On this day (May 17) in 1937, trumpeter John Birks Gillespie — better known by…
Song of the Day
Betty Carter – “Open the Door”
Betty Carter (Photo: Jack Vartoogian/DL Media, Inc.) Betty Carter, a charismatic singer who imbued her…
Joey Alexander – “Moment’s Notice”
By now, piano wunderkind Joey Alexander is more than just a new face on the…
Art Blakey & Thelonious Monk – “In Walked Bud”
On this day (May 14) in 1957, Art Blakey and his famous Jazz Messengers entered…
Stevie Wonder – “Contusion”
Today is Stevie Wonder’s birthday. The international pop star and keyboard extraordinaire was born on…
Wayne Powers – “All of Me”
Wayne Powers is a man of many voices. A jazz vocalist by training — cutting…
Dexter Gordon – “I Want More”
Saxophonist Dexter Gordon recorded the tracks for Dexter Calling…, one of his most memorable Blue Note outings,…
Keith Jarrett – “Country”
Happy Birthday to pianist Keith Jarrett, who was born on this day (May 8) in…
John Coltrane – “My Favorite Things (Live at the Half Note)”
Settle in, folks. This song goes the distance. It’s a version of “My Favorite Things”…
Miles Davis & Gil Evans – “Miles Ahead”
Trumpeter Miles Davis began the recording session for Miles Ahead, one of his earliest forays into…
Jackie McLean – “Hip Strut”
Jackie McLean (Photo: Courtesy Mosaic Images) Saxophonist and hard-bop innovator Jackie McLean recorded New Soil, his…
Shirley Horn – “A Taste of Honey”
Singer and pianist Shirley Horn was born on this day (May 1) in Washington, D.C.,…
Herbie Hancock – “Imagine”
Today is International Jazz Day, a UNESCO-recognized celebration of jazz that falls each year on…
Duke Ellington – “Mood Indigo”
“At least one day out of the year, all musicians should just put their instruments…
Count Basie – “April In Paris”
Today marks 35 years since the passing of William James “Count” Basie. The supremely influential…
Ella Fitzgerald – “How High the Moon”
Happy Birthday to the “First Lady of Song,” jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, who was born on this day (April 25) in Newport News, Virginia, in 1917.
Joe Henderson – “Blue Bossa”
Saxophonist Joe Henderson was born on this day (April 24) in Lima, Ohio, in 1937.…
Lyle Mays – “Fictionary”
Keyboardist Lyle Mays, a pioneer of contemporary jazz and a longtime creative partner to guitarist…
Charles Mingus – “Better Git It In Your Soul”
Bassist, composer, bandleader and jazz iconoclast Charles Mingus was born on this day (April 22) in Nogales, Arizona, in 1922.
John Coltrane & The Cats – “Minor Mishap”
On this day (April 18) in 1957, saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Tommy Flanagan set…
