My Top Ten New Year's Jazz Resolutions

1. Re-create Blue.
2. Study up on "satire," so I know it when I see it.
3. Humbly accept my cultural irrelevancy.
4. Kickstarter campaign for my chops transplant operation. 
5. Ignore all incoming Armstrong biographies.
6. Ditto Ellington.
7. Four Words: Fud Livingston Tribute Band.
8. Still have 8 Giant Steps keys left to learn. 
9. Stockpile valve oil, before prices go back up.
10. Continue to just call it "jazz."

Billie Holiday Show

On the Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour on 12/25/14 I played music by Billie Holiday, work by influences like Louis Armstrong and Lester Young and other music from the late 30's-early 40's. At the center of the broadcast was my radio production called "The Amazing Story of Strange Fruit," which recounts the creation of that singular song.

Listen to the program here.

Louis Armstrong "Weary Blues" (Jazz, 1927) on Okeh 

Louis Armstrong "Struttiin' With Some Barbecue" (Jazz, 1927) on Okeh 

Louis Armstrong "Once in a While" f(Jazz, 1927) on Okeh 

Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington "Lucky So and So" (Jazz, 1961) on Pickwick 

Billie Holiday "Yesterdays" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

Billie Holiday "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

Billie Holiday "Fine and Mellow" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

Count Basie and His Orchestra "Lady Be Good"  (1936) on Decca 

Billie Holliday and Lester Young "Fine and Mellow" (Jazz, 1957) 

Bunnie Berigan "I Can't Get Started" (1936) on Decca 

Slim and Slam "A Tip On The Numbers" (Jazz, 1941) on Stash 

Cootie WIlliams "Concerto For Cootie" (Jazz, 1941) on Victor 

Billie Holiday "How Am I To Know" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

The Commodore Master Takes "My Old Flame" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

Billie Holiday "I'll Get By" from "The Commodore Master Takes" (Jazz, 1944) on Commodore 

Stephen Provizer "The Amazing Story of Strange Fruit" from "The Amazing Story of Strange Fruit" (Other, 2014) 

Billie Holiday "Blue Moon" from "Solitude" (Jazz, 1952) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "My Man" from "Ella and Billie" (Jazz, 1957) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "You Go to My Head" from "Solitude" (Jazz, 1952) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "Lover Come Back to Me" from "Ella and Billie" (Jazz, 1957) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "You Turned the Table On Me" from "Solitude" (Jazz, 1952) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "Lady Sings The Blues" from "Ella and Billie" (Jazz, 1957) on Verve 

Billie Holiday "I Only Have Eyes For You" from "Solitude" (Jazz, 1952) on Verve 

The Sinatra Bandwagon

Bob Dylan got the jump on us with his cover project, anticipating the 100th birthday of Mr. Sinatra, but we at The Institute will jump on any bandwagon, no matter how late we are. So, with the marketing assistance of the good folks at K-Tel we proudly announce the release of these recordings, featuring some of your favorite golden oldie stars. Look for them soon on the shelves of your favorite record store!

Bono Swings on A Star!

Blondie and The Chairman of the Board: Together Again For the First Time.

A Talent To Abuse: Slash Digs Coward.

Sting Swings the Sammy Davis Jr Songbook!

Clapton Says: "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Der Bingle."

Madonna's Rockin Mall Classics.

Prince: Ooh, My Papa; The Eddie Fisher Omnibus.

Van Halen -What Kind of Goulet Am I?*

Springsteen-It's Amore! No, It's Dean-o!

Def Leppard-The Mellow Side of Manilow.

Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Twisted Sister Kate--Smith, of course!

*Also available in 8-Track

New Orleans Omnibus Show

Broadcast on the Duplex Mystery Jazz Hour of December 4, 2014.

LISTEN TO N.O. OMNIBUS

Louisiana Five "I Ain't-en Got-en No Time" 1919, Columbia 

Armand J. Piron's New Orleans Orch. "Bouncing Around" 1923, Okeh 

Armand J. Piron's New Orleans Orch.  "West Indies Blues" 1923,  Okeh 

Clarence Williams' Blue Five "Texas Moaner Blues" 1924,  Okeh 

Clarence Williams' Blue Five "Livin' High" 1925, Okeh 

Johnny Dunn and His Band "You Need Some Lovin" 1928, Columbia 

Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra "Mahogany Hall Stomp" 1929,  Okeh 

Johnny DeDroit And His New Orleans Orchestra "Number Two Blues" 1924,  Okeh 

Fate Marable's Society Syncopators "Frankie and Johnny" 1924, Okeh 

Johnny Bayersdorffer And His Jazzola Novelty Orchestra "The Waffle Man's Call"1924, Okeh 

Halfway House (Dance) Orchestra "Barataria" 1925, Okeh 

Russ Papalia and His Orchestra "Cross Word Mama" 1925, Okeh 

Brownlee's Orchestra Of New Orleans "Peculiar" 1925, Okeh 

New Orleans Rhythm Kings "I Never Knew Just What a Gal Could Do" 1925, Okeh 

New Orleans Rhythm Kings "She's Crying for Me" 1925, Okeh 

New-Orleans Rhythm Kings "Milenberg Joys" 1925, Okeh