Night Lights Classic Jazz

Jazz for the Holidays: Shorty Rogers and “Greensleeves”

We'll hear a clip from trumpeter Shorty Rogers' appearance on the too-hip-to-last early-1960s TV show, Jazz Scene USA.

Shorty RogersFrom the “DVDs-we’re-sorry-we-missed” dpt.: a clip from trumpeter Shorty Rogers’ appearance on the too-hip-to-last early-1960s TV show, Jazz Scene USA. Quite likely inspired by John Coltrane’s recording of the song the year before for his album Africa/Brass; or perhaps by fellow West Coasters Bill Smith and Shelly Manne’s take on it from the album Folk Jazz, which preceded Coltrane’s Impulse LP by about a year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qzqd9x3v0w

No filmed evidence of “The Swingin’ Nutcracker” yet, but if any turns up, I’ll be sure to post it.

David Brent Johnson

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, David Brent Johnson moved to Bloomington in 1991. He is an alumnus of Indiana University, and began working with WFIU in 2002. Currently, David serves as jazz producer and systems coordinator at the station. His interests include literature, history, music, writing, and movies.

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  • Jon Foley

    Not too shabby a rhythm section on this: Lou Levy, piano; Gary Peacock, bass; Larry Bunker, drums. Shorty always did have good taste in sidemen.

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