Jason Moran (and Monk)
Sean MurphyOver at PopMatters Will Layman has a great piece on pianist Jason Moran. Highly recommended. It also includes a wonderful video where Moran talks about his relationship with the music…
Hey Gibson, Let’s Talk Guitar Albums
Okay. Gibson (the fine folks who bring us some of our best guitars) has recently announced their selections of what they deem the Top 50 Guitar Albums ever. Now, as…
Sue Mingus and the Mingus Big Band: Letting Our Children Hear Music
The Mingus Big Band is bigger than most big bands because they play the music of Charles Mingus. Of the many words one could use to describe Mingus, (and one…
Forever Never Changes: Remembering Arthur Lee
Arthur Lee died almost exactly four years ago (August 3, 2006). I not only am keen to remember --and celebrate-- his life and work, I also appreciate the fact that…
Party Music for the Apocalypse: Mikey Dread’s ‘Beyond World War III’
If Mikey Dread (Michael Campbell) had never decided to pick up the microphone and sing, his status would be secure in reggae history. His groundbreaking weekly show on Jamaican radio,…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Four: ‘The Same Song’ by Israel Vibration
The cardinal rule for any serious appraisal of art involves a necessity to separate all discussion of the artist from the artifact. Mostly this is essential because so many unsavory…
If Two Jazz Fans Fight on the Internet, Does Anyone Hear It?
Kind of like two trees falling in the forest, right? Well, for anyone (and I mean "one") who may wonder what it sounds like when two jazz fans fight, here…
Cut Chemist Drops Knowledge, Old School Style
I needed this today: a little trip down memory lane is just what the doctor (or, chemist) ordered. A couple of old school lessons from last millennium (both taken from…
Titoro, Three Times
An amazing tune by Billy Taylor, played three times (by him twice with different drummers three times). The first one is coupled with the incredible "Oscalypso" (which is also covered…
The Spanish Caravan
Congratulations to a very worthy and deserving Spain for securing their first World Cup title. Condolences to the Dutch, who did not exactly do their Clockwork Orange-era compatriots especially proud…