I was going through some DVDs recently and ran across a favorite old movie of mine, one that triggered some fond memories. The movie was the 1945 version of State Fair, starring Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, and Dick Haymes. It was actually the second of four movies made from the original book, but was the … Continue reading Dick Haymes – The Forgotten Crooner
Author: BG
BG (aka The Big Geez) is a retiree who who has spent over a decade generating the Geezer Music Club, where he tries to prove that geezers can stay in touch with today's world. . .and still find time for the trimming of ear hair.
Getz, Gilberto, And The Birth Of Brazilian Jazz
I've been a fan of jazz for something like fifty years, starting with big band music and continuing into later variations, and for most of that time I've had two constants. First, I've always been partial to the reed section of a band, possibly because I played a reed instrument myself (badly). My instrument was … Continue reading Getz, Gilberto, And The Birth Of Brazilian Jazz
REVIEW: John Coltrane/Red Garland Trio – Traneing In
This is my fourth review (1, 2, 3) in a series of releases from Prestige Records that feature remastered versions of his own originals by legendary sound engineer Rudy Van Gelder, and in this instance we're listening to tenor sax immortal John Coltrane teamed with the Red Garland Trio. The title of the album is … Continue reading REVIEW: John Coltrane/Red Garland Trio – Traneing In
REVIEW: Stryker-Slagle Band – Latest Outlook
The Stryker-Slagle Band's new release, Latest Outlook, due out soon on the Zoho label, is the real thing, folks. Talented jazz musicians at the top of their game, playing together with a confidence gained by long-time collaboration, and offering an outstanding mix of music that should appeal to every fan of good jazz. Guitarist Dave … Continue reading REVIEW: Stryker-Slagle Band – Latest Outlook
Elvis Presley And The Genesis Of Rockabilly
Here's an amazing fact -- in August of this year, it will have been thirty years since Elvis died. Of course, it might not be as amazing to you as it is to me, but I'm willing to bet that most of us wouldn't have guessed that it had been that long since he took … Continue reading Elvis Presley And The Genesis Of Rockabilly
More Than Just A One-Hit Wonder
The whole concept of "one-hit wonder" has always seemed a little unfair to me, but there's little doubt that there have always been a lot of musicians who are remembered for one big tune. Tom Hanks even made a movie about the subject, That Thing You Do, which featured a band whose very name, The … Continue reading More Than Just A One-Hit Wonder
REVIEW: Paul Brown & Friends – White Sand
I always feel a little torn when I do a review of a smooth jazz album, but in spite of the disregard in which it's held by many jazz fans, it is a very popular musical format. Personally I have a kind of love-hate relationship with it, although that might be a little strong -- … Continue reading REVIEW: Paul Brown & Friends – White Sand
Beatniks, Bongos, And Me
There was a period during my teen years when I toyed with the idea of becoming a "beatnik", but I don't think I was ever really serious. It's more likely that I was - like any teenager - just trying to find myself, and see if I could figure out where I was going with … Continue reading Beatniks, Bongos, And Me
REVIEW: Feel Like Going Home – The Essential Charlie Rich
This release is a new presentation of a 1997 album titled Charlie Rich - Feel Like Going Home, a compilation of music that he recorded through the years for several different record companies. It's now been added to the Epic/Legacy Essential series and is the same music with different packaging, so this review applies to … Continue reading REVIEW: Feel Like Going Home – The Essential Charlie Rich
The Music Of Peter Gunn – Beyond Mancini
In the late 1950's, a ground-breaking TV show caught my attention because of the very feature that made it revolutionary. It was just a private-eye show, but instead of using canned music for background it made the music part of the show, and even more unique, that music was jazz. This confluence of things occurred … Continue reading The Music Of Peter Gunn – Beyond Mancini
Geezer Music Club 