Legendary Disco DJ Nicky Siano Birthday Bash in Coney Island

Nicky Siano ushered in the early soulful disco days along with his close kindred spirits Frankie Knuckles, David Mancuso and Larry Levan at The Gallery, Studio 54, The Loft and Paradise Garage changing music and clubs forever. Nicky is said by some to have opened the first real disco club and was one of the first resident DJ’s at Studio 54. He was a pioneer of so much of what happened in those days and a true New York legend. Nicky is throwing a special party for his 60th birthday billed as “The Last Party”. It will take place at Eldorado Auto Scooter, Coney Island, New York Saturday March 21st, chosen for it’s sound system. You can get tickets here for this reservation only event. And here’s a link to a great interview with Nicky where he talks about the party and his past. He will also celebrate his birthday at The Loft in London with Danny Krivit on Sunday April 5th. Happy Birthday Nicky!!!

 

Free Jazz Still Alive and Young in Downtown NYC!!

These days we have to import some of it from Sweden, probably one of the few places you can afford to play free jazz, but it does feel like home to hear this, if a little unexpectedly from young blonde women!

This video is from Downtown Music Gallery a jazz record store that’s worth checking out check out this post to learn a bit about it’s history.

“One of the few music stores left , with a great selection of jazz , rare recordings and free live music every sunday at 6 pm . Bruce has had 3 locations since the 80’s , 5th street near Lafayette st , Bowery , and now 13 Monroe st. May he stay open forever in Nyc . This record store is a treasure.” – Cheryl Pyle

Roy Haynes Celebrates his 90th Birthday March 13-15 at The Blue Note

Master drummer Roy Haynes who deifies age will celebrate his 90th birthday with a series of performances with special guests at New York’s downtown jazz venue The Blue Note from March 13-15.

Mr. Haynes has worked with such greats as Lester Young, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and many many others.

The Blue Note 131 W. 3rd St. (212) 475-8592
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Ornette Coleman Turns 85!

Happy Birthday Ornette! My dad took me to see him when I was a teenager and me and my friends used to dance around to”Dancing In Your Head” with its youthful, joyful energy. I met and talked to him at the Grammys in 2007 where he received a lifetime achievement award, we (Groove Collective) were nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album that year. Having a little chat with Ornette and getting my picture taken with him to show my dad, was definitely one of the highlights for me. He was so gracious and told me  to stop by his place when we were back in NY anytime. Someday I still hope to take him up on that, though I did get the feeling he is just that open and welcoming to everyone he meets. He gave an incredible and beautiful acceptance Dancing_in_Your_Headspeech which thankfully, benefited from not being televised, in that it surely would have been cut short. UnfoP1030439croprtunate for the viewing public though, as it was surely much deeper and more significant than most of the drivel that does get televised. His speech was not unlike his playing. I was drawn into what seemed familiar, almost soothing and then found myself lost in swirl of ideas and phrases that I knew would make sense, if I could only snap out of my trance! For a minute I thought someone slipped something into my drink. I can’t believe I didn’t take some video or more pictures but it was 2007 prior to my smartphone carrying days I did enjoy the moment though. Here‘s a link to a nice picture from his birthday party talking to Cecil Taylor.

Lew Soloff a New York Trumpet Great Passes On at 71

The jazz trumpeter, composer and actor Lew Soloff passed away in New York City on march 8th of 2015 after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 71. Originally from New York, he studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He was a sought after session musician appearing on records by Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithfull, Aretha Franklin, Lou Reed, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Barbra Streisand. He worked with Machito, Gil Evans, Orenette Coleman, Tony Scott, Maynard Ferguson, Tito Puente, Clark Terry’s big band, performed on numerous movie scores, and accompanied such renowned jazz artists as George Benson, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann, Carmen McRae and Stanley Turrentine among others.

He was a longtime member of the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Mingus Big Band and of the rock group Blood Sweat & Tears playing on on their hit “Spinning Wheel” among many other recording including the groups eponymous album that in 1970 won a the Grammy best-album. In the 1980s he was a member of Members Only, a jazz ensemble who recorded for Muse Records.

Soloff also made frequent guest appearances with jazz orchestras all over the world such as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (directed by Wynton Marsalis) and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (directed by Ray Reach).

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and his work.

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Orrin Keepnews Jazz Record Producer Passes Away

Orrin Keepnews passed away March 1st on the eve of his 92nd birthday. Originally from the Bronx, Orrin Keepnews produced jazz luminaries such as Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans he also branched out into classical music with Kronos Quartet. He received Grammy awards for his liner notes to albums by Monk and Evans.