NEA Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Jazz Masters Moments
Length: 08:29
In these Moments, the incomparable Orrin Keepnews tells us what it was like to record some of the biggest names in jazz history. Thelonious Monk. Sonny Rollins. Miles Davis. Cannoball Adderly. Just to name a few.
Orrin Keepnews: I have, and I have had, for just about all of my more or less accidental working career, an ability to create a good, functional, working relationship with more than a few incredibly talented people. If somebody would like to tell me how come that happened, I’d be kind of curious to know…
Also in the Jazz Masters Moments series
NEA Jazz Moments with Eddie Palmieri
(02:57)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Three short "Moments" featuring 2013 NEA Jazz Master, EDDIE PALMIERI. Narrated by Mark Ruffin of The Real Jazz channel on Sirius-XM, we learn about Eddie's presence at the ...
NEA Jazz Moments wirth Lorraine Gordon
(03:27)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Three short "Moments" featuring 2013 NEA Jazz Master, LORRAINE GORDON. Narrated by Mark Ruffin of The Real Jazz channel on Sirius-XM, we learn about Lorraine's fairytale life ...
NEA Jazz Moments with Lou Donaldson
(03:27)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Three short "Moments" featuring alto saxophonist and 2013 NEA Jazz Master, Lou Donaldson. Narrated by Mark Ruffin of The Real Jazz channel on Sirius-XM, we learn about Lou's ...
NEA Jazz Moments with Mose Allison
(03:57)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Three short "Moments" featuring 2013 NEA Jazz Master, Mose Allison. Narrated by Mark Ruffin of The Real Jazz channel on Sirius-XM, we learn about Mose's take on irony, his ...
Moments with Jazz Master, Von Freeman
(03:30)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
3 Moments with tenor saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman.
Moments with Jazz Master, Charlie Haden
(06:26)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
4 Moments with bassist Charlie Haden.
Moments with Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette
(04:58)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
4 Moments with legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette
Moments with Jazz Master Sheila Jordan
(07:26)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
5 Moments with vocalist and NEA Jazz Master, Sheila Jordan.
Moments with NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens
(05:56)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
4 "Moments" with trumpeter, flugelhornist, and advocate, Jimmy Owens.
NEA Jazz Master Johnny Mandel
(09:00)
From: National Endowment for the Arts
Six Moments with 2011 NEA Jazz Master, composer, and arranger Johnny Mandel.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
In these Moments, the incomparable Orrin Keepnews tells us what it was like to record some of the biggest names in jazz history. Thelonious Monk. Sonny Rollins. Miles Davis. Cannoball Adderly. Just to name a few.
Orrin Keepnews: I have, and I have had, for just about all of my more or less accidental working career, an ability to create a good, functional, working relationship with more than a few incredibly talented people. If somebody would like to tell me how come that happened, I’d be kind of curious to know…
Transcript
ORRIN KEEPNEWS_ MONK_#218
(:90)
NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT…
MUSIC: It Don’t Mean a Thing (Monk Plays Duke Ellington)
IN 1955, NEA JAZZ MASTER ORRIN KEEPNEWS MADE A LANDMARK RECORDING OF THELONIOUS MONK PLAYING THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON. IT WAS MONK’S FIRST RECORDING WITH KEEPNEWS FOR THE RIVERSIDE LABEL, WHICH WOULD BECOME A SPRINGBOARD FOR WHAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE MONK’S MOST FRUITFUL PERIOD. THERE WAS A PERCEPTION THAT MONK’S MUSIC WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR THE MAINSTREAM PUBLIC, SO ORRIN KEEPNEWS WANTED TO PRESENT HIM IN A NEW LIGHT…
Orrin Keepnews: One of the big strengths was that I didn’t really know what I was doing, so that I wasn’t frightened by the fact that I was recommending to him a course of action that was unlike anything he’d ever done before. Basically I said, what I’d like us to do is I want to do two albums, trio. Let’s get rid of those damn bebop horns, at least for...
Read the full transcript
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| It Don’t Mean a Thing ..., Tenderly, Ruby My Dear, Double Feature, More Than You Know, | Thelonious Monk (Ellington), Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Heath | Various. | Various | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
Produced by the National Endowment for the Arts. Hosted by Christian McBride.
Related Website
