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…
Ken Nordine, a spoken-word and voiceover artist strongly influenced by jazz, died on Feb. 16 in Chicago. He was 98. The news of his passing was posted by Chicago public radio station WBEZ, where Nordine hosted a show for more than 40 years.
Generations of fans could recognize the distinctive sound of Nordine’s baritone voice, which he employed as the host of a unique radio show titled Word Jazz. On the WBEZ program, Nordine would deliver creative verbal riffs and merge them with sound effects.
He was twice nominated for a Grammy. His album Stare With Your Ears (1979) was among the recordings nominated in the Grammy category Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording. His album Devout Catalyst (1992) was nominated in the category Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album. Nordine’s collaborators on the latter album included musicians Jerry Garcia, Tom Waits, David Grisman and Howard Levy.
Nordine’s discography includes a series of “Word Jazz” albums and a 2005 DVD, The Eye Is Never Filled: Word Jazz In Morphing Pictures.
Among the other artists with whom Nordine collaborated is Laurie Anderson, who considers him a key influence on her performance art.
Early in his career, he briefly hosted a program (on another Chicago radio station, WBBM) titled Nordine Now, on which he interviewed Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and other musicians.
Nordine also did voiceover work for movie trailers and radio advertisements.
Nordine was born in Cherokee, Iowa, and grew up in Chicago.
Survivors include three children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. DB
“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…
