Comments for Night Lights Classic Jazz Radio Program and Jazz Blog | WFIU Public Media http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org Jazz program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focusing on classic jazz from 1945-1990, covering artists such as John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Nina Simone. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:44:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The Birth of the Cool Songbook by Bill Forbes http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/06/09/the-birth-of-the-cool-songbook/#comment-18310 Bill Forbes Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:33:57 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/06/09/the-birth-of-the-cool-songbook/#comment-18310 A great idea for a show, David! Even the names of the Birth of the Cool tunes have something enigmatic, evocative and poetic about them: "Move", "Jeru", "Moon Dreams", "Venus de Milo", "Budo", "Deception", "Godchild", "Boplicity", "Rocker", "Israel", "Rouge" .... The fact that they were recorded by a very unusual group - a nonet - means that covers are inevitably in new formats which reveal further aspects of the tunes. "Godchild", for example, has been reprised by the Woody Herman Orchestra and by a Gerry Mulligan piano trio. And some of these tunes have great staying power! Bill Charlap recently recorded "Rocker" and "Godchild", some 57 years after the nonet sides! Looking in the opposite direction - to recordings which pre-date the Birth of the Cool sessions - it'll be interesting to hear the 1942 precedent for "Moon Dreams". A new one on me! A great idea for a show, David! Even the names of the Birth of the Cool tunes have something enigmatic, evocative and poetic about them: “Move”, “Jeru”, “Moon Dreams”, “Venus de Milo”, “Budo”, “Deception”, “Godchild”, “Boplicity”, “Rocker”, “Israel”, “Rouge” …. The fact that they were recorded by a very unusual group - a nonet - means that covers are inevitably in new formats which reveal further aspects of the tunes. “Godchild”, for example, has been reprised by the Woody Herman Orchestra and by a Gerry Mulligan piano trio. And some of these tunes have great staying power! Bill Charlap recently recorded “Rocker” and “Godchild”, some 57 years after the nonet sides! Looking in the opposite direction - to recordings which pre-date the Birth of the Cool sessions - it’ll be interesting to hear the 1942 precedent for “Moon Dreams”. A new one on me!

]]> Comment on Individualism: Gil Evans in the 1960s by Bill Forbes http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/06/02/individualism-gil-evans-in-the-1960s/#comment-18071 Bill Forbes Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:45:53 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/06/02/individualism-gil-evans-in-the-1960s/#comment-18071 Certainly looking forward to this one, David! I've long been an admirer of Gil's music and a recent reading of Stephanie Stein Cruse's biography has revived my interest. Although I have most of his records in my collection, I had completely forgotten about Blues in Orbit. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I wonder why it stayed under my radar for so long. I probably confused it with Duke Ellington's album of the same name! Certainly looking forward to this one, David! I’ve long been an admirer of Gil’s music and a recent reading of Stephanie Stein Cruse’s biography has revived my interest. Although I have most of his records in my collection, I had completely forgotten about Blues in Orbit. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I wonder why it stayed under my radar for so long. I probably confused it with Duke Ellington’s album of the same name!

]]> Comment on Emily Remler: a Musical Remembrance by Duncan http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2007/03/31/emily-remler-a-musical-remebrance-2/#comment-18013 Duncan Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:29:52 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2007/07/08/emily-remler-a-musical-remebrance-2/#comment-18013 I took a so-called "master class" with her in the late 80s, when I was about 15. I put quotes around it because a lot of the people in the class, me included, were a long way from mastery. She was pretty patient with us ;). She was really impressive, and she inspired me to work harder (and taught me some slick stuff as well). Hard to believe she was almost 10 years younger then than I am now- she had a commanding presence when the guitar was in her hands. I hadn't realized that heroin was involved in her death- I always thought it was just one of those freak things. I remember seeing a quote from her about being, in reality, a heavyset black man, a la Wes. I wonder if the mystique she had around jazzmen of the past led her that way. Anyway, people of her calibre don't come along that often. Such a shame that she died so young. I took a so-called “master class” with her in the late 80s, when I was about 15. I put quotes around it because a lot of the people in the class, me included, were a long way from mastery. She was pretty patient with us ;). She was really impressive, and she inspired me to work harder (and taught me some slick stuff as well). Hard to believe she was almost 10 years younger then than I am now- she had a commanding presence when the guitar was in her hands.

I hadn’t realized that heroin was involved in her death- I always thought it was just one of those freak things. I remember seeing a quote from her about being, in reality, a heavyset black man, a la Wes. I wonder if the mystique she had around jazzmen of the past led her that way. Anyway, people of her calibre don’t come along that often. Such a shame that she died so young.

]]> Comment on Dick and Kiz Harp: Down at the 90th Floor by Candace http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2007/11/19/dick-and-kiz-harp-down-at-the-90th-floor/#comment-17920 Candace Mon, 26 May 2008 06:28:24 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2007/11/19/dick-and-kiz-harp-down-at-the-90th-floor/#comment-17920 When I first started dating my husband, he had the album of "Dick and Kiz at the 90th Floor". It was winter, we had roaring fires and he would play this record for me. We were in our early 20s and it sealed the deal. When I first started dating my husband, he had the album of “Dick and Kiz at the 90th Floor”. It was winter, we had roaring fires and he would play this record for me. We were in our early 20s and it sealed the deal.

]]> Comment on Billy Taylor and Charles Mingus at Storyville by David Brent Johnson http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/22/billy-taylor-and-charles-mingus-at-storyville/#comment-17882 David Brent Johnson Fri, 23 May 2008 16:14:06 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/22/billy-taylor-and-charles-mingus-at-storyville/#comment-17882 Duly noted and fixed, Jon--thanks for the catch. Duly noted and fixed, Jon–thanks for the catch.

]]> Comment on Billy Taylor and Charles Mingus at Storyville by Jon Foley http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/22/billy-taylor-and-charles-mingus-at-storyville/#comment-17870 Jon Foley Thu, 22 May 2008 23:37:27 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/22/billy-taylor-and-charles-mingus-at-storyville/#comment-17870 In spite of the spelling on the Youtube clip, Billy Taylor's drummer was *Marquis* Foster, not Marcus. In spite of the spelling on the Youtube clip, Billy Taylor’s drummer was *Marquis* Foster, not Marcus.

]]> Comment on “Indiana Can Help Choose a President”: Robert Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary by Upcoming Author Visits « The Hoosier’s Nest http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/05/indiana-can-help-choose-a-president-robert-kennedy-and-the-1968-indiana-primary/#comment-17840 Upcoming Author Visits « The Hoosier’s Nest Tue, 20 May 2008 12:20:00 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/05/indiana-can-help-choose-a-president-robert-kennedy-and-the-1968-indiana-primary/#comment-17840 [...] radio interview about the book with WFIU’s David [...] [...] radio interview about the book with WFIU’s David [...]

]]> Comment on Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P. by RIP Walt Dickerson (May 15, 2008) Jazz Vibebraphonist Great « The Music’s Over http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/17/vibes-for-walt-walt-dickerson-rip/#comment-17834 RIP Walt Dickerson (May 15, 2008) Jazz Vibebraphonist Great « The Music’s Over Mon, 19 May 2008 14:36:49 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/17/vibes-for-walt-walt-dickerson-rip/#comment-17834 [...] Free jazz vibraphone legend, Walt Dickerson has died of cardiac arrest, reports WFIU. [...] [...] Free jazz vibraphone legend, Walt Dickerson has died of cardiac arrest, reports WFIU. [...]

]]> Comment on Vibes for Walt: Walt Dickerson, R.I.P. by Josh http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/17/vibes-for-walt-walt-dickerson-rip/#comment-17810 Josh Sun, 18 May 2008 23:09:19 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/05/17/vibes-for-walt-walt-dickerson-rip/#comment-17810 Oddly enough, Patch of Blue wasn't the only "impressions" album that Dickerson did. He also did Maurice Jarre's music from the film, Lawrence of Arabia. April 28 to May 2008 is a period of 80 years, 1 month. -Josh Oddly enough, Patch of Blue wasn’t the only “impressions” album that Dickerson did. He also did Maurice Jarre’s music from the film, Lawrence of Arabia. April 28 to May 2008 is a period of 80 years, 1 month.
-Josh

]]> Comment on IAJE Cancels Seattle Conference, Declares Bankruptcy by MusTech.Net! | NAME (MENC) Steps Up And Helps, Now Defunct- IAJE, To Support Jazz Education http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/04/18/iaje-cancels-seattle-conference-declares-bankruptcy/#comment-17772 MusTech.Net! | NAME (MENC) Steps Up And Helps, Now Defunct- IAJE, To Support Jazz Education Fri, 16 May 2008 04:08:58 +0000 http://nightlights.blogs.wfiu.org/2008/04/18/iaje-cancels-seattle-conference-declares-bankruptcy/#comment-17772 [...] IAJE Total Music Education AAJ: AJJ Announces Nominees, IAJE Folds 11 May 2008 by The Jazz Monster IAJE Cancels Seattle Conference, Declares Bankruptcy 18 Apr 2008 by David   EDUCATION: Iaje Cancels Seattle Conference, Declares Bankruptcy 18 Apr [...] [...] IAJE Total Music Education AAJ: AJJ Announces Nominees, IAJE Folds 11 May 2008 by The Jazz Monster IAJE Cancels Seattle Conference, Declares Bankruptcy 18 Apr 2008 by David   EDUCATION: Iaje Cancels Seattle Conference, Declares Bankruptcy 18 Apr [...]

]]>