The Persistent Challenge of Cecil Taylor: Down Beat 1965

From the February 25, 1965 issue of Down Beat comes Nat Hentoff's feature on Cecil Taylor (b.March 15, 1929). The two cover topics including Bill Evans, recording techniques, Taylor's interest in poetry and dance, the October Revolution and the economics of the avant garde. Click on the image to view full article PDF. You can find more vintage magazine articles here.

Quincy Jones Blindfold Test - Down Beat 1959

For this Blindfold Test Leonard Feather had Quincy Jones (b. March 14, 1933) focus on big bands including Benny Goodman, Frank Ortego - Sy Oliver, Harry James, Machito, and Thelonious Monk. He's a tough critic but does give praise to altoist Willie Smith for his distinct sound.
More vintage magazine articles can be found here.

Ornette Coleman: First Beginnings - Down Beat July 1960

John Tynan writes with enthusiasm on hearing Ornette Coleman (b. March 9, 1930) for the first time and the mixed reactions Coleman's playing received. It's interesting to note that Tynan was an early advocate of Coleman yet he also famously referred to Coltrane and Dolphy as playing "anti-jazz" - I will post that article sometime soon along with Coltrane & Dolphy's response.
Click the image to view PDF of the full article. More vintage magazine articles can be found here.

Recently Listening - Perry Robinson: Funk Dumpling

Reissued by Fresh Sound, Funk Dumpling (recorded in 1962 for Savoy) was Perry Robinson's debut recording as a leader.
From the little I've heard of Perry Robinson in the past, this album is more conventional yet still personal. Alongside Robinson's bold and distinctive clarinet playing are a young Kenny Barron and the formidable bass and drum pairing of Henry Grimes and Paul Motian. Although Robinson is the dominant soloist the album still has a very unified band sound and individually everyone contributes. Composition duties are split between Robinson and Grimes. It's a very well rounded album with an upbeat and joyful swinging feel plus some lovely ballad work too. The playing sounded surprisingly fresh to my ears and I couldn't help but feel that Robinson has been short changed in the canon of jazz clarinetists. If I had one, I wouldn't hesitate adding this to a "must hear" list of clarinet recordings. A gem and highly recommended - check it out!

Ornette Coleman's Something Else!!!! Reviewed by Art Farmer

Lately I've been working on some of Ornette's melodies - "Peace," "Broadway Blues," "Feet Music" and "Lonely Woman." The most recent has been "The Blessing" and I've enjoyed revisiting his earliest album which I hadn't listened to in a while. Something Else!!!! The Music of Ornette Coleman was compiled from three recording sessions in 1958 (February 10 & 22 and March 24). Here's Art Farmer's review from the July 1959 issue of The Jazz Review. It's great to read one of Coleman's contemporaries thoughts on his work.

The Jazz Review is well worth checking out and thanks to Jazz Studies Online, PDFs of the magazine are available.
More vintage magazine articles can be found here.

Sonny Stitt & Stan Getz in Down Beat

I thought a double-header was appropriate on the birthday of these two saxophonists - Sonny Stitt (b.1924) and Stan Getz (b.1927). The Stitt feature (Down Beat, May 14, 1959) covers the influence of Bird, his favourite saxophonists, rock'n'roll, European audiences and touring as single. In the Blindfold Test (Down Beat, February 27, 1964) Getz listens to John Coltrane, Tubby Hays, Sal Nistico, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Yound and Al & Zoot.
(Click on the picture to view full article as pdf). More vintage magazine articles can be found here.

Vinyl Revival?

Over the past year or so there have been plenty of "Vinyl is back!" articles. It's nothing new though, this article is from the May 1996 issue of Jazz Times (click on image to view full article - 4 pages). The likes of Michael Cuscuna and Bob Koester share their thoughts on jazz vinyl in the mid-90s. As for me, I only have a dozen or so LPs (albums that are yet to be reissued) that made the journey with me to Chicago. I left the turntable behind and haven't replaced it just yet. Even without a turntable I still fight the urge when I hit the record stores. It's probably for the best.... at least my bank balance thanks me for trying.