Great Live Moments - Branford Marsalis

June 30, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: ballad, bassist, branford marsalis, burnout, chicago jazz festival, drummer jeff, Great Live Moments, jazz quartet, jeff tain watts, kenny kirkland, Listening Post, pianist, revis, square park, tain, washington square, washington square park, wbgo

In 1998, Branford Marsalis was the host of JazzSet. He was also the leader of an amazing jazz quartet. In August of that year, they played a concert at Washington Square Park in New York. WBGO was there to capture the performance.
I remember seeing this band at the Chicago Jazz Festival, just a few weeks after this recording. Branford, along with bassist Eric Revis, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, and the late pianist Kenny Kirkland had the unique ability to pin you to your seat for more than an hour. The music was relentless, whether it was some burnout tune or a ballad. Kenny Kirkland's "Mr. J.C." is a great example of the former. Enjoy the blistering solos from Kenny and Branford. Click here to listen.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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Vibraphonist Walt Dickerson 4/16/28-5/15/08

May 18, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: amazing records, andrew cyrille, andrew hill, bassist, cardiac arrest, george tucker, grove pennsylvania, intriguing records, jazz fan, jerry goldsmith, Notes, pianist, relativity, sad news, sense of direction, shelley winters, sidney poitier, sun ra, vibraphonist, walt dickerson, willow grove

Sad news to report. On May 15th, vibraphonist Walt Dickerson died of cardiac arrest at his home in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He was 80. Walt made a string of amazing records in the 1960s for Prestige that rarely receive much notice beyond the realm of the hardcore jazz fan. I highly recommend them - This is Walt Dickerson, A Sense of Direction, Relativity, and my favorite, To My Queen - a quartet date with bassist George Tucker, drummer Andrew Cyrille and pianist Andrew Hill. Walt also cut some stuff for SteepleChase Records, and he collaborated with Sun Ra. They made a few intriguing records together, including Impressions of a Patch of Blue, based on Jerry Goldsmith's music for the Academy Award winning film starring Sidney Poitier and Shelley Winters (you MUST watch this movie). Walt's music is not so easy to find, but very much worth the effort. He will be missed.

-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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Pianist Ronnie Mathews

May 5, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: barry harris, brooklyn, cancer, Jazz Community, keyboard, methodist hospital, music, Notes, park slope brooklyn, peace, pianist, ronnie mathews, sheila anderson, wbgo

Ronnie Mathews, a pianist who has contributed so much to jazz, is terminally ill. He is battling pancreatic cancer at First Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn. WBGO's Sheila Anderson visited yesterday, as did Mathews' friend, the pianist Barry Harris. Harris brought a keyboard, and played some music for the ailing Mathews.

If you would like to leave a message for Ronnie Mathews, you may do so. His home number is 718.783.4073. Messages will be delivered to him in the hospital.
WBGO and the jazz community send Ronnie Mathews wishes for strength and peace during this difficult time.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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