Kelly Sill
You never quite knew what Chicago bassist Kelly Sill was going to play (or what he was going to say). But you always knew that … Read More “Kelly Sill”
Columns
Short, often opinionated pieces by JazzTimes’ editor and other trusted contributors.
Explaining the Taubman Approach
Several years ago, one of Danilo Pérez’s students was suffering from tendinitis. Pianist Pérez was then a professor at the New England Conservatory; his student, … Read More “Explaining the Taubman Approach”
Joe Williams: Beyond the Blues
Everyone knows that Joe Williams sang the hell out of the blues, but do you know what else he sang the hell out of? Everything. … Read More “Joe Williams: Beyond the Blues”
Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers
As a JazzTimes writer, I can talk about the powers of a dynamic drummer until I’m blue in the face: the weight of each tom-tom’s … Read More “Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers”
Sun Ra and the Cornucopia House Band
There are certain works of art with which I wish I could have a conversation, so that I might express my gratitude for them. I … Read More “Sun Ra and the Cornucopia House Band”
Chronology: Sonny Greer and Sam Woodyard Drum for the Duke
Asked to choose Duke Ellington’s most valuable sidemen, most folks would likely start with Johnny Hodges, followed by any number of the additional cavalcade of … Read More “Chronology: Sonny Greer and Sam Woodyard Drum for the Duke”
Up On the Corner, Out on the Street
In the early autumn, I was heading back into the city of Boston on the subway from a leafy suburb where I had watched a … Read More “Up On the Corner, Out on the Street”
Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue Clusters
If the Fates of Jazz oversaw an accounting service that charted advanced metrics like the album that the most people had fallen in love with … Read More “Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue Clusters”
Chronology: Kenny Dorham Drops a Sigh in 1961
Here’s a game I like to play that’s a variation on the familiar challenge of choosing favorite records to take to a desert island. I … Read More “Chronology: Kenny Dorham Drops a Sigh in 1961”
Chops: Finding Music for “Mrs. Maisel”
Given the almost unlimited number of program choices that television viewers have today, the chances of having a top-rated show are slim. And if a … Read More “Chops: Finding Music for “Mrs. Maisel””
