Playlist and Notes 5 December 2023

 

The Duke Ellington Mural in Washington, DC

We celebrate some December birthdays on today’s show before turning to some jazz Christmas music in preparation for the annual Jazz and Blues Christmas Show next week.

 

Playlist 

Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take Five (9:39)

Donald Byrd – Theme For Malcom (7:44)

Jimmy Smith – Back at the Chicken Shack (8:06)

Duke Ellington – Take the “A” Train (2:58)

Tune Recreation Committee – T.F.I.N. (The Future is Now) (9:32)

Isaiah J. Thompson – Christmas Is Coming (4:05)

J.J. Johnson & Marian McPartland – The Christmas Song (2:23)

Vince Guaraldi Trio – What Child Is This (2:25)

 

Notes

Dave Brubeck – b. 6 December 1920 (Concord, CA); d. 5 December 2012); piano. “Take Five,” written by Paul Desmond, featuring the relatively odd signature of 5/4 time, became the best-selling jazz single of all time. “Take Five” is from the 1959 Time Out album, which is one of the most iconic albums in jazz history. 

Donald Byrd – b. 9 December 1932 (Detroit, MI); d. 4 February 2013;[1] trumpet. Full name: Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II, named after the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. Over his career, Byrd had several crossover hits in what was termed jazz fusion or jazz rock. He received a master’s and PhD in education, taught at several institutions, and regularly employed a curriculum that integrated math and music education. “Theme for Malcom” taken from the 1989 album, Getting Down to Business by the Donald Byrd Sextet. Donald Byrd on trumpet; Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Kenny Garrett (alto sax); Donald Brown (piano); Peter Washington (bass); Al Foster (drums)

Jimmy Smith – b. 8 December 1928 (Norristown, PA); d. 8 February 2005; Hammond B-3 organ. Back at the Chicken Shack (1960).

Tune Recreation Committee – A quintet from Cape Town, South Africa

Isaiah J. Thompson – b. 29 April 1997 (West Orange, NJ); piano. A Guaraldi Holiday (2023) pays tribute to Vince Guaraldi and the music he created for Peanuts animated specials. All the performers on the album were under the age of 30 when it was released.


[1] William Yardley, “Donald Byrd, Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 80,” New York Times, 11 February 2013.


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