Success takes the right people, with the right skills, at the right time and the right place. You can’t copy or replicate success. And so it was that in 1965, having left Jack McDuff’s Quartet, George Benson set out on […]
Farewell, But Not Goodbye, Doc Gibbs
The last few weeks have bought sad news of the passing of more people from the jazz world. Of course all the major websites and even traditional news outlets covered the death of legendary jazz elder, George Wein. Many also […]
First Light Live
It’s September 14th, this year marks 50-years of the start of recording at the Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey of Freddie Hubbard’s Grammy winning album “First Light“. I wrote about it on this date last year[1]On This Day: First […]
Spanish Grease
For my second post for Creed Taylor Month, 2021, I wanted to take a brief look at an amazing 1965 album by Willie Bobo, “Spanish Grease“. The album was recorded 56-years ago, almost to the day on August 30th and […]
Creed Taylor Month – September 2021
Creed Taylor month was announced and first held in 1968. For background and press cuttings from that time, see this entry. There are lots of indications that the music created by the artists of CTI and KUDU is as popular […]
On This Day: Lien Sale
Manhattan it wasn’t, but if you were a “bridges and tunnels” commuter who didn’t drive, Newsday was your go-to read. In the days before smartphones, before MP3 players, podcasts, and web pages, you’d board the MTA bus or train, claim […]
SFJAZZ Honor Chuck Stewart
Photographer Chuck Stewart is a legend in jazz circles. Stewart took pictures for more than 100 of the albums that Creed Taylor produced. On June 19th, SFJAZZ, the organization behind the San Francisco Jazz Festival for about 40-years, unveiled a […]
The Three R’s
Rereleases, Remaster, and Record Store Day The first Record Store Day (RSD) 2021 was a disappointment for me. 2021 will have two so called “drops”, let’s hope the July 17th drop will add some more releases, while there are some […]
The 2021 Reissue List
I get occasional emails from readers asking if I know if this album is on CD, or if there is a vinyl pressing available new? While I do buy occasional new vinyl and CD’s, it’s usually only to get a […]
Full Color Fidelity Jazz
While most of us know Creed Taylors productions for their lavish gatefold covers, more often than not adorned with exotic, artful, and amazing color photographs by Pete Turner, the music Creed produced also made a number of firsts in other […]