January 22nd 2009
At first glance St. Louis’ most recent gift to America’s art form pales in stature to what audiences are accustomed to seeing on the bandstand. But open your mind, eyes and ears (not necessarily in that order). At twelve years of age, the diminutive frame of Tito Pascoal will, indeed, surprise you. While he may not have a list of musical accomplishments yet, Tito is equally deserving of the audience’s attention.
January 10th 2009
Mingle with your peers,
inject a tingle in their ears.
We’re talkin’ about jazz for the soul,
that’s our holiday goal.
Exchange tears for cheer,
with friends far and near.
And for an extra holiday pizzazz?
Put a little jingle in your jazz!
January 9th 2009
Dave McKenna, a New England jazz legend, died on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at the age of 78. His sister Jean McKenna O’Donnell noted that he’d enjoyed the Red Sox spectacular Game 5 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Dave, who grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, had two great passions: jazz piano and the Boston Red Sox. Indeed, during his playing years, he was notorious for his habit of listening to Sox games on a concealed transistor radio while he played piano at the Copley Plaza and other Southern New England saloons. Among the handful of tunes he composed, two were dedicated to Ted Williams, “Theodore the Thumper” and “Splendid Splinter.”
January 1st 2009
Pervasive in the literature whose subject is music that originates from the black experience is a stream of thought that is anti-critic, anti-criticism, anti-putting into words any interpretation of the music.
Just as one cannot begin the universe with one molecule of hydrogen, so can one not analyze, philosophize, criticize and proselytize on the music when viewing from any one position. Because the music loses something. It loses the impact with which and for which it was and is created from the beginning. The music itself is the result of assimilated experience for the musicians. Why does it need to be explained? And why does it need to be compared to anything else?
Bebopified Jazz Beyond Jazz Jazz Chronicles Just So Notes Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes The Paradigm for Beauty JJA News