Radicalized through no fault of her own … I have three broad thoughts about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s earthly departure that may appear clumsy to place in one post, so I’ll stick to the most obvious one — remembrance — and consider what else to share later. RBG — who fought for social equity until, […]
Read More Rest in Love, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)We lost DeWayne Julius Rogers, better known to us as “D.J. Rogers”. Sadly ignored, Rogers was a singer and songwriter who brought the organically-visceral power of Soul Music to his craft just as hard as any of the more famous legends in the business. His awareness of the Black diaspora chapter in America. His command […]
Read More Unsung Soul Music Legend D.J. Rogers (1948-2020)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 […]
Read More In Loving Remembrance of Muhal Richard AbramsI’m currently reflecting on the loss of Dick Gregory, who was 84. While much of the media will spend the day filling your ears with love-in stories about how much of a good comedian he was — a point I can definitely nod my head to — you likely won’t hear much about the context […]
Read More Rest in Love, Dick GregoryI’m saddened to hear that Rock luminary, elder and Allman Brothers Band co-founder, Gregg Allman, has passed on. It’s not hard to say that at 69 years of age — with a willingness and skill to create music that matters — Allman’s earthly departure is a life cut short of inspiring additional thousands of future musicians, […]
Read More Thank You, Gregg Allman. You’re Bigger Than Southern Rock.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 […]
Read More Goodbye, Al JarreauWhen placed in chains, they created spirituals that gave birth to much of the music you hear today. Gave them tough, green leaves — long thought to be degenerative cabbage shoots — and the resulting simmered collard greens they made have graced the menus of countless restaurants. Shut their writers out of the mainstream publishing […]
Read More Remembering David Mancuso, Loft LordWhen placed in chains, they created spirituals that gave birth to much of the music you hear today. Gave them tough, green leaves — long thought to be degenerative cabbage shoots — and the resulting simmered collard greens they made have graced the menus of countless restaurants. Shut their writers out of the mainstream publishing […]
Read More Remembering David Mancuso, Loft LordYou could call singer Sharon Jones one of the last of a small and talented community of Soulful belters. The community just became smaller yesterday with cancer taking Jones away from us. She was 60 years old. You know the type of belters I’m talking about. Koko Taylor is a name that comes to mind. […]
Read More Goodbye, Sharon JonesLosing Bernie Worrell to cancer last Thursday is indeed a sad event, but unlike Prince’s departure, we were given a heads-up that Worrell’s earthly end was near. What makes me equally sad is the vast number of people who don’t know who Bernie Worrell was, and his influence on music. Think about Alexander Pushkin’s enormous […]
Read More BERNIE WORRELL AND THE BEAUTIFUL AFRICAN AESTHETIC
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