The Count Basie Orchestra - All of Me

 

This week's Sunday Special features a modern lineup of Count Basie's famous orchestra from a 2013 performance at the Blue Note in Tokyo, Japan.  Watch the video via YouTube.  

September 7, 2013, at the Blue Note Tokyo, Japan.

The lineup of the Count Basie Orchestra for this show includes:

Rhythm Section: 

Bobby Floyd: piano

Will Matthews: guitar

Marcus McLaurine: bass

Butch Miles: drums, co-host

Horn section:

Trumpets: Bruce Harris, Shawn Edmonds, Mike Williams, & Scotty Barnhart 

Bass Trombone: Mark Williams

Trombones: Alvin Walker, Dave Keim, & Clarence Banks

Saxophones: Baritone: Frank Basile, Tenor: Doug Miller & Doug Lawrence, Alto: Cleave Guyton & Marshall McDonald

One of My Favorite Herbie Hancock Groups featuring Michael Brecker

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

His New Standards band, from '97, with Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette and Don Alias. Excerpt from Sade's Love is Stronger Than Pride. Please visit the new home of the Jazz Video Guy on the Internet: http://syncopatedjustice.com

In Memoriam: Dickey Betts

We fondly remember Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts, one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band and one of the greatest guitarists of all-time.  Betts passed away at age 80 after complications with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.  He will be greatly missed by music fans and guitar players everywhere.  Here is the Billboard magazine obituary.  

https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/dickey-betts-dead-allman-brothers-guitarist-dies-80-obituary-1235659751/

Here is Dickey's most famous contribution to the Allman Brothers Band's song catalog.  "Ramblin' Man", released on their 1973 #1 record "Brothers & Sisters".  

Rest In Peace, Dickey Betts.  You will be missed.  

Michael Brecker & The Brecker Brothers "Funky Sea, Funky Dew"

 

From a live concert in 1980, here are The Brecker Brothers, featuring Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone and Randy Brecker on trumpet, among other great musicians in their band, playing "Funky Sea, Funky Dew".  If you refer back to the video, I posted a long while ago of the tune "Tee'd Off" that will give you an idea of the full band which also includes the rhythm section of guitarist Barry Finnerty, bassist Neil Jason, keyboardist Mark Gray, and drummer Richie Morales.  I think that is the same lineup for this show.  

Any corrections, please let me know.

Benny Golson Quintet - Whisper Not

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

Please visit the new home of the Jazz Video Guy: http://syncopatedjustice.com Whisper Not (Golson). Benny Golson, tenor saxophone; Freddie Hubbard, flugelhorn; Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Marvin Smitty Smith, on drums.

Gerald Wilson Big Band: 'Blues for Yna Yna'

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

And for more cool video, please visit the new home of the Jazz Video Guy: http://syncopatedjustice.com The second Jazz TV series in LA, Frankly Jazz on KTLA, debuted in August of 1962, hosted by affable Frank Evans. The Gerald Wilson Big Band was one the show's guests and here, they play the Wilson original, "Blues of Yna Yna." Frankly Jazz: https://jazzresearch.com/frankly-jazz/ and search on YouTube for more video from the TV show.

Just One of Those Things: Erroll Garner

 

From Bret "Jazz Video Guy" Primack.

Just One of Those Things (Porter) Erroll Garner: Piano; Eddie Calhoun: Bass; Kelly Martin: Drums. BBC 1964 Please visit the Jazz Video Guy's new home: http://syncopatedjustice.com Erroll Garner was an immensely important figure in the world of jazz music, primarily due to his distinctive playing style and contributions to the genre. Garner was known for his unorthodox playing style. He played with an orchestral approach, often sounding like multiple pianists at once. His ability to play lush, intricate chords with his left hand while simultaneously crafting melodic and rhythmic improvisations with his right hand was exceptional. Mr. Garner was also a prolific composer. His most famous composition, "Misty," has become a jazz standard, covered by countless artists in various genres. This piece alone has had a lasting impact on jazz and popular music. Garner influenced not only pianists but also a broad spectrum of jazz musicians. His approach to rhythm, particularly his use of off-beat phrasing and his ability to swing, was highly influential. Remarkably, Errol Garner was largely self-taught and did not read music. This fact underscores his natural talent and intuitive understanding of jazz and piano playing. As an African American artist achieving prominence in the mid-20th century, Garner helped break down racial barriers in the music industry. He gained significant popularity and respect at a time when segregation and racial discrimination were rampant. Garner's recordings, such as the critically acclaimed concert album "Concert by the Sea," are considered classics. His ability to bring studio-like quality to live performances was unparalleled. Errol Garner's music continues to be celebrated and studied. His approach to jazz piano remains a benchmark for aspiring jazz musicians, and his recordings are cherished by jazz enthusiasts worldwide. Erroll Garner's innovation in jazz piano playing, his compositions, and his influence on both contemporaries and future generations of musicians make him an important figure in the history of jazz music.