Paul Bley News

A sad indictment of much contemporary music is that it has been over-intellectualized. With fun expunged from the soul of music, it becomes so wooden and hard to enjoy that it may as well never have been released-even made-at all.

Recording Christmas music, or an entire album of holiday favorites, has become a rite of passage of sorts, having been done over the decades by artists as diverse as Snoop Dogg and The Andrews Sisters.

Upon entering 821 Sixth Ave. in Manhattan, starting in 1957, you might hear the warped door of the old building.

Minamo, the fiercely creative duo comprising violinist Carla Kihlstedt and pianist Satoko Fujii , has done it again.

A novice bassist at 17, a professional bassist at 18, sideman to legendary trumpeter Chet Baker at 20, sideman to legendary pianist Bill Evans at 23, dead in a car wreck at 25: Scott LaFaro became and remains one of the greatest and saddest stories in the history of jazz.

Clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre died in Massachusetts two springs ago. His last gig with his last major trio paid them 35 cents each .

Martin Longley also currently writes for the BBC Music, Brooklyn Vegan, Spannered and Stirrer websites, The Wire and Jazzwise magazines, and Metro newspaper.

ECM RECORDS is making a big deal out of saxophonist John Surman 's newest disc, " Brewster's Rooster ." Surman finds that funny.

August 17, 2009 from WDUQ - Canada's finest export to the world is hockey. If anyone knows of a swingin' jazz version of the Hockey Night In Canada theme, we'd love to hear it.

Rashied Ali, the great free jazz drummer, who is mainly known as a member of John Coltrane's last band, passed away yesterday, August 12, 2009 in New York City.

Pianist Steve Kuhn recently explored the beginnings of his musical career on Mostly Coltrane .

BIRDLAND: Finished with his turn as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Broadway's "Guys and Dolls," R&B singer Tituss Burgess performs with his band on Monday at 7 p.m. 315 W. 44th St.; 212-581-3080. BLUE NOTE: Bass player Charlie Haden shares the stage with a few pianists -- Kenny Barron tonight at 8 and 10:30 p.m., Paul Bley tomorrow at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Continuing a tradition by which the Vision Festival celebrates the lifetime's achievement of one of the avant jazz communities elders, June 10 was Marshall Allen day, following in the wake of previous celebrations which have honored Fred Anderson , Sam Rivers , Bill Dixon and Kidd Jordan .

At times circumstance conspires to hide a masterpiece: it may be the artist's lack of reputation; perhaps it doesn't resemble his more typical works or it's just overshadowed by more prominent or better promoted music.

THROWING IT DOWN: When Burton and Swallow heard the Beatles at Shea, they were galvanized.

The event was billed as Four Days in December , and on the last four days of 1964, Judson Hall in New York City was witness to a torrent of free jazz.

For those who have taken care of their health and had the luck of the draw of favorable genes, the so-called "golden years" can produce some of the most rewarding performances and recordings of a career.