The Jazz Archive

Evolution of a Jazz Tune

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:36:00 +0000

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morten, composer of "King Porter Stomp"

As is true of all Western art forms, jazz has evolved greatly since its early days. In this edition of the Jazz Archive, host David Dann provides an overview of the music's changes by contrasting successive versions of a single jazz composition, "King Porter Stomp." Beginning with a version by the piece's composer, Jelly Roll Morton, Dann follows the tune through its swing, modern and post-modern permutations, showing that while jazz has advanced through many styles, it still retains at its core a strong sense of its history.

Jazz Covers

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 15:18:00 +0000

Saxophonist James Moody

According to Oscar Wilde, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and jazz musicians often flatter their peers and predecessors by imitating styles, recreating tunes and even borrowing themes and riffs. Host David Dann offers a series of comparisons, first playing the original and then following it with one or two cover examples. Artists include Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, James Moody and Dizzy Gillespie in an amusing and informative hour of great jazz listening.

Tough Tenors

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 15:03:00 +0000

A promo photo for Jack McVea's jump band. The saxophonist is first in line.

Creating an imaginary jazz club jukebox, host David Dann spins rare 78s from the Archive that feature great tenor saxophone players. Drawing on the decade from 1945 to 1953, the era of small band jump blues, Dann evokes sounds that might have been heard on a pleasant summer evening in a tavern on 125th Street in Harlem or on Central Avenue in L.A. or south of the Loop in Chicago.

Discovering Jazz

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:40:00 +0000

Louis Armstrong in a holiday mood for Down Beat's holiday issue.

Host David Dann reminisces about the evolution of his obsession with jazz, America's classical music. Leavening his encounters with classic and contemporary jazz recordings through selections by Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus and others, Dann describes his growing enthusiasm for collecting the music and preserving its history. The resulting archive, some 10,000 recordings, now provides material for his podcast.

Miss Rhapsody Rediscovered

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:13:00 +0000

Viola Wells, known as Miss Rhapsody

Host David Dann describes how a collection of vintage jazz 78s, stored away for years, was discovered to contain previously unknown live recordings of famed blues and jazz singer Viola Wells, known professionally as Miss Rhapsody. Dann plays excerpts from five transcription discs of a radio broadcast made from a nightclub in Chattanooga, TN, in 1945, that feature Wells performing selections like "Hey Lawdy Mama" and "St. Louis Blues." This episode of The Jazz Archive offers a fascinating glimpse into American music at a time when jazz was giving way to rhythm-and-blues – and eventually, rock 'n' roll.

Estelle Toots

divadnnad@yahoo.com (David Dann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:09:00 +0000

Trumpeter Estelle Slavin in the 1940s

A collection of discarded home-recorded acetate 78s appears to have been made by Estelle Slavin, jazz trumpeter with Ina Rae Hutton's Melodears. Host David Dann digs into the mystery of who recorded the discs of highly skilled trumpet solos in 1939, and uncovers a previously unknown aircheck of Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy featuring famed composer, arranger and pianist Mary Lou Williams.