The story of The Nutcracker was inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s ‘The Nutcracker and the King Of Mice’ and was presented to Russian composer, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, by Marius Petipa who was maître de ballet of the Imperial Theater from Dumas. Tchaikovsky was unmoved by the prospect of writing a ballet for the story and was […]
Song Of The Day – “Simbah” by Gerry Mulligan Tentette
The innovative instrumentation and arrangements of Miles Davis’ landmark Birth Of The Cool nonet sessions from 1948, on which Gerry Mulligan played baritone saxophone, was a major influence on Mulligan’s Tentette recordings from January of 1953 that included “Simbah,” today’s Song Of The Day. But even though the Tentette recordings are less well known than […]
Song Of The Day – “Rhapsody In Blue” by Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
Paul Whiteman was one of the biggest selling artists of the 1920s, and led one of the best-loved sweet bands of all time. Sweet bands were society or café orchestras. They played music for listening and as a background for dining and conversing, as opposed to swing bands whose music was the main attraction and […]
Song Of The Day – “Moon/Light” by Herbie Hancock and Foday Musa Suso
In West African culture, a griot is a musician and storyteller who holds all of the keys to the history of his people. It is the griot’s place in society to share that history through music, entertainment and poetry. The kora is a 21-string instrument that is the chief instrument accompanying a griot. Foday Musa […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Talaps Theme” by William Parker
Difficult listening doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s all about perception, and given the ability to just let it all wash over you with an open mind, difficult listening can be real easy. Case in point is bassist William Parker’s 2007 free jazz album Petit Oiseau. Parker has one of the best working bands in […]
Song Of the Day – “Fatback” by J.J. Johnson Sextet
By the time of the 1960 sessions that resulted in the album “J.J. Inc.” (and today’s Song Of The Day), J.J. Johnson had been an established figure in Jazz for about 18 years, having already played with the likes of Miles Davis, Benny Carter, Count Basie, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Charlie Parker. By this […]
Song Of the Day – “Mother People” by The Mothers Of Invention
Every Christmas Eve through Christmas morning I manage a homeless shelter in an area church. It gives the regular workers a night off on their holiest of holidays, and it is something that I find very rewarding. Inevitably every year, I either get home after, or someone comes up to me during the 15 hour […]
3D Rides Fourth
I ‘m everybody’s Uncle Marty, as we go back to our Summer Seconds Series, at least in the Northern hemisphere, as we unearth more standards and choice cuts that we haven’t played for you before on our first three installments with our musical featured favorites. After takeoff, as we approach cruising altitude, libations will be […]
Song Of The Day – “On The Road To Freedom” by Alvin Lee and Mylon LeFevre
British born Alvin Lee got his start playing the same Hamburg, Germany club circuit as The Beatles where they both performed at the Star-Club in 1962. He found success after forming Ten Years After in 1968 and coming to the attention of rock impresario Bill Graham who brought him to American and booked him into […]
Song Of The Day – “New World Rising/Ocean Breakup (Reprise)” by Electric Light Orchestra
By 1973 and the release of “On The Third Day,” ELO had literally rid themselves of all the Wood (Roy Wood, that is) from the lineup, and the band was firmly under the artistic direction of Jeff Lynne. The record was far more progressive in its arrangements, and the music acquired a melodic flair attributed […]
