Oct 31, 2013
Ah Halloween with all its sugary excess is upon us once again. Here in Western Massachusetts we’ve had two years in a row of tough weather around October 31st, with a freak snow storm in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Tonight they are calling for rain, but I hope the little ghouls in the neighborhood brave the...
Oct 24, 2013
To say that singer Cassandra Wilson is “versatile” is to require a redefinition of the word. She effortlessly moves from the Great American Songbook to dusky blues to reimagined 21st century pop tines with ease. She records with groups ranging from solo piano accompanists to string sections to a band playing...
Oct 21, 2013
Alexis Cuadrado is an artist in pursuit of lyricism, a lyricism that functions as a necessary contrast to the schizophrenic logic of a sick city and society; like the voice that prevails against chaos and injustice so as to make its message heard. - Melcion Mateu, author and literary critic
This blog has examined the...
Oct 10, 2013
Jazz has increasingly shown itself to be a universal musical art form. Events like International Jazz Day showcase artists from around the globe, with the music as the glue the holds together their combos and presentations. One cannot help but be optimistic about the global future, when the bandstand can accommodate...
Oct 9, 2013
Perhaps the hottest band on tour right now is an elite lineup of former members of one of jazz’s most influential bands, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. The Messenger Legacy features bassist Reggie Workman, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, trumpeter Brian Lynch, tenor saxophonist Billy Pierce, pianist Donald Brown,...