( Read more... )

In yesterday’s issue of USA Today one of the cover stories was entitled “11 Worth a Closer Listen”. It's a fall preview of music about to hit the streets over the next few months and the title suggests that their music critics would be covering a fistful of albums that readers should pay extra attention to lest they miss their chair when the music ( Read more... )

It's easy to dis smooth jazz, especially now that much of it just sounds like instrumental urban contemporary R&B (which is the most redundant label in the world). It wasn't always like this though.

Jazz has gone through a great many progressions and derivations. This is its nature. Jazz is SUPPOSED to reflect its times and the people who create ( Read more... )

Izetta ( Read more... )

At this time of year there seem to be more celebrations and months of recognition than any other time of year. I don't know (or care) if that's true, but it sure seems that way. Maybe it's that all of the ones I actually like or celebrate are around this time of year: Black History Month, National Poetry Month, etc. Another cool one was ( Read more... )

This rant will seem like a contradiction to those who follow my writing. As someone who makes no secret about thinking the Grammys a largely vapid exercise in music industry masturbation akin to fondling one’s self while their house is burning to the ground, I must admit that, on occasion, they did one thing right (and I use the word “right” in the ( Read more... )

I wrote a poem called "What My Mixtape is Trying to Tell You" recently. I was asked a couple of times for the songs that were mentioned in it. This seemed like the best place for them ( Read more... )

I am SO geeked right now.
May 12! Mark it down, 'cause you ain't going to see me anywhere else that day.

Click to view

So anybody that knows me musically knows that I’m all about Foreign Exchange. I love this band, and I have loved them through all of their artistic permutations. I have driven out of town to see this band twice and have made no apologies for stating anywhere that they put on one of the most engaging live shows out. None of their three albums ( Read more... )

If you didn’t know who Esperanza Spalding was before she won the New Artist Grammy this year, it’s okay. While she’s had a few records out, they were jazz records, and since most of the record buying/bootlegging public doesn’t buy/steal jazz, it’s understandable. Frankly, I’m surprised she got nominated at all. She’s an actual musician multi- ( Read more... )