Shirley Horn in Holland 1981
Rare footage of Shirley Horn in Holland in 1981. I think this was from the North Sea Jazz Festival. Nine minutes of Shirley Horn makes me very happy.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! I selected “The Secret of Christmas” by Shirley Horn because I love Ms. Horn and it reminds us that the things we do on Christmas, we should do all year. Give love! Spread love! I am enjoying a quiet Christmas this year. I will be working on my […]
Shirley Horn – “A Time For Love” – YouTube
A bit of Shirley Horn for your Sunday. Enjoy!
Shirley Horn – Embers and Ashes/Where Are You Going Reissue

Oh happy day!!! Last month, Shirley Horn’s first album, “Embers and Ashes” recorded in 1960 and her “Where Are You Going” album, which was released in 1972, were reissued on a 2 LP on 1 CD reissue on Fresh Sounds Records. I have been waiting for “Embers and Ashes” to be released on CD since […]
My Funny Valentine

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I searched my music collection and found 24 versions of the Rodgers and Hart classic gem,”My Funny Valentine” which was first featured in the Broadway musical “Babe in Arms” in 1937. Below are the versions of “My Funny Valentine” in my music collection. Notably, on the Frank Sinatra/Lorrie Morgan duet, […]
Shirley Horn on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz Radio Broadcast

“My goodness, SHIRLEY HORN, that is some modulation.†So marvels MARIAN McPARTLAND at the conclusion of Horn’s rendition of “Violets for Your Furs,†heard on The Jazz Alliance’s newest Piano Jazz CD (street date 2/28). Taped for McPartland’s National Public Radio program in December 1984, three years before the release of I Thought About You, […]
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 4

“Songs are lucky when Shirley Horn chooses them.” This is one of the best quotes that describe the magic of Shirley Horn’s music. The past few weeks have definitely been an education for me in Shirley Horn’s music. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support on this project. Preparing the final disc in My […]
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 3

We will never forget her music. Welcome back again for another amazing journey into the music of Shirley Horn. These past couple of weeks have been filled with adventure as I discover old and new songs that I am hearing again or for the first time. This week’s radio blog features three songs that Shirley […]
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 2

First, thanks to everyone who listened to My Shirley Horn Box Sex – Disc 1. I have basically selected the songs for the rest of this series but something always happens. You hear a song and say, “oh, I need to put this one in the mix too.” Needless to say, I am shifting the […]
Remembering Shirley Horn on The New Jazz Thing tonight
I will be remembering jazz great Shirley Horn on the radio tonight between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm PST on The New Jazz Thing with Vince Outlaw on Jazz 88, KSDS San Diego, 88.3 FM with World Wide Webcast at http://Jazz88Online.org! Please tune in! Now available on podcast.
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 1

Maybe it was coincidence or fate that I started radio blogging the week that my favorite jazz singer, Shirley Horn died. I had planned to get a few radio blogs under my belt before did one that focused solely on my love for her music. Well, life happens and plans change so I have been […]
My Shirley Horn Box Set – Disc 1

Maybe it was coincidence or fate that I started radio blogging the week that my favorite jazz singer, Shirley Horn died. I had planned to get a few radio blogs under my belt before did one that focused solely on my love for her music. Well, life happens and plans change so I have been […]
Remembering Shirley Horn: A Personal Tribute

Where do you start? I have been loving the music of Shirley Horn for several years now. It began when a friend recommended the “Glengarry Glen Ross” movie soundtrack to me. Shirley sang “You’d Better Go Now” and I played it over and over again. Soon after, I heard “Here’s to Life” one evening on […]
Jazz Veteran Shirley Horn Dies

Photo © Larry Busacca http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001349816 Jazz Veteran Shirley Horn Dies By Bill Holland, Washington, D.C. Shirley Horn, the Grammy-winning jazz vocalist and pianist known for her intimate, whispery vocals and top-drawer piano playing, died yesterday (Oct. 20) at Gladys Spellman Nursing Home in Cheverly, Md., following an extended battle with diabetes. She was 71. Always […]
My First Radio Blog – The Sunday Evening Mix
WOW! It definitely took awhile to put this playlist together. I was initially going to focus on several songs from one artist but I decided to mix it up a bit. I am still fine tuning and learning how all this works so please be patient. I will come back later and put in links […]
Jazz Icon Shirley Horn Ill
I just received this information this afternoon. We send our thoughts and prayers to Shirley and her family. Dear Friends, Shirley Horn… …is not doing well. received from one of Shirley’s best friends, singer Gail Marten: “I don’t know if you know that Shirley Horn is quite ill. She has been moved from hospital critical […]
The Saturday Edition

Remembering Percy Heath – This photo was taken of legendary bassist Percy Heath at the 45th Monterey Jazz Festival in 2002 after an interview that he and his brothers, Jimmy and Albert “Tootie” Heath, did with Orrin Keepnews. Percy, who passed recently, was the last living member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. The new Lizz […]
Flashback Friday – Shirley Horn – Embers and Ashes

Shirley Horn – vocals and piano Joe Benjamin – bass Lewis Powers – bass Harry Saunders – drums Herbie Lovelle – drums The year would not be complete without one more Flashback Friday. This album is commonly known as Embers and Ashes but its actual title is Embers and Ashes – Songs of Lost Love […]
Flashback Friday – Shirley Horn – Travelin’ Light

I’m trav’lin’ light Because my man has gone So from now on I’m trav’lin’ light He said goodbye And took my heart away So from today I’m trav’lin’ light No one to see I’m free as the breeze No one but me And my memories Some lucky night He may come back again So until […]
j-notes on the air – the interview
Exactly three months ago to the date, I made my radio debut with Vince Outlaw and The New Jazz Thing on KSDS-FM 88 in San Diego. This very impromptu interview was a result of Vince reading my reviews on Shirley Horn and Roy Hargrove on Blogcritic.org. Without further ado, here is the interview. Thanks Vince!! […]
A couple of evenings with a familiar friend…
The Shirley Horn Quartet Shirley Horn – vocals George Mesterhazy – piano Ed Howard – bass Steve Williams – drums It was few minutes before Shirley came onstage. The crowd was a bit more seasoned than usual. These were the true jazz lovers filled with many stories of years of great music. I often find […]
From the archives…

Below are my very first music reviews written in 2001. I recently found them and wanted to share them because these are both great albums. Shirley Horn – You’re My Thrill It has been written “songs are happy when Shirley sings them” and that is certainly true on You’re My Thrill. Over eight years ago, […]
Carmen McRae – Sarah – Dedicated to You

This could have easily been a Friday Flashback but it was just too good to wait for a Friday. A few months after Sarah Vaughan’s death in 1990, Carmen McRae?s recorded Sarah?Dedicated to You. I had this album on cassette until I finally found it on CD last year. Bluebird First Editions recently reissued this […]