The easy availability of image-editing software has opened the floodgates for lots of people with good imaginations. One specialty seems to be creating imaginary hybrid animals. In the slideshow below you can see some of those strange creatures. They're all imaginary -- I think -- but some of them are still a little creepy. Dominik … Continue reading Strange Creatures Abound
Tag: Jazz
A Lunar Fantastic Foursome
One of my favorite posts on the GMC is titled Picnics And Music –The Curious Case Of Moonglow, and it explores how "Moonglow" -- a fine song in its own right -- somehow got attached to the theme from the 1955 film Picnic, and became a best-selling record. In fact, the resulting two-song medley was … Continue reading A Lunar Fantastic Foursome
Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Was Something Different
As if having a hyphenated name wasn't unusual enough, a 1950s swing band known as the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra had a couple of other odd attributes. For one thing, the group reached its peak during the twilight of the big band era. It was also unusual for having dual bandleaders, but the real oddity was how … Continue reading Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Was Something Different
Manny Klein – Mastering The Trumpet
In a recent post I mentioned that a trumpet solo in a classic movie had been dubbed by Manny Klein, a talented but relatively unknown trumpeter who deserves a little more attention. He had a fascinating and varied career, one that included not only playing conventionally, but also mastering something you seldom hear about -- … Continue reading Manny Klein – Mastering The Trumpet
Sometimes Old Style Is Best
It's been over a month since our last post featuring a slideshow. As I spelled out in that one, my bloghost (WordPress) seems to have cut down on the size of the pictures in the style of slideshow I was using, so I was trying a different type. That worked out okay but I think … Continue reading Sometimes Old Style Is Best
Helen Merrill Still Has Many Fans
Over its seven years of life the GMC has featured a lot of performers who have continued to entertain fans well into their golden years. Today's spotlight falls on one of the most respected singers around. Now in her eighties, Helen Merrill can look back on a long and fulfilling career as one of the … Continue reading Helen Merrill Still Has Many Fans
Tal Farlow – The Reluctant Virtuoso
In a recent piece titled The Mystery Of Dardanelle, I mentioned that the featured artist had teamed up with jazz guitarist Tal Farlow in the early years of her career. Farlow's story is a good one too. Admired by his contemporaries as well as legions of loyal fans, he even lent his name to a … Continue reading Tal Farlow – The Reluctant Virtuoso
The Mystery Of Dardanelle
You won't hear much about her now, but at one time a quiet and respectable lady from Mississippi was one of the most talented jazz artists around. Over a career that lasted for more than a half-century, she played piano and vibes -- and sang a little too -- under the exotic-sounding name Dardanelle, years … Continue reading The Mystery Of Dardanelle
Ray’s Song Becomes A Fantastic Foursome
I know what you're thinking: isn't it about time we had another Fantastic Foursome? Okay, maybe you weren't thinking that but I was, and so here we go. It's difficult to hear "Georgia On My Mind" and not think of Ray Charles, but it has actually been performed by a lot of folks since Hoagy … Continue reading Ray’s Song Becomes A Fantastic Foursome
The Legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band
I don't consider myself a jazz expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd like to think that I've picked up a few things in the many years that have passed since I began enjoying it as a teenager. That's why I was a little surprised when I first read about a 1960s jazz … Continue reading The Legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band
Geezer Music Club 