How did I discover Sam Rivers? I can't really remember the exact circumstances, but in all likelihood it was either through researching Julian Priester and his discography, or possibly through his famous composition, Beatrice. I do know for a fact, however, that the first recording of his that I purchased was Fuschia Swing Song -- it was during my trip to Japan with Jay Thomas in 1999 that I found this classic Blue Note side on CD (it wasn't yet available in the US), and it stayed in my regular rotation for the rest of that year. His music is inventive, progressive, and challenging, yet deeply connected with the traditions of Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins -- at least to my ears.  He's still out there causing trouble with his Rivbea All-Star Orchestra in addition to numerous small group dates every year.  All hail Sam Rivers! Happy Birthday! Enjoy the videos.

Sonny Rollins -- he's one of those voices that almost unanimously is named when you ask tenor saxophone players who influenced them.  It took some time for me to dig back into my grey matter and figure out the first Sonny Rollins recordings I heard -- it must have been those classic Bud Powell recordings for Blue Note, like Dance of the Infidels and Bouncin' with Bud, so full of energy, virtuosity and excitement.  To think that Sonny Rollins was about to turn nineteen when he made those recordings! So many classic recordings for Prestige, moments like The Bridge and Sonny Rollins on Impulse, and a decade-ago concert for Earshot Jazz at the Moore Theater -- these are the things that first strike my mind when thinking of Sonny Rollins, who at 77 today is still out there kicking out chorus-after-chorus of improvisations. Enjoy our usual celebratory video collection:

I've always been a huge fan of Benny Carter, both as a multi-instrumentalist and as a composer and arranger. Oddly enough, I got to know his writing best when I picked up a DVD with a number of jazz animated shorts made by John and Faith Hubley, where Benny Carter had written much of the music. This DVD is called "Art and Jazz in Animation" and should still be available. Sadly, Benny Carter is no longer with us, and he would have been one-hundred years old today. Here are some great videos to celebrate his centennial:

I'll never forget discovering Roland Kirk's Domino in my dad's record collection - finding yet another amazingly unique jazz voice.  I can't remeber if I knew about the whole mulit-instrumental thing or not, but when I got to the track called "Three in One Without the Oil," I knew I was hooked. I got Volunteered Slavery soon thereafter, and I remember spending many drives in my high school years to jazz festivals blasting his chants, manzello, and saxophones. He died far too young at 41, having been paralyzed on half his body from a crippling stroke a year earlier. As usual on birthdays, here are fifteen videos of the great Rahsaan Roland Kirk: