Ed Feser has another terrific earlier posting on Steely Dan (I recently brought attention to this one). Ed engages with Roger Scruton’s analysis of “popular” music. In older musical traditions, the focus was on the music itself, which had only a contingent relationship to the performer even when the performer was the one who composed it .…
As the title of this piece indicates, we’ve been down this road many a time. What makes for the communal pool of knowledge and musical material into which jazz musicians leap—and will leap in the future? Or is that pool just dry? I’ve not yet fully worked out my feelings about Schwarz’s piece. I want…
Louis Armstrong has become a kind of sub-industry in contemporary theater. What’s in the briefcase and why is Satch so happy? Giraud AbramJazzLouis Armstronglouis armstrong housemusicUnited States Information Agency
Decent theatrical documents of rock concerts are few and far between. Only two come to mind: The Last Waltz and Stop Making Sense. Previous efforts such as The Song Remains the Same and Shine a Light while they have their moments, are in the case of the former, a bit tiresome, and in the case…
Obituary from the LA Times music blog. Here is David’s website. Branford MarsalisDavid WareJazzmusicsaxophone
Some very positive reviews in The Economist, The Telegraph, the NYT, and The Independent. I’d imagine that readers attracted to Byrne’s book might also appreciate Oliver Sacks’ book Musicopilia. Unless new profit-sharing models evolve, musicians can no longer make a living from recording. Something will have to give, he says: “I smell another revolution in the works.” The flip…
Another lovely collaboration between Wynton and Paul. Read their chat about working together. As usual, Paul talks about the process. JazzmusicPaul RogerssoundWynton Marsalis
Michael S. Rozeff over at Lew Rockwell has, as usual, a nice squib on jazz and freedom. duke ellingtonfreedomJazzMichael Rozeffmusic
The Louis Armstrong House and Museum took a step toward further raising its profile by hiring its first curator in David L. Reese. JazzLouis Armstronglouis armstrong housemusic
Jazz As A Liberal Arts Education Liebman more directly argues that a jazz education, though unlikely to result in a full-time performance career, provides exposure to a lot more than technical knowledge. “Playing jazz combines several qualities: instinct, honesty, confidence, experience, trust, imagination and a positive attitude . . . From Why Jazz Education? david…
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