Following These Footprints
Sean MurphyCheck this out. A few years back I opined that the second great Miles Davis quintet was the greatest group of musicians ever assembled in one collective. I stand by that,…
Five Guys or, The Greatest Band of All Time (No, Really)
Miles Davis. Herbie Hancock. Wayne Shorter. Tony Williams. Ron Carter. Those men, individually, are some of the most important and brilliant musicians of the last century. Together? Forget about it.…
Songs of the Day: Ornette Coleman
When Obama takes office in January of 2009, it will be a half-century since Free Jazz forefather Ornette Coleman dropped the provocatively titled "The Shape of Jazz to Come". 1959…
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The only thing more impressive than the acting is the direction. The only thing more astonishing than the direction is the story. The only thing more miraculous than the…
Mingus and Coltrane: Protest Music
1957 Charles Mingus: “Haitian Fight Song” From the album The Clown (Atlantic) Charles Mingus had many things to say, and he used his mouth, his pen, his fists, and mostly…
Oliver Nelson: Screamin’ The Blues
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/8354/oliver-nelson-screamin-the-blues/ Oliver Nelson Screamin’ the Blues (Prestige) US release date: 18 July 2006 UK release date: 28 August 2006 by Sean G. Murphy Screamin’ the Blues: Nothing Abstract About This…