Podcast: Jazz Collector Live, Third Anniversary

This week’s theme: Happy Third Anniversary to the Jazz Collector Live radio show and podcast, featuring the best of something. Featured artists include John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Miles Davis, Hank Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Percy Heath, Connie Kay, Stan Getz, Duke Jordan, Jimmy Raney, Zoot Sims, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Rosemary Clooney, Warren Vache, Scott Hamilton, Cal Collins, Charlie Parker, Joao Gilberto, Maxine Sullivan, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus, John Handy, Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Harold Land, Richie Powell, Charlie Parker, LaVern Baker, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton and more.

Podcast: Irving Berlin Jazz Songbook

This week’s theme: Jazz and vocal versions of songs written by Irving Berlin. Featured artists include John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Ray Bryant, Max Roach, George Bryant, Charles McPherson, Jackie McLean, Rosemary Clooney, Ed Bickert, Scott Hamilton, John Oddo, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Lamott, Duke Jordan, Walter Bishop Jr., Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, Lockjaw Davis, Paul Quinichette, Clark Terry, Lou Donaldson, Horace Silver, Arthur Taylor.

Podcast: Vocal Duets

This week’s theme: Vocal duets. Featured artists include Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Jordan, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan

Podcast: Sonny Rollins on Impulse

This week’s theme: Sonny Rollins on the Impulse label. Featured artists include Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Bob Cranshaw, Billy Higgins, Mickey Roker, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, Roger Kellaway, Ray Bryant, Walter Booker, Mickey Roker

Podcast: West Side Story in Jazz

This week’s theme: Jazz versions of songs from West Side Story. Featured artists include Buddy Rich, Andre Previn, Shelly Manne, Red Mitchell, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughan, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Annie Ross, Cannonball Adderley, Richie Cole, Vic Juris, Lou Forestieri, Ed Howard, Tommy Campbell, Ray Mantilla

Podcast: Rodgers and Hart Jazz Songbook

This week’s theme: Jazz versions of Rodgers and Hart compositions. Featured artists include Miles Davis, Paul Desmond, Jim Hall, Art Tatum, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Sheila Jordan, Chet Baker, Sonny Stitt, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, Lee Wiley.

Checking Out Some More From Sonny Rollins

As you might expect I’ve been in a bit of a Sonny Rollins head lately, lots of great memories of seeing him live. When he would do a week-long gig at the Vanguard or Half Note, I would see him just about every night, every set, usually going with my friend Dan Axelrod. One of the great things, out of many great things, about Sonny was that he never seemed to play the same way each night, even though he would have a set song list for the entire week’s gig. He was always pushing himself to find new ways of expression. Anyway, being in this head, I’ve spent some time perusing YouTube in the past few weeks, looking at vintage Rollins performances, interviews and tributes. Here are some of my favorites. Please feel free to share yours in the comments section.

My One and Only Love

I’m Old Fashioned

Don’t Stop the Carnival

If Ever I Would Leave You

The Jazz Video Guy has some great interviews, including

Art Tatum and the Great American Songbook

Finally, Dan sent me this amazing article from The Nation

Sonny Rollins Lived To See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father