Jazz and Other Things:

Happy Birthday Fats Waller! Born May 24, 1904.

I first encountered Lee as the cover photographer of what is perhaps John Coltrane’s iconic album, “Giant Steps.” Later I discovered his real work.

Wow!

“Walking Blues”

Remembering the birthday of Robert Johnson. May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938,

Robert Johnson was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–37 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians.

He was simply the best!

There was a Blues club in Cambridge in the 1970s (can’t remember the name). Bud, Joey and I would go there to watch Hound Dog Taylor, maybe one of the most exciting slide guitarists evah!

This is an early film of him playing with harp great, Little Walter.

Cool.

Johnny Cash with The Tennessee Two on Ranch Party, 1958.

“Next In Line” and “Train Of Love”

I’ve never been a huge country fan but I do enjoy a lot of the genre up until about the mid-1960’s.

Here’s Johnny! And you gotta love the sheer emotive qualities of electric guitarist Luther Perkins. “Awww, Luther, you play it like the record…”

Count Basie knew how to swing. From his early years learning piano from his mother to his teen years playing during parties and silent movies, through his decades on the road as the leader of the preeminent big bands, right up until his death 29 years ago today, Basie was a fantastic musician and innovator, always experimenting with ways to keep his big band music on the cutting edge.

Basie played with some of the greats over the years – Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Walter Page, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett – and his sound was always fresh and exciting.

I was fortunate enough to see the Basie band several times. My favorite was in the early 1970’s at a hotel in Rochester, NY., where I was a student at RIT, a jazz DJ on the school’s FM radio station, and a music reviewer and photographer for the school’s weekly magazine.

The Count was gracious enough to allow me to interview and photograph him after the last set. I was blown away!

The last time I saw him was at Lynn City Hall Auditorium in the early 1980’s. This time he came out on stage in a motorized wheelchair, but the music was still the best!

Here is the band in 1943 playing their signature song, “One O’clock Jump”!

Jonathan Winter died today. He was Robin Wiliams before Robin Williams! A true comedy pioneer!

“The best Jerry, the best!”