Weekend Wax Bits

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

The song has ended. A discarded piano mechanism just moments before a New York City sanitation crew pitched it into a garbage truck on April 17 at 7 a.m. [photo by Marc Myers].

Earth, Wind & Miles. In today's Wall Street Journal (go here or please buy the paper), I spoke with Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. His all-time favorite song? Blue in Green by Davis and Bill Evans. Philip said much of his vocal intonation and phrasing came from Davis.

Cedar Walton. On Tuesday I was reading The New York Times obituary of Cedar Walton by William Yardley when I came across a paragraph in the third column quoting my 2009 interview with Cedar (posted for the first time on Monday) and crediting JazzWax and me. Many thanks to The Times and William Yardley. Go here to read.

More Fred Astaire. Painter Melissa Meyer sent along a fascinating clip of Fred Astaire performing I Wanna Be a Dancing Man from The Belle of New York (1952). Apparently, the studio wasn't happy with the first version that Astaire filmed because he wasn't in natty enough attire. So they re-shot it. The clip shows how well rehearsed Astaire was by placing the two scenes next to each other. And have a look at Melissa's work here.

Marian McPartland, with Billy Taylor and George Shearing, courtesy of Bret Primack, the Jazz Video Guy. You learn something here in this clip every 30 seconds...

Marian McPartland documentary. In Good Time, The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland, from Films by Huey,  documents the late pianist's life and career. Huey had great access. To purchase the DVD. go here. Here's the trailer (you may need to use Safari or Chrome)...

  

Joe Alterman and Houston Person. Pianist Joe Alterman sent along a few video clips of his latest Blue Note gig in New York. Here's one of them...   

Wayne Shorter radio. On Sunday, Aug. 25, saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter will turn 80 and WKCR in New York will present a 34-hour special radio broadcast in the saxophonist's honor. The show will begin at 2 p.m. (EDT). Tune in on your computer from anywhere in the world here.

Carol Sloane radio. Superb jazz vocalist Carol Sloane will be chatting with WRHU-New York radio host John Bohannan during his regular jazz program. You can hear their conversation on Monday at 3 p.m. (EDT) from anywhere in the world by going here. And here's Carol in 1959 with Chuck Wayne on guitar...

Charlie Parker/Lester Young Birthday Broadcast. Next week (Tuesday-Thursday), WKCR in New York will present its annual Charlie Parker and Lester Young radio special [both pictured above, with Parker at top]. For 72 hours, around the clock, the station and its whip-smart on-air personalities (including my boy "Symphony" Sid Gribetz) will spin Parker's and Young's recordings and offer insights into two of jazz's most influential saxophone stalwarts. Whether you know a little or a lot about them, this annual broadcast is an enormous education and essential listening. Tune in on your computer from anywhere in the world by going here.

CD discoveries of the week. Ron Carter's Cocktails at the Cotton Club (Somethin' Else) was recorded live in Japan last December. The trio—with Russell Malone on guitar and Donald Vega on piano—operates without a drummer, which gives the group a gentle, embracing sound. Thanks to Ron's warm, woody bass and rhythmic time-keeping and Malone's tight strumming, a set of drums was unnecessary in support of Vega—a lovely, lyrical player. Much of the album is devoted to bossa treatments of songs you know. Sample Satin Doll and Soft Winds.

- See more at: http://www.jazzwax.com/2013/08/weekend-wax-bits-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Jazzwax+%28JazzWax%29#sthash.fIWDPBbH.dpuf
Used with permission by Marc Myers