The Art Of Presenting The ART Of Others

Here are two videos of a Baltimore Jazz Giant - saxophonist Mickey Fields, who performed with just about every major jazz performer who ever appeared in this area...(He could have been a "Star", but chose to remain in his home town - Baltimore...) In one of the videos, pay attention to his Masterful Technique, involving "slapping" the side-keys of the sax as he plays...then using his right leg to "nudge" the instrument and produce additional desired effect... The Amazing Mickey Fields !! (That… Continue

Drummer Hugh Walker is from the Baltimore/D.C. area. My new-found Jazz associates there (in the 70's) were often commenting on Hugh's propensity for "dropping bombs" - comparable to Elvin Jones. Not many are compared so favorably. If I remember correctly, there is definitely one - maybe two - uptempo tracks that demonstrate this Artistry of his. It's the kind of uptempo bomb-dropping that's guaranteed to make you Smile (It's okay - Miles Smiled)... I used to see Hugh Walker on a regular basis… Continue

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Carter - I rate her above Ella, Sarah, AND Billie. Check out "The Betty Carter Album" from 1972. Larry Young - has been characterized as the "John Coltrane" of the organ. Check out "Unity"- album, with Coltrane's drummer Elvin Jones, also Woody Shaw, & Joe Henderson. McCoy Tyner - "Song of the New World"- album -- AWESOME ensemble playing! Woody Shaw - "Live At The Berliner… Continue