The days of going to local haunts and hearing a set of free jazz are sort of few and far between. Sofia’s restaurant is a place in midtown that maintains that NY jazz piano bar tradition. On any night of the week you can listen to some of the top flight pianists in NY looking to keep their fingers warm. Aaron Goldberg, Danela Schacter, Mike Kanan and Cecilia Coleman just to name a few of the recent ones. In addition to pianists,saxophonists often gig or sit in there as well. A local favorite is 86 year old Red Horndstrom whom I’ve mentioned in the past. Red’s pedigree is from the…

For those of you who like to compare Doug to Jimmy, here’s your chance to compare them directly on the same tune with these two videos posted on YouTube. Interestingly, for those who say that Doug plays like Jimmy you would have to admit their approaches – although very similar- have some very noticeable differences in terms of tone and attack, time feel, melodic content and general phrasing style as evidenced by these videos. You’ll note along with his signature complex bebop groupings, a Charlie Christian lick creeping into Jimmy’s playing, while with Doug you have Parker’s original counter line on the head as well as some modern chord comps…

Happy Birthday Dad! Below interview segment is from a Louisville jazz radio retrospective on Jimmy Raney with host Phil Bailey. I believe the date of the interview is 1988 if my recollection serves. The subject is Jimmy’s first recording in 1948 with pianist, Al Haig and saxophonist Stan Getz. Some very interesting background on the recording along with the tracks. Most of this music should be commercially available on re-release under Stan’s or Al’s name. Interview on Jimmy Raney’s first recording Pardon My Bop As I Live In Bop Interlude In Bebop Diaper Pin More from the retrospective to come https://www.jonraney.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Interlude_In_Bebop.mp3

Doug has a new page that I maintain for him.Some nice tracks, videos and links Check it out!

Back in the end of February, my cervical herniated disc (orig diagnosed in 2005) came raging back with a vengeance, affecting my right arm and shoulder so severely that it forced me to stop playing, reduce my computer work and cut out any type of strenuous physical activity. I am going to be documenting the specifics of this condition in my other blog Other Raney Day Thoughts. With the preoccupation and frustration of finding relief from this vexing medical issue, I find myself having difficulty staying focused on anything or follow-thru with projects and goals. Recently a co-worker hipped me to one of the new types of products that fall…