More from the Masters

Nat Hentoff at the Wall Street Journal on how jazz hastened the civil rights movement.

Gary Giddins in the New Yorker on guitar great Bill Frisell.

-MJ

On Freddie Hubbard R.I.P.

Freddie passed at an inconvenient time for me. I was bogged down with holidays in retail and tired. That and also Hubbard was someone whose music I always respected more than I passionately loved.
Dave Douglas did the man justice with his blog at his label

So did Darcy James Argue.

-MJ

A vital dialogue about jazz and criticism

Ben Ratliff of the NY Times (and like me, long ago of WKCR-FM) fielded questions from readers from January 12-16. It was a constructive exchange that echoes many things that I feel about jazz today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/business/media/12askthetimes.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

I just bet he wishes he could add about 12 more names to his list of contemporary genuises.

-MJ

A song for the Inauguration

Extra Golden's "Obama"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ8YZov2m0U

a coupla more from the archives

Election Night in Harlem for The Root


The current jazz revival for The Root.

The election night piece was just an example of playing a hunch and winning big. The jazz piece is close to my heart and I wish that I had had about 800 more words for it. The caliber of the music is amazing but it won't get the audience it deserves unless the jazz audience is willing to work for it. I suspect they would if there were details on how to do that work.

-MJ

Vijay Iyer's You Tube channel

There's a lengthy discussion that needs to be had about the jazz audience and the expectation of the music industry functioning as a delivery system. We'll save that for another day and just amplify that Vijay Iyer has started his own youtube channel which functions as a fine archive of highlights from his recent performances.
His own website is full of other resources as well.

-MJ

The Orlando Magic

I thought the Magic would be a good investment, and now that they are on a seven game winning streak, including four in a row out west (and a victim list that includes the Lakers, Nuggets and Spurs), the only thing left is to see if they can hold home court against Boston (01.22) and Cleveland (01.29). If they do--and of course, barring injury--Magic fans should harbor championship dreams.

-MJ

On Popular Music at The Root dot com 2008

This is on TV on the Radio's Dear Science,

This is on the Godfather of Soul

This is a QnA with Vernon Reid on the impact of the King Assassination on popular culture.

-MJ

On Jazz at the Root dot com, 2008

This is on the rise of piano trios, and new albums by Muhal Richard Abrams and Nik Bartsch.

An article very close to my heart, this is on Lee Morgan

Another trumpeter, this is on Roy Hargrove

Kind of Blue at 50.

Early '09 should see pieces on Sonny Rollins, Jazz Icons, and hopefully Josh Redman.

-MJ

At The Root dot com on the NFL's Conference Championship Sunday

This article goes to great lengths to explain that the Eagles are not a Cinderella team, nor are they this year's Giants.
Then I own up to be utterly confused as to picking between Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

-MJ

From the Archives: Cheese writing

For a little less than a year, I wrote a column on cheese for the networking site www.moli.com

Here are a few samples
This is on the American Cheese Society

This is on buying great cheese on a tight budget

This is on the rise of southern cheesemaking (ignore the photo of Humboldt Fog)

This is on cheese and nutrition

This is on Cheddar

This is on Vermont's glorious history

This is on cheese gift giving

This is on pairing wines and cheeses

This is on America's rise as an alpine cheese nation