Here is a nice obit over at the Globe and Mail.
Rest in love and peace Mrs. James.
By stan in R.I.P. No Comments Tags: etta james, obituary, r.i.p.
By stan in Festivals, Gig Reviews No Comments Tags: about.com, brooklyn academy of music, brooklyn babylon, danijel zezelj, darcy james argue, jonathan lindhorst, mulitmedia, next wave festival

Above is a link to Canadian-raised, Brooklyn-based musician and composer Jonathan Lindhorst’s insightful review of Brooklyn Babylon – the multimedia creation of composer Darcy James Argue and visual artist Danijel Zezelj.
The World Premiere was performed during the BAM Next Wave Festival — November 9 – 12th, 2011
By stan in YouTube No Comments Tags: al mclean, bill gossage, cameron wallis, jean frechette, jordan officer, maison symphonique, sortiesjazznights, susie arioli, TVJazz.tv, winter wonderland
From her CD Christmas Dreaming (Spectra Musique, 2010), Susie Arioli and co. perf0rm a fine rendition of “Winter Wonderland”.
Video is courtesy of Sortiesjazznights.
Merry Christmas!!
By stan in CD reviews No Comments Tags: Bill Stewart, CD reviews, David Kikoski, Lage Lund, Live at Smalls, Matt Clohesy, seamus blake, Seamus Blake Quintet
Recorded on August 31 and September 1, 2009 by the Seamus Blake Quintet, Live At Smalls is a testament to the live tradition of jazz music cultivated in New York jazz clubs. Smalls Jazz Club and their record label, SmallsLIVE, is dedicated to recording live performances and to capturing “top-notch jazz groups” in action.
The craftsmanship displayed by each member of this Quintet is indeed top-notch and has coalesced into a spirited live recording. …continue reading…
By stan in SoundBytes No Comments Tags: audio, clips, ornette coleman, ravi coltrane, soundbytes
This soundbyte is from one of my favourite interpretations of one of my favourite tunes, Ornette Coleman’s 1958 recording, The Blessing. In their statement of the melody Ravi Coltrane’s quintet — Ralph Alessi (t), Geri Allen (p), James Genus (b), Eric Harland (d) — evoke the spirit of creativity expressed in that recording.
CDs @ CD Universe
From The Round Box
Something Else!!!!: The Music of Ornette Coleman
By stan in Birthdays No Comments Tags: birthdays, jazz birthdays, lee morgan

By stan in Goings On No Comments Tags: charles biddle, charles biddle award, culture pour tous, prix charles biddle
The Charles Biddle Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of an individual to the artistic and cultural community in Québec. The deadline to nominate someone is July 28, 2011.
For more details go to prixcharlesbiddle.culturepourtous.ca
By stan in FIJM, Gig Reviews No Comments Tags: fijm, fly, gesu, jazz festivals, jeff ballard, larry grenadier, mark turner, montreal jazzfest

Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard: Fly
Gesù centre de créativité
Montreal
June 28, 2011, 6pm
Fly is a trio that requires your full attention. Otherwise, its sonic pleasures and subtleties may pass right through you without a trace.
The democratic ideal that inspired Fly’s conception is, in part, what makes this demanding music: three distinct musical trains-of-thought forging forward on seemingly divergent paths. This tension does not only apply to the improvisational space within a piece, but also to the body of work chosen to present to the listener.
With each member contributing compositions of his own, the arc and flow of the evening’s performance stands in stark contrast to an evening dedicated to a singular compositional vision. And, like any democracy, its quality depends on who or what has been chosen to represent the whole.
That said, these guys can PLAY! …continue reading…
By stan in Film, Jazz Education No Comments Tags: charles mingus, documentaries, kevin ellington mingus, orangethenblue

A True Jazz Legend is a documentary in the process of being filmed by a collective known as Orangethenblue. It’s the story of a grandson’s discovery and exploration of a grandfather’s life in music. The grandson is Kevin Ellington Mingus and the grandfather — Charles Mingus.
Sounds like it could be an interesting addition to the Mingus lore.
More info: Orangethenblue
By stan in Birthdays, Gig Reviews No Comments Tags: bily kun, birthdays, christopher cargnello, david ryshpan, hermeto pascoal, jazz birthdays

Just came back from checking out guitarist Christopher Cargnello and pianist David Ryshpan at Bily Kun. They played some challenging music from the multi-instrumentalist composer Hermeto Pascoal.
Inspired by 41 new pieces offered to the public for download, the impromptu duo was a way for Cargnello and Ryshpan to honour a musician they’ve been obsessed with for some time. Pascoal turns 75 tomorrow.