This history of jazz is more a primer on how to listen to it Nov 22, 2009
It s all here (albeit abbreviated), from Bessie Smith to Buddy Bolden to Louis Armstrong to Coleman Hawkins to Charlie Parker to John Coltrane to Jason Moran. The basic configurations of the jazz ensemble are examined and explained for the uninitiated. (Boston Globe)
News and Notes: Kansas vs. Texas Nov 21, 2009
Celebrity birthdays this Saturday: grouchy young man Ken Griffey, Jr. (40); NFL hall-o-famer and Harry Connick look-alike Troy Aikman (43); annoying singer Bjork (44); 24 president Cherry Jones (53); actress Goldie Hawn (64); Ghostbuster Harold Ramis (65); That Girl actress and Phil Donohue's wife Marlo Thomas (71); and, if they hadn't already assumed room temperature, baseball hall of famer Stan Musial (89) and jazz legend Coleman Hawkins (105). Related Stories. (Phog.net)
Junior Mance to perform at Church of the Covenant Oct 8, 2009
Gigs with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, and others followed, and in the 90s Mance joined the elite 100 Gold Fingers that included Dave McKenna. Mance is in town for a rare solo concert. (Boston Globe)
The First Black Prez Aug 27, 2009
However, Young discovered that there was a dominant saxophone sound, the gruff but fluid tones of Coleman Hawkins. Youngs lithe sound was too avant-garde for many big bands of the mid 30s, so Prez returned to Basie in 1936 and began a history making run of great music. (Slate)
Death of the Guitar Man: Les Paul (1915-2009) Aug 14, 2009
In the morning he was hillbilly, and at night he was playing jazz with Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Cole and Art Tatum. He cut his first records in 1936, backing blues singer-pianist Georgia White as she belted out Andy Razaf's raunchy threat, "If I can't sell it, I'll keep sittin' on it, before I give it away." A year later, he formed his first trio, with bass player Ernie Newton and rhythm guitarist Jim Atkins (the elder half brother of Chet Atkins, with whom Paul cut the 1995 album... (Time.com)
Grand opening for the new Knick May 23, 2009
It was known as a major destination for talent like Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Albert King, Big Walter Horton, The Coasters, Shirelles, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds not to mention Rhode Island s own Roomful of Blues. The Grand Opening celebration is the culmination of 3 years of planning and construction, done with careful attention to bringing back the original look from the 1940s, right down to the 520 square foot rock maple dance floor, known as one of the best in New England. (Westerly Sun, RI)
New on DVD: 'Being There,' 'Frozen River' and 'W.' Feb 13, 2009
Coleman Hawkins in Europe (* * *, 1961-66, MVD Entertainment Group, unrated, $20): As American TV audiences rotted away to I Dream of Jeannie and all those CBS rube comedies in the 1960s, European tubes offered a treasure-trove of jazz performances, as evidenced by this collection devoted to true tenor-sax royalty. Included are What's New. (USA Today -- Life)
