Before we discovered the Higgs Boson we had Max Roach
Sean MurphyI talk about Max Roach as often as I can, because. I talk about Max Roach because Max Roach needs to be talked about. The last time I gave him…
Miles: Still The Baddest (and Meanest) MF on the Planet
Lots of Miles in the sky lately. Just saw this hilarious (and oddly moving) story online today from the great old days when, in no particular order, Davis was alive, certain…
They’ll Never Put Me in Their Bag: The Continuing Story of Syd Barrett (Revisited)
When he died in 2006, after decades of cult-figure status and willful anonymity, Syd Barrett was arguably better known as the person who inspired one of Pink Floyd’s best albums,…
A Week of Americana. Part Six: Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet (R.I.P.), with his idiosyncracies, individuality and iconoclasm, represents virtually everything that is profoundly beautiful about America both as a concept and actuality. Like his compatriots Syd Barrett…
A Week of Americana. Part Five: Chinatown
Chinatown does not usually make the short list of best American films. In fairness, it probably shouldn’t. It will have to settle for merely being the only perfect American…
A Week of Americana. Part Four: James Brown
On this most American of holidays, it seems appropriate --if not obligatory-- to celebrate the most American of geniuses. It does not get any more American than James Brown,…
A Week of Americana. Part Three: The Doors
If the discussion is going to turn to American rock bands, it would be impossible to avoid R.E.M. Fortunately, I already dealt with their legacy and am on record declaring…
A Week of Americana. Part Two: Mingus Ah Um
If we're going to talk about America, we've got to talk about Mingus. It's really that simple. As readers of this blog know, while I don't go out of my…
A Week of Americana. Part One: Moby Dick
As our nation prepares to celebrate another birthday this week, it seems like an appropriate time to revisit some posts that celebrate art, American style. The first one, fittingly, is…
Obama’s Next Move
So, back in March 2010, the day after Biden --with his typical ill-advised, but beautiful candor-- announced, within earshot of the mics "This is a big fucking deal", I had…