Gordon Ray

Time and time again, the Manhattan Bop Police have claimed that a jazz album isn't legitimate unless it is recorded in the 212 area code. But if that's true, why did so many jazz heavyweights - from Dexter Gordon to Bud Powell - spend so much time living and recording in Europe? Why have so many important jazz indies (Steeplechase, Storyville, Owl, Black Lion, Timeless, among countless others) had European addresses? The fact is that if you're a serious jazz connoisseur, your CD collection is probably full of recordings that were made in Europe. Ray Brown certainly spent plenty of time performing overseas; Ludwigsburg, Germany, in fact, is where Brown recorded Summerwind, a 1980 session that finds the acoustic bassist forming a quartet with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin (one of the reasons jazz musicians are proud to be from Chicago), pianist Monty Alexander, and British drummer Martin Drew…

Peter Gabriel, Chris Martin, Youssou N'Dour, Cat Stevens, Paul Shaffer, Linda Rondstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Glenn Frey, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Courtney Love, Wendy O'Connor, Joan Jett…