September 15th see the appointment and celebration of the 2026 National Endowment for the Arts – Jazz Masters in the class of 2026. Among those this year is CTI All-Star, Airto Moreira [1]https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/airto-moreira. Airto Moreira [2]https://web.archive.org/web/20161030102723/http://www.airto.com/ is one of the most influential percussionists in the history of modern jazz, a musician whose imagination reshaped the role of rhythm in contemporary […]
Creed Taylor Month – Join us to discuss THE book!
Join David Sutter, Creed Taylor’s authorized biographer, and me as we discuss his book “Creed Taylor – The Man Who Put Jazz on the Pop Charts” – Sept 19th, 2 PM Eastern – free and online.
New From Ace Records: Incorporated! Compilation
Coincident with David Sutter’s new book on Creed Taylor comes this new Ace Records double album “Incorporated! CTI Records And The Genius Of Creed Taylor,” featuring a compilation of classic jazz tracks from 1969-1974. Available for pre-order, it highlights Taylor’s legacy and marks the first CTI compilation in more than a decade..
Larry Ramsdell’s Review of George Benson in 1973
The post includes a review by Larry Ramsdell from February 23, 1973, published in The Patriot Ledger, highlighting George Benson’s performance at Boston’s Jazz Workshop. Ramsdell praises Benson as a prominent jazz guitarist, noting his exceptional skill and emotional depth. The review details the synergy in Benson’s quartet, featuring Earl Klugh and others. It showcases Benson’s technical abilities, his unique sound, and hints at his potential to become a significant figure in jazz.
George Benson Live at Boston’s Jazz Workshop: A 1973 Experience
George Benson live set from the Jazz Workshop in February 1973, one of the earliest with George and Earl Kulgh. Includes a look at the Grammy Awards that year plus history about the Jazz Workshop and lots more.
Unraveling Don Sebesky’s ‘The Rape Of El Morro’
The story of the title and cover photos of Don Sebesky’s “The Rape of El Morro” is both complex and controversial. The CTI album ended up on the list of boycotted albums which no doubt hurt its sales. This is the story, I think.
Pure Pleasure Records – CTI Releases
This week, Pure Pleasure Records released two new pressings: Kenny Burrell’s “God Bless The Child” and Ron Carter’s “All Blues.” While I don’t have these UK releases I’d like to hear from others that have.
Sounds: Supermarket Jazz
It’s fairly well-known that Creed’s production techniques were not universally liked. Creed himself knew that and was often quite dismissive of critics in general. I’ve often quoted Creed himself on this, as early as 1963 he said: These men[musicians], no longer concern themselves with critical limitations, imposed by journalists within the jazz fraternity. More and more of them are looking […]
Exploring CTI and A&M: CTI Album Mix Tracks Vol. 2
Volume 2 of the CTI Albums mix features one track from each of the 14x albums produced by Creed Taylor for A&M Records, showcasing a blend of vinyl recordings to end out the series. Noteworthy highlights include dual versions of some tracks and the involvement of various artists, primarily George Benson, who adds depth to the collection. This mix marks a transition in Taylor’s production style, reflecting evolving musical trends.
Creed Taylor: The Man Who Put Jazz On The Pop Charts
David Sutter’s authorized biography of Creed Taylor is now available for pre-order, set for release on October 29, 2026. The book details Taylor’s influential role in jazz history, drawing on extensive research and interviews. Pre-orders are available in multiple countries, with formats including hardback, eBook, and audiobook.
Calling You – New from Ted Rosenthal!
Ted Rosenthal’s new trio album, “The Good Old Days,” will release on May 1, 2026, marking his return after 30 years of active performance and teaching. This album pays homage to classic jazz styles and features ten tracks, including guest Ken Peplowski. It reflects Rosenthal’s vibrant reinterpretations of earlier music while continuing his legacy in the jazz scene.
OTD: George Benson Paid His Jazz Dues
Today marks George Benson’s 83rd birthday; George was born March 22, 1943 [1]Richard S. Ginell. “George Benson: Biography & History”. AllMusic [2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Benson. He more than earned his dues by the time he first went into the studio for his first album with Creed Taylor, recorded in August, September, and October of 1968. Over the next nine years, Creed would produce some ten […]
On the Verge of A Jazz Revival
In another column from the San Francisco Chronicle archive, this time Leonard Feather’s column discusses a jazz revival observed in April 1971, highlighting the growing interest from youth bored with rock music. He reviews notable CTI records, praising works by Hubert Laws, Bill Evans, and Dave Frishberg. Feather suggests that jazz is evolving and remains an essential art form, driven by innovation.
On The Town: “Summer Jazz – A Real Rip-Off”
The recent acquisition of archival San Francisco Chronicle issues revealed a critical 1971 column by John L. Wasserman, targeting CTI’s Summer Jazz concert and Leonard Feather’s involvement. At the time, Feather was an LA Times columnist.
Wasserman condemned the event for poor organization, lack of audience notification, and financial exploitation, marking it a significant failure in connecting artists with fans but was that fair?
The Untold Story of CTI Summer Jazz Albums – 1972
The Curious Case of “CTI Summer Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl” – Doug tackles the details, many you won’t know, we have a track by track playlist from the All-Stars live also 1972.
Melting Pot – Creed Taylor Month 2025
Melting Pot, Kim Paris’ show on Freeform Portland radio will feature a CTI Special this Sunday ready for September, Creed Taylor month. Details and links inside.