Terry Teachout's Unlikely Duke

A few years ago I picked up Terry Teachout's then recent (2013) biography of Duke Ellington. I looked at the first pages, thumbed through the book, put it back on the shelf; saying to myself, "This is not for me" - there was an nasty smell about the book.
     Duke Ellington's nephew, Stephen James has taken steps to set the historical record straight in a thoughtful calling out of Mr. Teachout and his Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington. Mr. James' essay is to be found online at
                                http://jjs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/jjs/article/view/77
     As I mentioned to a friend today, when we were growing up musically we had WQXR's John S. Wilson to contend with. Today Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal is our burden.
     For those who desire to know, David Schiff's The Ellington Century and, of course, Gunther Schuller's writings on Ellington and much else are the places to go.

Bud Freeman & Chicago Cats

I've been listening to tenor-man Bud Freeman's 1929 - 1940 recordings with Pee Wee Russell, Jess Stacy, Jack Teagarden, Grachan Moncur, Gene Krupa, Big Sid Catlett and many other midwestern worthies - some Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, and Tommy Dorsey too. Bud Freeman's tenor, his use of vibrato, reminds me of Anthony Braxton while his ensembles with Pee Wee Russell and Jack Teagarden  remind me of Mingus.

The pianist, Jess Stacy's music has been closely attended to me lately. He was many years Benny Goodman's main piano-man. Stacy was married to the great and wonderful singer Lee Wiley for three/five years. Her performances of "Sugar" and especially "Steamboat Tennessee" with Stacy and friends are captivating. Take a look at Will Friedwald's insightful study Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith to BeBop and Beyond. 
 

It's been quite a while - technical difficulties.

Until today, I haven't been in the mood to share my thoughts, rants, or much of anything else. Today is a new day. I solved my longstanding technical problem - I could read my Blog but I couldn't write to it. Then, today, by strict inadvertence I stumbled upon the solution - all buttons are not functionally alike.

More later....

"Giant Steps" One Step Leads to Another

Mark Adams posted a YouTube item by pianist Don Friedman, a trio recording of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps". This led me to the YouTube of Tete Montoliu's recording of "Giant Steps", another fine recording, one of my favorite Montoliu recorded efforts. In turn, I was pushed to find Matthew Goodheart's article in Perspectives of New Music (Vol. 39, No. 2, pps. 63 - 95). In this very interesting article, Goodheart makes many insightful points, relating Coltrane's music and his "Giant Steps" composition to other music - Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, Miles Davis. I had first read Goodheart's article five or so years ago.
   Next, I thought about Jackie McLean's comments about "Giant Steps" in the fine documentary, Jackie McLean on Mars. Professor McLean was trying to explain to his students the difficulty that he experienced in learning "Giant Steps" - check this out on YouTube.
   As I recall, the first time that I heard a live performance of Coltrane's "Giant Steps" was at Bert's Black Horse Lounge, in Detroit (fabulous '60s). It was a remarkable performance by the Chicago saxophone legend, Eddie Harris (check out his "Giant Steps" on YouTube).
   Although I heard John Coltrane perform in person many times - in Detroit at the Minor Key, Drome Lounge, Cobo Hall and in New York at the Village Gate - I don't recall his having played "Giant Steps". When I got to Trane in person, the music or muse had taken him in other directions. The first time I heard Trane in person was at Ford Auditorium in Detroit when he was with Miles Davis - the legendary Miles Davis Sextet.
   Lastly, I recall being very fond of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's "Giant Steps" (check out his YouTube "Giant Steps"). I met this wonderful musician at the Half Note in NYC - Christmas Holidays 1959. Fabulous!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHQEujakWbw

Good-bye Pierre Boulez and Bye-Bye Facebook*

Today I discontinued my Facebook account. In the beginning, I started Facebook to keep up with my granddaughters. In the mean the time, they have, for the most part, moved on to other social media outlets -- I will not follow them in this move.
*Not quite, not so fast - post something? Facebook won't let go!
   Instead of spending my time answering liberal-hating, keyboard racists and suchlike, I thought that resuming blogging, reading, listening to music would be better for me.
   Pierre Boulez died yesterday at the age of 90. Maestro was one of my heroes. I have started listening to the 13 CD DG set of the Maestro's music.
   I certainly treasure having had the opportunity of meeting Pierre Boulez -- a great soul and a great composer-musician. Take a look at the link below.
   http://boulezian.blogspot.com/