by Len Weinreich, London Jazz News
“Afficionados don’t often witness the earliest performances of jazz prodigies, nearly always drummers and pianists. Buddy Rich, also known as ‘Kid Traps’ on the vaudeville circuit, was drumming at two years old. Vic Feldman was amazing the public with his drumming aged seven, moving to piano when he was nine. Herbie Hancock performed a Mozart concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra when he was eleven. Thirteen-year-old Benny Goodman dazzled dancers at gigs. Billy Strayhorn wrote the most elevated art song in jazz, ‘Lush Life’, while still in his teens. Fortunately, some budding talents like Oscar Peterson and the elusive Peter Delano were recorded when very young. And now, Brandon Goldberg, aged fifteen.”
Read the full review here.