Jazz Video Collection on Jazzoodle.com

You may have noticed that I haven't posted very many jazz videos lately here on this blog.  The reason is that I have started a jazz video blog on one of my other sites, Jazzoodle.com 

So the main page is for searching for jazz items on the web, Ebay or Amazon, and the jazz video blog will contain lots of jazz video from the past and present.  I wanted to have a spot where visitors could go and get not only a good video of a variety of  jazz artists, but also get lots of information about the artist themselves, i.e. biography, recordings, etc.

Also, my intent is to post as many videos as I can that I shoot of artists in clubs.  I plan on starting with some of my favorite players in Chicago in some clubs around town since that location is close to me.  Probably this spring once the weather gets a little more doable for driving.  And, another fringe benefit is if I do any traveling I will be able to write off the expense on my taxes for going to jazz clubs  ("business expense"...:)

For those of you looking to start a blog, I am using WordPress for the jazz video blog. Much better platform than this one which is Blogger.  Its amazingly easy to post stuff, and the flexibility of the WordPress is awesome.

Let me know if you have any favorite jazz artists or videos that you would like me to post on the site.  Or if you have any video of your own of good jazz, let me know.  The blog again is located at www.jazzoodle.com/blog

Carl Fontana Trombone Goes for over $3000 on Ebay

I was just checking Ebay listings and found that Carl Fontana's daughter had one of Carl's trombone's listed.  The auction just ended today and the King 2B trombone went for over $3050.  24 bids to reach that level.  According to the auction listing, the trombone itself had not been touched in any way since Carl played it.    All proceeds from this one will go to a music scholarship in his name.  Here is a shot of the trombone.

 

You've got to think that this trombone would only go up in value over time - especially in the eyes of trombone players.  A trombone like this would normally go for about $1000, depending on what year King it was and the condition.   But this was Carl's trombone.   Seems like $3000 is a little light actually. Carl was truly a giant of jazz trombone.  I don't think anybody will ever be able to duplicate the way in which he played the instrument.

It's funny...you really don't realize how good some of these guys are until they are no longer around.  I did hear Carl in concert a couple of times, but now I wish I had heard him way more.  Same goes for Michael Brecker, Woody Shaw, Bob Berg, Mel Lewis, Thad Jones, and the list goes on.  Carl recorded a small body of CDs but not nearly as much as he should have, esp. for posterity's sake.   I would have liked to have a recording of him just practicing for an hour.  On that note:  I heard that there is a tape recording somewhere of Clifford Brown practicing.  I wonder what that would go for at auction! 

Bottom line: go out to hear some great jazz today. You never know how long it will be around to enjoy.