Mar 18, 2025 3:00 PM
A Love Supreme at 60: Thoughts on Coltrane’s Masterwork
In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane wrote: “Yes, it is true — ‘seek and ye shall…
Saxophonist Boots Randolph, whose 1963 hit “Yakety Sax” sprouted a successful session career, died Tuesday at 80 years of age. He was taken off a respirator after a June 25 cerebral hemorrage had put him in a coma.
Randolph played on many hits as a session man, including Elvis Presley’s “Return To Sender,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” But his biggest solo effort was “Yakety Sax,” a tune that later became the theme song for the TV’s “Benny Hill Show.”
Following decades of session and club dates in Nashville, Tenn., and dozens of tours, Randolph released an album of jazz standards just last month.
Homer Louis Randolph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dee Randolph; a son, Randy Randolph; and daughter, Linda O’Neal, all of Nashville; and four grandchildren.
“This is one of the great gifts that Coltrane gave us — he gave us a key to the cosmos in this recording,” says John McLaughlin.
Mar 18, 2025 3:00 PM
In his original liner notes to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane wrote: “Yes, it is true — ‘seek and ye shall…
The Blue Note Jazz Festival New York kicks off May 27 with a James Moody 100th Birthday Celebration at Sony Hall.
Apr 8, 2025 1:23 PM
Blue Note Entertainment Group has unveiled the lineup for the 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival New York, featuring…
“I’m certainly influenced by Geri Allen,” said Iverson, during a live Blindfold Test at the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival.
Apr 15, 2025 11:44 AM
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in…
“At the end of the day, once you’ve run out of differences, we’re left with similarities,” Collier says. “Cultural differences are mitigated through 12 notes.”
Apr 15, 2025 11:55 AM
DownBeat has a long association with the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, the premiere…
“It kind of slows down, but it’s still kind of productive in a way, because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America, when he was 80. “The music is always inspiring.”
Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
