It's pretty obvious that saxophonist Gust Spenos developed the idea for his group's debut album, Swing Theory, with his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek. He's proposing a quasi-scientific explanation of swing music, and as part of the fun has likened it to the string theory in physics. He's even linked the two theories on … Continue reading REVIEW: Gust Spenos Quartet – Swing Theory
Category: Nostalgia
Kay Starr’s Answer To Rock And Roll
Kay Starr (Katherine Laverne Starks) July 21, 1922 - November 3, 2016 As a teenager in the 1950's, I'm pretty sure that I didn't catch on to the fact that a revolution was occurring in popular music. (Come to think of it, I missed a lot of things in those days -- but that's another … Continue reading Kay Starr’s Answer To Rock And Roll
The Grass Is Not Always Greener
It has always tickled me to observe how my mind reacts when I hear a piece of music, because it seldom takes a predictable route. At first I might be just enjoying the music while thinking about the performer or possibly the song itself, but then inevitably my thoughts drift into distant territory Here's an … Continue reading The Grass Is Not Always Greener
Uncle John And The Deep-Freeze
I was listening to some World War II era music recently, and a tune by Harry James and his orchestra triggered some thoughts from childhood. The song was "Waiting For The Train To Come In," and it brought back a memory of my Uncle John coming to visit us and arriving on the train. I've … Continue reading Uncle John And The Deep-Freeze
Swayze’s Ghost Revived An Old Song
In 1990, an old song appeared in a couple of memorable movies, in the process introducing itself to a new generation. On the soundtrack of Goodfellas it was performed by Vito and The Salutations, but it made a much bigger impression in another film -- Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. That movie appearance … Continue reading Swayze’s Ghost Revived An Old Song
REVIEW: Louie Bellson/Clark Terry – Louie & Clark Expedition 2
If you remember the Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson years, you might also recall that it was well-known as a place to hear good jazz, especially that played by a big band. Johnny was a fan himself, and he always made sure that the show's band was fully supported. That made it a really … Continue reading REVIEW: Louie Bellson/Clark Terry – Louie & Clark Expedition 2
Xavier Cugat – The Godfather Of Latin Pop Music
I was thumbing the TV remote control the other day and happened to land on an old I Love Lucy rerun, and although I'm not a huge fan of those shows I noticed that Ricky (Desi Arnaz) was talking about someone threatening to replace him and his band with Xavier Cugat's outfit. I would guess … Continue reading Xavier Cugat – The Godfather Of Latin Pop Music
BOOK REVIEW: The Lucky Strike Papers by Andrew Lee Fielding
A little over a year ago, I wrote a piece about the early days of television that I titled Did Rock and Roll Kill Your Hit Parade? I'm not sure I actually provided much of an answer at that time, but that's just one of many questions that are covered in an outstanding new book … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: The Lucky Strike Papers by Andrew Lee Fielding
Arranging As An Art – Fletcher Henderson
The first time I became aware of jazz legend Fletcher Henderson was - surprisingly enough - in a movie. But it was definitely a very musically-oriented one, 1955's The Benny Goodman Story. And even though Henderson's character appeared in the movie, he had actually died a few years earlier and was played by Sammy Davis … Continue reading Arranging As An Art – Fletcher Henderson
REVIEW: Various Artists – The Very Best Of Outlaw Country
First, a little history. By the late 1960's, the Nashville establishment had a good thing going. Country music was changing and becoming more and more appealing to mainstream America, and a lot of country artists were becoming major crossover stars. Not everybody catered to that style of the music, but songwriters and performers who wanted … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – The Very Best Of Outlaw Country
Geezer Music Club 