Thelonious Monk playing ping-pong, 1959.

"I used to play him in ping-pong. He was like a cat around the table. I never won a game, but it was a joy to play him." —Herb Snitzer

Photo: Herb Snitzer via Table Tennis Daily

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Louis Daniel Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He is among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and different eras in the history of jazz. Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans. - Wikipedia

Undeniably my favourite picture of Jeff Buckley.

Bobbi Humphrey

Jazz flutist Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey was born in 1950 in Marlin, Texas. Humphrey is often called the "First Lady of Flute". During her career, she has performed with Duke Ellington and played on a Stevie Wonder album. She landed her first record deal at the age of 21, becoming the first woman to sign with Blue Note Records. In 1973, Humphrey released her first LP to enormous commercial success, and was invited to perform at the prestigious Montreux International Music Festival. In 1976, Billboard named her "Best Female Instrumentalist". In 1994, Humphrey founded her own record label, Paradise Sounds Records.

On October 9 1921 tragedy struck when the SS Rowan sank off the Rhinns of Galloway with 34 deaths.

The steamship Rowan, on a voyage from Glasgow to Dublin sank after collisions with two ships off Corsewall Point. She collided with the American steamship West Camak, and immediately afterwards with the steamship Clan Malcolm.

The Rowan, under Captain Donald Brown, was held to blame for the first collision because of her speed in fog and failure to sound her whistle. For the second collision she was held one third responsible because of her failure to sound her whistle as a vessel stopped in water, a decision that seems harsh given the short time after the first collision, and Captain Brown’s immediate concern for preserving lives, which helped save some 70 people.

The tragedy hit the headlines in the US as among those lost on the Rowan were many members of the African American jazz band the Southern Syncopated Orchestra the "pop stars" of their day. Survivors were rescued by Clan Malcolm, West Camak, and the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Wrestler.

On 14th October the Theatre Royal in Glasgow held a “Special matinee in aid of the surviving members of the Orchestra who lost nine of their members. Despite the loss of lives, the orchestra would go on to complete its delayed dates in Ireland, but they disbanded soon afterwards.

Pics are the ship, a picture of the sinking of the SS ‘Rowan’ which appeared in the Italian newspaper ‘La Domenica del Corriere’ and the Southern Syncopated Orchestra

More on the sinking here https://www.irishtimes.com/.../wreck-of-ss-rowan-how-jazz...

Tangier as city host of the 2024 All-Star Global Concert.

Presented in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Morocco and the City of Tangier, the four-day celebration (27-30 April) will emphasize the city’s jazz heritage and highlight cultural and artistic ties between people in Morocco, Europe and Africa. A series of education programmes will include events for students of all ages, a special presentation showcasing the significance of Morocco’s Gnawa music and its connection with jazz, and conversations about the history of jazz and its impact on Tangier, among others. A culminating All-Star Global Concert at the beautiful, new Palace of Arts and Culture of Tangier – an architectural masterpiece – will be broadcast during 4 days.

Music enthusiasts can look forward to legendary figures of jazz, blues and beyond electrifying the city of Tangier – and screens throughout the world. Led by iconic pianist Herbie Hancock and Musical Director John Beasley (USA), the All-Star Global Concert will feature performances by an international roster of artists from all corners of the globe, including master Gnawa musician Abdellah El Gourd (Morocco). Other confirmed artists include: Claudia Acuña (Chile), Ambrose Akinmusire (USA), Lakecia Benjamin (USA), Richard Bona (Cameroon), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), Moreira Chonguiça (Mozambique), Shemekia Copeland (USA), Kurt Elling (USA), Antonio Faraò (Italy), Melody Gardot (USA), Jazzmeia Horn (USA), JK Kim (Republic of Korea), Magnus Lindgren (Sweden), Romero Lubambo (Brazil), Marcus Miller (USA), Yasushi Nakamura (Japan), Tarek Yamani (Lebanon), and many more to be announced. 

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, Tangier is known as a melting pot of cultural expressions. Tangier boasts a long, rich history of jazz. Among the world-renowned jazz artists who performed and spent time in Tangier were Josephine Baker, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Mann and Archie Shepp. For many years, jazz master Randy Weston lived in Tangier, where he collaborated with Gnawa master Abdellah El Gourd to explore the roots of jazz and African music.

Gnawa-jazz, a fusion of Morocco’s traditional musical style and jazz, is appreciated across Morocco and far beyond. In the 1970s, Weston founded the African Jazz Festival, which became the inspiration for multiple jazz festivals throughout Morocco, including Tanjazz and Jazzablanca.

In addition to the Global Concert, UNESCO encourages schools, universities and non-governmental organizations around the world to celebrate International Jazz Day. Performing arts venues, community centres, town squares, parks, libraries, museums, restaurants, clubs and festivals organize thousands of activities, while public radio and television feature jazz on and around International Jazz Day.

Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011 and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every 30 April. The annual International Jazz Day celebration highlights the power of jazz and its role in promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity and respect for human dignity.

International Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than 2 billion people annually on all continents through education programmes, performances, community outreach, radio, television and streaming, along with electronic, print and social media. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization charged with planning, promoting and producing International Jazz Day each year.

Michael Mayo live | Leverkusener Jazztage 2023 | Jazzline

Music I Listen To from my record collection :

Art Tatum - Art Tatum

« Músicos de Jazz Latino » by Jose Javier Mejia Palacio

A little late with this obituary, but Hawaiian jazz sax player and flautist Gabe Baltazar Junior passed away June 12th, 2022, aged 92.

He played the iconic flute solo in American Trilogy during the Aloha From Hawaii satellite concert, first broadcast in January 1973. It's hard to imagine a soloist being under more pressure for a few moments of air time. The result was probably as perfect as an ensemble performance can be, with Gabe Baltazar's part no exception. It's interesting that in the rehearsal concert, he made a slight mistake, but for the broadcast hit every note perfectly. He featured in a prominent closeup during his solo.

A Korean War veteran, he had previously played with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, appearing on 17 LPs, and worked as a session musician at NBC in Los Angeles, backing Pat Boone, Phyllis Diller, Johnny Carson, Smothers Brothers and Glen Campbell amongst many others. He returned to Hawaii as assistant director of the Royal Hawaiian Band in 1969.

According to his obituary from WBGO:

"...Declining health removed Baltazar from active circulation within the last decade. Five years ago, he was already in a long-term care hospital, the Wahiawa General Hospital. He was playing flute for people coming in, to provide entertainment. They had a piano there, so he was playing the piano, too. He really loved to play, until he just couldn’t blow anymore..."

Lester Young outside the Five Spot Jazz Club, the Bowery, 1958.

The first jazz musician I ever photographed, Lester Young performing at The Five Spot Café, on the Bowery, 1958. Now here was a quiet soul, someone who let his music speak for him. I took this shot outside before the show, Lester being greeted by an unknown admirer or so I believe. I've never been able to identify this person. The famous pork pie hat at a slight—and cool—angle.

     —Herb Snitzer

Photo: Herb Snitzer

Goofball Buckley.

Barbara Carroll

Jazz pianist Barbara Carroll was born in 1925 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Carroll enjoyed a distinguished seven-decade career as a musician. She was a fixture of the jazz and cabaret scene in New York City, and was considered by many to be the city's "first lady of jazz piano". She and her trio played at venues all over the country. Carroll also appeared on Broadway and performed at the White House for President Clinton. She released twelve albums and won the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center.

Barbara Carroll died in 2017 at the age of 92.

Image: William P Gottlieb Collection, Library of Congress