Stan Getz recorded “Tootsie Roll” in 1950…

Our Music Choice is “Ladybird” by Hank Mobley and the Jazz Messengers. Ladybird was composed by Tadd Dameron (1917-1965) in 1939. It was recorded by the Jazz Messengers in 1955, with Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Horace Silver (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), and Art Blakey (drums) being the personnel on the recording. During his solo, Hank Mobley plays in […]

Stanley Turrentine (1934-2000) was a master of the tenor saxophone, whose big sound, gospel-style phrasing and gift of improvisation, enabled him to navigate through several jazz fashions, including Soul Jazz and Hard Bop. In order to make a musical living he sometimes recorded music that was shallow by jazz standards, but he left behind a library of great recordings. His […]

In 1956, Jackie McLean (1931-2006) recorded the album Lights Out! with Donald Byrd (trumpet), Elmo Hope (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), and Art Taylor (drums). Our selection from this album is “Up”, written by Jackie McLean. “Up” begins with a few phrases which Jackie McLean and Donald Byrd play, followed by a drum break. Byrd takes the first solo, after which […]

The great saxophonist Edward ‘Sonny’ Stitt (1924 – 1982) was a master of the alto-saxophone who had the misfortune to enter the jazz scene at the same time as the genius Charlie Parker. Stitt only fell slightly short of Parker’s inventiveness and technical mastery, but his style was so close to the master that he was constantly in his shadow. […]

For You, written by Joe Burke and Al Dubin, was played by Gene Ammons (1925-1974) in his Jug & Dodo session in May 1962 along with Dodo Marmarosa (piano), Sam Jones (bass), and Marshall Thompson (drums). This version of the tune is up-tempo. Ammons’ two-chorus solo is one of his best, and contrasts well with Marmarosa’s sparser solo, after which […]