We've all been there, late night, ocean breeze, dim lights, smoke halo's, beautiful woman, and music made in heaven....memories that last a lifetime............
Famous for a trumpet with a bell bent out of shape and his cheeks and neck expanded
like a bullfrog, Dizzy Gillespie defined the term "jazz trumpet player".
From the Bebop days with Charlie Parker, he extended a long career as one of the greatest
jazz musicians of his era and beyond.
His common sense approach, and his ability to avoid the drug culture, that consumed
Parker and others around him, made him a resource that was sought after even late in
his life.
Gerry Mulligan: the greatest baritone saxophone player of all times.
Actually a lot more than that: he was one of the most influencial jazz
musicians and jazz composers of all times. His collaborations
included the likes of Miles Davis ("Birth of the Cool"), Thelonious Monk,
and Stan Getz.
During his partnership with trumpeter Chet Baker, the "pianoless" quartet
was created. This new "laid back" style became known as "West Coast Jazz".
In fact, Jerry Mulligan became synonymous with the term.
If one wants to learn how to improvise jazz, the first step is to study
the basic scales and chords. Step two: listen to Charlie Parker
recordings. When it came to improvised solos, Parker was a genius.
It is a total shame this bright star in the Jazz world only lived thirty
five years. The Bird : Charlie Parker.
If one wants to learn how to improvise jazz, the first step is to study
the basic scales and chords. Step two: listen to Charlie Parker
recordings. When it came to improvised solos, Parker was a genius.
It is a total shame this bright star in the Jazz world only lived thirty
five years. The Bird : Charlie Parker.
"Mood Indigo", "It Don�t Mean A Thing If It Ain�t
Got That Swing": both songs were composed by Duke Ellington. The Duke
wasn�t just the greatest Jazz performer of all times, he was the
greatest Jazz composer of all times.
Back in the early days of Jazz, there were "legitimate"
composers (Arnold Schoenburg, Anton Webern) and there were "Jazz"
composers (Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong). Then along came George
Gershwin�s Porgy and Bess , and Igor Stravinsky tried his hand at
writing Jazz. Now Twentieth Century composers are all just Music
composers, and Duke Ellington is among the giants of the Twentieth
Century.
