Nov 29, 2013
If age and experience set pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Julian Lage apart, superior musicianship and mutual respect bind them together. On their live duet recording, Free Flying, Hersch, a seasoned player and composer recognized as one of the most creative jazz personalities of his generation, finds common ground...
Nov 29, 2013
I just read a really wonderful, succinct version of the story of Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights" celebrated by Jews around the world beginning this evening in the Huffington Post. I urge you to read it, and if you have friends and family who are unfamilar with the holiday, which is in no way to be called the "Jewish...
Nov 28, 2013
We all have much to be thankful for today, and so let us begin the day by sharing the sentiment of this song, written by Irving Berlin and sung by Erin Bode, the Official Straight No Chaser Song of Thanksgiving Day:
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my...
Nov 27, 2013
Twenty-four hours to go before the big Thanksgiving feast! What would go better with some turkey than some "Giblet Gravy", courtesy of guitarist George Benson.
Those who only know Benson from his smooth jazz or Top 40 recordings don't realize that he was one of the funkiest and fastest guitar slingers in his early days....
Nov 26, 2013
Legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Foreststorn ‘Chico’ Hamilton died on Monday, November 25, 2013, in New York City at the age of 92.
Born September 20th, 1921 in Los Angeles, Hamilton had a fast track musical education in a band with his high school classmates and future jazz legends Charles Mingus, Illinois...