Jazz and Bossa

O ponto de encontro para os fãs do Jazz e a música Brasileira

Welcome all Jazz and Bossa Nova fans! Sejam Bem vindos todos os fãs do Jazz e da Bossa Nova! Bienvenidos los fans del Jazz y la Bossa Nova!

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Jazz and Bossa Review

CD Review: Mark Moultrup - Dar Cho

Featured Artist: Mark Moultrup



CD Cover

CD Title: Dar Cho

Year: 2009

Record Label: mark moultrup music

Style: Contemporary Jazz



Musicians: Mark Moultrup (piano, vocals, keyboards, percussion), Rodney Whitaker (bass), George Fludas (drums), John Wojciechowski (saxophone, flute), Kurt Sweitz (arco bass), Ernie Adams (percussion)

Review: Dar Cho is the latest release from pianist, vocalist, composer arranger and educator Mark Moultrup. Dar Cho is a Tibetan word, Dar meaning to increase life, fortune, health and wealth and Cho meaning all sentient beings. Mark is originally from Detroit, now living in Chicago.

On Dar Cho, Mark played with a group of excellent musicians. George Fludas on drums, played with Ray Brown Trio. Bassist Rodney Whitaker played with Wynton Marsalis. And sax player from Detroit, John Wojciechowski.

Wrote by Mark Moultrup, the first tune, When then was now, is a modern jazz composition with interesting changes in tempo and a powerful, and warm sax playing by John Wojciechowski.

A beautiful piano intro takes us to the next track, a wonderful version of Jobim's classic, Corcovado (Quiet Nights). Mark does some nice vocal improvisations and scats at the end.

With lyrics of encouragement to believe in yourself, What about is an original song that increase in tempo to change into a Be bop style for the sax solo. Mark solos on piano showcase his command of the piano.

Ted's Last song is dedicated to a dear Mark's friend. The beautiful classical influenced melodies reflect perfectly that melancholic feeling of missing a friend.

Good will in the wind is one of my favorites on this album. With happy melodies and lovely flute playing by Michael Levin, these musicians really spread good will on this tune.

Mark play keyboards and wrote the funny, gastronomic lyrics on the next track, Avant Garlic, and also adds some cool scats at the end. Waltz is a classical piece that takes the listener to peaceful places and moments. Nice one to relax after a day full of stress. The arpeggios and melodies on Of a dream sounds exactly like music of a dream.

Dedicated to his wife Susie, It has always been you, is a good romantic song reminiscent of the standards of the great american songbook. Mark plays keyboards again on Burger in the Bush, a funky piece that sounds like the fusion jazz of the 70's.

Mark does his best vocal work on the next two songs, Come fly with me and Summer wind. Listening to Mark's rendition of Come fly with me, is obvious that Mark enjoy to sing this classic. The album ends with a swinging original, I know it's only Be bop, with some vocal improvisations and one of the best piano solos by Mark Moultrop.

Tracks: When then was now, Corcovado, What about, Ted's last song, Good will in the wind, Avant Garlic, Waltz, Of a Dream, It has always been you, Burger in the Bush, Come fly with me, Summer wind, I know it's only Be bop

Record Label Website: http://www.markmoultrup.com

Artist's Website: http://www.markmoultrup.com

Listen or Buy:

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

CD Review: Tiempo Libre - Bach in Havana

Featured Artist: Tiempo Libre



CD Cover - Buy CD CD Title: Bach in Havana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMzk_2Traao

Year: 2009

Record Label: Sony

Style: World Music

Musicians: Jorge Gomez (music director, keyboards, vocals), Joaquin Diaz (lead vocals, batá), Leandro Gonzalez (congas, percussion, batá, vocals), Tebelio Fonte (electric bass, chapman stick, vocals), Cristobal Ferrer Garcia(trumpet, trombone, vocals), Hilario Bell (percussion, timbales, batá, vocals) Luis Beltran Castillo ( tenor sax, guiro, vocals)

Review: In the 40's, the fusion of Jazz music with the rhythms from Cuba created Latin Jazz. Jazz music itself is a product of a fusion of all the styles of music (including classical music) present in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, Tiempo Libre new cd, Bach in Havana, connects the rhythms and sensibilities of Afro-Cuban music with the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach.

On Tu Conga, the infectious rhythms of Conga, the music played in Cuba during Carnaval, are mixed with melodies inspired by the Fugue in C minor. The lyrics are an homage to Johann Sebastian Bach.

Fuga is a delightful fusion of Cha-cha-chá rhythms with the Fuga movement of the D minor sonata.

My favorite is Air on a G string, this time played in a Bolero style. The always soulful playing of Paquito D'Rivera on alto sax is reason enough to buy this cd.

The repetitive arpeggios of Prelude in C minor are combined nicely with the guaguancó clave on Clave in C minor. Guaguancó is another traditional dance from Cuba.

Gavotte is based on French Suite No. 5 in G major, played over a Son clave. For those unfamiliar with cuban music, son is a dance music from Cuba, one of the cuban rhythms that influenced musicians (mostly from Puerto Rico) living in New York in the 70's, to create Salsa music.

Mi Orisha starts with a solo by Yosvany Terry on the shekeré, a percussion instrument made from gourd, netting and beads. The melodies on this one are based on the French Suite No. 2 in C minor.

Minuet in G is changed from the traditional 3/4 to 4/4 to meet the guaguancó clave. The lyrics describes the sensual pleasures of dancing guaguancó.

On Olas de Yemayá the melodies are inspired by Preludio in C major beautifully played over Batá drums rhythms. Batá drums are used also on Kyrie, after an opening from Mass in B minor. Batá is the sacred drum used in Santeria to call down the Orishas powerful deities.

Baqueteo con Bajo is a Danzón, one of my favorites Cuban dances. On the second part the montuno enters with yet another brilliant intervention by Paquito D'Rivera this time on the clarinet. Timbach is inspired by the Prelude in D major with a mix of different cuban rhythms.



Tracks: Tu Conga Bach, Fuga, Air On A G String, Clave In C Minor, Gavotte, Mi Orisha, Minuet In G, Olas De Yemayá, Baqueteo Con Bajo, Timbach, Kyria

Record Label Website: http://www.sonymasterworks.com

Artist's Website: http://www.tiempolibremusic.com

Listen or Buy:

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

Joshua Breakstone Trio - No One New

Featured Artist: Joshua Breakstone Trio



Year: 2009

Record Label: Capri Records

Style: Straight-Ahead / Classic

Musicians: Joshua Breakstone (guitar), Lisle Atkinson (bass), Eliot Zigmund (drums)



Review: The members of The Joshua Breakstone Trio are three musicians with lots of experience in the Jazz scene. Bassist Lisle Atkinson has worked with Nina Simone, Betty Carter, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Carter and Kenny Burrell. Drummer Eliot Zigmund has worked with Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Toots Thielmans and Jim Hall. The leader of the trio Joshua Breakstone, besides his nineteen solo recordings, has worked with Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron and Kenny Washington.

Joshua is a master improviser with a nice tone and inventive phrasing. Joshua first influences were Clifford Brown and Charlie Parker and one may hear a Be Bop influence on his improvisations, especially in the first piece, Over-Done. His solos on guitar sounds like those of a horn player with a sense of humor also on his improvisations. Over Done ends with a melodic bass solo followed by a wonderful exchange on guitar and drums before going back to the main theme.

For Me the bass and drums a nice swinging groove to the bright tone and happy melodies of Joshua on guitar. The Unknown One is a beautiful ballad with a lovely latin, almost bossa feeling. Joshua's melodies creates a placid, relaxing mood.

Come on Baby is an up beat piece that brings a festive, swinging feeling to the CD with a superb bass solo by Atkinson.

With a brilliant use of chords harmonization and and improvisations that always reach the right notes, Blues Heretofore grows slowly in intensity with yet another excellent work on bass and drums.

No One New is another swinging track all three musicians keeping the energy all throughout the tune. The Peacoks is a beautiful blues wrote by Jimmy Rowles, brilliantly played, with expressive, heartfelt solos on guitar and a subtle, perfect support on bass and drums by Lisle Atkinson and Eliot Zigmund.

The CD ends with a nice interpretation of Joe Henderson composition The Kicker.

Tracks: Over-Done, For Me, The Unkown One, Come on Baby, Blues Heretofore, No One New, The Peacocks, The Kicker

Record Label Website: http://www.caprirecords.com

Artist's Website: http://www.joshuabreakstone.com/

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

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Fórum

ingrid sidna

Aumenta ou Desliga? 27 respostas 

Clássico joguinho de forum! A pessoa indica uma música e o artista e a próxima diz se aumenta ou desliga. Vamos jogar? Sarah Vaughn - Fly Me To The Moon

Tag: jogo, clássico, forum, desliga, ou

Iniciado por ingrid sidna. Última resposta de ingrid sidna 26. Nov, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Bossa Nova 9 respostas 

Qual é sua cançao favorita de Bossa Nova? What's your favorite Bossa Nova song? Cual es tu canción favorita de Bossa Nova?

Tag: bossa, nova

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Wilbert Sostre 15. Nov, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Latin Jazz 6 respostas 

Latin Jazz é o nome pelo qual é conhecida a fusão entre o jazz e a música afro-cubana. Essa fusão pode ter suas origens rastreadas até o trompetista e arranjador Mario Bauza. Bauza apresentou Dizzy G…

Tag: jazz, latin

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Thiago Malta Magalhães 23. Nov, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Artistas em Jazz n Bossa 5 respostas 

Artistas em Jazz n Bossa. Aline de Lima http://www.alinedelima.com http://jazznbo Passoni http://jazznbossa.ning.com/profile/Fab Cascardo http://jazznbossa.ning.com/profile/AnaC Melo e Cas…

Tag: Brasil, Brazil, Samba, Nova, Bossa

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Alexis VAN EECKHOUT 7. Ago, 2008.

Wilbert Sostre

Planos de Jazz and Bossa para o Ano 2009 5 respostas 

Jazz and Bossa nasceu no mes de Maio com a ideia de criar um espaço para os artistas e fãs do Jazz e a música do Brasil. Depois de 7 meses ja temos 300 membros. Para o ano 2009 temos varios planos:…

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Wilbert Sostre 17. Jan, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Free Jazz 2 respostas 

Free Jazz Com o free, o jazz incorporou conquistas estéticas da arte de vanguarda dos anos 60, como a música atonal e aleatória e o happening. O free jazz nasceu "oficialmente" com o famoso disco de…

Tag: jazz, free

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de ingrid sidna 17. Nov, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Cantoras de Jazz 1 resposta 

Billie Holiday http://www.cmgww.com/music/holiday/ E Fitzgerald http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/ Esp Spalding http://www.myspace.com/esperanzaspald Olstead http://www.reneeolstead.com

Tag: JAZZ

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Claudia Martinez 2. Ago, 2009.

Wilbert Sostre

Novas vozes do Jazz 1 resposta 

Maci Miller http://www.macimiller.com/ Eden Atwood Holly Cole http://www.hollycole.com/ Anita Wardell http://www.anitawardell.com/ Laura Ellis http://www.lauraellisjazz.com/ Jeanie B…

Tag: Jazz

Iniciado por Wilbert Sostre. Última resposta de Wilbert Sostre 5. Jul, 2008.

Enlaces (Links)


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All That Jazz... With Brian Parker

http://www.jazz-radio.fm
'All That Jazz... With Brian Parker'
Description:
Brian Parker, is an established jazz musician who has played with many top musicians including Louis Armstrong. He broadcasts 24 hours a day with different styles of quality jazz music on his internet jazz radio which is based in Marbella, Spain. He also had jazz broadcast(s) for over 17 years every week-end on a national radio in Spain. His internet jazz radio is one of the most listened to radio stations on the net and listed at number one on Yahoo! under a search for jazz radio.



A Passion for Jazz! History of Jazz music, styles and musicians featuring photo gallery, timeline, festivals, webcasts, piano & guitar chords, scales and online lessons.



 

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Esperanza Spalding - Overjoyed


Mensagens de blog

Wilbert Sostre

Artista da Semana - Jill Barber

Artista da Semana - Jill Barber



www.jillbarber.com


http://www.goear.com/listen/5184191/oh-my-my-jill-barber

If you believe they don’t write songs like they used to, here is new… Continuar

Postado por Wilbert Sostre em 5 fevereiro 2010 às 16:30 ‚Äî 3 Comentários

ingrid sidna

Caros amigos! Saudações Jazzísticas!

Ouvindo a Playlist do nosso amigo Wilbert, sobre a História do Jazz, senti vontade de postar este blog. Sei que não é novidade pra ninguém o que aqui lerão, mas...desejo é desejo, não é verdade?
JAZZ:
Estilo musical de extrema riqueza e versatilidade, o jazz nasceu das canções dos escravos negros americanos, em seu processo de adaptação à nova cultura, e se consagrou como forma de expressão artística universal.Na forma tradicional, o jazz é um estilo de música que permite ao intérprete desenhar… Continuar

Postado por ingrid sidna em 30 janeiro 2010 às 19:04 ‚Äî 2 Comentários

Lígia Saavedra

Chegou o meu CD "Além dos Muros"

Acaba de chegar o meu CD "Além dos Muros" e como eu previa está maravilhoso.
Acompanhada de grandes musicos e com participações especialíssimas fizemos um Cd calcado na competencia e recheado de emoção.
A Alcyr Guimarães, Ziza Padilha, Betinho Taynara, Lenilson Albuquerque, Nego Nelson, Márcia Yamada, Pedrinho Cavallero, Andréa Cavalléro, um Igara Produções, todos os compositores, músicos e todo o pessoal do estúdio Musicalis, enfim um sistema operacional e todos Participaram deste CD que deram… Continuar

Postado por Lígia Saavedra em 30 janeiro 2010 às 20:24 ‚Äî 2 Comentários

Wilbert Sostre

Artista da Semana - Luca Mundaca

Artista da Semana - Luca Mundaca





Everywhere she goes, Luca Mundaca seems to attract a devoted following of fans. Whether she’s playing a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil, headlining a night of world music at New York City’s famous The Living Room club, or touring club… Continuar

Postado por Wilbert Sostre em 29 janeiro 2010 às 22:45 ‚Äî 1 Comentário

Wilbert Sostre

Dani Gurgel Novo Site


http://www.danigurgel.com.br

Postado por Wilbert Sostre em 29 janeiro 2010 às 20:04 ‚Äî 2 Comentários

Grupos

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sexta-feira

14 fevereiro

domingo

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terça-feira

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quinta-feira

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terça-feira

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26 fevereiro

sexta-feira

Jazz em Puerto Rico

Artist Interview - Brenda Hopkins Miranda

Brenda Hopkins Miranda

Memoirs from Granada


Photo by: © Alexandra Ayala Cintrón
Artist Interview by: Wilbert Sostre

Brenda Hopkins Miranda is a talented pianist, composer, arranger, improviser, band leader, writer and educator born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

http://www.myspace.com/brendahopkinsmiranda

Wilbert Sostre - How and when did you start in music?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - I studied in a school with courses in music, ballet and painting. I started in music when I was 6. Then when I started at the University, I took it more seriously, but music was always something very important in my life.

WS - How and when did you discover Jazz music?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - I Compare it with literature, first you start reading the basics, child books, etc. Then you get to more deeper and complex stuff. I think that is important also to go through those moments. At one time I played Rock and Pop. And I did learn a lot with those experiences. My Bachelor degree is in Classical music, a music that I love also. But I always knew that I didn't want to be a classical music pianist. For me music always has been a form of expression, and I always wanted to be creative with my music. I think Jazz is one of those spaces where one have the opportunity of creating and express your own voice. That moment of improvisation is magical cause your creating art in that moment, and have to take risks that sometimes works and sometimes it doesn't work.

WS - Who was the first artist that made you fall in love with Jazz?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - It all started with a Keith Jarrett album, it was a present from a friend. At that moment I wasn't ready for that music. But some time later I fell in love with his music, especially the European Quartet, that was mostly original music, then I discovered his trio playing standards, his improvised music. So he was a good starting point for me to discover a lot of possibilities within Jazz.

WS - And after Keith Jarrett?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, that is the first album that almost everybody use to introduced you to Jazz music. From there I went back, to Miles earlier music, I bought his autobiography, when I like some music I try to learn what's behind it. John Coltrane also was a big influence. I like musicians that are always changing. Monk also is very important to me.

WS - Nice that you mention Monk because I hear some influence of Monk in your playing.

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - I love his use of space, I learned from Monk that I don't have to play all the time when I'm improvising. And also the use of second minors and dissonance.

WS - There is some dissonance in the intro of one of your compositions on your new album, Memoirs from Granada.

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Yes. In "Plaza Nueva"

WS - How about your experience in Spain? Because that's the birthplace of your new CD.

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Playing in a "tablado" with gypsies, it was an incredible experience. I played with David El Marqués, one of the best guitar player in Spain. On some jam sessions there were musicians from Israel, Italy, Africa, Germany, France. Any music that is genuine, honest captures me. And this Cd was a way to thank them, because I know they don't let everybody get into their music space, and at the same time tell my story in Spain to the people of Puerto Rico.

WS - It was your first experience with the music of Spain?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Well, the music from Spain is one of the major influences in the music of Puerto Rico. And that is something people do not talk about that much. Everybody talks about the african influence, which is very important too, the richness of the african rhythms is essential to our music. But we can not forget that part of what we are comes from Spain. When I arrived in Spain, I saw the way people talk, walk, everything. And I was amazed about how much alike we are, Especially in the south of Spain. So this CD was also a way to reconnect with that part of our heritage.

WS - I know you have a lot of music influences besides Jazz. Musicians like Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Ismael Rivera, Bob Marley, Tori Amos, Pablo Milanes, Silvio Rodriguez, etc. What do you think is the common ground in their music?

Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Their music is genuine, comes from the heart. The motivation of a musician can't be to impress, or the money, or fame. Music should be used to show your feelings, what you are. And that's what I think I get from all those musicians. There's also a quality in their music.



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Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Memoirs from Granada


Brenda Hopkins Miranda - Memoirs from Granada

Featured Artist: Brenda Hopkins Miranda



CD Cover - Buy CD CD Title: Memoirs from Granada

Year: 2009

Record Label: Zona Boricua Records

Style: Folk Jazz

Musicians: Brenda Hopkins Miranda (piano, palmas), Samuel Morales (bass), Aldemar Valentin (bass), Hector Matos (drums), Efrain Martinez (drums), Enrique Chavez (percussion, palmas), Carlos Sanchez (trumpet), Jeanne d'Arc S. Casas Panouze (dancing steps)



Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Review: Every once in a while one comes across a CD of such quality and beauty that restore your faith in music. Brenda Hopkins Miranda’s Memoirs from Granada is that kind of CD. A music jewel from beginning to end, in Memoirs from Granada, Brenda captivates the listener with an exquisite fusion of Jazz, music from Spain and of course, music from her country, Puerto Rico.
Brenda Hopkins is a wonderful pianist, with extraordinary technique, equally impressive playing either Jazz, Rock, or Classical music. With Memoirs from Granada, Brenda adds to that mix, the musical experiences she had while living in Granada, Spain.

Memoirs of Granada starts with a beautiful piano intro on the first track, Miranda, a composition full of melodies played with passion and intensity. Brenda brilliantly used melodic ostinatos to state a theme and create different moods. Ostinato is a repeated melodic or rhythmic pattern.

The melodies on The Return show the strong Arabic influence in the music from Spain. On her improvisations, Brenda plays masterfully with the melodies, harmonies and rhythms, accompanied once again by the excellent playing of Efrain Martinez on drums and Aldemar Valentin on bass.

Plaza Nueva starts with a fun intro, kind of dissonant. On this piece the music of Spain fuses with Jazz in a perfect musical marriage. Carlos Sanchez is amazing on trumpet with touches of be bop on his phrasing, and Brenda plays some of his best solos on piano. Hector Matos and Samuel Morales play drums and bass on this one.

Carlos Sanchez trumpet steal the show on Mi Sacromonte, with melodies reminiscent of the Cool Jazz era. Carlos powerful solos and high notes are a perfect match for the quiet intensity of Brenda’s music. Brenda always finds a way to capture the senses with magnificent compositions and energetic playing.

In a CD full of musical highlights, Flamenco Borincano is probably the brightest one. The title comes from one of the most famous songs from Puerto Rico, Lamento Borincano, wrote by Rafael Hernandez. Brenda creates a perfect fusion of the Flamenco feeling with the melodies of Lamento Borincano. Flamenco Borincano is already in my opinion, a Puerto Rico Jazz classic. Excellent solo on percussion by Enrique Chavez.

The beautiful, almost heavenly piano melodies on Vimaambi, change into a more rhythmic piece with the flamenco dancer (bailaora). There are some solo piano tracks like Wings of Illusion and Absence for Brenda to showcase his classical influences and technique. And on Chawarma there’s a funky feeling with some Rock influences.

There is an almost nostalgic feeling on the piece Huerto de Juan Rana, with melodies that seems to evoke memories from Spain. El Darro contains music that invites you to close your eyes and let music take you away.

Confeti is the most festive track on this CD, with a fusion of Puerto Rico folk music in the melodies with latin jazz rhythms.


Tracks: Miranda, El Regreso/The Return, Plaza Nueva, Mi Sacromonte, Flamenco Borincano, Vimaambi, Alas de Ilusión/Wings of Illusion, Chawarma, Huerto de Juan Rana, El Darro, Confeti, Ausencia/Absence

Artist's Website: http://www.myspace.com/brendahopkinsmiranda

Listen or Buy:

Reviewed by: Wilbert Sostre

The Harlem Hellfighters







During the first two decades of the twentieth century, James Reese Europe emerged as the most renowned bandleader of New York's entertainment world. Famed for his syncopated orchestral accompaniment of the dancing team of Irene and Vernon Castle, Europe became a major figure in promoting the popularity of social dancing and engendered a ragtime-based music that contributed to the emergence of jazz. During World War I, his 369th Infantry Band the “Hell Fighters,” was hailed by French and American troops as the finest ensemble in the Allied Army.

The Harlem Hell fighters was a combination of musicians from Harlem and Puerto Rico:

James Reese Europe - Director, Conductor, Arranger Eugene Mikell - Assistant Conductor Felix Weir Assistant Conductor



Dope Andrews, Herb Fleming, Amos Gillard, Rafael Hernandez,Trombones - Arturo B. Ayala, Gregorio Felix Delgado, Rafael Duchesne, Antonio Gonzalez, Jesus Hernandez, Elige Rijos, Genaro Torres, Clarinets - Sixto Benitez, Alex Jackson, Lee Perry, Jose Rivera Rosas,Tubas - Frank DeBroit, Pops Foster, Jake Porter, Russell Smith, Cornets - Pablo Fuentes, Bassoon - Calvin “Piccolo” Jones,Piccolo, Flutes - Ceferino Hernandez, Pinkhead Parker, Saxophones - Froilan Jimenez, Nicholas Vazquez, Baritone Horns - Eleuterio Melendez, Francisco Melendez, Mellophones - Noble Sissle, C. Creighton Thompson, Vocals - Hurbert Wright, Steven Wright, Karl Kenny, and Whitney Viney - Drums

Rogelio "Ram" Ramirez



Biography


Born: September 15, 1913

Ram Ramirez - piano, organ, composer, (1913 - 1994)

Rogelio Ramirez (also known as Roger or “Ram”) was born in San Juan on September 15, 1913. He arrived on Ellis Island in 1920.He was raised in New York, was recognized as a prodigious talent and by 13 was a professional musician, and a member of the American Federation of Musicians.

Ramirez worked with the Louisiana Stompers, The Spirits of Rhythm, and Monette Moore in 1933. The following year, he joined trumpeter Rex Stewart for a set of recordings that are available today on the Columbia and Classic labels. In 1935, he joined Willie Bryant and in 1937, he went to Europe with a group led by Bobby Martin.

A highlight in Ram Ramirez's career carne at the age of 21, in 1934 when he literally substituted for Duke Ellington in a small group led by Rex Stewart, with whom he recorded “Stingaree,” and “Baby Ain'tcha Satisfied.”

Ramirez backed the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in 1940, in the band she took over after the death of Chick Webb, and worked with Frankie Newton and Charlie Barnet in 1942. In 1944, he joined the John Kirby Sextet and this was followed by stints with his own trio.

He proceeded to play in bands led by Frankie Newton and Ike Quebec, appearing with the latter on some early Blue Note Records, Ramirez also recorded under his own name in 1946, leading a trio with guitarist Jimmy Shirley and bassist Al Hall.



In 1944 Billie Holiday recorded Ramirez's composition, “Lover Man,” a song which is still strongly associated with her, and subsequently became a jazz standard. This has been his biggest claim to fame, and his enduring contribution to jazz.

In the late '40s and early '50s he continued to play in and around New York, and in ‘53 began to play organ on more occasions, where he started to make a name for himself in the clubs.

In the '60s he toured Europe with bluesman T-Bone Walker, and the following decade was with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band. He continued to make appearances with this group into the early '80s.

A blues-orientated pianist and organist that could swing with the best of them Ramirez is perhaps less well known than his skills warrant. He participated in approximately 62 jazz recording sessions between 1934 and 1981.His best solo effort was “Live in Harlem,” from 1960, where he puts on a dazzling display of his skills on the organ. There was a reissue release in 2005 of “I’ll Remember April,” by the Ram Ramirez Trio.

Ram Ramirez died on Jan. 13, 1994.

Ramón Usera

Ramón Usera

One of Puerto Rico's premiere band leaders in the middle 20th century was Ramón "Moncho" Usera. He organized his first bands in New York and subsequently became a bandleader in his native homeland.

Ramón Usera was born in Ponce in 1904. He arrived in New York (via Ellis Island) in 1924. By the time he arrived in the U.S. mainland, Usera was a well-trained musician who played piano, flute, clarinet and saxophone. Usera stayed briefly in New York and by 1925, was enrolled at the Escole Normale de Musique in Paris, France.

Unlike most of his compatriots, Moncho Usera entered the jazz scene in Europe, when he joined Lew Leslie's Blackbirds, an all-black musical in París. In 1928, that band traveled through Europe and also recorded there. In 1929, Usera returned to New York, where he joined the Noble Sissle Orchestra. It is possible that he had been recruited by the older Puerto Rican musician Rafael Duchesne, who was also a band member. Both were in the band when it went to the recoding studios in February and April of 1931.

In 1933, Usera joined the band led by trumpeter Arthur Briggs and returned to Paris, where he performed at the Ambassadeur Club. In 1934, the band traveled to England to perform at the London Jazz Club. That band included the great players Sidney Bechet and Noble Sissle. Usera participated in approximately 10 jazz recording sessions (between 1928 and 1937) as a violinist, clarinetist, and tenor and alto saxophonist.

Usera left the jazz scene to return to the Latin American music scene, where he performed with outstanding bandleaders such as Enrique Madriguera, Desiderio "Desi" Arnaz and Eliseo Grenet. Usera participated in numerous recording sessions and traveled throughout the United States, South America, and Europe. Afterward, he recorded and arranged music for several bands led by Vincent López and Don Maya, among others.

Moncho Usera was a composer of different genres. Among his compositions, we find the tune titled Under the Creole Moon, which he wrote with Sidney Bechet and Noble Sissle. His other compositions include Añoranzas, Boga Boga, Caribbean Fantasy, Ha Ha Ha, Moment that We Fell in Love, Mosquito El, Tal Es la Vida, and There is No Tomorrow, among others.

A number of recordings in which Moncho Usera is featured as a participant or bandleader are available. Most recently, Harlequin Records released a CD titled Ramón Moncho Usera 1941-42.


Discography
Appears On:
Violon Jazz 1927 - 1944 (2xCD) Kansas City Kitty Frémeaux & Associés 1996

L'Histoire Du Jazz Vocal - The Story Of Vocal Jazz: Part 1 (1911 - 1940) (10xCD, Comp) Camp Meeting Day (192... Le Chant Du Monde 2004

Swing De Paris (1922-1951) (2xCD, Comp) Daughter Of The Latin ... Frémeaux & Associés 2004
 
 

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