Sungha Jung or, Have You Ever Wondered What You’re Doing With Your Life?
Sean MurphyMajor hat tip to my man JC for making me aware of this wunderkind named Sungha Jung (check out his official site here). It's both remarkable and refreshing that in…
The Shock Heard ‘Round the World: ‘Bitches Brew’ Turns 40
Shortly before his death in 1991, Miles Davis remarked “You don’t change music, music changes you.” While that statement is unassailable regarding the vast majority of artists, no matter how…
The Real Life Fable of Charles Mingus and Orval Faubus
On Sept. 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent nine black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock. Charles Mingus had many things…
The Shape of Jazz That Came…
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,…
God Is Dead (Again): Remembering Stevie Ray Vaughan (Revisited)
Eighteen years ago today. First day of classes, junior year. Standing in the bathroom with too much shaving cream and not enough whiskers, getting geared up for another semester of…
Jason Moran (and Monk)
Over 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,…