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A word from the publisher and composer....
These artist copies are provided free of charge to you in the hopes of promoting same. It seems that not too many people are writing tunes with the old standards and quality that invites fine players with with imagination to explore new ideas! As a pianist/composer, it is my intention to leap into the 21st century with new tunes and ideas, and I hope to continue where composers like Gershwin, Porter, Arlen, and others left off! It seems that the music has become stagnant because there are no more of the great composers of the 20th century! Most have died, stopped writing, and because we have lost a generation of young people to budget cuts in music education in the schools where music is taught; there has been a void or vacuum.
Where are our next generation of Duke Ellingtons going to come from? Young people are being exposed to crap on the radio! Why? Because it makes money and disregards traditional standards of excellence! Recently, I went into a high school in New York City and asked the simple question of: who was Louis Armstrong? I also asked who was Duke Ellington? The response I got was shocking! Nobody knew, or ever heard of 'em! However, when I mentioned Ice Tea, or Two Live Crew and Biggie Smalls, everyone knew or heard of 'em! Our young people are being exposed to what I call money making crap, and gone are the days of high standards, excellence, rhyme, strong melody, etc.
If jazz is to keep alive, new tunes must be written to keep new people interested, not rehash the old and go backwards! A lot of young people don't even read music! It is up to the older generation, including myself, and colleagues to transfer the knowledge to a new generation of people.
I do not mean to imply that my tunes will correct the problem, but it is a step in the right direction to do something, as a pianist and composer to continue with excellence and contribute to the 21st century some fine music that is not influenced by the big record companies, special interest, monopolistic slime who become a parasite off of our young, poorly educated society!
I hope you get the chance to play through these tunes. If you are not personally interested, please pass them on to a friend who will appreciate them. I'd love to hear any comments you have, good or bad, but constructive. Please feel free to call or write me anytime.
Sincerely,
Stuart H. Tresser, composer/publisher
Tresser Music - BMI
Stuart H. Tresser
Jazzbone Records
90 East 46th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11203-1815
Commentary
Norman Granz, producer of Jazz at the Philharmonic, died on Thursday, November 22nd, 2001 at his home in Geneva. Mr. Granz was responsible for getting the best jazz musicians and players together, and promoting jazz by bringing it to a higher level, while at the same time making a stand against bigotry and racism. Such jazz greats as Oscar E. Peterson, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday were included in JATP, better known as Jazz at the Philharmonic.
In this troubled world we need someone like Norman Granz to continue to promote jazz, and introduce new tunes and music to the jazz world. It is up to every jazz musician, artist, and vocalist to do their part in transferring this great music called jazz to the next generation. It has been my goal as a jazz musician, pianist and composer to do just that - promote jazz and live music. That is one of the reasons I caused this website to be created, and used as a platform to bring new and original music to any jazz musician and vocalist free! You can download a page at the time of some of the tunes I've written free on this website! Can you get the same deal any place else on the web? I don't think so!
I am sincerely saddened by the loss of a truly great person and beacon in jazz, the great Norman Granz.
NORMAN GRANZ
AUGUST 6, 1918 - NOVEMBER 22, 2001
"He was to Jazz what Einstein was to Physics!"
Stuart H. Tresser, CEO Jazzbone Records
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Gwen Cleveland
January 10th, 1929 - June 7th, 2002.
A vocalist who was one of the favorite performers at Charmichael's in Jamaica, NY, she had recently retired and was living in the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, NJ. She will be missed by all who knew her.
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Ray Alexander
February 7th, 1925 - June 8th, 2002. A great jazz vibist, teacher, and wonderful person (see our links page). He is survived by his son, Russel Alexander, and his wife.
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Ray Brown
October 13, 1926 - July 2, 2002.
A Grammy award-winning jazz bassist who played with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, among others, and was married for a time to Ella Fitzgerald.
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Bobby Forrester
November 27, 1947 - November 23, 2002 An organist who played with a variety of well known artists, and was equally at home playing blues and jazz. He accompanied Ruth Brown and Irene Reid. Photo by Stuart Tresser - Tresser Printing Office Archives
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Bross Townsend
Died at age 70 on May 12, 2003. Mr.Townsend played with many major jazz names in the course of a long career as a pianist and accompanist. Among the famous instrumentalists he performed with were Woody Herman, Erskine Hawkins, John Coltrane, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Charles Mingus, and Milt Jackson. Some of the singers included Dinah Washington, Diana Ross, Little Jimmy Scott, Jimmy Reed, and Dakota Staton. He is survived by his wife Hope, daughters Allegra and Mona, son Bross III, and five grandchildren.
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Walter Perkins
February 10th, 1932 - February 14th, 2004 A world renowned jazz drummer, he first became
known in the 1950s, when he was located in Chicago. There, he
formed the group MJT+III. He went on to perform and record
with the likes of Ahmad Jamal, Sonny Rollins, Carmen McRae, Art
Farmer, Teddy Wilson, and George Shearing, to mention only a few of the
jazz greats he has been associated with.
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Gil "Gilly" Coggins
August 23rd, 1924 - February 15th, 2004 A veteran jazz pianist who performed and recorded with such jazz notables as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Jackie McLean and Sonny Rollins. A well respected side man for many years, he recently released his own CD, Better Late Than Never.
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Tony Mottola
April 18th, 1918 - August 10th, 2004 A guitarist who played with Frank Sinatra and on NBC's The Tonight Show. He also recorded with Johnny Mathis and performed with Frank Sinatra at the White House for President Reagan.
Here is Tony Mottola with Hank at the Guitar Show at Five Towns College, on Long Island on 5/16/98.
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Enos Payne
Jazz pianist Enos Payne died on Saturday, February 5th, 2005. He was an instructor at the Jazzmobile, and has helped many vocalists develop their craft. He was an instructor and director of Jazz at the Brooklyn Conservatory and has performed with such jazz greats as Billy Mitchell, Jimmy Heath and the Jazzmobile All-Stars Big band.
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Bernie Thompson
March 9th, 1933 - July 18th, 2005. A jazz organist, pianist, and vibe player, Bernie performed in most of the well-known jazz venues of New York City. He appeared in groups ranging from trio to big band, and he did a ten year stint as the keyboard player for Sir Charles Hughes and his All-Stars. He has accompanied many noted singers, including Sarah Vaughn and Johnny Hartman.
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Ray McKinley
May 17th, 1933 to January 25th, 2006. A noted jazz keyboard player and vibe player, Ray McKinley was also the long time conductor of the New York City Housing Authority Orchestra. He recorded with such luminaries as Irving Burgie (Lord Burgess), Lennie Tristano, and Napoleon Revels-Bey.
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Jazzbone
October 5th, 1992 - October 15th, 2006. Beloved pet and mascot of the record company. He was brutally attacked and killed by an unleashed larger dog. Extensively covered by the local newspaper: Canarsie Courier article
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Morris Edwards
June 10th, 1925 - May 27th, 2007. Veteran jazz bass player who for a time played with the Hank Johnson Trio. The list of prominent jazz figures he has performed with is remarkable; among them are Jimmy Witherspoon, Wardell Gray, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, and Eddie Hayward.
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Kalil Madi
December 13, 1921 - May 20, 2007.
Jazz drummer Kalil Madi, who worked with Eddie and Vickie Barnes in 1960s, is gone. He was a fine cocktail drummer, and performed with small groups around New York City and upstate at the Pines Hotel, in South Fallsburgh, NY. He was also a fixture at the University of the Streets in New York City.
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Oscar Peterson
August 15th, 1925 - December 23rd, 2007 He was a giant of jazz piano whose virtuoso technique and
impeccable sense of swing made him one of the most popular figures in
the genre for more than half a century. Astute listeners of Hank Johnson's recordings cannot fail to detect the role Oscar Peterson played as both mentor and inspiration.
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