The next several records have been astonishing!  A 3-LP collection of the music of Bix Beiderbecke, and two Richie Beirach LPs are next.

Bix Beiderbecke was from Davenport, IA and born on the same day (but a very different year) as my mother.  When I was a kid growing up in Des Moines, IA, the annual Bix Beiderbecke Festival in Davenport would draw my attention.  I never actually went, but I was always very proud that someone from Iowa could go on to be such an influential jazz musician.  Truthfully, I never really checked him out until I had already been in Boston for about 10 years.  But I was always happy to say that he was from Iowa, and that there are others like Art and Addison Farmer, and even Charlie Haden (born in Iowa, from the Ozarks) who were from my neck of the woods.  Now, after having checked him out, and even having taught some of his music, my vantage point has shifted from one of neighborly pride to musical astonishment .  He was an extraordinary musician.

• The Bix Beiderbecke Story, Vol. 1 – Bix and His Gang – my favorite piece on this record is his version of Thou Swell.
• The Bix Beiderbecke Story, Vol. 2 – Bix and Tram – every single tune on this album is incredible.  Bix is at his impressionistic best, and Tam’s light, airy tone is the perfect companion to Bix’s more punchy sound.  The “hits” are on this record: Singin’ The Blues, I’m Comin’ Virginia, Clarinet Marmalade.  The only thing missing is In A Mist.
• The Bix Beiderbecke Story, Vol. 3 – Whiteman Days – Nice collection, but the best piece is In A Mist.

Richie Beirach was another story for me.  He is not from Iowa and does not share a birthday with my mother.  I first found out about him through the zillion jazz history books my parents bought for me on birthdays and Christmas when I was a kid.  I remember reading about him, and reacting to the a seemingly unending amount of positive commentary on his playing with mistrust – “How can one musician be that great?”  In Iowa, it was always easy to find records by the jazz heroes of yesteryear, but fairly difficult to find new, or even new-ish things, and so I had to wait until I got to Boston to start checking him out.  He’s on a couple of John Abercrombie records that I love (but didn’t write about because I started this writing project at letter B), and those records lived up to the legend.  So, too, with:

• Elm – This record is perfect.  The writing is incredible, the playing is fantastic, and in addition to Beirach, George Mraz and Jack DeJohnette are present.  I love this album, and have taught and performed the title track a bit.
• Elegy for Bill Evans – Evans was Beirach’s hero and mentor, and the affection shows.  Bill Evans originals and Evans associated standards are re-arranged, with wildly different results.  Another album that deserves all the superlatives i can muster.  With Beirach are Mraz and Al Foster.  Brilliant.

Best, R.