Musician, educator and historian Bruce Conforth introduces us to the real Robert Johnson.
Far from the one-dimensional “native genius” he is often portrayed as, Robert Johnson was a well read, well traveled, versatile artist whose genius was no accident.
Dead at the age of 26, in his short life Johnson’s art left an indelible mark on American and world music.
Conforth, a guitarist and harmonica player, has been studying Johnson’s life and work for 40 years.
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Musician, bandleader, music director, club owner, and educator, Ed Polcer has played with the greats, hosted the greats at his club Eddie Condon’s in New York City, programmed great jazz parties around the country, and now in addition to playing is enjoying introducing the next generation to the beautiful art of jazz.
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Paul Steinbeck, a musician and educator, (Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Washington University in St. Louis), covers one of the most intriguing bands in the history of American music.
Founded in Chicago in the “tumultuous” 60s, The Art Ensemble of Chicago carved out a space for itself in the notoriously conservative music industry that not only allowed its members full creative freedom, but also paved the way for countless other creative musicians and artists.
How did this group which accepted no limitations or labels survive and thrive in a world that demands musicians put themselves in a box?
The answer is in the pages of this book.
Roscoe Mitchell, one of the members of the group, had this to say about it:
“This book is more than we could have hoped for, telling the complete history of the Art Ensemble of Chicago in careful, engaging detail.”
1. Get it
2. Review it
3. Let your college’s librarian know about it
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Drummer Artt Frank was born on March 9, 1933 in Westbrook, Maine.
Frank has been a professional drummer since he was a teenager.
His most significant musical association was with Chet Baker who he met when the trumpeter was struggling in the mid-1960s, playing with him off and on for 20 years.
Frank has also performed with Billie Holiday, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Heath, Ted Curson and Al Cohn among others and has led several albums of his own.
His book Chet Baker: The Missing Years, A Memoir was published in 2014.
Artt Frank talks about his friend Chet Baker in this interesting interview.
-Scott Yanow
“My whole philosophy of music is to build a spiritual unity in sound. If an audience becomes a part of that unity, if only for a few minutes, then I have accomplished what I have set out to do.
This is my way of sharing with others all the wonderful gifts that GOD has bestowed upon me. In my compositions, this unity is expressed through lyricism.
A melody that can be understood, felt and shared is a very powerful thing as is the sharing that we show in love for one another – a spiritual unity coming down from, and ascending up to the FATHER of LIGHTS who gives it continuously when you ask.”
– Artt Frank
Chet Baker – Tune Up
Chet Baker, trumpet
Drew Salperto, piano
Mike Formanek, bass
Artt Frank, drums
The Artt Frank Group – Tribute to Chet Baker
Artt Frank, drums
Dave Liebman, soprano sax
Billy Dowling, trumpet
Phil Markowitz, piano
Dennis Irwin, bass
Artt Frank demonstrates melodic Bebop Drumming
Earla Porch – Easy Street
Earla Porch, vocals
Joe McWilliams, piano
Ken Berry, tenor sax
John Mobillo, bass
Kathy Frank, drums
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Doc Fest Jazz
In honor of Dr. Robert Morgan, educator
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Pianist Dave Bryant met Ornette in 1981 and in 1983 became his student auditing rehearsals of Prime Time at Rivington Street. He joined Prime Time in 1990 and was the pianist on Tone Dialing.
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