Yihla Moja (Revisited)
Sean MurphyOn Sept. 12, 1977, South African black student leader Steven Biko died while in police custody, triggering an international outcry.
10 for NYC by 10, on 9/11
New York City would be unimaginable without jazz, and vice versa. Here then is a tribute for --and by-- several musicians who help define and celebrate the cultural mecca of our known universe.…
The Shape of Jazz That Came…(Revisited)
1959 was a watershed year for jazz music (arguably the greatest single year for jazz in all history–which is saying a lot). Here’s a taste: Miles Davis Kind of Blue,…
Sonny Rollins, Still Living The Well-Lived Life (Revisited)
In honor of this American treasure --a literal living legend-- on the occasion of his 82nd birthday, I'll revisit a piece I wrote in April, 2010. If you've lived on…
A Kinder, Gentler Tarkus
As I attempted to identify the Top 25 Progressive Rock songs of all time a couple years back, I naturally gave rightful props to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Here is what…
The Once and Future King: ‘SMiLE’ and Brian Wilson’s Very American Dream
What if I were to tell you the 21st Century has already produced its great American novel? And what if I told you it was actually written almost five decades…
Elvis Is (Still) Dead: Long Live The King (Revisited)
Poor Elvis. The one-time king is now more often the (big) butt of jokes (see?). But his musical and cultural imprint remains huge and will forever be impossible to escape…
Hey Gibson, Let’s Talk Guitar Albums (Revisited)
(August, 2010) 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.…
Thoughts on the Olympics, Improvisation and Jay Adams
The Olympics, particularly the two most popular sports from each season—the gymnastics and figure skating—sells itself, accurately, as an embodiment of competition and tension, complete with a touch of voyeurism.…
Got Mars?
So this is pretty neat, huh? Look at us Earthlings, getting our Mars on. It's too bad Ray Bradbury did not live long enough to see this, as he surely…