Seems Ramsey Lewis is enjoying what his son refers to as his Third Coming. This is the second or third article I've seen about him this week. You gotta admit - whether you like the guy's playing or not...he's had some kind of influence on music.
Check out this nice article by Charles Leroux:
http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/6/music/20070206092729&sec=music
Here's a brief biographical sketch by Karen Grigsby Bates (NPR) about the great Fats Waller. He died so young, but left such a legacy, even to this day.
The article also includes some audio clips.
A comic showman who delighted crowds with his playful stage antics, Fats Waller was the beloved "clown prince" of jazz during a golden era of the genre, leading up to World War II.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6156065
Years ago, I had tickets to see one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time - Oscar Peterson - perform in Cincinnati. A last-minute illness kept him from performing, and Hubert Laws filled in - not a bad concert, but NOT Oscar. I should have done more to track down his performances later, but, sadly, I did not.
What a man, teacher, and performer. The guy is nearly a god to me.
Looks like I'll need to check out this new compilation of some of his work, along with his recently released book. More info at his website at:
| Music Review: Oscar Peterson - Perfect Peterson: The Best of the ... Blogcritics.org, OH - Somewhere on the 88-key continuum between the frenetic intensity of Art Tatum and the artful emotion of Bill Evans lies the perfect jazz pianist. ... |
Man, I would give my right arm to see this performance/lecture this weekend. I'm actually going to be in San Fran on business, too! Say what you might, but I love Williams' music, and I think this benefit in San Diego, CA sounds totally cool.
Oh well...maybe in my next life...
 San Diego Union Tribune | Celluloid hero San Diego Union Tribune, CA - ... courses in piano and composition at UCLA, classes with Juilliard master teacher Rosina Lhevinne, and work at New York jazz clubs and recording studios. ... |
Weird. I was just checking out a video of Monk playing 'Blue Monk' last night. Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxrXUxhTj80
If you're in the Louisville, KY area this coming weekend, sounds like this performance at the University of Louisville might be worth checking out - the price is right, too!
| Play ‘Monk’ to bring to life jazz legend U Of L News, KY - Say the name and those who know his work hear the dissonant harmony of his fingers attacking the piano, his playing punctuated with pauses and stops. ... |
technorati tags:jazz, piano, thelonious, monk
Here's a nifty little tool for you intermediate-advanced players: an online chord builder that displays advanced jazz chords on a graphical piano keyboard.
The page also discusses which scales are applicaple for improvisation over specified chords.
Lots more good stuff at this site, too - modes, blues, progressions...enjoy!
http://www.apassion4jazz.net/keys.htmltechnorati tags:jazz, piano, chords, scales, improvisation
