Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
Browsing Nina Simone‘s early single releases on Bethlehem Records — Gus Wildi‘s jazz label, whose control and eventual ownership would ultimately be given over to Syd Nathan of King Records — my eyes are immediately drawn to the instrumental B-side, “African Mailman,” a fairly radical and oblique song title for
JazzTimes‘ Christopher Porter, amusingly, conducted his interview with bass legend, Keter Betts, at Silver Spring, Maryland‘s humble 9-hole Sligo Creek Golf Course due to its proximity to both Betts’ home and JazzTimes‘ editorial office. .From Porter’s 2002 JazzTimes piece, I learned that — Photo: Discogs Hinton initially met Betts in
I am liberating a special series of “maxi-tweets” tied to King Records‘ lesser known jazz legacy – part of 2018’s King 75th Birthday Celebration – that were otherwise buried in a PDF file attachment. The following research was conducted primarily by scanning the index of Ruppli‘s 2-volume King recording session
One can be forgiven for mistaking the heartbeat bass line and the off-kilter, syncopated hand drumming in this 2-minute heavy chant as being part of the Jamaican Nyabinghi tradition. Note the special effect at song’s end — somewhat “high tech” for King in 1954: “Oooh-Diga-Gow” by Cecil Young Quartet (1954)
Zero to 180 kicks off its musical salute to grits with “Tacos And Grits,” an obvious winner of an instrumental by jazz trombonist, Al Grey: “Tacos and Grits” Al Grey (1963) This first featured song in Zero to 180’s music & grits series — launched on the heels of Saturday’s
Rufus Harley‘s sole 45, “Bagpipe Blues” on Atlantic Records — an original amalgamation of Scottish highland and African-American musical traditions from 1965 — was undoubtedly the first of its kind. 45Cat‘s carey jeggs notes that Harley is “[p]robably the first jazz musician to play the bagpipes, although Albert Ayler also
Not sure if you’ve heard of George Benson, but apparently he’s new and very exciting: “Jaguar“ George Benson (1966) As it turns out, he’s not new: this original instrumental is from 1966 album, It’s Uptown With The George Benson Quartet. But he’s still exciting to listen to nearly fifty years
Sammy Davis, Jr. and Buddy Rich emerge triumphant a mere one minute and forty-five seconds into this classic confrontation between good and evil: “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead“ Sammy Davis, Jr. & Buddy Rich (1966) Ernie Freeman, Arranger George Rhodes, Conductor Jimmy Bowen, Producer. Thanks to SammyDavisJr.info for pointing
In an attempt to convince the skeptical (and serious) music purchaser that this album really is a wise investment in the quality of one’s listening experience, almighty Columbia tries to have its cake and eat it, too, with Charlie Byrd’s Aquarius album from 1969, as the unnamed writer of the
Herb Alpert demonstrates music’s connection with athletics in this playfully surreal video for “Slick” by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, from ‘Beat of the Brass’ – Alpert’s 1968 television special: “Slick” Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (1968) Filmed at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles There’s a comically
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