Wayne Shorter: National Treasure
Sean MurphyWayne Shorter is about to turn 80. He continues to record, play and inspire. Of the many musicians I admire and seek in some way to emulate (as artists, as…
A Not-So-Modest Proposal
Wouldn't it be fantastic if, in addition to bumper stickers and salutes at ball games, we supported funding and social programs (and give more than fleeting thoughts) for the well-being…
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown… (Revisited)
How do you know you've made an indelible impact on culture? Here's how. Listen: this story has been told so many times it is inextricable from the history of America.…
David Brooks: Nothing To See Here
I find Brooks to be a shallow, self-aggrandizing bootlicker of the first order. Clueless as an Ayn Rand reader, culpable as a clergyman, and haughty as a wealthy heir. HERE he…
Four Albums and a Film: The Best Summer Entertainment
The Congos - Heart of the Congos (1977) Great art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year.…
Eric Dolphy at 85
Eric Dolphy would --and should-- have turned 85 today. He remains one of my favorite musicians of all time. My tribute, reposted several times over the years, is below. ***…
Paul McCartney Dropping Knowledge…and Acid
It was on this day, in 1967 (a few weeks after a semi-impressive album called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released), that Paul McCartney put a prurient, and…
The Boss, The Big Man and the Best Rock Song of the ’70s (Revisited)
(6/18/2011: Reposted from two years ago. R.I.P., Big Man!) When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band... The rest was history, wasn't it? I am,…
Selling The Stories Of Our Lives: Technology and Privacy (Part Three)
THE PRICE OF ONLINE PAYMENT The final frontier, at least for now, where online interaction and privacy may or may not find practical synergy is mobile payment. Predictably, the convenience…
Selling The Stories Of Our Lives: Technology and Privacy (Part Two)
PRIVACY VERSUS PROFIT: THE NEXT BIG DEBATE Not many people would oppose the proposition that consumers enjoy convenience and appreciate value. As the Internet has expanded and advanced, free content…