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Mose Allison - The Wayne Enstice - Paul Rubin Interview
© Copyright ® Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.“I have a B.A. in literature from LSU [Louisiana State University] The literary thing is also part of my background. I absorbed the...
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Jackie and Roy - Making Music That Satisfies and Swings
© Copyright ® Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.“Jackie [Cain] said, "In fact Roy [Kral] always hesitated singing. He never really wanted to sing. I started to coax him as we went...
View ArticleThelonious Monk - Epistrophy (Live / Visualizer)
A surprise gig in 1968 by Thelonious Monk that was captured on tape by a school janitor is set for a July 31 release as Palo Alto (Impulse).“That performance is one of the best live recordings I’ve...
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Ramsey Lewis "Soul Survivor" - The Barbara Gardner Interview
© -Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.Signifyin’ and testifyin’ and other ritualistic elements of the Sanctified Church are important elements in helping Black people cultivate and...
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Art Farmer in L.A.
© - Steven A. Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.Arriving in Los Angeles in 1945 at the age of sixteen, trumpeter Art Farmer started playing professionally while attending JeffersonHigh...
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Brass Shout
© -Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.The Mosiac Records boxed set - The Complete Argo/Mercury Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet Sessions [MD7-225] - brought me back in touch with...
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Tadd Dameron - A Career Overview
© - Steven A. Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.“... Dameron is a much underrated performer who stands at the fulcrum of modern Jazz, midway between Swing and Bebop. Combining the...
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A Portrait of Clark Terry As A Young Man
© - Steven A. Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.With apologies to James Joyce for modifying his book title, I’ve always enjoyed this story about the young Clark Terry as told by Gene...
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Remembering Frank Wess: 1922-2013
© -Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.One of the most joyous Christmas gifts I ever received was the Basie Plays Hefti Roulette LP.I must have practiced to it on countless occasions...
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The Jazz Soul of Oscar Peterson
© -Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.I’m not sure why, but the piano artistry of Oscar Peterson, particularly the one on display in his Verve recording – The Jazz Soul of Oscar...
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Len Lyons - The Great Jazz Pianists
© -Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.“All drummers are frustrated piano players,” said one of my best friends who was himself, an excellent pianist.“C’mon, Man. Help me tune these...
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Derrick Bang - 1950-1970 - Crime and Spy Jazz on Screen, A History and...
© Copyright ® Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.Here’s the good news. If you are a fan of Crime and Spy Jazz in film and on television from 1950-1970, much of it is readily...
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