Podcast: Live From Newport Jazz Festival
This week’s theme: It’s summertime, and we are focusing on live recordings made at the Newport Jazz Festival, covering the years 1956 to 1968. Featured artists include Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Rouse, Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Lambert Hendricks and Bevan, Count Basie, Jo Jones, Roland Kirk, Herbie Mann, Chick Correa and many, many more.
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Great show! I guessed correctly four of your list, but was surprised by a few choices. I’ll refrain from spoiling for those who have not listened yet. I was hoping you would have picked that Charles McPherson album you like (Con Alma) and maybe The Panther by Dexter that I think you like. I tried to make a list maybe not too, too different than yours.
1. Miles, Plugged Nickel
2. Miles, Sorcerer
3. Miles, Kind of Blue
4. Evans, Sunday at the VV
5. Individualism of Gil Evans
6. Coltrane, Ballads
7. Clifford Brown, At Basin Street
8. Mingus, Ah Um
9. Monk Plays Ellington
10. Monk and Coltrane
11. Woody Shaw, United
What do you think? Thanks for making your entertaining shows available. -Jesse
Thanks, Jesse. Your comment applies to the next podcast, but I think everyone can figure it out. Interesting list as well. We have overlap on a couple, and I see you got Rollins in there via Clifford Brown, I got Clifford in there via Rollins. I’m not as big a fan as most people on the mid-60s Miles. My tastes, it seems, run more into the 1950s. But yours is a pretty impressive list. Just for the record (pun intended) this is not Spinal Tap and we don’t go to 11 (just kidding). If you listen to my next podcast, you’ll hear that I go to 11 as well. — Al
Al, I hope this note finds all well w you and the family! With the “Live at Newport” topic, I wondered if there has been a more redemptive or hyper-spotlighted Newport moment over the years than Paul Gonsalves soloing during Ellington’s set. It is cited as ‘revitalizing’ careers. Was it that unprecedented? Why do historians/musicologists often cite it as revelatory or career enhancing?
Daryl. I don’t know the answers to your questions. I imagine Rudolf might be more knowledgeable. Or perhaps others in our community might have insight?
…Once again, I am seriously late to the party on these great topics Al et al. I just had to chime in on this one as it is really no secrete that I absolutely love live recordings, especially those linked to infamous jazz festivals like Newport or NYC Jazz clubs in the late 50’s. Not sure what was in the water back then, but it was definitely wasn’t fluoride. Admittedly I am just about to listen to this show, so I will drop my favorites at the front end and see how close I get. I typically prefer recordings of complete unaltered sets start to finish, but back then there was a tendency to weave in a lot of studio edits to cover up technical issues, however to me these imperfections are what make them great. (Think Billie Holiday Live at Monterey 1958 when a plane can be heard flying over head the fairgrounds from a nearby airport)
(1.) Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport
(2.) Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport
(3.) The Oscar Peterson Trio with Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge and Jo Jones at Newport
(4.) Gigi Gryce–Donald Byrd Jazz Laboratory and the Cecil Taylor Quartet at Newport
(5) The Teddy WIlson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer & Bill Evans at Newport (1957)
(5.) Toshiko and Leon Sash at Newport
(5.) Ellington at Newport (Note: Listen to the 1999 reissue that uses the Voice of America live recording and live Columbia tapes…. Only about 40 percent of the 1956 recording was actually live, then fabricated with studio performances mixed with some live recordings and artificial applause.)
(6.) Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport
(7.) Bill Evans Trio – Newport 1967
(8.) Miles & Monk at Newport (1958)
(9.) Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (1957)
(10.) Miles Davis at Newport (1958)
Honorable Mentions:
(1.) Ray Charles at Newport
(2.) John Lee Hooker, Live at Newport
(3.) Muddy Waters At Newport 1960
(4.) Miles Davis Bitches Brew Live
(6.) Nina Simone at Newport
*Disregard the numbering issue on that last one… I was mid-edit
(1.) Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport
(2.) Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport
(3.) The Oscar Peterson Trio with Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge and Jo Jones at Newport
(4.) Gigi Gryce–Donald Byrd Jazz Laboratory and the Cecil Taylor Quartet at Newport
(5) The Teddy WIlson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer & Bill Evans at Newport (1957)
(6.) Toshiko and Leon Sash at Newport
(7.) Ellington at Newport (Note: Listen to the 1999 reissue that uses the Voice of America live recording and live Columbia tapes…. Only about 40 percent of the 1956 recording was actually live, then fabricated with studio performances mixed with some live recordings and artificial applause.)
(8.) Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport
(9.) Bill Evans Trio – Newport 1967
(10.) Miles & Monk at Newport (1958)
Honorable Mentions:
(1.) Ray Charles at Newport
(2.) John Lee Hooker, Live at Newport
(3.) Muddy Waters At Newport 1960
(4.) Miles Davis Bitches Brew Live
(5.) Nina Simone at Newport
(6) Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (1957)
**I can’t believe I left out the Count Basie at Newport LP… Note to self, finish coffee before making top ten lists!
Next summer Al, live broadcast from Newport RI. (It’s only a 2.75 hour drive from the Berkshires, just sayin’)