“Pop” Music then and now – 1964 – 2014 – Diversity vs. Sameness???

callison2So I’ve written before that 1964 was a big year for me, at the age of 13 I visited the World’s Fair in New York, when it was still a big thing, saw Johnny Callison of the Phillies hit the game winning home run in the All Star game – live!  I also attended my one and only World Series game, where I saw “Uncle”  Barney, my mother’s first cousin throw a knuckler to Mickey Mantle which he planted in the right field stands to set the all-time record for most homers in World Series play!! So when I started thinking about the changes in music through the years, I figured that was a good place to start!! In 1964, Rock and Roll was about 10 years old and going full-bore. From Rolling Stone….. Read More

“Into the Morning” with Kenny Barron and Dave Holland Part 1 – “Billie’s Bounce”

Beyond the Messy Truth - Van Jones

Kenny Barron Dave HollandSo over the last few days, I have listened to the new album from Kenny Barron and Dave Holland The Art of Conversation and I will try to write about it tomorrow. But for now let’s go “into the morning” with a video of Kenny and Dave performing “Billie’s Bounce” and for folks like me, here’s a little about the song… from Wikipedia… Read More

Amanda Kyle Williams – Stranger in the Room (Keye Street Series #2)

Stranger iin the roomOk so I did not really enjoy the first half of Amanda Kyle Williams The Stranger that You Seek, but the second half of the book was really good, and propelled me on to the second book in the Keye Street series Stranger in the Room. For me, there was no weak first half in this book, it grabbed me from the start and did not let go until the last page! Miki Ashton, Keye Street’s cousin returns home after a night on the town, puts the key in the front door of her house, before she can open the door, she hears footsteps in the supposedly empty house!! When she makes her way to the window in the front of the house, and peers in, she sees a slightly overweight man standing in the shadows, as he stands there he forms a gunwith his fingers and he pretends to shoot Miki!!  So begins this great twisting mystery!! Who was this stranger in the room?? Why was he there?? Is he the source of the mysterious calls, and noises that plague Miki?? Read More

Exploring the Latest Release from Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio – We’re Back

We're BackTo create the latest release from Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio,  you start with drummer Gerry Gibbs, son of vibraphonist Terry Gibbs. Then you add some bass from legendary bassist Ron Carter, and finally you let pianist Kenny Barron loose to weave his way  in and around the deep grooves laid down by his mates. You then mix in some fantastic covers of some big hits from the 60s and 70s, and when it all comes together you call it We’re Back, the latest release form Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio! Their first album was self-titled and released about a year ago and spent a number of weeks atop the JazzWeek Charts, their lastet release We’re Back, hit the shelves in September and has been number 1 on the JazzWeek Chart for the last six weeks!! Read More

Norwegian Sven Magnus Carlsen retains his World Chess Championship! Go Norway!!

Magnus_Carlsen2So this week I discovered another Norwegian writer Jorgen Brekke, who I really like, and another blues artist Magnus Berg whose music will find a home in my music library! Then today I read that the reigning World Chess Champion Norwegian Magnus Carlsen retained his title by defeating challenger Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen won after the completion of the 11th game of the 12 scheduled games. The match ended on November 23rd with Carlsen winning three games, losing one and drawing seven. So who is this Magnus Carlsen….. from Wikipedia Read More

Where Monsters Dwell – (Odd Singsaker Book #1) – Jorgen Brekke – Hop on the Brekke Bandwagon!!

Where Monsters DwellWhen I first picked up Where Monsters Dwell by Jorgen Brekke, I knew nothing about the book, but when I read what Steve Berry wrote about the book….

“History pulses with life and excitement in this chilling and foreboding read. Jorgen Brekke delivers what thriller readers crave, or at least what this reader craves – action, history, secrets, conspiracies, and international settings. Couldn’t ask for anything more.” Read More

This Date in Music – November 22, 1941-Happy Birthday, Jesse Colin Young

Jesse Colin Young

Jesse Colin Young – November 22, 1941

Today we celebrate the birthday of the leader of The Youngbloods and solo artist Jesse Colin Young!  Who was born Perry Miller on November 22, 1941 in New York City. His mother was a violinist and his father an accountant.  From 1969 to 1972 Young recorded four albums with band mates: Jerry Corbitt (guitar), Lowell “Banana” Levinger (keyboard/guitar) ,and Joe Bauer(drums). Obviously, “Get Together ” was their biggest hit! One of my favorite songs of the Youngbloods comes from the album Rock Concert. “It’s a Lovely Day” Read More

Exploring the Music of Jazz Saxophonist Vincent Herring on his birthday – November 19th!!

Vincent HerringAmong those who are celebrating their birthdays today is jazz saxophonist Vincent Herring, who was born on this day, November 19th in 1964. The year of the great Phillies collapse and the year I went to both a World Series game and the baseball All-Star game in New York. It was a great year for a 13 year-old! Anyway, back to Vincent Herring, even though he has released albums as a leader since 1989’s American Experience, I just discovered his music back in January, when I listened to his 2013 release The Uptown Shuffle, to say the least I was very impressed by his playing!! You can read my post New Jazz from Saxophonist Vincent Herring – The Uptown Shuffle!! to find out more about Vincent and the album. Tonight to celebrate Vincent’s 50th, I thought I’d go back and listen to one of his earliest  albums Dawnbird released in 1993 on the Landmark label. Ron Wynn write this about the album in his review at AllMusic…. Read More