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 […]

HAPPY BORN DAY, TRANE.

Thinking about John Coltrane’s birthday today reminds me of what Carlos Santana had to say about the late creator: “When you listen to the sound resonant vibration, that flows freely from the center of his luminous spirit, you remember at a molecular level, that we are all holy, sacred and divine.” Enough said …

HENRY GRIMES’ LIGHT SHINES EVEN BRIGHTER

If it’s even possible for the statuses of pop artistsTaylor Swift, Beyoncé Knowles or J.Cole to be upgraded beyond their current recognition as some of the brightest lights in the history of entertainment, I could imagine that sort of elevation becoming a near certain probability if they ever appear in nearly 90 recordings with world renowned […]

AN ALBUM (OR TWO) IN MY HEAD (0062)

JOSÉ JAMES YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES: THE MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY BLUE NOTE 2015 An interesting personal but peripheral observation: I couldn’t immediately come up with a list of male baritone Jazz vocalists whom I listen to on a regular basis. My personal prejudice probably relegated baritones to R&B or Country-Western music, I’m not […]

AN ALBUM (OR TWO) IN MY HEAD (0061)

If you’re new to this series, be warned that my musical taste is all over the map, and many of the albums you’ll see here will not be covered by mainstream media. Kendrick Lamar, an artist whose album is featured this week, represents an exception. Linda Sharrock — unfairly remembered as only the wife of avant […]