Read about our founder Norman Vickers and his work with the Jazz Society of Pensacola and American Federation of Jazz Societies. Special thanks to the Jazz Journalists Association.
Author: Norman Vickers
Myself Among Others: A Life in Music, George Wein with Nate Chinen ©2003 Da Capo Press. Pp. 546. Wein and Chinen did a good job of detailing Wein’s career in jazz both as a pianist, nightclub owner and world jazz impresario. It is well written and contains appropriate photographs. Straighten Up and Fly Right; The…
Local patrons of downtown branch West Florida Public can explore new additions to the collection which is currently valued at $20,000. Most of the holdings are available for check-out. Jazz and Justice; Racism and the Political Economy of the Music, by Gerald Horne. © 2019 Monthly Review Press. The author, Gerald Horne, is professor of…
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Book Review: IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
IS THAT ALL THERE IS? The Strange Life of Peggy Lee Written By James Gavin Atria Books © 2014, pp.601 This interesting book about the life of vocalist Peggy Lee gives fascinating insights into the life of this iconic jazz vocalist. I have mentioned previously the sign in our local hospital’s medical library which stated,…
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CD Review: ‘Manhattan Samba’
MANHATTAN SAMBAHendrik Meurkens, chromatic harmonicaHeight Advantage, Oct. 2020 This is a delightful presentation of Brazilian style samba music featuring chromatic harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens. Meurkens started as a vibraphone player but heard Toots Thielemans as a teen-ager and then concentrated on chromatic harmonica. Originally from Germany and having spent time in Brazil, his longtime home…
THE REBECCA KILGORE TRIO—VOL.1Rebecca Kilgore, vocals; Randy Porter, piano and Tom Wakeling, bassWith Dick Titterington, cornetHeavywood—HW7 1993 Here is another excellent CD by vocalist Rebecca Kilgore with Randy Porter on piano and doing the recording/arranging chores. Tom Wakeling plays bass and cornetist Dick Titterington guests on cornet for some numbers. Becky has appeared on many…
Black LicoriceSteel Jazz Trio and FriendsSelf-produced This is an unusual jazz album—pedal steel guitar is a rarely-used instrument in jazz recording and this is a self-produced album by a group who came together in the music department at Five Towns College on Long Island, NY. On this CD there are fourteen original compositions making an…
Allan Vache’: It Might As Well Be SwingArbors Records, ARCD 19461 Here’s a CD which should appeal to clarinet and swing enthusiasts. As the title suggests all ten songs are familiar swing tunes. And there’s a special surprise in that Allan Vache’ brings in his wife Vanessa and a third clarinetist, Erin Davis-Guiles, on a…
Most Jazz Pensacola members are likely acquainted with Chip Shelton, New York dental specialist, jazz flautist and brother of our member, Ron Shelton. Chip has performed for Jazz Pensacola at various times. The last was about a year and a half ago when he performed for a Jazz Jam. Chip and Ron had just returned…
Martin Torgoff—journalist, author and film-maker—has taken a unique point of view in this book. He has covered the use of recreational and hence illegal drugs in the US since the 1920s until beginning of the 21st century. He has juxtaposed the use of drugs specifically as it relates to jazz musicians with special emphasis on…