Cannonball Sextet Video

One of the best things about the evolution of the internet lately is the amount of jazz videos that are available now - submitted by people all over the world.  These are videos that you normally would never see on mainstream (or even non-mainstream) television or other media.  When television was somewhat newer, and people's taste were somewhat hipper (at least in the U.S.), I think TV programmers were more apt to run jazz quartets, quintets and such.  Once the Beatles hit the scene in the 60s, jazz seems to have dwindled from site on television.   I think Europe is still somewhat more progressive and appreciative of jazz as an art form, but my fellow Europeans may beg to differ on that one.

One of my friends in Sweden sent me this terrific video of Cannonball and his group from 1963 German television.  Its pretty long, but the first cut is absolutely fantastic.  Would make a good combo club selection...:)

Take a few minutes on your next break from work and watch this one.  A true gem.

Cannonball Adderley Sextet
Uploaded by alternativa

Classic 70s Rock Tunes Arranged for Big Band

If you are a lover of classic 70s rock bands, and a lover of big band jazz, you’re going to love what Ryan Fraley and the guys down in Indianapolis have been working on.  Ryan emailed me a few months ago and leaked news of a project he was working on with some sample mp3s of the charts.  I wanted to let you guys know then, but he wanted to keep it under wraps until now. 

Ryan has taken some classic rock tunes and arranged them for big band – and the results are amazing!   I think they came out better than the originals, but I’m biased to the jazz side somewhat.  My favorite band from the 70’s was Yes.  Rick Wakeman was my non-jazz hero as well. I thought it was cool that a guy could be such a virtuoso on the piano and be a long haired beer drinking rock star.  Anyway, take a listen to some cuts from this interesting big band record.  Get on the mailing list and buy this thing when its released.  CLICK HERE to listen