WBGO Blog

  • Blame It On Terell Stafford

    March 14, 2011. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Great Live Moments, Jazz Alive

    jazzStafford_160x130Terell leans back and plays from his knees - I remember observing on this night in March, 2008, at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club - and paints with the bell of his horn. Bruce Barth is the pianist, Phil Palombi on bass, Dana Hall on drums. Another time I appreciated Terell, he was with the Clayton Brothers quintet and a local orchestra closing  the Detroit Jazz Fest. The piece was John Clayton's dedication to Hank, Thad and Elvin Jones. The audience hung on every note of Terell's solo - fast, brilliant and driving on a cool Labor Day night.

    "Blame It On My Youth" is by Oscar Levant (1906-72), the pianist, film composer, acid-tongued comedian, TV guest and host, and - as  Gary Burton would say when he performed this song - "all-around strange guy." Jack Paar signed off his late night TV shows, "Good night, Oscar Levant, wherever you are."

    Tuesday night, Terell Stafford is at the Village Vanguard.

    © 2011 WBGO

  • One Minute of Fred Hersch

    March 4, 2011. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Fred Hersch, Great Live Moments, Jazz Alive, JazzSet

    You have probably heard the Waltz in D-Flat major by Frédéric Chopin a/k/a the Minute Waltz because you can play it in 60 seconds.  Well, here is Fred Hersch with a Minute Waller, as in Thomas "Fats" Waller (1904-1943), the composer of "Crazy 'Bout My Baby."  In 60 seconds.

    Our solo Hersch comes from the Village Vanguard as heard on JazzSet in 2006.  This weekend, Fred is playing at the Jazz Standard in New York.

    © 2011 WBGO

  • Jazz on the Mountain 2011 -- Mohonk Mountain House

    January 20, 2011. Posted by Michael Bourne.

    Add new comment | Filed under: Great Live Moments, Live Music, WBGO Community Events
    Photo by Sam Calello
    Photo by Sam Calello

    Mohonk was again a great success, especially musically. Mohonk Mountain House was sold-out Saturday and close to full Friday and Sunday, including this year more than two dozen WBGO supporters who booked through the station. Our supporters enjoyed a special dinner with the artists on Saturday evening, and plenty of WBGO listeners came up to me through the weekend to say how much they listen to and love Jazz 88.

    John Pizzarelli played guitar and sang opening night, joined by his brother, bassist Martin Pizzarelli. John was as funny telling stories as the brothers were swinging, playing especially Nat Cole, Duke Ellington, and bossa nova favorites. John's climactic solo on "Lady Be Good" was as virtuosically plectral as I've ever heard him.
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    © 2011 WBGO