#jazz compositions

[mosaicrecords]

Charlie Parker's Confirmation

Kevin Sun has written a thorough historical and musical analysis of Charlie Parker’s Confirmation, touching on every surviving version.

-Michael Cuscuna

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[mosaicrecords]

'Round Midnight: A History

Pianist/historian Lewis Porter’s essay on WBGO’s post is the most thorough history of the changes and modifications and variations of one of the most famous jazz compositions of all time: ’Round Midnight. Hold on tight and take the journey; it is absolutely fascinating.

-Michael Cuscuna

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[mosaicrecords]

Duke Ellington's Black Brown & Beige Turns 75

It's been 75 years as of January 23rd that Duke Ellington performed what was called his most ambitious extended work, Black, Brown And Beige, at Carnegie Hall. What some people don’t realize is that the work was edited and smoothed out the night before at a concert held at my alma mater, Rye High School in Rye, NY. Dr. Larry Mize, the band director at the high school, was very progressive and taught jazz classes to the kids, since he figured this was the way of the future musician in the 1940s and it was he who had brought Ellington there to try out the new work. If one peruses the January editions of Metronome magazine, there is a feature of this momentous day.

-Scott Wenzel

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[mosaicrecords]

Lee Morgan's Ceora: A Short History

Ceora was not one of Lee Morgan’s best selling recordings, but it has become one of his most enduring compositions, thanks to its beautiful melody and gentle samba rhythm. Jazziz gives a brief history of the tune, which has been recorded by a wide range of artists from George Coleman and Joey DeFrancesco to Andrew Hill.

-Michael Cuscuna

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[mosaicrecords]

The Story of Thelonious Monk’s Classic ‘Round Midnight

This Gems Of Jazz essay is a fascinating history of Thelonious Monk’s ’Round About Midnight, which had a long history before Monk first recorded it on November 21, 1947. Despite arguments between Monk and Miles as to the correct changes and bridge for the composition, it has become a standard, not just a jazz standard. Perhaps this story should have gone beyond 1966 to its use as the title tune and recurring anthem in the film ’Round Midnight (1986). A few great audio examples grace this page.

-Michael Cuscuna

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[mosaicrecords]

Duke Ellington: Black, Brown & Beige and Works of the African Experience

You’ll enjoy this interview that David Brent Johnson conducted with Michael McGerr, an historian and professor at Indiana University. Here they talk of the extended works of Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown and Beige and the relationship it had with other longer works in jazz.

-Scott Wenzel

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[georgefspicka]

Jazz Compositions: E

Including pieces by Jane Lamar-Spicka.

E-Z Livin’

Early Rain

Earth Love

Edison’s Blues Thing

Effusion

Eighth Day Rising

Emerald Raindrops

Evening Waltz

Eventually

Exit Seven

Extrados

These is also Europa, which has an extended form that requires a full score.