Where “lives” is both noun and verb. Written by Michael Steinman and Nominated as one of the Best Jazz Blogs of 2009 by the Jazz Journalists Association. Michael Steinman first heard Louis Armstrong on records in the 1950s, a transcendent experience. (He also saw Louis and the All-Stars in 1967.) An unashamed jazz addict, he writes for HOT HOUSE, Cadence and The New York Jazz Record. He has been published in CODA and other jazz periodicals, and was the New York correspondent for The Mississippi Rag. Michael is called upon frequently to write liner notes, which have been an integral part of compact discs on many labels, including Arbors, Nagel-Heyer, Stomp Off, NifNuf, Jazzology, Audiophile, LaLa, Azica, Little Simmy, Amber Lake, and GelberMusic.
- January 27, 2023A WINNING HONESTY: VIENNA CARROLL and THE FOLK: “SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT”
The late Sam Parkins used to say of certain powerfully emotional music, “Gets you right in the gizzard, doesn’t it?” We all have our personal collections of Gizzard Music. To them, I would like to add … - January 26, 2023MELODY MATTERS: FREDDY COLE, BUCKY PIZZARELLI, RANDY NAPOLEON, FRANK TATE, PAUL KELLER, EDDIE METZ (Atlanta Jazz Party, April 25, 2014)
Freddy Cole, 2018 I could write at length about the time when jazz and popular music embraced worldwide, but rather than lament that era’s diminution, I will say only that it was a privilege to witnes … - January 23, 2023A FRESHMAN ON CHRISTMAS BREAK VISITS JIMMY RYAN’S (December 1942)
Whitney Balliett (1926 – 2007) the jazz critic for The New Yorker, remains one of my heroes. In music, he shaped my tastes; in writing, he was a lovely idiosyncratic risk-embracing role model. And whe … - January 22, 2023“WHAT’S THE HURRY?”: ALLAN VACHÉ, TOM FISCHER, JOHNNY VARRO, PAUL KELLER, DANNY COOTS (Atlanta Jazz Party, April 18, 2015)
Slow down. Where’s the fire? Do you have to be somewhere all of a sudden? Take a load off. Make yourself to home. There’s more coffee if you’d like it, and cookies, too. All of the above translates to … - January 20, 2023BEAU KOO RAY: MUSIC FROM RAY SKJELBRED, SOLO and TRIO (JACOB ZIMMERMAN, MATT WEINER) and SOLO AT THE ROYAL ROOM
Yes, it’s true. Two new CDs from pianist Ray Skjelbred — one solo, one solo and trio, with Jacob Zimmerman, alto saxophone and clarinet; Matt Weiner, string bass. The trio recording pictured above is …