Happy (124th) Birthday, Duke!
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, April 29, 1899-May 24, 1974, pianist, composer, bandleader
“Black Beauty” (D. Ellington), two takes
Solo piano, rec. 1928 (New York)
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With his orchestra, rec. 1960 (Los Angeles)
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lagniappe
radio
All Duke, all day: WKCR-FM (Columbia University).
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Piano Partita No. 2 in C minor: Martha Argerich (1941-, piano), live, Germany (Görlitz Synagogue, Lausitz Festival), 10/13/20
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lagniappe
radio
Again it comes, one of my favorite musical events of the year: all Bach, all the time, until 11:59 p.m., December 31st—Bachfest 2022, WKCR (Columbia University).
like nothing else
“Old Man Dancing” (Carla Bley, 1936-): Chet Doxas (clarinet, tenor saxophone), Carla Bley (piano), Karen Mantler (keyboard), Steve Swallow (bass), 2020
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
This is the point in prefaces where I customarily say something nice about my wife. This time, however, I can’t think of anything that even comes anywhere near doing her justice. Her name is Susan Patek Booth.
Berkeley, California
May 3, 1997—Stephen Booth (1933-2020), from Precious Nonsense: The Gettysburg Address, Ben Jonson’s Epitaphs on His Children, and Twelfth Night (1998)
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radio
Today, Thelonious Monk’s birthday, it’s all Monk, all day at WKCR (Columbia University).
alone
Sam Newsome (1965-, soprano saxophone), live, published 10/9/20
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lagniappe
radio
Today, the birthday of Thelonious Monk (1917-1982), it’s all Monk all day at WKCR (Columbia University).
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random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
more
John Coltrane Quartet (JC, 1926-1967, tenor saxophone; McCoy Tyner, 1938-2020, piano; Jimmy Garrison, 1934-1976, bass; Elvin Jones, 1927-2004, drums), live (“Vigil,” Naima,” “My Favorite Things”), Belgium (Comblain-la-Tour), 1965
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, New York
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radio
Today WKCR (Columbia University) celebrates the birthday of cornetist Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931)—all Bix, all day.
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reading table
In the dark we disappear, pure being.
—Stanley Plumly (1939-2019), from”Wight”
tonight in Chicago
He’s playing at Buddy Guy’s club, opening for Buddy himself.
Kingfish (AKA Christone Ingram, 1999-), “Hey Joe,” live, Tupelo, Miss., 2017
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langiappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
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reading table
a lovely night lit
with oil lamps . . .
croaking frogs—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue
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radio
Today WKCR (Columbia University) is celebrating the birthday of jazz drummer Max Roach (1924-2007), playing his music all day.
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), French Suites (Nos. 1-6); András Schiff (piano), live, Germany (Leipzig), 2010
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lagniappe
radio
The annual Bachfest on WKCR (Columbia University) continues through midnight New Year’s Eve.
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random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor; Shunske Sato (violin), live, Netherlands (Haarlem), published 10/24/19
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lagniappe
radio
One of my favorite musical events begins today: the annual Bachfest on WKCR (Columbia University); all Bach, all the time, until midnight New Year’s Eve.
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random sights
other day, Chicago (Monadnock Building)
only rock ‘n’ roll
Big Thief, “Shoulders,” “Not,” “Masterpiece,” “The Toy,” live (studio), Seattle, 10/26/19
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
O’Neal Twins, “Jesus Dropped the Charges” (R. White), 1982 (Say Amen, Somebody)
What a surprise it was, yesterday morning, driving home from our local farmers’ market, to encounter this wonderful, deeply moving piece about this performance, a longtime favorite, on the radio (Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR).
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Another take.
Live, St. Louis, 1981
music clip of the day 