January 7, 2012

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.

January 1, 2012

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