music clip of the day

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Category: saxophone

Thursday, April 3rd

passings

George Freeman (guitarist), April 10, 1927-April 1, 2025

Birth Sign,* 1970 (Delmark Records)

When, fifty years ago, I first heard this album, I thought it was wonderful. I still do.

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*1. “Mama, Papa, Brother” 2. “Cough It Up” 3. “My Scenery” 4. “Must Be, Must Be” 5. “Birth Sign” 6. “Hoss” 7. “My Ship”

George Freeman, guitar; Lester Lashley, trombone (track 4); Von Freeman (brother, MCOTD Hall of Fame), tenor saxophone (tracks 2-3, 6-7); Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, tenor saxophone (track 4); Sonny Burke, organ (tracks 1–6); Robert Pierce, organ (track 4); Billy Mitchell, drums

Saturday, March 1st

From Miles Davis to the NYC Subway: The Forgotten Jazz Legend Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre (Danilo Parra, director), published (YouTube) 2/20/25

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lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois

Wednesday, February 12th

Some performances just keep building, getting better, and better, and better.

Steve Coleman Five Elements (SC, alto saxophone, compositions; Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet; Anthony Tidd, bass; Sean Rickman, drums; Kokayi, vocals), live, Spain (Donostia San Sebastian), 2022

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lagniappe

random sights

other day, Chicago

Wednesday, January 22nd

my back pages

On a cold, snowy night forty-eight years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Tenor saxophonist Von Freeman (1923-2012, MCOTD Hall of Fame) and pianist John Young (1922-2008) provided the music, playing before the ceremony (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More”); during (Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” [unaccompanied saxophone], as Suzanne walked down the aisle), and after (“My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”). All of what they played that night can be heard here (0:14-).

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lagniappe

random sights

other day, Chicago

Tuesday, December 31st

sounds of Chicago

DKV Trio (Hamid Drake [MCOTD Hall of Fame], drums; Kent Kessler, bass; Ken Vandermark, reeds), live, Chicago, 12/28/24

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lagniappe

random sights

Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, 2017

Saturday, December 21st

what’s new

This combination of voices—alto saxophone, cello, accordion—I could listen to all day.

Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Hank Roberts (cello), Aurora Nealand (accordion, etc.), live, Austria (Wels), 11/26/24

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lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois

Saturday, December 14th

like nobody else

Albert Ayler Quintet (AA [1938-1970], tenor saxophone; Donald Ayler, trumpet; Michel Samson, violin; Bill Folwell, bass; Beaver Harris, drums), “Our Prayer” (A. Ayler), live (TV), Germany (Munich), 1966

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lagniappe

art beat: other day, National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago), Day of the Dead exhibit

Monday, November 4th

sounds of New York

Johnny Griffin (1928-2008, tenor saxophone) with Ronnie Mathews (piano), Ray Drummond (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), live, New York (Village Vanguard), 1981

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lagniappe

random sights

other day, Chicago

Friday, August 30th

what’s new

Patricia Brennan Septet (PB, vibraphone, electronics, composition; Jon Irabagon, alto and sopranino saxophones; Mark Shim, tenor saxophone; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet, electronics; Marcus Gilmore, drums; Mauricio Herrera, percussion; Kim Cass, bass), “Earendel” (video by Frank Heath), published 8/22/24

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lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, outside Chicago

Saturday, August 10th

what’s new

One-word review: Wow!

Patricia Brennan Septet (PB, vibraphone, electronics, composition; Jon Irabagon, alto and sopranino saxophones; Mark Shim, tenor saxophone; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet, electronics; Marcus Gilmore, drums; Mauricio Herrera, percussion; Kim Cass, bass), “Palos de Oros” (Suit of Coins), published 8/6/24

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lagniappe

random sights

other day, Oak Park, Ill.