VOA常速英语2007年-Jazz Fans Celebrate Old and New in 2007

By Doug Levine
Washington
18 December 2007

Jazz fans are well known for celebrating the old and the new, and 2007 was no exception. As VOA's Doug Levine reports, the year was filled with jazz tributes, including one to the man who introduced jazz to millions around the world.

More than 10 years after his death, the voice of famed VOA broadcaster Willis Conover still resonates. His 40-year stint¹ as host of "Music USA" was the inspiration for a tribute concert beamed live from Voice of America headquarters, "Voices of Freedom: A Celebration of VOA Jazz and Willis Conover." A quintet of international jazz all stars led by saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera honored Willis with a rendition of Duke Ellington's "Take The 'A' Train."

The concert also celebrated² the memory of another famous jazz ambassador, Dizzy Gillespie, and the 50th anniversary of his group's first U.S. State Department-sponsored tour.

When listeners weren't waxing nostalgic with re-issues from past masters, they were busy checking out new jazz releases. Top sellers of 2007 include albums by Michael Buble, Herbie Hancock, Boney James, Diana Krall, and the first full collaboration³ by George Benson and Al Jarreau.

Live jazz was, well, alive and well in '07. Despite rising fuel prices, fans came from far and wide to celebrate the year's most talked about event, the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival. Pianist Dave Brubeck, who helped get approval from the city of Monterey, California, to launch the very first festival in 1958, made his 14th appearance there last September. Sonny Rollins, Dave Holland, Ornette Coleman, Diana Krall, James Moody⁴ and Jim Hall were among the participants in Monterey's golden anniversary weekend.

A Monterey Jazz Festival favorite was legendary⁵ drummer Max Roach, who never failed to rise to the occasion with the biggest names in jazz. Roach was one of the last remaining architects of the "bebop" movement when he died in 2007.

The jazz world also said goodbye to saxophonist Michael Brecker, pianist Alice Coltrane, fusion⁶ pioneer Joe Zawinul, and vocalist Teresa Brewer⁷.

Jazz was not immune to the ever-growing "crossover" trend in 2007. In fact, audiences, that these days are getting more and more accustomed to the idea of jazz blending with world music, hip-hop and other styles, seem cautiously agreeable to it.

Enter the Bruce Hornsby Trio, featuring bassist Christian⁸ McBride, drummer Jack⁹ DeJohnette and pianist Bruce Hornsby, who with their 2007 album, "Camp Meeting," made fans quickly forget that Hornsby once had a Number One pop single. The trio pays tribute to modern jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk¹⁰.

1 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

4 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

5 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

6 fusion   

n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc. 黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• This alloy is formed by the fusion of two types of metal.这种合金是用两种金属熔合而成的。

7 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

10 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。