Then Webster teamed up with a radio station whose license was currently held by the St. Louis Public School system – KSLH. It was on the FM dial, but down at the non-commercial end. The idea was to have some kind of educational use for it, but the school system had lost all intentions of using it. They wanted to sell the license, but they also needed to keep the station on the air in order to benefit from that sale. Webster agreed to take over putting programming on the air while they looked for a buyer. The school had to agree that, during the regular school year, 1 hour a day was set aside for one public school to broadcast on the station.

There was a choice given. The station could broadcast classical music or it could do jazz. With ideas of kids in grade school trying to pronounce classical compsor names, Webster chose jazz. Away went the little AM station and suddenly we had an all-day radio station to program.

I ended up doing afternoon drive. This would turn out to be the pinnnacle of my radio career. I was broadcasting on afternoon drive in a top-ten market in the United States and I got to pick all of my own music. I had to do every week day starting at 2 pm. It was pretty awesome.

I knew nothing about jazz. You could sound like you knew a lot by reading the liner notes and the backs of the albums. Jazz fans want to know who is the main guy playing and then all of the side men. For me, it was a contest with a guy on before me to see who could get away with playing the longest track. I think he ended up winning by playing a Keith Jarrett track that lasted almost a half an hour.

So, I picked out the album of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” and put on the track you see below, called “All Blues” just because it was nearly ten minutes long. I planned to wander around the radio station, maybe make a phone call, or goof around in some way. I queued up the song and then did my announcing bit and then hit the start button for the turntable. As the tune started to play…I found myself completely unable to movie. I sat there, headphones on, and listened to the entire tune and then wanted to play it again when it was over.

Since then I have been a fan of jazz. I have put “Kind of Blue” on my list of all-time favorite albums of any genre. If people ask me for a jazz album recommendation, that is the one I tell them to listen to.

Below is a clip of Miles playing live with his classic band. This is one of the greatest jazz bands to ever exist on the musical genre. Some of the names you will know, but they were all relatively young and new when Miles found them.

Miles Davis – trumpet
Wayne Shorter – tenor sax
Herbie Hancock – piano
Ron Carter – bass
Tony Williams – drums

Enjoy and I hope the song appeals to you as much as it did for me that one fateful afternoon so many years ago in a college radio station at Webster University in St. Louis.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

As far as I am concerned, and as far as jazz goes, there are two songs that leap to mind. The first is from the notorious Concert of 1964 and is a classic live version from his album “Kind of Blue.” The tune is called “So What” and the way it is played live here will blow you away (and if the player won’t play, you can visit this link).

As for the second song you MUST have, well, there just isn’t any jazz collection that can be complete without Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.” This comes from one of the greatest jazz albums of all-time “Time Out.” It was the tune that Dave and the rest of the band wasn’t even sure they wanted to put on the album, and then decided to do so at the last minute so their drummer would have a piece that featured him. So, of course, it became the biggest hit.

As for the others in the world of b5media, you should check out their suggestions for tunes you need to add. I am putting their links below:

Flyleaft and Nelly

Miles and Ella

Austin Sounds to Add to your iPod

Metal Martyr

Oz Music Scene

Big Apple Music Scene

Toronto Unplugged

Our Digital Music

Rock Dose

Christian Music Fan

Ear Sucker

Crooner Culture

Rock Relic

New Age Vibe

Industrial Addiction

She Plays Music

News in Punk

Hippie Sounds

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

Cannonball was one of those guys who was all over the place during the 50s but not nearly enough people know his name.  They know Miles and they know Coltrane, Mingus and Park, but they really should know the roly-poly sax player who was dubbed “Cannonball” as a kid thanks to his prodigious gut. 

“Somethin’ Else” was created about the same time as “Kind of Blue” and it also features many of the same musicians, including Miles Davis.  For all I know once they all finished “Kind of Blue” they just decided Cannonball needed to release his own album and started to work on this one.  I first heard it on vinyl a the jazz radio station I worked at back in college and I fell immediately in love with it.

The list goes on for pages and pages.  It kind of makes me wonder if it just has every single classic jazz album ever created.  There is a lot of Louis Armstrong, for example.  Louis certainly is the pillar upon which modern jazz was built, but I also noticed “Kind of Blue” was not listed among the first few pages, but Davis’ “Nefertiti” was.  While just about any Miles album is something I can listen to (well…almost…) that is not one of my particular favorites

However, other artists are mentioned that I have forgotten about and probably deserve a lot more space here such as Art Blakey and Count Basie.  Sydney Bechet is another example as is Benny Carter.  The vocalists are also mentioned and while I have never been a huge fan of jazz vocals, I do like Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole.

So, check out the lists and enjoy your reading. Also, get the checkbook out and start buying or start downloading.  This is a pretty darn good list and this would make an oustanding start to any jazz collection.  If you can dig up an old turntable and find them on vinyl, even better, I think.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

I love the recent comments for “joared” who left a few on recent posts.  I wanted to mention him by his nickname and say thank you.  I agree with you that Miles got a little out there later in life, but I have actually started to appreciate some of that stuff too as I have gotten older.  It isn’t exactly my favorite like “All Blues” is but I appreciate anyone who makes some attempt to do something different.  If musicians don’t try to push the proverbial envelope, well, then it becomes stagnant.  “Bitches Brew” may not be my personal favorite, but there are a lot who like the stuff and he was trying something new.

At the same time, Miles also was getting back a bit more to his jazz roots right at the end.  “Amandla”, one of his last (if not his last), is a more conventional jazz album and features his horn more than electric guitars and strange bass lines.  He would even play conventional tunes and give them a jazz spin, such as “Time After Time” which I tihnk is a great version of that tune.

But anyway, it is silly to debate music, I feel.  I hate people who get into these debates over which drummer is the best in rock: the drummer from Tool or Pert from Rush.  Who cares?  The reason there is so much music to choose from is because music has an endless degree of variation and creativity.  I love jazz and I enjoy the blues, but I love good old-fashioned rock and roll and even have enjoyed a classical piece or two.

So, I love the comments.  Please keep them coming.  It makes a Wednesday morning that is gray and rainy and cold here in Chicago more enjoyable.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

This is why I love my jazz collection.  Nothing helps keep me sane more than my jazz music.  It helps me from getting out of my car and beating other drivers with a tire iron, for example.  So, here is my list of CDs getting regular rotation in my car:

1.  Sad Salamanders – Cigarettes and Fishnets.  Still the best new music that has ever been sent to me for free.  I still think you need to look it up and buy it.  You instantly feel more like a cool dude while listening to it.

2.  Miles Davis Concert from 1964 – One of the finest live jazz concerts you are likely to see.  This is the classic Miles Davis Quintet which includes Herbie Hancock.  This was from 1964 and released as two albums “Four and More” and “My Funny Valentine.”  Now they are together and it is a fantastic performance.  The concert was a benefit and just before the show Davis told the show promoters the entire band was working for free.  Sure, he made a lot of money, but his younger sidemen did not and they all got into a huge fight right before going on stage.  The results you can hear as they play with an intensity like you wouldn’t believe.

3.  Dave Brubek – I love listenig to “Take Five.”  I love this album.  I feel like I should be stalking someone whenever this tune comes on or something.   Again, you feel instantly cooler when it’s playing in your car.

That should get me through the weekend.  I think the double concert CD will take up the bulk of my listening this weekend.  I cannot recommend that one enough.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

So, I found THIS instead.  What is it?  Why nothing more than Miles Davis and the great John Coltrane performing “So What.”  I love that tune and the look of Miles Davis in his prime, performing with all of his talent and raw power, well…it’s a think to behold.

According to the description written by the person who posted this footage, “This clip is available on two different DVDs. ‘Miles Davis: The Cool Jazz Sound’ and also- ‘Jazz Masters: Vintage Collection.’”

I have not, as of yet, found these collections online or Amazon.com or anything, but you had better believe they are being added to my wish list right now.  Of course, my birthday isn’t until June, so I think my wish list will be one that I fulfill myself. 

It’s Monday and it’s supposed to snow again here in Chicago along with sleet and ice.  There ain’t no better way (don’t you love when I get all informal like that) to start your week than with a great Miles and ‘Trane performance.

But, that’s just my opinion.  Check it out yourself and let me know what you think.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

But anyway… since it is about haunted places in St. Louis, I had to come to St. Louis to try to promote the book.  I had a radio station appearance on a morning radio show scheduled along with a book signing at a local bookstore all set up.  I have to say, if you are a fan of the blues and jazz, and you live in Chicago or want to visit Chicago, that’s great.  However, if you want to expand your horizons, you absolultely cannot forget to visit St. Louis.

St. Louis is the birthplace of Miles Davis, for example.  There is Blueberry Hill, the club and restaurant in the area of University City known as The Loop.  It is just another city that you cannot swing a dead cat in without hitting a jazz or blues club.  In fact, I have to say that St. Louis is a great music town in general.  It always has been.

Chuck Berry is from St. Louis.  It’s a stop along the Mississippi River and you just know that it’s one of those places where traveling musicians often stopped and got off of riverboats with their guitars and instruments and played to make enough money to eat and then continue their trip down the river.  New Orleans may be thought of as a great place for jazz and blues, as is Chicago, but St. Louis certainly cannot be ignored.

I once went to a jazz club here, a small, tiny thing in the heart of the city, and met with a bunch of friends.  A jazz bland played in the room next to the one I was sitting in.  It was a guy on drums and the leader of the band was sitting there blowing into a long piece of PVC pipe like a diggery-doo (sorry, if I misspelled that to any aboriginal people or Australians).  Yes, it’s just that kind of town.

It’s all of 300 miles south, south-west of Chicago.  It is a great city loaded with lots and lots of history.  There is a walk-0f-fame in U-City.  There is music everywhere.  There are clubs all over town.  Really, you can’t go wrong no matter what you taste in music is here in St. Louis.

I don’t want you to think I am narrow-minded, you know.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

So, I thought I would make a recommendation of a classic jazz album.  It kind of goes along with my little life story thing too.  It is the jazz album that changed my opinion of jazz.  It is the albume that made made me sit there and listen.

The album is called “Kind of Blue” and it is by the great jazz trumpeter Miles Davis.  It is an album that changed music when it came out and it is an album that I simply cannot live without in my CD collection.

When I worked at that campus radio station called KSLH on the campus of Webster University,  I had no interest in jazz.  I was only interested in radio.  There was another guy on the station, he did mid-days, and he and I would have a competition to see who could get away with playing the longest track. We found some Keith Jarrett that went almost a half an hour.  The station manager eventually put a stop to that, saying no tracks over fifteen minutes.

Still, the idea was to play a track that was long. Then I could play with the computer, call friends on the station phone, or wander the halls and visit other people.  So, I was just looking for a long track to play when I picked the vinyl copy of “Kind of Blue” out of the library in the studio.  I believe the track I played was called “All Blues.”

Now, my intent was to put that on and then wander around and goof around with people working in the media equipment center down the hall or something.  So, I cued up the album the way I was taught.  I went on the air and announced the song.  I hit the red button and the album started.

To my surprise, I sat there.  The sounds enveloped me.  The trumpet playing was amazing.  I felt chills running up and down my spine.  My head was filled with that music.  I didn’t even take my headphones off.  I just sat there, hand still on the button, listening…until the last note died away and I had to scramble to find my next tune.

It was amazing.  It was breathtaking.  It changed me.

So, if you are looking for a way to get into jazz, take my advice, and pick up Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue.”  It will blow you away.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge