WBGO Blog

  • Today is the 100th anniv of Milt Hinton's birth .. we celebrated his 80th

    June 23, 2010. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Anniversaries, Birthdays, concerts, Great Live Moments, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, jvc jazz festival, Live Music, Milt Hinton

    Clark Terry was an MC. Ray Brown was the lead-off bass player, with youngster John Clayton. Sylvia Sims sang. Joe Williams sang. Doc Cheatham played duets with newcomer Wynton Marsalis. NY Mayor Dinkins sent a proclamation that June 23, 1990, was "Milt Hinton Day." A choir of first-call bassists canceled whatever to come together and celebrate.

    Bassists, from left: Lynn Seaton, Lonnie Plaxico, Charnett Moffit, Jack Lesberg, Bob Haggart, Milt Hinton, John Clayton, Eddie Gomez, Dick Hyman, Richard David, Bill Crow, Major Holley, Ron Carter and Rufus Reid perform "The Judge Meets the Section" at MH 80th Birthday Concert at Town Hall on June 23, 1990. Photo by Tad Hershorn
    Bassists, from left: Lynn Seaton, Lonnie Plaxico, Charnett Moffett, Jack Lesberg, Bob Haggart, Milt Hinton, John Clayton, Eddie Gomez, Richard Davis, Bill Crow, Major Holley, Ron Carter and Rufus Reid perform at the MH 80th Birthday Concert at Town Hall on June 23, 1990. Photo by Tad Hershorn

    As host Michael Bourne noted on the two-hour broadcast, the young-at-heart elder statesman had played on more than 600 albums. He and wife Mona Hinton were loved. Milt closed the concert with some solo slap bass, then honored a request to sing "Old Man Time." Dick Hyman on piano, Bob Rosengarden on drums. Please listen.

    © 2010 WBGO

  • Milton Nascimento and the Jobim Trio: The Birthday Concert

    October 27, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: antonio carlos jobim, Birthdays, bossa nova, brazilian song, concerts, cravo e canela, dorival caymmi, jazz tour, Listening Post, Live Music, milton nascimento, minas gerais brazil, new jersey performing arts, new jersey performing arts center, njpac, nova classics, o vento, paquito d rivera, portuguese speakers, prudential hall, victoria theater, vinicius de moraes, wbgo, weekend coverage

    Milton Nascimento’s Cake

    Listen to the concert.

    WBGO was part of an extraordinary evening last night at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  After Saturday's Latin Jazz tour with Paquito D'Rivera at the Victoria Theater, we wrapped up our weekend coverage of NJPAC's Alternate Routes festival tonight at Prudential Hall. The muse of Minas Gerais, Brazil's Milton Nascimento, celebrated his 66th birthday onstage with the Jobim Trio, featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim's son and grandson, guitarist Paulo Jobim and pianist Daniel Jobim.  Rodrigo Villa supported on bass, as did the steady rhythm of drummer Paolo Braga.  They played new arrangements of bossa nova classics (largely from the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Vinicius De Moraes songbook), a Dorival Caymmi standard, and a few anthems from Nascimento's time in the clube da esquina movement in Brazil's popular music.   All in all, it was a beautiful view into the modern identity of Brazilian song, with a willing audience of Portuguese speakers from Newark's Ironbound neighborhood.  Here's the rundown of the show, and what you'll hear when you listen online:

    1. Garota de Ipanema - AC Jobim (not available online)
    2. Aguas de Marco - AC Jobim
    3. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce - Elis Regina
    4. O Vento - Dorival Caymmi
    5. Brigas Nunca Mais - AC Jobim/Vinicius De Moraes
    6. Inutil Paisagem - AC Jobim/Aloysio de Oliveira
    7. Chega de Saudades - AC Jobim/De Moraes
    8. Medo de Amar - Vinicius De Moraes
    9. Velho Riacho (Pra Nao Sofrer) - AC Jobim
    10. Esperanca Perdida - AC Jobim/Billy Blanco
    11. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar - AC Jobim/De Moraes
    12. Dias Azuis - Daniel Jobim
    13. Para Lennon e McCartney - Lo Borges-F.Brant/Nascimento
    14. Cravo e Canela - Nascimento
    15. Samba Do Aviao - AC Jobim
    16. Maria, Maria [encore] -  Nascimento

    © 2008 WBGO

  • Don't Mess With Mr. T

    April 5, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Birthdays, Jazz Osmosis, Video

    I pity the fool who tries to play like Stanley Turrentine. His sound is so thoroughly drenched in soul. That's why I miss Mr. T, an alias of saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Today would be Stanley's burthday. I highly encourage you to dig through some of Stanley's Blue Note records, especially the stuff with Horace Parlan's trio or Jimmy Smith. In many ways, Stanley's big sound reminds me of the soulful tenor player from Newark, Ike Quebec.

    Check out this live performance of "Don't Mess With Mr. T." Fans of Marvin Gaye will recognize the music from Marvin's soundtrack to the film, Trouble Man. I love Marvin's lyrics, which are partly autobiographical - I come up hard/I come up, gettin' down/There's only three things/That's for sho'/Taxes, death and trouble...

     

    © 2008 WBGO