I got no news today, so I’ll put up some music. This happens one of my favorite jazz solos, and I don’t think I’ve posted it before but came across it on YouTube. It’s a smoking trumpet piece played by Roy Eldridge (1911-1989), nicknamed “Little Jazz” because of his stature. Here he plays with the Gene Krupa Orchestra, and later he played with Artie Shaw’s band. Unable to form his own big band, Eldredge later confined himself, like Charlie Parker, to small groups.
This rendition of “Rockin’ Chair” is smoking, one of the best trumpet pieces I know. Wikipedia singles it out:
One of Eldridge’s best known recorded solos is on a rendition of Hoagy Carmichael‘s tune, “Rockin’ Chair”, arranged by Benny Carter as something like a concerto for Eldridge. Jazz historian Gunther Schuller referred to Eldridge’s solo on “Rockin’ Chair” as “a strong and at times tremendously moving performance”, although he disapproved of the “opening and closing cadenzas, the latter unforgivably aping the corniest of operatic cadenza traditions.” Critic and author Dave Oliphant describes Eldridge’s unique tone on “Rockin’ Chair” as “a raspy, buzzy tone, which enormously heightens his playing’s intensity, emotionally and dynamically” and writes that it “was also meant to hurt a little, to be disturbing, to express unfathomable stress.”
If you want to hear a very different (but also good) rendition, go here to hear a duo with Louis Armstrong and trombonist Jack Teagarden. This one has vocals.
Great pick. Loadin’ it …
[ adds like >10 recordings w/ Eldridge ]
… in the ‘ol library now.
🎹🎺
🎶🎶
On an entirely different note (pun intended), have you seen the video of Trump and Vance’s meeting with Zelensky today? What a $#!t Show.
Just my opinion, but Putin and Trump are both international thugs. And Trump one day will be spoken of in the same terms as Neville Chamberlain.
Only heard briefly about it. Sigh Trump is just such a horrible, horrible human being. If there is a base line motivation for today, it’s either to squeeze a better deal out of Ukraine regarding mineral rights, or he was basically told by Putin to stop being fair to Zelensky.
Or maybe both the reasons you mentioned?
I think Trump will be remembered in a far worse manner than Chamberlain.
And Vance is even worse.
These scenes are a dark stain on America’s reputation. I’m already counting down the days until Trump is kicked out. And that kicking should be very hard indeed.
I think you’re right that Trump will be remembered in worse terms than Chamberlain. After I posted my comment, it occurred to me that Trump is clearly motivated by selfish interests, while Chamberlain probably thought, at least to some extent, that what he was doing was in Europe’s best interests.
That was a hideous hideous performance by Trump and Vance. Vance insisting that Zelensky didn’t say a proper thank you to Trump. This is the concern of our administration? While Putin is the victim now?
Beyond sickening.
I am posting it tomorrow. It is absolutely shameful how they treated Zelensky. Vance and Trump both!
On an entirely different note (pun intended), have you seen the video of Trump and Vance’s meeting with Zelensky today? What a $#!t Show.
Just my opinion, but Putin and Trump are both international thugs.
Great tone… but I prefer the Haydn Trumpet Concerto in Eb. The high Eb was tough to hit….