Jazz

Kevin Whitehead reviews a recently released CD box set of Charlie Christian's music.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis. He's just released "Footsteps of Our Fathers," the debut release on the artist's own Marsalis Music label. In the nearly two decades that he has released solo albums, he's won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for a third in 1995. He was the first band leader for Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show" and appeared on the show from 1992-1995. In addition to the solo and ensemble records he's released, Marsalis has participated in various film scores as both composer and featured soloist.

Jazz bassist Ron Carter has more than 2,000 recordings to his credit. From 1963-1968 he was part of the Miles Davis Quintet with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter. Over the years he's played with Randy Weston, Herbie Mann, Betty Carter, Eric Dolphy, Sony Rollins, McCoy Tyner and others. Carter's new CD is Stardust.

TV Critic David Bianculli remembers Bruce Paltrow and Ellis Larkins.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Lost in the Stars (Nagel heyer) by the Ken Peplowski Quartet.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews trumpeter Steven Bernstein's new CD with the Sam Rivers Trio, Diaspora Blues (Tzadik label). He also mentions the reissue, Jewish Melodies in Jazztime by Terry Gibbs

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Modernistic (Blue Note) the new CD by jazz pianist Jason Moran.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the reissue Jumpin at the Apollo (Delmark) featuring saxophonist Illinois Jacquet.

Next week (Aug 6) jazz bassist Charlie Haden turns 65. As a child he sang with his family on their country music radio show. Later he worked with Ornette Coleman when Colemans music created controversy and sometimes provoked a violent response by listeners. Haden has also worked with Art Pepper, and Paul Bley, and he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and more. Hadens own groups include the Liberation Music Orchestra and Quartet West which he formed to play music of the 1940s and early 50s.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Footprints Live! (Verve) the new recording by saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

We remember the great singer Rosemary Clooney, who died Saturday. We'll hear a concert and interview taped before a live audience in San Francisco on January 18th, 1997, as part of the City Arts & Lectures series. Clooney sings some of her best-known songs, accompanied by a quintet directed by John Oddo. She also talks with Terry about her life.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews three re-releases from a massive CTI Records reissue.

Writer James Gavin has produced Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker. It's a biography of the jazz trumpeter and vocalist. Baker came from Oklahoma in the 1950s to become the "prince of cool jazz" on the West Coast. His death in Amsterdam in 1988 seems to have been drug-related. Gavin provides some answers to the riddle of his death. Gavin is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and other publications.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Belly of the Sun, the new album from singer Cassandra Wilson (Blue Note records).

Sue Graham Mingus' new memoir Tonight at Noon is about her love affair with the late jazz musician and composer Charles Mingus. She is a former magazine editor and publisher, and now works as a music producer. She also created and directs repertory ensembles that carry on the music of her late husband. Tonight at Noon... Three or Four Shades of Love, a CD featuring tracks by the Mingus Big Band and the Charles Mingues Orchestra, was recently released on the Dreyfus Jazz Label.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews an installment of the legendary Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, produced by Norman Granz. This particular show comes from Carnegie Hall in 1949, and was recently released on CD.

Through his first band, La Perfecta, labeled "the band with the crazy roaring elephants," Palmieri was credited with originating Latin jazz's trombone sound in New York during the sixties. In 1994, Palmieri's lobbying culminated in the announcement of a new Grammy Award category for Afro-Caribbean Jazz.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Element of Swing (Stunt) featuring drummer Ed Thigpen and saxophonist Joe Lovano.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Come Away With Me, the debut album from vocalist Norah Jones.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead Reviews gypsy Project (Dreyfus) the new CD by guitarist Bireli Lagrene.