Whatever happened to hats? I mean, people still wear hats. But these days, most hats… Read the postWeek 238: “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” by Charles Mingus
Jazz has come to an interesting point in the life cycle of musical genres. It’s… Read the postWeek 236: “Hopopono” by GoGo Penguin
I’m a bit of a sucker for plaques. I might be late for a meeting,… Read the postWeek 229: “Sleepy Lagoon” by Harry James
Being a professional entertainer is probably tough in any era, but can you imagine trying… Read the postWeek 224: “Gee But I’d Like To Make You Happy” by The Boswell Sisters
Like most of Cole Porter’s songs, there are several versions of this one that deserve… Read the postWeek 218: “The Laziest Gal In Town” by Carsie Blanton
There’s a group of pigeons who sit on a telephone wire that I walk past… Read the postWeek 208: “Conference of the Birds” by Dave Holland Quartet
According to a friend of mine who has spent most of his time around classical… Read the postWeek 204: “Sarah’s Song” by David Downing
Billie Holiday’s 1952 recording of this song is the one that’s usually included on her… Read the postWeek 195: “You Go To My Head” by Billie Holiday
A few days from now, groundhogs across North America will cheerfully emerge to let us… Read the postWeek 194: “Deep Cold” by Carl Bray
Skating is one of those classic winter activities that I never really got into. I’m… Read the postWeek 189: “Skating” by The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Here are some highlights from the early years of Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax: Born in… Read the postWeek 184: “My Little Brown Book” by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
The first time I heard it, one of the things I liked about “Try Your Wings”… Read the postWeek 177: “Try Your Wings” by Blossom Dearie
Does anyone else find improvisation amazing? Anytime I see a jazz musician come up with… Read the postWeek 170: “Blue in Green” by Miles Davis
Here’s an instrument you may not have heard of: the Hang. Part steel drum, part… Read the postWeek 169: “Dawn Patrol” by Portico Quartet
In 1964, Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson released “The Canadiana Suite”, a record as beautiful… Read the postWeek 164: “Ballad to the East” by Oscar Peterson
You’ve been inside too long. Go outside. Go. Go take a walk. Bring this song… Read the postWeek 161: “Natural Green” by Blazo
I was a bit hesitant to listen to Thom Yorke’s first solo effort, The Eraser,… Read the postWeek 154: “The Eraser” by Thom Yorke (Christian Scott cover)
There are countless songs about growing up. It’s got to be the most written-about topic… Read the postWeek 152: “Goodbye to Childhood” by Herbie Hancock
Looking at the cover of this album, you get the feeling that the record label… Read the postWeek 148: “Peace Piece” by Bill Evans
Lots of people hate winter. It’s cold, it’s dark, and the novelty of snow quickly… Read the postWeek 135: “White Keys” by Chilly Gonzalez