Jazz Humor

Motel 5: As For You

By JASON WEST December 1, 2007

The phone in my office rang twice. I let the machine get it. The voice on the other end sounded desperate.

“Hey, West, I need a band to play Bill Gates' house.

Rough life, I mused, planning private parties for billionaires. Imagine all the stress involved in picking out the hippest flower arrangements, trendiest color schemes, ...

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4,752 views |

Sinatra Slang

By AAJ STAFF November 10, 2005

Based on The Frank Sinatra Scrapbook by Richard Peters (1982) with additions from Sinatra fans on the internet.

18 KARAT All the way, full-out: “An 18 karat idiot."

BABY Used as an exclamation as well as a term of endearment.

BAG As in “my bag," a person's particular interest.

BARN ...

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30,752 views |

Paul Desmond-isms

By AAJ STAFF September 19, 2005

Read "Paul Desmond-isms"

Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond worked with pianist Dave Brubeck for 18 years. He's best known for his composition “Take Five," which helped make Brubeck's record Time Out a mega-hit. Desmond's saxophone playing was always marked by an unusual fluidity and warmth. Through a number of solo records, he expanded on a relaxed but sophisticated sound.

Who ...

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10,171 views |

Rod Stewart: Hot Rod, Jazz God

By JASON WEST January 29, 2005

Read "Rod Stewart: Hot Rod, Jazz God"

That smirk. That roguish, self-satisfied, da-ya-think-I'm-sexy smirk. It's back and getting bigger everywhere you look. On Leno. On Letterman. In fashion magazines. Holiday TV specials. What's next--a Super Bowl halftime smirkfest? 2000 should have been the end of The Smirk. His rock star career, which started in swingin' London during the late 1960s and peaked artistically ...

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19,327 views |

BugHouse: Pages 11-13

By AAJ STAFF January 20, 2005

Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13

Page 11...

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Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13 | Purchase BugHouse

About BugHouse

Set in an “insect noir" Manhattan of the early fifties, BugHouse is the tumultuous story of Tenor saxophonist, Jimmy Watts, as he leads his talented jazz band ...

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4,779 views |

BugHouse: Pages 6-10

By AAJ STAFF January 20, 2005

Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13 Page 6...

Page 7...

Page 8...

Page 9...

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Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13 | Purchase BugHouse

About BugHouse

Set in an “insect noir" Manhattan of the early fifties, BugHouse is the tumultuous story of Tenor saxophonist, Jimmy Watts, as he leads ...

Read More
4,467 views |

BugHouse: Pages 1-5

By AAJ STAFF January 20, 2005

Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13

Page 1...

Page 2...

Page 3...

Page 4...

Page 5...

Pages 1-5 | Pages 6-10 | Pages 11-13 | Purchase BugHouse

About BugHouse

Set in an “insect noir" Manhattan of the early fifties, BugHouse is the tumultuous story of Tenor saxophonist, Jimmy Watts, as he leads ...

Read More
4,457 views |

What is Jazz?

By SHAWN MCGREW October 29, 2004

Some say jazz keeps one foot planted in tradition while the other seeks new footwear, or maybe a warm bath and some talcum. If that's true then Charles Mingus must surely be a case in point.

Mingus, a socially conscious musician and bandleader, wasn't content to repeat Jimmy Blanton's advances or rest on his laurels after ...

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12,694 views |

President Bush Talks Jazz

By WALTER KOLOSKY October 29, 2004

Earlier this week, representing allaboutjazz.com, I had the extreme pleasure to speak with President George Bush to determine his view on the future of jazz music in America. This interview was months in the planning. I am very grateful to the Bush campaign for allowing me this opportunity and I especially wish to express my utmost ...

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8,774 views |

Man Slides His Trombone And Kills Musician In Front Of Him!

By AAJ STAFF October 24, 2004

By Randy Jeffries/Weekly World News

Bocholt, Germany -- A band musician died of a brain injury when the trombonist behind him jerked the slide of his trombone forward and struck the trumpeter in the back of the head.

Police say the tragedy occurred as the Gratzfeld College band was rehearsing the spirited American jazz classic, “When ...

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12,713 views |

Yogi Berra Explains Jazz

By AAJ STAFF October 21, 2004

By Steve Chalke

Interviewer: What do you expect is in store for the future of jazz trumpet? Yogi: I'm thinkin' there'll be a group of guys who've never met talkin' about it all the time... Interviewer: Can you explain jazz? Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half ...

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43,537 views |

Olympic Bastid Records Cuts To The Cheese

By SHAWN MCGREW July 23, 2004

Rolph Nemo, producer and owner of upstart Olympic Bastid Records, makes no apologies for offering what other labels would turn down in a heartbeat. “Some think these recordings should be burned," says Rolph, “they weren't meant to be. The truth is, just as Armstrong, Parker and Ornette had moments of sublime insight, so did they also ...

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10,437 views |

April Fools Reviews & Articles

By AAJ STAFF April 1, 2004

2 0 0 6 CD Reviews Body and Soul Remixed! by Coleman Hawkins Back Of My Hand by Tempus Fugit Monk Meets the Beatles by Thelonious Monk 'Bone Madonna by Madonna Me and Mr. Johnson by Jimmy Smith Streetwalkin' Blues by The Jive-Ass All-Stars Bridgeleap Plays the Albert ...

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11,206 views |

All in the Jazz Family

By AAJ STAFF March 4, 2004

Compiled by Axel Melhardt , Glen Alpert , Jim Galloway, Dr. Michael Arié and Klaus Schulz

Jazz has always been a family affair. Fathers have passed the torch to sons or brothers have risen to prominence on their respective instruments (sometimes in the same band). We've compiled a list of the families that have ...

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34,249 views |


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