News & Updates — jazz

One of my favorite bassists (and a major piece of the Coltrane groups of the '60s), Jimmy Garrison came out of the Philly jazz scene, working and/or recording with a host of greats such as Kenny Dorham, Calvin Massey, Jackie McLean, Ornette Coleman, Lee Konitz, Philly Joe Jones and others before hooking up with Trane in '62. He brought a hard-driving style that later displayed a flamenco-inspired lyricism (at times) to the Trane sound as his #1 bassist until the saxophonist's death in '67. In the following years he continued to record with many Coltrane associates (such as Alice, Elvin...

The great Cuban-born saxophonist Tommy McCook came out of the important Kingston JA-based Alpha Boys School (home to many great Jamaican musicians) and worked on a gazillion sessions of ska, reggae, jazz, rocksteady and soul, and was a founding (and long-time) member of The Skatalites (along with Jackie Mittoo--whose born day is also today). He was Musical Director for The Supersonics and cut a few sides under his own name, as well as the band backing singers like Alton Ellis, Justin Hinds and others. A lyrical tenor player, he cited John Coltrane as one of his biggest influences. Early on...

Our old friends in Super Hi-Fi have delivered another treat! The Brooklyn-based heavy dub/jazz outfit have been rumbling their way into our ears and hearts for a few years now. An instrumental ensemble (at least on recordings), their unique twin-trombone attack adds a jazzy melodicism to their bass-heavy dub attack with rock power. Born out of the legendary Afro-Dub Sessions parties in Williamsburg, Brooklyn starting in 2011, they have delivered several solid platters: the full-length Dub To The Bone and two 45s on the eclectic Electric Cowbell label, as well as a couple of dubby X-mas themed releases that were...

One of the key figures in bridging the Afro-Cuban/mambo worlds with pop & soul, Willie Bobo was a major player long before he made records under his own name. He played congas, timbales, drum kit and was a charming singer and born performer. His '50s success with the likes of George Shearing, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader led to visibility for his own groups in the '60s. Those bands often featured electric guitar instead of piano, a sound that could range from bang-heavy descargas to sweet schmaltz, ultimately creating the template for boogaloo and Latin jazz to come. William Correa grew...

(Photo by Herman Leonard, 1948) Tenor genius, Oscar-nominated actor and cigarette fetishist Dexter Gordon had an incredible sound that inspired Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Jack Kerouac. Out of Los Angeles, he started on the clarinet as a teen before moving to alto. He finally switched to tenor around 1940. He was greatly influenced by Lester Young, whom he encountered in '43 in a jam session with Ben Webster. He received training from Illinois Jacquet as he toured early with the Lionel Hampton band. They made some recordings in Chicago in '41, Gordon's first. He worked in the bands of...