Saturday, April 30, 2011

Percy Heath (1923), Bob Florence, Wynton Marsalis, and Wayne Shorter.

Bassist (hard bop) Percy Heath's birthday (1923-4/28/2005) in London with MJQ (video), Bob Florence (post bop) "With All the Bells and Whistles," Wynton Marsalis (post bop) illustrating "Bright Corners," and "In Walked Bud" with Art and Thelonious- on HARD CHOICES Saturday 11am to 1pm.

Wayne Shorter -photo Thomas Doms



A product of one of jazz's most illustrious families, Percy Heath and his sublime, swinging bass served as the cornerstone of the Modern Jazz Quartet for over four decades. Heath was born in Wilmington, NC, on April 23, 1930. The second of four children, he was raised in Philadelphia, receiving his first instrument, a violin, at the age of eight. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, and assigned to fly P-4s and P-47s as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Heath managed to avoid combat, and after World War II ended, he purchased a standup bass and enrolled in Philadelphia's Granoff School of Music. After a stint behind pianist Red Garland, he signed on with the house band at the local Down Beat Club. There he met bebop trumpeter Howard McGhee, and by 1947, Heath and his saxophonist brother Jimmy were touring as members of McGhee's sextet, appearing the following year at the premiere Festival International de Jazz in Paris. The Heath brothers relocated to New York City in 1949, and there Percy collaborated with a who's who of postwar jazz icons including Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Sonny Rollins. From 1950 to 1952, he and Jimmy reunited as members of Dizzy Gillespie's sextet.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Charles Mingus (22nd), Alan Broadbent, Kendra Shank, Alan Broadbent (23rd) birthdays.

Charles Mingus (video) born 4.22.22 (hard, post bop, modal, avant-garde). Caring? Pianist, Alan Broadbent (hard bop, post bop) thinking "I Should Care", and Kendra Shank (post bop) wondering "Devil May Care", on their birthday, today. Oliver Nelson, Zoot Sims, Eddie Davis too, all informing HARD CHOICES Saturdays 11am to 1pm -Shawn K



Dannie Richmond drums, Eric Dolphy reeds and flute, Horace Parlan piano....

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Cedar Walton, Bobby Shew, Stan Bock and Mel Brown, and Herbie Mann's birthday.

Cup of Art (not Joe) Blakey, Lee Morgan, Cedar Walton, listening to (post bop) "Voices Deep Within," Bobby Shew, workin' (hard bop) "Night and Day", Stan Bock tellin' "Your Check is in the Mail," Mel Brown, Gordon Lee and Herbie Mann's birthday (1930-2003) on HARD CHOICES Saturdays, 11am to 1pm -Shawn K



Saturday, April 9, 2011

WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED SOUL

We will listen to music with soul, integral to the evolution of Hard Bop (vinyl). The Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley Quintet is just the start. Happy birthday to Steve Gadd today and Victor Feldman composer of "Seven Steps To Heaven" before his climb at age 53. Enjoy "Work Song" and "Swinging on a Star" (video). HARD CHOICES. Saturdays. 11am to 1pm -Shawn K




April 9
Ms. LAURYN HILL w/ Hot 8 Brass Band & Donald Harrison
ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL ::: 8pm Doors ::: All Ages ::: TICKETS
DONALD HARRISON
JIMMY MAK'S ::: 8:30pm Doors ::: 21+ ::: TICKETS


Let us too remember the birthday of Victor Feldman.



Victor Feldman was born in Edgware, Middlesex in 1934.
He caused a sensation as a musical prodigy when he was “discovered” at age 7. His family were all musical and his father founded the Feldman Swing Club in London in 1942 to showcase his talented son.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Post bop trumpeters, hard bop classics and Happy Birthday Larry Corryell and Homer Clark.

Happy Birthday to my good friend, Homer Clark too, a long time jazz dj for KEX, KBOO and KMHD. His "Jazz Hole Cover East", set a high standard.  He is also one of the founding members of the Jazz Society of Oregon (above- center, left- Carlton Jackson).
L
Happy Birthday to Larry Corryell. He was born in Galveston, Texas, and was raised in Richland, Washington. Larry Coryell is on the left, Al DiMeola, center.