On December 17, 1982, Joseph Lee “Big Joe” Williams died aged 79. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, best known for his distinctive sound of his nine-string guitar. His songs “Baby Please Don’t Go”, “Crawlin’ King Snake” and “Peach Orchard Mama”, were covered by many artists. In October 1992, Williams was inducted into the “Blues Hall of Fame”. As a leader he released sixteen studio and one live album.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Miles Davis: Quiet Nights
On December 16, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Quiet Nights”, the 36th Miles Davis album, and his fourth and final album collaboration with Gil Evans. It was recorded July – November 1962, April 1963, at “Columbia’s 30th Street Studios” in Manhattan, and was produced by Teo Macero and Irving Townsend.
Personnel:
- Miles Davis – trumpet
- Gil Evans – arranger, conductor
- Shorty Baker, Bernie Glow, Louis Mucci, Ernie Royal – trumpets
- J.J. Johnson, Frank Rehak – trombones
- Ray Alonge, Don Corrado, Julius Watkins – french horns
- Bill Barber – tuba
- Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone
- George Coleman – tenor saxophone
- Albert Block – flute
- Ray Beckenstein, Jerome Richardson – woodwinds
- Garvin Bushell, Bob Tricarico – bassoons
- Janet Putnam – harp
- Victor Feldman – piano
- Ron Carter – bass
- Paul Chambers – bass
- Jimmy Cobb – drums
- Frank Butler – drums
- Willie Bobo – bongos
- Elvin Jones – percussion
- Fred Plaut – engineer
- Dan Hunstein – photography
Track listing:
- Song No. 2 (a.k.a. Prenda Minha, Brazilian folk song) – Gil Evans, Miles Davis
- Once Upon a Summertime – Johnny Mercer, Michel Legrand
- Aos Pés da Cruz – Marino Pinto, José Gonçalves
- Song No. 1 (a.k.a. Adelita by Francisco Tárrega) – Gil Evans, Miles Davis
- Wait Till You See Her – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
- Corcovado – Antônio Carlos Jobim
- Summer Night – Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Abbey Lincoln: That’s Him!
In December 1957, “Riverside” label released “That’s Him!”, the second Abbey Lincoln album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.
Personnel:
- Abbey Lincoln – vocals
- Kenny Dorham – trumpet
- Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
- Wynton Kelly – piano, bass
- Paul Chambers – bass
- Max Roach – drums
Track listing:
- Strong Man – Oscar Brown, Jr.
- Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
- My Man – Jacques Charles, Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz, Maurice Yvain
- Tender as a Rose – Phil Moore
- That’s Him – Ogden Nash, Kurt Weill
- I Must Have That Man! – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
- Porgy – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
- When a Woman Loves a Man – Bernie Hanighen, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer
- Don’t Explain – Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday
Kenny Dorham: 2 Horns / 2 Rhythm
In December 1957, “Riverside” label released “2 Horns / 2 Rhythm”, the sixth Kenny Dorham album. It was recorded November – December 1957, in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.
Personnel:
- Kenny Dorham – trumpet, piano
- Ernie Henry – alto saxophone
- Eddie Mathias, Wilbur Ware – bass
- G.T. Hogan – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Kenny Dorham, except where noted.
- Lotus Blossom – Kenny Dorham, Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston
- Sposin – Paul Denniker, Andy Razaf
- Soon – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
- Is It True What They Say About Dixie? – Irving Caesar, Sammy Lerner, Gerald Marks
- The End of a Love Affair – Edward Redding
- I’ll Be Seeing You – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal
- Noose Bloos
- Jazz-Classic
William Adamson
On December 16, 2001, William Stuart Adamson died aged 43. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, founder and member of the bands Skids, and The Raphaels, but was best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the band Big Country.
Nicolette Larson
On December 16, 1997, Nicolette Larson died aged 45. She was songwriter and singer, recorded and performed with The Doobie Brothers, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Commander Cody, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, but was best known for her work with Neil Young. As a leader she released 13 albums.
Esperanza Spalding: Exposure
On December 16, 2017, “Concord” label released “Exposure”, the sixth Esperanza Spalding studio album. It was recorded in September 2017, at “NRG Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Esperanza Spalding, Ray Angry, Matthew Stevens, Justin Tyson, and Rob Schwimmer.
Personnel:
- Esperanza Spalding – vocals, acoustic bass, electric bass, kalimba
- Matthew Stevens – guitar
- Robert Glasper – piano
- Ray Angry – keyboard
- Justin Tyson – drums
- Andrew Bird – vocals, violin
- Lalah Hathaway – vocals
- Rob Schwimmer – continuum
- Tivona Miller – backing vocals
- Starr Busby – backing vocals
- Fernando Lodeiro – recording, mixing
- Zach Brown – recording
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Paul Blakemore – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Esperanza Spalding except where noted.
Exposure
- Swimming Toward the Black Dot
- Public Trance It
- Heaven in Pennies – Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding
- Colonial Fire
- Coming to Life – Lalah Hathaway, Esperanza Spalding
- Geriment
- I Am Telling You
- The Way You Got the Love – Andrew Bird, Esperanza Spalding
- I Do
- Double Jointed Canyon – Justin Tyson, Matthew Stevens, Esperanza Spalding
Undeveloped (Pre-Exposure Practice)
- Helluva
- Tangerine
- Word Jungle
- Chelsea Mercy
- Work of Art
- Winning Machines
- Trouble
- 4th Grade
- Whisper
- Fittest
Chloë Agnew: Chloë
On December 16, 2002, “Celtic Collection” label released “Chloë”, the debut Chloë Agnew album.
Personnel:
- Chloë Agnew – voice
- David Agnew – oboe
- Liz Foster – backing vocals
Tack listing:
- Angel’s Song
- Danny Boy
- Ave Maria
- When You Believe
- The Water Is Wide
- The Voice of Home
- Walking in the Air
- The Prayer
- The Last Rose of Summer
- Lascia Ch’io Pianga
- Brahm’s Lullabye
Art Pepper: Art Pepper Today
In December 1978, “Galaxy Records” label released “Art Pepper Today”, the 34th Art Pepper album. It was recorded in December 1978, and was produced by Ed Michel.
Personnel:
- Art Pepper – alto saxophone
- Stanley Cowell – piano
- Cecil McBee – bass
- Roy Haynes – drums
- Kenneth Nash – congas, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Art Pepper, except where noted.
- Miss Who
- Mambo Koyama
- Lover Come Back To Me – Sigmund Romberg; Oscar Hammerstein II
- Patricia
- These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) – Harry Link; Jack Strachey; Holt Marvell
- Chris’s Blues
Glenn Miller
On December 15, 1944, Alton Glenn Miller died aged 40. He was musician (trombone), composer, arranger, and big-band leader, working in the swing era. Leading the best known big band, in the period 1939 – 1942, he was the best-selling recording artist, with 16 number-one records, and 69 top ten hits (more than Elvis Presley and the Beatles in their careers). Three of his compositions were inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame” – in 1983 “In the Mood”, in 1996 “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, and in 1991 “Moonlight Serenade”.
musicalphabet 