August Left Our World A Poorer Place x2
Sean MurphyYou don't have to be a jazz fan to appreciate that picture. But it helps. Most people have never heard of Joe Maneri, so not too many folks are mourning…
August 26, 2002: Remembering My Mother in Music
Blogs are, or can be, like diaries. Except that diaries, by nature, are private. Which begs the question: do people who blog censor or soften the observations, complaints or critiques that…
Les Paul, R.I.P.
Our world is a much poorer place today. How could one man enrich us this much? Let me count…
“Radical Jewish Culture”, Redux
After my ardent endorsement of Rashanim (the great trio who have just released what may well be the best album of the year),…
Rashanim: Healing Music for Unrighteous Times
Guess what? Rashanim has recently released what will undoubtedly stand as one of the…
Giving it Up for the California Guitar Trio
I know I'd be ecstatically grateful if, having never heard of these guys, someone turned me on to them. So in…
Alive and Well and Living In…Italy
Ian Anderson is alive and well, and living in...Italy. And he is going by the name of…
Dan Auerbach, In Search of the Authentic Sound
During my recent discussion with Dan Auerbach, there was heavy construction underway in the unit above mine: the refrain of hammering, drill work, and boot steps were like a Greek…
Upfull Living Or, A Tale of Two Album Covers
Part One: Pharoah Sanders Maybe you have to be a Jazz aficionado to get excited by an album cover, but come on: How can you not love this? How can…
Mingus Ah Um: An Open Letter to the 20th Century
1959 was, by any measure, a watershed year for jazz music. Some all-time great recordings were released during this year, including Kind Of Blue (Miles Davis), Giant Steps (John Coltrane),…