Notablog

Song of the Day: Sakeena’s Vision, composed by Wayne Shorter, was first recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers for their 1960 hard bop album, “The Big Beat.” The quintet featured Shorter on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Jymie Merritt and drummer Art Blakey. The…

Song of the Day: Switch in Time [YouTube link], composed, arranged, and conducted by Sammy Nestico, is featured on “Basie Straight Ahead,” a 1968 album by Count Basie and His Orchestra. This swinging track by jazz royalty is a nice way of celebrating Count Basie, who was born on this…

Song of the Day: Peri’s Scope, composed by pianist Bill Evans, originally appeared on the 1960 album “Portrait in Jazz“, with the famous Evans trio, featuring bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Still, my favorite version can be found on the live 1970 recording, “Montreux II,” featuring bassist Eddie…

Song of the Day: El Sonido Nuevo (“The New Soul Sound”), composed by Latin vibraphonist Cal Tjader and pianist Eddie Palmieri, is the title track to the duo’s 1966 album. The album is a mix of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin jazz, and syncopated beats. Yesterday, the Bronx-born Palmieri died at the…

Song of the Day: When The Saints Go Marching In is a traditional black spiritual that became a jazz standard in no small measure because of the efforts of Louis Armstrong, who was born on this date in 1901. A native of New Orleans, Armstrong was a beloved ambassador of…