New Morning Exercises & Hank Crawford’s Bday!

Ed K (Renaissance Granddad) – Day 23823 (Dec 21, 2016)

Woo! Hoo! Today is the Winter Solstice!! That of course means, today is either the shortest day of the year or the longest night! I prefer to look at it as the shortest day and from here until the Summer Solstice the days keep getting longer!! I used to hate it when it was dark when I went to work in the morning and again when I came home in the evening. Read More

Exploring the Jazz Saxophone of Houston Person, following his birthday!!

Houston Person

Houston Person – Saxophone  (born November 10, 1934)

Houston Person is a jazz artist whose name I have seen on the JazzWeek Chart, as recently as this week. His latest release as a leader The Melody Lingers On is now at # 9. I had yet to listen to any of his music until last week. To be more specific,   I listened to two albums on his birthday, November 1oth. The albums nI listened to were Something in Common  from 1989 and Now’s the Time. Now’s the Time, released in 1990was recorded with legendary bassist Ron Carter. Both albums were released on the Muse label. They were recorded at the Van Gelder Studios with  Rudy Van Gelder serving as the engineer. I have listened mostly to Now’s the Time and for me it is simply an incredible album, just the two of them, a bass and a saxophone blending together, soaring alone! Read More

Jazz from NYC Saxophonist Jeff Hackworth – Soul to Go!

So this morning’s soundtrack was Soul To Go!the latest release from New York City tenor saxophonist, Jeff Hackworth. Currently, the album is #35 and climbing on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Hackworth began his musical journey playing countless gigs in the smokey clubs in his hometown of Buffalo,New York. While he played in many blues and R&B bands it was the organ trio scene that he always gravitated towards. Read More