John Coltrane's snappy retort to Miles Davis and a performance of So What?

Miles: "How come you play so long?"
'Trane: "Takes that long to get it all in."


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John Coltrane: an unbelievable video of Giant Steps

Giant Steps is an early John Coltrane song. This video by Dan Cohen matches the notation to his actual playing in real time. I don't know if it's software, or hand-done.

It's interesting at the head of the song, but when John takes his solo, it becomes completely insane, and beautiful. I never really thought about it before, but this tune is just one hairy solo, bracketed by a short beginning and end (well, a little piano soloing too). Giant Steps is, as I said, early Coltrane, before he put his incredible quartet together. This is a must see video!


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Old Film of Bird & Diz playing "Dexterity"

Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie play Dexterity on film. Bird has been my favorite saxaphone player since I first heard him when I was about 19. He doesn't disappoint in this filmed snippet.

An index of rock shows discussed on All This Is That

Favorite Rock And Jazz Shows (1966-Last Weekend) (Part I, discusses, along with Part 2, every rock show I remember seeing)

More Shows I've Seen Over The Years (Part II)

Skanking with The English Beat at Antone's in Austin, Texas

Zappa Plays Zappa at Paramount Northwest

Bumbershoot 2007, a late write-up

The Save Town Lake benefit: Elana James, Bob Schneider, Dale Watson, Stephen Bruton, Jimmy LaFave, and Kinky Friedman

The Willie Nelson Picnic; July 4, 2007 (with the Old 97's, Willie Nelson, Drive By Truckers, and Son Volt)

The Elvis Costello Benefit—Seattle Does Elvis For David Egger's 826 Seattle

Paul Revere And The Raiders - northwest rock pioneers (with video goodness)

Up With. . .Down With People

Music in Austin, Texas this week

Crosby Stills Nash & Young at the White River Amphitheatre July 27th

Rock show of the year (so far):::::::Elvis Costello & The Impostors with Allen Toussaint

The Posies Rock Bumbershoot

The Surprise At The Divorce Crocodile CD Release Party

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Happy 108th Birthday Duke Ellington!

click duke to enlarge

Duke Ellington would have been 108 years old today (born April 29, 1899, died May 24, 1974). He is usually considered one of the most important figures to emerge from jazz scene in the twentieth century. Duke, however, didn't usually speak of jazz, but instead liked to consider his work just music. Jazz was too narrow for Ellington, although he created some of the best jazz yet, as well as nurtured hundreds of young musicians. Here is a YouTube video of his 1942 band:


Duke's band performing C Jame Blues in 1942


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