An Album or Two in My Head (0065)

SAOUL TWATEAU 2022 SELF-RELEASED To my American friends — consider how most of you were recently asked, multiple times, to choose between a woman’s womb and the price of bacon in Walmart, while others remain willing to convince themselves that a bulky football legend wearing a post-domestic-violence court suit and possible brain damage can be […]

Celebrate women and listen to ‘Misa Justa’ — a beautiful, 39-minute symphonic poem set to Jazz, Classical and liturgy

A Jazz mass, composed by Eduardo Gutierrez del Barrio; lyrics by Patsy Moore; vocal solos by Dianne Reeves; conducted by William Henry Curry; and performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After several listens, I remain bewitched by “Misa Justa”, or “Just Mass” — a spiritual harmonic and poetical review of women and their parallel roles […]

Eddie Gale, 1941-2020

A definition of ‘That legend hardly anyone talks about.’ We lost trumpeter Eddie Gale, a trusted luminous ray of the Jazz avant garde; Ghetto Music evangelist; warrior among the off-beat legion. His pedigree — which includes collaborations with John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Larry Young, Elvin Jones, and performances with Hip-Hop ensemble The Coup […]

Soul, Jazz and Dance Music: Roger Williams comes through again with a podcast for the earhole

I’m going to add more music posts to this blog. All kinds of music. Old and new. We need to break up the heavily-political posts with a different set of vibes. But don’t worry — I don’t plan to dilute a single race or political post. I’m currently relistening to the third installment of music […]

Album in the Crosshairs — Annabel (lee): I Came Across a Dreamer; Youngbloods, 2018

Three dreams, guided by a polaris of better times, but for the most part pursued by somber realities while awash with indulgent compositions, vocals and lyrics. Count Richard Ellis and Sheila Brown Ellis of the group Annabel (lee) among the shortlist of creatives who can solidly deliver on such an angular approach to storytelling. Their […]

An album (or two) in my head 0066

I listened to Harriet Tubman’s latest album again — it’s crazy Deep Space Blackout, where the all-so-dope trio sees our Colson Whitehead and raises it with an ion thruster. Spaceways, Inc. is smiling all the way from Saturn. I’ve also been getting my sway on with a dancefloor-friendly release of vintage Metal, blended into Afrobeat. […]

In Loving Remembrance of Muhal Richard Abrams

The passing of Muhal Richard Abrams is another one of those somber events that took me a while to process. I have so many thoughts. So many emotions, wrapped around memories. Abrams’ music helped to secure my love for the avant-garde side of Jazz music. Unlike some of you, I didn’t come out of the […]

Jazz Mix: Incantations II by NuffCed

While today is International Jazz Day, it’s always a perfect time to hear a vocal Jazz mix from DJ NuffCed for New Morning Radio. Warms my heart to hear Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, the High Priestess of Soul and other gems in one set. Press the play button below and vibe …

Goodbye, Al Jarreau

You would think years of false alarms about the death of seven-time grammy-winning singer Al Jarreau would prepare me for hearing about his actual departure today. But they didn’t. Jarreau belongs to a very small circle of vocalists who won over Jazz, Pop and R&B audiences during their careers. But what makes Jarreau a unique […]

HENRY GRIMES IS 80 TODAY

Jazz great Henry Grimes celebrates his 80th birthday today! You all know how much I dig him at this point. I look forward to hitting his birthday bash this Friday. In case you can’t see Grimes in person this week, watch this clip of him performing at an Arts for Art event earlier this year […]