYC April 2nd, 1959

So it's 2012... What gonna make this year different from 2011 for you?

Hey, I was listening to your KillaTape and it got me wondering: which beats did you submit to enter the Red Bull contest?

Donald Byrd “Cristo Redentor” Donald Byrd was born...

Donald Byrd “Cristo Redentor”

Lyman Woodard Organization “Don’t Stay...

Lyman Woodard Organization “Don’t Stay Away”

Milt Jackson “Bag’s Groove” live in...

Milt Jackson “Bag’s Groove” live in 86’

Marcus Belgrave Interview Marcus Belgrave is a jazz trumpet...

Marcus Belgrave Interview

Hank Jones Interview on Bebop Born in 1918 in Vicksburg...

Hank Jones Interview on Bebop

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt3

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt3

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt2

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt2

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary...

Elvin Jones “A Different Drummer” Documentary pt1

Miles Davis Quintet feat. Ron Carter solo live ‘64 Ron...

Miles Davis Quintet feat. Ron Carter solo live ‘64

Terry Gibbs Quartet with Terry Pollard In honor of Black...

Terry Gibbs Quartet with Terry Pollard

Georgia Anne Muldrow on Beat Making

Georgia Anne Muldrow on Beat Making

Timbaland’s E! True Hollywood Story One of the MOST...

Timbaland’s E! True Hollywood Story

mosologist: eLZhi “Memory Lane” Music Video

theblackopera: VIDEO EnterAction: EnterView. by The Black...

Will Sessions — Mix Takes: TAKE ONE Shouts to...

Will Sessions — Mix Takes: TAKE ONE

GRAP LUVA - 7 More Minutes (aka PART 2) - SP1200 Beats Part...

GRAP LUVA - 7 More Minutes (aka PART 2) - SP1200 Beats

Hey,

I was listening to your KillaTape and it got me wondering: which beats did you submit to enter the Red Bull contest?