music clip of the day

jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more

Category: saxophone

Sunday, July 7th

This guy, even after 50 years, I never tire of hearing.

Just one note and I’m hooked, again.

Vernard Johnson (1948-, alto saxophone), “Holiness Is What I Long For,” live, Louisville, Ky., 2017

Saturday, June 15th

timeless

Pharoah Sanders (1940-2022, tenor saxophone), Lonnie Liston Smith (1940-, piano), Norris “Sirone” Jones (1940-2009, bass), Majib (aka Najeed) Shabazz (drums), live, France (Antibes), 1968

Tuesday, June 4th

like nobody else

Happy (79th) birthday, Anthony!

Anthony Braxton (6/4/1945-, reeds, composition) with Dan Peck (tuba), Taylor Ho Bynum (brass), Tomeka Reid (cello), Jacqui Kerrod (harp), Shelly Burgon (harp), Adam Matlock (accordion, aerophones), “Composition No. 409,” live, New Haven, Conn., 2017

**********

lagniappe

radio

Today, celebrating his birthday, WKCR (Columbia University) is featuring his music from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (ET).

Monday, April 22nd

Happy (102nd) Birthday, Charles!

Charles Mingus Sextet (CM, 4/22/1922–1/5/1979, bass, compositions; Eric Dolphy, 1928-1964, alto saxophone; Clifford Jordan, 1931-1993, tenor saxophone; Johnny Coles, 1925-1987, trumpet; Jaki Byard, 1922-1999, piano; Dannie Richmond, 1931-1988, drums), live, Belgium,* Norway,** Sweden,*** 1964

**********

lagniappe

radio

All Mingus, all day: WKCR-FM (Columbia University).

*****

* “So Long Eric,” “Peggy’s Blue Skylight,” “Meditations on Integration”

** “So Long Eric,” “Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk,” “Parkeriana,” “Take The ‘A’ Train”

*** “So Long Eric” (performance and rehearsal), “Meditations on Integration” (performance and rehearsal)

Monday, April 8th

sounds of New York

These two sets, live-streamed last night, are very different. The first is wonderful. The second? One of the best things I’ve heard in a long time.

First Set: Patricia Brennan (vibraphone, electronics) & Adam O’Farrill (trumpet, electronics) Duo, 10:00-

Second Set: Patricia Brennan’s SeVeN (Patricia Brennan, vibraphone, electronics; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet, electronics; Jon Irabagon, alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone; Mark Shim, tenor saxophone; Kim Cass, bass; Dan Weiss, drums; Mauricio Herrera, percussion), 1:14:00-

**********

lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.

Saturday, April 6th

joy, n. a source of keen pleasure or delight. E.g., listening to singer Eddie Jefferson.

Eddie Jefferson (1918-1979), live (with Richie Cole, alto saxophone; John Campbell, piano; Kelly Sill, bass; Joel Spencer, drums), Chicago (Jazz Showcase), 5/6/79 (days later, he was dead, shot outside a Detroit jazz club)

**********

lagniappe

art beat: other day, Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines Art Center)

Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), Mont Sainte-Victoire (detail)

Friday, March 15th

voices I miss

Paul Motian Trio (PM, 1931-2011, drums; Bill Frisell, 1951-, guitar; Joe Lovano, 1952-, tenor saxophone), live, Amsterdam, 1999

**********

lagniappe

art beat: other day, Smart Museum (University of Chicago)

Mark Rothko (1903-1970), No. 2 (1962), detail

Thursday, February 15th

Your day just got better.

Hank Mobley (1930-1986, tenor saxophone), et al., from The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions (1963-70) (Mosaic) (track and personnel info at YouTube)

**********

lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.

Saturday, January 27th

voices I miss

Albert Collins (1932-1993, vocals, guitar), “Cold, Cold Feeling” (J. M. Robinson), live, 1981

*****

another take

Ice Pickin’ (Alligator Records), 1978

(This track, which I co-produced nearly 50 years ago, lives on through streaming, with over 17 million plays on Spotify.)

**********

lagniappe

random sights

yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.

Tuesday, January 16th

timeless

Shirley Scott (1934-2002, organ) with Harold Vick (1936-1987, tenor saxophone), Billy Higgins (1936-2001, drums), Jimmy Hopps (1939-, cowbell), “Keep On Movin’ On” (H. Vick), rec. 1974 (One for Me [Strata-East], 1975)

**********

lagniappe

random sights

other day, Oak Park, Ill.

*****

reading table

Drooping
in this upside-down world,
a bamboo in the snow.

—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from the Japanese by Tom Lowenstein