J is for Jazz

Jazz: English, origin unknown. A slang term meaning, to copulate, frenzied. It was later applied to music with an accelerated, frenzied or "jazzy" beat and soon came to be the term used for a whole genre.

Long before I listened to rock 'n' roll I listened to my father's jazz albums. One time Dad took my grandmother and me to see Count Basie and his Orchestra, live in person on St. Thomas. A gift I will never forget. From rag-time to blues to be-bop to swing (and classical) on 78's and LPs, he had an eclectic collection. And he built his own records players. One time he turned a manhole cover into a turn table. It's true.

My musical memory is copious, I can sing along to a gazillion songs. I may not remember all the words, but the melodies are somehow imprinted on my brain, never forgotten. It was hard to pick examples of what my sister Erva and I heard around the house. Whatever it was, we danced and sang our way through all of it. I hope you can take a little time to listen and enjoy. (I know it may be hard what with all the other blogs you have to visit.)

Do you like jazz? Does jazz play into your writing, as in jazzing (spicing) it up?

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, "The Sugarfoot Stomp" from 1923.

Since Dad played trombone, there was plenty of Glenn Miller. This is "Stardust," written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1927, it is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.


Here's a virtuoso. Oscar Peterson, "Can't Get Started With You."


I was in love with drummers like Ginger Baker. Dad introduced me to Gene Krupa who was the first to use drums as a solo instrument. His drumming was called "scary." Here's Benny Goodman with Gene Krupa and Harry James on trumpet doing "Sing, Sing, Sing."


Dad had an autographed 78 of Louis Armstrong where he wasn't given credit. At some point Dad had the opportunity to meet the great one and asked if that was him on the record. It was and he signed his record. As for Ella...No one has ever sung as clear or with such style. She is and will always remain my favorite female vocalist. The Christina Aguileras of the world could learn something from her. Here they are together in "Dream a Little Dream of Me."

And lastly, a more "modern" artist (who unfortunately died in 2009) singing an old standard, "More Than You Know," by Kenny Rankin. Sigh...