It is my pleasure to introduce a new Deep Groove Mono video blog (“vlog”, as the kids say) series titled Record Collector Confessions. The inspiration to do this partly came from fellow members of the jazz community who are making terrific podcasts, and it also came from filmmaker Alan Zweig. The confessional style … More→
Collection Favorites > Original 1946 pressing Recorded December 1945 in Los Angeles A These Foolish Things B Jumpin’ at Mesners’ Selection: “These Foolish Things” (Strachey) Truth be told, I snubbed Lester Young for a long time for the simple fact that he rose to fame during the swing era. I didn’t realize how … More→
For the first installment of Origins of Bop, we looked at a 1948 bebop classic (Bird’s “Ah Leu Cha”) covered in the hard bop era (by Miles). This time, we explore a jazz standard with roots stretching back much further. “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise” has been covered by many artists including John Coltrane and Larry Young… More→
Collection Favorites > Original 1949 pressing “Maximum” recorded May 15, 1949 at Studio Technisonor, Paris “Just Moody” recorded April 30, 1949 in Lausanne, Switzerland A Max Roach Quintet, “Maximum” B James Moody Quartet, “Just Moody” Selection: “Maximum” (Dorham-Roach) There is something to be said about the role exclusivity plays in record collecting and … More→
Welcome to Origins of Bop, a new Deep Groove Mono series that aims to explore the lineage of some of my favorite hard bop recordings. I have always been interested in music history, and with jazz, that has meant finding out more about where my favorite compositions came from. This series is therefore intended to provide some backstory… More→
Collection Favorites > Original 1949 pressing Personnel: Idrees Sulieman, trumpet (side A only) Danny Quebec West, alto saxophone (side A only) Billy Smith, tenor saxophone (side A only) Milt Jackson, vibraphone (side B only) Thelonious Monk, piano Gene Ramey, bass (side A only) John Simmons, bass (side B only) Art Blakey, drums (side … More→
Since Rudy Van Gelder’s passing in 2016, Van Gelder Studio owner Maureen Sickler has been working toward a reopening of the studio, and that time has now come. On Saturday, November 14 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time (alternate times for Asia and Europe), Van Gelder Studio will host a virtual tribute concert for legendary composer and saxophonist Hank Mobley. More→
It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of RVG Legacy, a new website dedicated to preserving the legacy of Rudy Van Gelder. Since the pandemic has taken away all opportunities for me to give my presentation on Rudy in person, I decided to build a website that would essentially deliver all the content of my talk virtually. In the spring I wrote the narrative, then over the summer I put everything together and developed the site. More→
While I have never felt apologetic about my sincere adoration for music, sometimes I do struggle with feelings of guilt related to how important collecting is to me. I spend a lot of time thinking about and partaking in this hobby, and my propensity toward anxiety and obsession has made my active participation … More→
Original 1930 pressing Personnel: Fats Waller, piano Recorded September 11 and September 24, 1929 in New York City Selection: “My Feelin’s Are Hurt” (Waller) While I still haven’t delved all too deeply into ‘pre-bop’ jazz, I managed to find another great 78 from that era. For a stretch in 2019 I was accustomed … More→