Louis Armstrong in New York 1924-24 six-CD Mosaic coming in August/September, via Armstrong biographer Ricky Riccardi.

New Louis Armstrong box set announced by Archeophone Records today: “Louis in Chicago, 1925-26: The Complete *Acoustic* Hot Five and Sideman Tracks.” Album notes by our fellow GRAMMY winner Ricky Riccardi. Stay tuned for more details!" Should be a great follow-up to their 2024 Centennial set.

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins was on a hot streak in the mid-to-late 1950s. Last week's Night Lights show highlights his 1957 chapter, including a brief stint with Miles Davis, Rollins' historic live Village Vanguard date, and music from albums such as Way Out West & The Sound of Sonny.

Rollins '57: Sonny Rollins Takes The Lead

In 1957 tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins was at the peak of his first great period, playing with a confident, swinging, and radical abandon both as a leader and with Max Roach and Miles Davis.

ipm.org

This one's for Sonny.

Crossing The Bridge: The Return Of Sonny Rollins

In 1961 saxophonist Sonny Rollins returned from a two-year sabbatical, forming new musical alliances as he plunged into a shifting and vibrant jazz landscape.

ipm.org

Colossus.

Skylark

YouTube video by Sonny Rollins - Topic

youtube.com

Finishing up a new Night Lights about the amazing and still-undersung artist Jeanne Lee. Here she is in Carla Bley's 1971 opus Escalator Over the Hill...more to come soon. #JeanneLee

Jeanne Lee in "Escalator Over The Hill" 1971

YouTube video by symbolkid

youtube.com

Hank Shteamer on Flea's new jazz album. Proud of the involvement of two Indiana University jazz alums (Josh Johnson and Anna Butterss) in this project. Also check out Flea's role as a trumpeter and addict in the vastly underrated 2014 Joe Albany biopic LOW DOWN.

How Did Flea Make a Jazz Album? Practice, Practice, Practice.

nytimes.com

Fascinating article about Claire Douglas, who was married to J.D. Salinger at the height of his literary fame and who served as the model for his character Franny Glass. After their divorce in 1967, she eventually became a highly-respected Jungian analyst and scholar.

Los Angeles Review of Books@lareviewofbooks.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Satya Doyle Byock remembers hearing about the burning of Claire Douglas's archives: "It was a gray early morning, and I stumbled around in the darkness of the house, trying not to buckle at the knees." https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/claire-douglas-archive-jd-salinger-jung-palisades-fire/

Oh, that's not good. That's not good at all.

Is Spotify Enabling Massive Impersonation of Famous Jazz Musicians?

How did trumpet legend Nat Adderley become a white guy playing with a three-handed bassist?

honest-broker.com

Another entry for the annals of a CD renaissance.

On Musa al-Gharbi and CD players

I’ve been thinking about Musa Al-Gharbi’s recent post about why taxing “the rich” and “making them pay their fair share” obscure the truth of our country’s troubling income gap.

vinniesperrazza.substack.com

There’s a big trove of early-1960s live recordings of the John Coltrane quartet on the way. The Frank Tiberi tapes have long been a grail quest for Trane fans.

Pitchfork [Unofficial]@pitchfork.com.web.brid.gy · 6mo ago

Jazz writer @markstryker.bsk.social joins me today to discuss “Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit,” the documentary film adaptation of his book about Detroit jazz. We’ll be playing lots of Detroit jazz as well by Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, Ron Carter, Geri Allen & more. On wfiu.org from 3-5 pm.

This was and is real presidential leadership—not the current narcissistic, hate-driven clown-car show that’s destroying our constitutional republic.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 7mo ago

OBAMA: “People make excuses for him. They say he’s not serious. Everything a president says is serious!”🔥

I sure do miss this beautiful First Couple. They continue to represent the best of what this country is and what it could be.

The OBAMAS, 14 questions, Michelle & Barack #michelleobama #barackobama

YouTube video by TSC Celebrity Focus

youtube.com

This is a BFD: the Tiberi tapes are coming! Saxophonist Frank Tiberi frequently taped John Coltrane's performances in the early 1960s, rumored to amount to 115 hours. For Coltrane fans this stash is akin to Dean Benedetti's trove of Charlie Parker recordings, & some of it is finally coming out now.

Always interested to read Ethan's thoughts about the Marsalis effect, but this also includes an excellent writeup about "Jazz: The Experimenters," a 1965 TV program featuring Charles Mingus & Cecil Taylor, w/commentary from Ralph Ellison and Martin Williams.

Ethan Iverson@ethaniversonpiano.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Thinking about Wynton Marsalis, now that he is moving on from JALC. First of several posts and reposts: iverson.substack.com/p/tt-560-par...

This was my first Clifford Brown album, in a time long ago and far away. I still think it’s one of the most gorgeous trumpet records ever made.

Clifford Brown with Strings by Clifford Brown on Apple Music

Album · 1955 · 12 Songs

music.apple.com

NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani swinging by the Louis Armstrong House & Museum in Queens to kick off Black History Month. Free admission this Saturday! I visited for the first time in 2024… a religious experience for any Armstrong and jazz fan.

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong House Museum hosts free admission day this month

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the Louis Armstrong House Museum will offer free admission to all visitors on Feb. 7.

amny.com

Nate Chinen's rundown on last night's jazz Grammy winners.

Nate Chinen@natechinen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Some rapid response on jazz at the 2026 Grammys. (More news than commentary, but I snuck a little in.)

What remains of Skain’s Domain 🎺

When Wynton Leaves Jazz

Considering regime change at Jazz at Lincoln Center

open.substack.com

Observer following ICE in her car & recording with a dash cam gets blocked off & agents leap out of the car, coming at her with guns drawn, then force her to the ground & arrest her. More “f warrants, f legality” talk from these state terrorists.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 7mo ago

This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here. (clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)

New Sun Ra documentary coming from PBS American Masters in February.

Sun Ra: Do The Impossible | Official Trailer | American Masters | PBS

YouTube video by American Masters PBS

youtu.be

A great male role model for boys growing up in the 1970s. Happy birthday, sir!

Where have I heard this before? 🤔

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 7mo ago

Kristi Noem: "Everything I've done, I've done at the direction of the president and Stephen"

Wow! The once and always Boss just dropped a brand-new song about Minneapolis. 🔥 ✊

Bruce Springsteen@brucespringsteen.net · 7mo ago

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

Man, old Dylan songs are really sounding of the moment to me right now.

Desolation Row (Live at Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK - May 17, 1966)

YouTube video by Bob Dylan - Topic

youtube.com

@libraryofamerica.bsky.social Current LOA volume on my table with bookmark I’m using:

While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities. Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.

“Minnesota National Guard is feeding coffee and donuts to the enemy.” 😂

Thomas [DARK MODE], DO@tom.medsky.social · 7mo ago

Downfall Bovino Edition. You're welcome.

More Louis and more love: always a good remedy for what ails America these days.

Rob Rankin@robrankin.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Listening to the best of America after a weekend that exposed its worst. #jazzsky #musicsky