Riffs on Roy
Oak Cliff native Roy Hargrove may not have the depth and seasoning of Wynton Marsalis, but the 26-year-old prodigy could still be one of the great jazz trumpeters of our day.
Oak Cliff native Roy Hargrove may not have the depth and seasoning of Wynton Marsalis, but the 26-year-old prodigy could still be one of the great jazz trumpeters of our day.
Vibraharpist Charlie Shoemake keeps so busy in L.A. that he seldom strays back to his home state. Fortunately, we can hear him on new recordings.
At 73, this Fort Worth jazzman still sings “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” but he wants new songs, more gigs, and younger audiences.
From James Clay to John Park, Texas tenor sax masters prove their mettle on new LPs.
What’s remarkable about this exclusive jazz party isn’t just that it’s in Midland. The biggest surprise comes when the music starts.
New releases of Duke Ellington’s work give us exquisite music from small bands, a dance band having fun, and stereo recording twenty years before its time.
Those who think there’s nothing new under the sun should check out the superior jazz improvisations on three recently released albums.
From the moment tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims sounded his first note to just before his death four decades later, he performed with irresistible spirit and intensity.
Jazz singers defy definition. They may scat, or they may not; they may be veterans or newcomers; they may decline the label of jazz singer. But their music always gives them away.
John Hardee and Budd Johnson were two legendary Texas tenors who had their own ways of making peace with the rigors of the jazz life.
A purist’s guide to the night spots of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin.
Tribute to Teagarden captures the fullness and humanity of the late Texas trombonist’s art; plus a roundup of recent jazz releases.
In the sixties the fee-jazz movement produced music that was defiantly experimental, and the same artists are still playing some of the most stimulating jazz around.
A definitive Smithsonian Recordings collection sets a new standard for big band anthologies; other big band recordings prove that swing remains vibrantly alive.
You may not have heard saxman Ben Webster when he was around, but his recordings with Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, and Gerry Mulligan are a treasure trove not to be missed.
Fabled Texas pianist Peck Kelley appears, at last, on a gold mine of an album. There’s lodes more with Red Garland, Pete Petersen, and other jazz whizzes.
The music of tenor saxman John Handy is rooted in Texas and the blues, and he uses his distinctive sound to lure more listeners to jazz.
Freddie Hubbard’s attempts to play pop music have been disastrous. But when he tackles a pure mainstream sound, he shows what jazz trumpeting is all about.
The late alto saxophonist lived a life marred by heroin addiction and prison time, but his pain was only a counterpoint to the beauty of his music.
In the footsteps of Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and other trumpet greats comes twenty-year-old Wynton Marsalis. Judging by their latest albums, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and fellow veterans are doing all right too.
The greatness of Paul Desmond, the staying power of Art Blakey, the de-fusion of Stan Gertz--all these are on record, and more.
Recordings from the old pros prove the virtue of virtuosity.
The late Lester Young is a past president of jazz, and his music still holds sway. Albums by other musicians get votes of confidence, too.
Houston’s first jazz festival turned Miller Theatre into a hothouse of sound.
Although Don Albert’s music was a mainstay of the forties, his obstinate stand against racism put him years ahead of his time.
Some old greats forged ahead in 1979, but young musicians kept up.
The Midland Jazz Classic wasn’t cheap, but it was worth the price.
Charles Mingus was a great jazz musician with a sharp mind, an impeccable sense of rhythm, and a mighty powerful fist.
Leon Breeden’s jazz students at North Texas State University are already pros, and they have recorded two new albums to prove it.
Last year’s jazz records are this year’s best buys.
How to lose you not-enough-jazz-in-Texas blues.
The only way Red Garland could make us mad would be to quit playing piano.
New records, old musicians, and all that jazz.
Would the renegade jazzmen who started bop recognize what’s happened to their music?
The saxiest men in Texas.
Building a classical, rock, country, and jazz library on a budget.