William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Pickin' the Cabbage/Paradiddle ; Year: 1940; Genre: Big Band Jazz Thought I would get a two-for-one pick in today so to speak; Pickin' the Cabbage is one of Dizzy Gillespie's compositions, which was recorded at the time when Diz' was part of Cab Calloway's Orchestra, so getting to listen to two legendary jazz heavyweights in one song: what a treat! Sadly, Diz' did not last long after some defugalties, which came to a head during an altercation that resulted in him getting dismissed by Cab Calloway. I guess it ended up being for the best; Cab Calloway continued making great songs and many appearances throughout popular culture and Dizzy Gillespie went on to become the legend he is through countless recordings and was key in the creation of the Bebop Jazz style; it's just fun to hear him with that great orchestra. As you would probably guess, Pickin' the Cabbage is quite an avant-garde sounding piece of big band/swing jazz with a definite flavour o...

From: Bird and Diz ; Year: 1952; Genre: Bebop Jazz I'm still in a '50s jazz mood today. It's amazing that so many musicians with huge names played together back then. When you read the list of musicians playing with the greats Charlie "Bird" Parker and "Dizzy" Gillespie it's like the who's who of jazz across the board. Anyway, this is one from the pen of Charlie Parker and a very fun one to listen to and and just enjoy in amazement.   Hear Relaxin' With Lee on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - I'm Alright   My song pick 2 years ago today: Hawkwind - Night of the Hawks My song pick 3 years ago today: Aretha Franklin - Freeway of Love My song pick 4 years ago today: Queen - She Makes Me (Stormtrooper in Stilettos) My song pick 5 years ago today: The Doors - The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) My song pick 6 years ago today: Ugly Kid Joe - Busy Bee My song pick 7 years ago today: The Ventures - Hawa...

From: Carter, Gillespie, Inc. ; Year: 1976; Genre: Jazz Had some jazz on the ol' brain this morning, so I indulged myself with a selection from Dizzy Gillespie. Broadway from his album with the incomparable Benny Carter was one that caught my mood to perfection. Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Pass' soloing are all incredible throughout. Hear Broadway on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Muse - Invincible My song pick two years ago today: America - Ventura Highway My song pick three years ago today: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City My song pick four years ago today: Boston - Foreplay/Long Time My song pick five years ago today: Gerry Rafferty - Home and Dry My song pick six years ago today: Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time My song pick seven years ago today: Traffic - John Barleycorn My song pick eight years ago today: The Moody Blues - Forever Afternoon ( Tuesday? ), Time to Get Away.

From: Bird and Diz ; Year: 1950; Genre: Bebop/Jazz This song and album were recorded and released in the year 1950, which is also today's song pick number; not that I needed an excuse to pick a song from two of my favourite jazz musicians. Bloomdido as well as the other tracks on the record are some excellent examples of Bebop at its height from two of the masters of the sub-genre. Anyway, with most of these jazz albums from the 1950s I love reading who else played on them. This one in particular, besides Bird and Diz, they also had legendary drummers Buddy Rich and Max Roach, as well as Thelonious Monk on piano to name a few. Hear Bloomdido on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Molly Hatchet - One Man's Pleasure My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - High Rise My song pick three years ago today: Joachim Witt - Bataillon 'd Amour My song pick four years ago today: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio My song pick five years ago today:...

1228 Dizzy Gillespie - One Note Samba Felt like listening to some Dizzy Gillespie this morning and this often-covered piece of Bossa Nova Jazz, originally written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, interpreted by the great Jazz maestro seemed appropriate for my mood. Pure musical bliss. Hear One Note Samba by Dizzy Gillespie on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Steely Dan - Josie My song pick two years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat My song pick three years ago today: Big Country - In A Big Country +

1158 Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca I noticed that today would have been Dizzy Gillespie's 93rd birthday; I was in the mood for some Jazz today anyway, so here is an awesome piece where he fused Afro-Cuban influences into his form of Bop. Dizzy has always been one of my favourite Jazz musicians; my dad exposed me to his music early on. I can still remember watching him play live on the television; I am still amazed by the sheer velocity he could play at. Hear Manteca on YouTube. Watch part one of Manteca from the Dizzy and Friends concert from Havana '85; featuring Arturo Sandoval on YouTube. Watch part two of Manteca from the Dizzy and Friends concert from Havana '85; featuring Arturo Sandoval on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Iron Maiden - Sun and Steel My song pick two years ago today: Deep Purple - Knocking At Your Back Door My song pick three years ago today: Slade - Cum On Feel The Noize +

1034 Dizzy Gillespie - Night In Tunisia This is a Jazz standard from the pen of Dizzy Gillespie that I have been working on for the last little bit; feels like an excellent choice for my pick this evening. It was actually quite a revolutionary piece at the time of his writing it and is a very influential song for not only Jazz, but for music as a whole. This one contains a some very interesting rhythms and an awesome bass line; pure musical bliss. Here is a studio version on YouTube. Here is a live recording circa '45 on YouTube. Here is a live performance featuring Arturo Sandoval on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Tommy James - Draggin' The Line My song pick two years ago today: Ozzy Osbourne - The Road To Nowhere +

955 ( Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra - Things to Come ) The other day one of my friends surprised me with a bag full old sheet music, magazines, and some CDs. Apparently a local Jazz pianist of some renown had passed away and his family was getting rid of some of his possessions. From what I understand the guy was beyond amazing and one of those musicians who was always striving for something new/better; he constantly bought sheet music and instructional manuals, which piled up over the years. My friend, being an acquaintance of the deceased, was invited to go thought his stuff and take what he wanted; the rest was to be thrown away. After getting what he wanted he started getting stuff for other musicians he knew; I was one he thought of knowing how much of a fiend I am for Jazz, especially Bop Jazz. Anyway, one of the pieces that I ended up with was the complete orchestral sheet music for Dizzy Gillespie's " Things to Come " printed in 1946. It kind of gives you...

This incredible Be-Bop standard from the musical genius and legend was in need of being added to my list today. The composition is quite fast and technical, (as with most Bop), and really shows off his incredible trumpet playing. The song is from earlier on in the Be-Bop movement and is a fine example of the genre among others. Here is the studio version on YouTube. Here is a classic live performance on YouTube. Here is another great live performance on YouTube. +