So, we are in our fiftieth year. Yahoo! We now qualify as old timers.
We had a full slate of appearances planned to celebrate. Whoopie!
Hmmm. not so fast, the world tells us. Time to hunker down, socially distance yourself and wear a mask for the good of all of us. Yes, definitely. We will gladly do these things for the good of all.
Thus far, except for a terrific performance for ‘Jazz in the Garden’ at the Andersen Enrichment Center in Saginaw, Michigan, USA, we’ve been not so quietly fidgeting — from an appropriately social distance, of course — and itching to get back on tour.
In the meantime, we decided to cement our legacy by comparing our arrangements of the tuneswith those of other jazz masters. How is that for confidence?
The results of our research are at www.newref.com/legacy. We believe you will enjoy these tracks by us and other historic classic jazz masters as much as we did.
Some examples:
“I’m Coming, Virginia” as we play it compared with Benny Goodman’s rendition (go to Episode Seven at www.newref.com/legacy)
“Our version of “Buddy Boldon’s Blues” versus one by Jelly Roll Morton (Listen to Episode Twelve at www.newref.com/legacy)
There are fourteen comparisons thus far. Many — okay, some— of our fans tell us we are incomparable. And we appreciate their comments and support over this half a century. Listen here and hear for yourself if the compliment is deserved.
Ксения says
December 4, 2020 at 2:50 amHear an electric fusion set from keyboardist Joe Zawinul and The Zawinul Syndicate in concert from 2006. We also celebrate 50 years of Weather Report with co-founder Wayne Shorter and other alumni. Hear the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra in 2006, with four virtuoso bassists: Ruben Rodriguez, Charnett Moffett, the late Andy Gonzalez, and the mighty Cachao, two years before his death.