If you're reading this, then you're probably familiar enough with current technology to know that these days most of us load up our hard drives - and our portable players - with digital music, picking and choosing our favorite tunes from various sources. Just like before, we still sometimes buy entire albums just to get … Continue reading Confessions Of A Multiple-Music Addict
Category: Big Band
Music Works Its Magic On Stress
A recent news article was the trigger for my latest exercise in musical memories. To be more specific, reading about my former employer swallowing up a smaller company led to memories of when they did the same thing to the company I was working for. It was a time of high stress for everyone and … Continue reading Music Works Its Magic On Stress
A Musical Chick-Flick Is Still A Chick-Flick
I would guess that most people are familiar with the idea of "chick-flicks" but might not realize that it's not a new concept, even if the actual term wasn't used in the early days of Hollywood. But no matter what it was called, once movie-makers caught on to the fact that ladies had a big … Continue reading A Musical Chick-Flick Is Still A Chick-Flick
Jazzin’ The Classics With Larry Clinton
As a long-time fan of big band music, I've found that even though I pretty much like it all, there are some specific types that have always held special appeal. One of my favorite is the music that results when a band plays modern arrangements of timeless classical pieces, a practice that was known in … Continue reading Jazzin’ The Classics With Larry Clinton
Johnny Long Tried To Straddle The Line
When I first began to get interested in big band music in the 1950's, the era was actually starting to wind down, with droves of music fans moving to rock and roll and other modern sounds. But I've always been a little bit of a contrarian, and although I wasn't immune to the attractions of … Continue reading Johnny Long Tried To Straddle The Line
REVIEW: Frank Rosolino & Carl Fontana – Trombone Heaven: Vancouver 1978
When reviewing a new album, I usually give some background about the musical history of the artist, but I seldom dig too deeply into other aspects of their life. However, Trombone Heaven - Vancouver 1978, a new release from Uptown Records that showcases a live performance by trombone masters Frank Rosolino and Carl Fontana, has … Continue reading REVIEW: Frank Rosolino & Carl Fontana – Trombone Heaven: Vancouver 1978
WWII Servicemen Loved ‘GI Jo’ – Jo Stafford
I've written before about a subject that's always fascinated me, the history of songbirds -- the ladies who sang for the big bands, entertaining fans and at the same time adding a little class to the bandstand. Many of them - such as Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald, and Doris Day - went on to solo … Continue reading WWII Servicemen Loved ‘GI Jo’ – Jo Stafford
REVIEW: Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra – Invitation
Nothing against Bruce Eskovitz, but 'The Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra' has to be one of the most unwieldy names around. That's probably why the group led by the multi-talented instrumentalist commonly goes by the name BEJO, and since lazy is my middle name I think I'll save some keystrokes and go with BEJO too. Flying … Continue reading REVIEW: Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra – Invitation
Origins of Rock & Roll – Jivin’ With Jordan
When I was a teenager in the 1950's, rock and roll was catching the attention of most of my contemporaries. I wasn't immune to its attraction, but while I kept an eye on what was happening in that area I was also beginning to form my lifelong affection for the type of big band music … Continue reading Origins of Rock & Roll – Jivin’ With Jordan
Vaughn Monroe – aka Old Leather Tonsils
It seems as if there have always been certain singers who at some point in their careers become a target for snickers -- not necessarily because of a lack of talent, but for other reasons. A familiar example is Slim Whitman, who was successful for years in Europe but eventually sold a lot of records … Continue reading Vaughn Monroe – aka Old Leather Tonsils
Geezer Music Club 