Three For J.C.
Sean MurphyIt's a big day for J.C. In the spirit of Christmas, I'd like to celebrate J.C. with some...J.C. I'm speaking, of course, about John Coltrane. And I'll try to resist…
What’s It All About, Then? Part Three: Jazz, Featuring Five Of My Favorite Things
Just before my birthday, on the subject of Eric Dolphy (who I'm happy to call attention to anytime the opportunity presents itself), I had the following to say about what the…
Lighting The Night: For Herbie, My Brother and Someone You Love
First of all, just stop and listen to this: Maybe you're hearing that for the first time and thinking, like I did about a decade or so when I…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Four: ‘The Same Song’ by Israel Vibration
The cardinal rule for any serious appraisal of art involves a necessity to separate all discussion of the artist from the artifact. Mostly this is essential because so many unsavory…
What’s It All About, Then? Part One: Jazz, Featuring Eric Dolphy
Question: What's it all about? Answer: I don't know. But I do know a few things. I know some of the things that make me tick. Even though I write…
No One Has Ever Done Anything as Well as John Coltrane Played the Saxophone
The question isn’t, really, about who might be interested in this documentary; it is about who might not be. For fans who already know everything, or those indifferent to jazz…
New Year’s Eve: The Vertiginous Event
Before moving forward after looking backward (getting on with 2010 after remembering and assessing the last decade, one movie, album and sporting event at a time) New Year's Eve is…
Henry Threadgill: This Brings Us To, Volume 1
This is a difficult review to write, knowing that the folks who follow Henry Threadgill are likely already aware of (or in possession of) this new release—his first in eight…
Jazz Is Recession-Proof
John Coltrane. Eric Dolphy. McCoy Tyner. Elvin Jones. Any questions?
Oliver Nelson: Screamin’ The Blues
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/8354/oliver-nelson-screamin-the-blues/ Oliver Nelson Screamin’ the Blues (Prestige) US release date: 18 July 2006 UK release date: 28 August 2006 by Sean G. Murphy Screamin’ the Blues: Nothing Abstract About This…