Farewell (for Now)

I started this blog two years ago today. Its purpose was to express my love and interest in jazz music. That love continues, but over the last year I have had less time and energy to devote to blogging. So, I am suspending adding any new posts to Riffs on Jazz. I have enjoyed this blog immensely, especially hearing from people who share the same passion. Keep listening to jazz and I hope to write in some form (perhaps a book) about jazz in the future.

This Week in Jazz History: December 30 to January 5

December 30

• Pianist/arranger Jimmy Jones born 1918 in Memphis, TN.
• Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie records “Manteca,” with percussionist Chano Pozo, 1947.
• Duke Ellington records “The Clothed Woman,” 1947.

December 31

• Trumpeter Jonah Jones born 1909 in Louisville, KY.
• Bassist John Kirby born 1908 in Baltimore, MD.

January 1

• Vibraphonist Milt Jackson born 1923 in Detroit, MI.
• Pianist Albert Ammons records "Shout for Joy," 1939."
• Bassist Al McKibbon born 1919 in Chicago, IL.

January 2

• Drummer Nick Fatool born 1915 in Milbury, MA.
• Gene Krupa records "Blue Rhythm Fantasy," 1940.
• Vocalist Arthur Prysock born 1929 in Spartanburg, SC.

January 3

• Count Basie records Blues In The Dark, featuring vocalist Jimmy Rushing, 1938.
• Pianist/composer Herbie Nichols born 1919 in New York, NY.
• Alto saxophonist John Jenkins born 1931 in Chicago, IL.

January 4

• Trumpeter Frankie Newton born 1906 in Emory, VA.
• Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie record "What's The Matter Now?" with vocalist Rubberlegs Williams, 1945.
• Saxophonist/flutist Frank Wess born 1922 in Kansas City, MO.

January 5

• Cornetist "Wild" Bill Davison born 1906 in Defiance, OH.
• In 1959, Trumpeter Blue Mitchell records Out of the Blue with Art Blakey, Wynton Kelly, Benny Goldson and Sam Jones.
• Trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez born 1949 in New York, NY.

Source: Smithsonian Jazz