Tag Archives: Dave McKenna

A versatile and dear reed participant, Dick Johnson was longer known for his beautiful build and his fluent design. He began on piano, switching to clarinet when he was 16 and adding alto 3 years afterwards. Johnson attended the brand new England Conservatory for just two years. Structured throughout a …

A sporadically repeating supergroup featuring Charlie Byrd, Natural herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel, Great Guitars’ portentous name bears enormous objectives. But with world-class talent like these three working in comfy mainstream nation, the music is normally worth the billing, genially swinging and harmonically erudite, with Byrd’s traditional and Latin affects …

Among the best swing-based pianists of days gone by 25 years, Dave McKenna’s hard-driving basslines offer momentum to uptempo parts, and his vast understanding of better songs through the 1930s has led to many rewarding albums of traditional but fresh music. Although talented right away, McKenna didn’t achieve that very …

Throughout his long career, Art Hodes was a fighter for traditional jazz, whether through his distinctive piano playing, his writings (including many articles and liner notes), or his focus on radio and educational television. Famous for the sensation he placed into blues, Hodes was especially effective on up-tempo music, where …

The Concord All Stars, among the many spinoff organizations featuring ensembles culled using their roster, recorded in the 1981 North Sea Jazz Festival. These were presented on two quantities later that 12 months. The staff included Al Cohn, Cal Collins, Scott Hamiliton, Jake Hanna, Bob Maize, Dave McKenna, and Warren …