Jazz

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews three re-releases from a massive CTI Records reissue.

Writer James Gavin has produced Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker. It's a biography of the jazz trumpeter and vocalist. Baker came from Oklahoma in the 1950s to become the "prince of cool jazz" on the West Coast. His death in Amsterdam in 1988 seems to have been drug-related. Gavin provides some answers to the riddle of his death. Gavin is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and other publications.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Belly of the Sun, the new album from singer Cassandra Wilson (Blue Note records).

Sue Graham Mingus' new memoir Tonight at Noon is about her love affair with the late jazz musician and composer Charles Mingus. She is a former magazine editor and publisher, and now works as a music producer. She also created and directs repertory ensembles that carry on the music of her late husband. Tonight at Noon... Three or Four Shades of Love, a CD featuring tracks by the Mingus Big Band and the Charles Mingues Orchestra, was recently released on the Dreyfus Jazz Label.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews an installment of the legendary Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, produced by Norman Granz. This particular show comes from Carnegie Hall in 1949, and was recently released on CD.

Through his first band, La Perfecta, labeled "the band with the crazy roaring elephants," Palmieri was credited with originating Latin jazz's trombone sound in New York during the sixties. In 1994, Palmieri's lobbying culminated in the announcement of a new Grammy Award category for Afro-Caribbean Jazz.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Element of Swing (Stunt) featuring drummer Ed Thigpen and saxophonist Joe Lovano.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Come Away With Me, the debut album from vocalist Norah Jones.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead Reviews gypsy Project (Dreyfus) the new CD by guitarist Bireli Lagrene.

Percussionist Jonathan Haas is a solo timpani player who has garnered international praise. He plays all styles of music, from classical to jazz and rock. Haas is the principal timpanist for the New York Chamber Symphony, the Aspen Chamber Orchestra and the EOS Ensemble. He regularly performs with numerous other orchestras worldwide. Haas also teaches percussion at the Aspen Music School and has been the director of the Peabody Conservatory Percussion Studio for 17 years. He's also the head of Sunset Records, Kettles and Company, and Gemini Music Productions.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Ornette Coleman Trio at the Golden Circle, Vols. 1 and 2 (Blue Note).

Rudd is known for his work with groundbreaking groups and musicians like Herbie Nichols, the New York Art Quartet, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, and Carla Bley. He has been playing traditional and avant-garde jazz for some 60 years. His latest CD is a live recording with Archie Shepp called Live in New York.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews The Almeria Club, the new recording by Hank Williams Jr.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Keep That Groove Going! featuring veteran saxophonists Plas Johnson and Red Holloway.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews El Arte del Sabor the new CD by the Bebo Valdes Trio (Blue Note).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new box set, Artie Shaw: Self Portrait (RCA/Bluebird). The five-CD box set of Shaws music was edited by Shaw himself.

Jazz trumpeter Steven Bernstein. With his quartet, Sex Mob, hes just released a new CD which pays homage to the music of James Bond films. Its called Sex Mob Does Bond (ropeadope records) and is the sextets third album. Bernstein also heads two other groups: Diaspora Soul which specializes in performing versions of ancient Jewish melodies, and Millennial Territory Orchestra with which he explores jazz from the 1920s and 1930s.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Up Popped the Two Lips, one of two new records by composer, saxophonist and flutist Henry Threadgill. Threadgill recorded the album with a new sextet called Zooid.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia (1933-1944).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews two new Armstrong reissues: Louis and the Angels and Louis and the Good Book (both recorded in the 1950s, and released on Verve).