Category: Jazz Ears

One Monday night at the Village Vanguard, many years ago, during the third set in front of a packed house so quiet you could hear the proverbial pin drop, Roland Hanna began one of his long ostinato vamps, then slowly wandered his way into a solo selection of his choice. As he played on, intently listening band members were trying to figure out what tune he was playing. Jerry Dodgion nudged Jerome Richardson and whispered, “What is this?” Jerome looked up at the ceiling, listened some more, and finally shrugged. They both looked quizzically at Thad. Thad always knew what tune Roland was playing, no matter how far afield the improvisation. But not that night. That night Roland’s rendition of Body and Soul stumped them all. When the applause finally died down, Thad asked Roland to name that tune, and Roland was actually perturbed that they didn’t get it.

This story from the lore of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was told to me a few nights ago by saxophonist Jerry Dodgion, and I should have mentioned Dodgion’s web site when I was pointing out musician sites the other day. Jerry’s leading a group called “The Joy of Sax” (five saxophones and rhythm section) and their first CD is Jerry Dodgion and the Joy of Sax featuring Frank Wess (LSM 101). It can be purchased though CD Baby, where you can also hear a few clips.

There are gazillions of musician web sites, too many for any one person to surf. So I thought I’d mention just a few that have come to my attention lately.

Either blue is cool, or blue is jazzy, or maybe blue = cool jazz. Two dynamic drummers both have deep blue home pages. Lewis Nash starts off in blue, but changes moods with each section tinged in a different palette.

Drummer/Poet Michael Stephans combines words and music. Click on Words to sample his poems and essays, and click on Media to hear some clips, including the most unusual rendition of Hava Nagilah I’ve ever heard from his as-yet-unreleased new recording.

Drummer Marty Morell (many remember him from his years with the Bill Evans Trio, 1968 -75) has a new quintet album with sound samples available on his new web site.

Also of interest are The Bill Evans Webpages

Guitarist Henry Johnson has a cool-looking new site, but several sections are still under construction…

It looks like the ArtistShare home site has been redesigned, sporting a lighter cool blue feel and tabbed sections. The current welcome message says:

Where the fans make it happen. ArtistShare is all about delivering the excitement of the creative process to the fan.

Some of my favorite people have Artistshare web sites including: Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Childs, Scott Colley, Jim Hall, and Maria Schneider

And last for today, but certainly not least, Sonny Rollins has a killer site – it is chock full of content with lots more to come, including some really interesting audio Reflections.

Friday Night: Sonny Rollins is still leaping octaves with an agility that defies his 75 years on earth. I say “on earth” slightly tongue-in-cheek, because he is one of the most spiritual guys I’ve ever met, with a warmth and wisdom that belies many lifetimes. I read a story recently about his relationship with the weather gods and how a storm abated just long enough for his photo shoot on the bridge, and then resumed. I believe it, just as I believe that his phone call to me in the hospital when I had cancer — the prayers and the energy he sent my way — was part of the cure. Whether speaking in words or with his horn, Sonny Rollins’ energy is, well, colossal.

A little trivia note: During his set he played a tune that stumped the experts; “what’s the name of that tune?” they asked one another, assuming they knew it but could not call to mind its title. Sonny’s long-time bassist, Bob Cranshaw, didn’t know the title either, but Bob told me it was an Italian folk song that Sonny had heard.

Saturday Afternoon: From the beginning of her career in 1950 with The Staples Singers, to her first solo recordings for the Stax label in 1969 and 1970, to her work in films and television shows that include The Last Waltz, Graffiti Bridge, Wattstax, New York Undercover, Soul Train, and The Cosby Show, to current performances and her latest recording Have A Little Faith , Mavis Staples remains a consummate entertainer. About the recent recording, her website says: “a stirring collection of uplifting, gospel-rooted songs deeply seated in her faith and spirituality. Produced by Jim Tullio and Staples, the album features the strongest collection of material – both originals and interpretations – Mavis has ever assembled.” John and I caught her early show on the Arena stage. While mentioning her new CD, Mavis noted the industry’s preference for young artists — “I used to be a Beyoncé,” Mavis said. “Been there, done that. And if Beyoncé keeps living, she’ll be a Mavis someday.” Too true.

A little historical note: The Staple Singers were part of the Soul to Soul package that went to Ghana in 1971 along with Wilson Pickett, Santana, Ike and Tina Turner, and Eddie Harris. In his role as manager, John was also on that trip with his clients Les McCann, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. They were all going to participate in the filming of a feature-length musical documentary, directed by Dennis Sanders, celebrating the 14th anniversary of Ghana’s independence from British rule. Filmed entirely in Ghana, the documentary included traditional African music and local footage, and was released by Warner Vision Entertainment the following year. A year or so ago, the film was restored and released on DVD , the packaging for which includes several photos that John shot. Unfortunately, Roberta Flack would not agree to the favored nations payment and so forced the producers to remove her footage from the product.

Saturday Night: Tony Bennett was so high on life and music that I thought he might levitate right off the stage. He actually did twirl a few times, and he literally skipped off the stage. I don’t know if I have every seen a happier man. Happiness like that is infectious, and I saw people in the audience with tears in their eyes. I will admit that I’ve always been partial to Frank Sinatra and Joe Williams — but Tony’s show was positively irresistible. I heard someone ask, “but is it jazz?” And the response was perfect: “It’s music, doesn’t matter what else you call it.”

This weekend you’ll find me at the Monterey Jazz Festival — we don’t go every year as some might think. In fact, it’s been so long since I’ve been that I can’t tell you exactly when it was — actually I think it’s only been 4 or 5 years, if that, but it seems like forever.

We are particularly looking forward to seeing, and hearing, a few friends in particular. First up for us will be the Russell Mallone/Benny Green duo. Both are monsterous talents in thir own rights, and they always seem to have great fun playing duo. If you haven’t heard their duo, check out Jazz at the Bistro . If you want to learn a little more about Russell, go here to Verve’s artist site. I thought he’d have his own web site, but the message at russellmalone .com says “WELCOME to russellmalone.com! There are no plans to build the site at this time, but thank you for visiting.” — I guess he’s too busy playing music and I can’t fault him for that! Benny Green, sometimes known as Peterson’s Protégé (Oscar, of course), doesn’t have his own site either, but there’s a bio here.

The headliner Friday night is Sonny Rollins and having missed his Los Angeles appearance, I am really looking forward to this. Sonny has a wonderful new website and his new CD, Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert is earning accolades everywhere.

Saturday afternoon I’ll be stopping by the Tower Records booth at 3 pm for Mr. Rifftides book signing (you know, the Paul Desmond bio, Take Five, that we all talk about all the time). Then Saturday night is the incomparable Tony Bennett (who, like my husband, is also beeing honored as an NEA Jazz Master).

On Sunday afternoon, you will find me at the Garden Stage for Clairdee’s 4 pm set, followed by a CD signing at Tower Records’ booth. Music Moves got a great review of in the October issue of Jazz Times If you don’t know who she is yet, go here.

Of course there will be much more to be seen and heard, and I’ll do my best to report in and tell you all from there.

The following is a press release that went out this morning:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOHN LEVY NAMED NEA JAZZ MASTER —
THE NATION’S HIGHEST HONOR IN THIS DISTINCTIVELY AMERICAN ART FORM

(SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 – LOS ANGELES, CA) National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia announced today that John Levy is one of the seven living legends of American music who will join the ranks of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters in January. Levy will receive the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy, for his career as a manager.

When notified, Levy said, “I have been in attendance at the last three NEA Jazz Masters ceremonies and not in my wildest imagination did I expect to ever receive this most prestigious award. To be so honored for helping talented artists bring jazz and joy into the lives of audiences is the thrill of a lifetime.”

Levy, the great-grandson of Louisiana slaves, was born in New Orleans in 1912 and is considered to be the first black talent manager in jazz and popular music. He has made millions of dollars for his clients bringing them from sometimes-total anonymity to the rarefied atmosphere of success.

The vast and impressive roster of notables handled by John Levy over the past 50 years includes more than 85 artists, eight of whom are already NEA Jazz Masters: Betty Carter, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Horn, Ahmad Jamal, Abby Lincoln, Billy Taylor, Joe Williams, and Nancy Wilson; and one more, Freddie Hubbard, who will join the ranks with him in 2006. Other notable clients on the Levy roster through the years include Cannonball Adderley, Ernie Andrews, Brook Benton, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Arsenio Hall, Eddie Harris, Johnny Hartman, Henry Johnson, Etta Jones, Yusef Lateef, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, Letta Mbulu, Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, Billy Paul, Dianne Reeves, Marlena Shaw, George Shearing, Dakota Staton, Stanley Turrentine, Sarah Vaughan, and Maxine Weldon.

Levy began his jazz career as a bassist. In 1944, he left Chicago with the Stuff Smith Trio to play an extended engagement at the Onyx club on New York City’s 52nd Street. Over the next years, he was to play with many jazz notables, including Ben Webster, Buddy Rich, Errol Garner, and Milt Jackson (also a Jazz Master), as well as with Billie Holiday at her comeback performance at Carnegie Hall in 1948.

In 1949, George Shearing heard Levy play at Birdland with Buddy Rich’s big band and hired him for his own group, which featured Buddy DeFranco (yet another 2006 Jazz Master Fellow). As Levy toured the country playing with the original George Shearing Quintet, he gradually took on the role of road manager. Levy put aside performing in 1951 to become the group’s full-time manager, making music-industry history and establishing the career he would follow for the rest of his life. Levy is still active today as manager of the legendary song stylist Nancy Wilson and jazz vocalist Clairdee.

When “Men, Women, and Girl Singers” (Levy’s autobiography written by his wife, Devra Hall Levy) was published in 2001, Levy said, “I’d like to be remembered as someone who helped musicians and singers spread the love of jazz around the world.” It seems only fitting that the NEA honor him for that.

Initiated in 1982, the NEA Jazz Master title is the nation’s highest honor in this distinctively American art form. Levy is looking forward to joining his 2006 Fellows – Ray Barretto (percussionist), Tony Bennett (vocalist), Bob Brookmeyer (arranger-composer), Chick Corea (keyboardist), Buddy DeFranco (solo instrumentalist, clarinet), and Freddy Hubbard (solo instrumentalist, trumpet) – at the January 2006 awards ceremony in New York City.

# # #

Editor’s Note:

For more information about John Levy, visit www.lushlife.com.
For more information on NEA Jazz Masters, visit www.neajazzmasters.org

Press Information:

About John Levy – Regina Davis, Davis & Associates Public Relations.
Telephone: 626.356.1300 • Email: Rdavisprpr@aol.com

About NEA Jazz Masters – Victoria Hutter, National Endowment for the Arts
Telephone: 202.682.5692 • Email: hutterv@arts.endow.gov