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May Jazz Birthdays

By Marc Cohn | Gifts & Messages
June 4, 2019
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Miles, Gil, Papa Joe, Sidney & Paul! May birthdays on Gifts & Messages! We also celebrate pianists Stanley Cowell, John Lewis, Sun Ra & Dave McKenna; vocalists Shirley Horn & Betty Carter; saxophonists Arthur Blythe & Sonny Fortune; guitarist Jimmy Ponder, bassist Ron Carter, B-3 master Richard Holmes & flautist James Newton. Do enjoy the show!

Story of the week: "I say two things to students: 'Why are you here?' They don't have an answer. Then, 'Play a C scale two octaves up & down.' They play it. I ask, 'What does that sound like?' They have no idea. So, we've established, in less than a minute, you have no idea why you're here & have no idea what you sound like. The lesson's pretty much over. 'When you figure out one of those, come back and we can start.'" —Branford Marsalis (from a recent Downbeat interview).

Playlist

Richard "Groove" Holmes

organ, Hammond B3
1931 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard "Groove" Holmes "Down Home Funk" from Comin' On Home (Blue Note) 00:00

Stanley Cowell

piano
1941 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Cowell "Hear Me One" from Hear Me One (Steeplechase) 05:05

Sidney Bechet

saxophone, soprano
1897 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Sidney Bechet "Sweet Lorraine" from The Complete H.R.S. Sessions (Mosaic) 11:01

Sidney Bechet "Lazy River" from The Complete H.R.S. Sessions (Mosaic) 16:02

Betty Carter

vocals
1929 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Betty Carter "Make It Last" from The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine) 20:04

Jimmy Ponder

guitar
1946 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Ponder "A Tribute To A Rose" from Steel City Soul (32 Jazz) 26:30

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra "Prelude To A Kiss" from Sun Ra At Inter-Media Arts, 1991 (Modern Harmonic) 28:49

Arthur Blythe

saxophone, alto
1940 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Arthur Blythe "In A Sentimental Mood" from In The Tradition (Columbia) 35:21

James Newton

flute
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">James Newton "Passion Flower" from The African Flower (Blue Note) 44:12

Sonny Fortune

saxophone, alto
1939 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Fortune "It Ain't What It Was" from Last Night At Sweet Rhythm (Sound Reason) 49:50

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis/

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane "So What" from The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 (Columbia) 57:40

Miles Davis/John Coltrane "Fran Dance" from The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 (Columbia) 1:12:39

Shirley Horn

piano
1934 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Shirley Horn "I Fall In Love Too Easily" from I Remember Miles (Verve) 1:21:06

Miles Davis "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" from Porgy And Bess (Columbia) 1:26:32

Ron Carter

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Carter "The Golden Striker" from Ron Carter's Great Big Band (Sunnyside) 1:31:46

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond/

Modern Jazz Quartet

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Modern Jazz Quartet "East Of The Sun" from Paul Desmond & The Modern Jazz Quartet (Red Baron) 1:36:23

King Oliver

trumpet
1881 - 1938

" data-original-title="" title="">King Oliver "Chattanooga Stomp" from Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings (Off The Record) 1:44:44

King Oliver "New Orleans Stomp" from Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings (Off The Record) 1:48:39

Dave McKenna

piano
1930 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave McKenna "A Shine On Your Shoes" from Dancing In The Dark (Concord) 1:51:40

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