The guy at the shop (plug: MANIFESTO, Oakland) who sold me my bike is named Basie. I said, “Like the Count. You must get that all the time.” He said, “Actually, only from …” and stopped himself just before finishing with “older customers.” Nice save there, bro.
Jazz Instrumental
Charlie Parker
In my perfect world, everyone would know a lot about Charlie Parker’s life and music, and nobody would know or care about Rhianna. I guess that officially makes me an old fogey.
Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden has a special place in my heart, because it was at a Charlie Haden tribute that I met my jazz buddy Marcia. On the down side, Charlie Haden died soon after. Betty Carter also died soon after the last time I saw her, not to be confused with Sarah Vaughan, who died shortly before I was going to see her. Warning to aging jazz stars: If I buy a ticket to your show, you might want to cancel that performance.
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus invited white Canadian folkie Joni Mitchell, of all people, to write lyrics for and record the last set of songs he composed before he died. If you need any more proof of the awesomeness of a man who wrote songs with names like “Pithecanthropus Erectus” or “The Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers,” there you have it.
Cecil Taylor
Anyone who thinks that only white people make heady, intellectual music should listen to Cecil Taylor (and Anthony Braxton, who probably deserves his own list even though he gives me a headache). Plus: Notes. Lots and lots and lots of notes.
Carla Bley
This might be the most obscure list of all—even a lot of jazzbos have never heard of Carla Bley. But she is awesome because 1) she is a female big band leader; 2) she is from Oakland; 3) she is the reason (indirectly, via Charlie Haden) I met my jazz buddy Marcia, who is her own category of awesome; and 4) she has had the same hair style since at least 1970 (cut bottom part off broom, stick on head). Carla Bley is one of my Top 3 all-time favorites! (Note: In addition to having ridiculously long titles, many of these songs are over 10 minutes long. You don’t rush the Carla.)
Playlist of the Day 