Jazz stands for freedom. It’s supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don’t be a perfectionist – leave that to the classical musicians. Dave Brubeck Today is the tenth Annual International
My love of jazz began when I was in junior high. My older sister often let me hang out with her and her high school friends… one of her many generosities. One of her friends played trumpet in a jazz
Penny Rabbit & Summer Bear by Kishi Bashi Under the ocean, far from the sun Penny Rabbit, wondering “When will we ever become one? Must I suffer days to come?” Fresh out of wishes, fate wouldn’t dare He had to
I was in a Wabash funded Zoom meeting last week facilitated by Dr. Shelly Rambo of Boston University and Dr. Trace Haythorn from the ACPE and they ended our meeting with “The Keep Going Song” by the Bengsons. I hadn’t
Sunday we light the third candle of Advent… its the pink or rose colored Gaudete candle; from the Latin word meaning, “rejoice.” Advent is a season of anticipation. Anticipation can be imagined as the necessary, if not complex blending of
Recently a friend invited me to take a closer listen to some of the music of Minnesota-based, Cloud Cult. I’m really glad I did. On a peripheral level I was aware of them through KEXP (the world’s greatest independent radio
“Little Lion Man” by Mumford & Sons Weep for yourself, my man You’ll never be what is in your heart Weep, little lion man You’re not as brave as you were at the start Rate yourself and rake yourself Take
Music is vital to surviving this shelter in place era. One bright spot for me was receiving my vinyl copy of the final recording in the 11 year trilogy by Seattle’s Human Cargo, “Begin.” If you don’t know Human Cargo,
Today Strand of Oaks feels like a welcome companion in this lockdown. Please be safe, take care of yourself, care for those you can, try to check in on those who are especially vulnerable near you. Remember, that you are
Last week Thom Yorke (Radiohead), performed a haunting and beautiful song titled “Daily Battles”, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I just had to post is as I gone back to listen to it multiple times. The song is
Wild Horses by Noah Gundersen Always got a lot on my mind Feels like the net just gets bigger with time Stretching out behind me Trawling the open sea Waste a lot of breath on the bullshit I breathe a
Later this week Pascal and I are heading to the Paramount Theater to see the legendary funny man, Weird Al Yankovic. Pascal has been a fan ever since his “Manitoba cousins” introduced him to Weird Al via DVD on a
Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono Close your eyes Have no fear The monster’s gone He’s on the run and your daddy’s here Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Beautiful boy Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Beautiful boy Before you go
The Boxer by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel I am just a poor boy Though my story’s seldom told I have squandered my resistance For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises All lies and jest Still a man hears
Tomorrow night I’m going to see the great Jack White. He’s playing Seattle’s WaMu Theater. I’ve never seen him live before. Can’t wait. Not only do I love his music, and his musicianship, I also love his love of music.
Tomorrow night Lynette, Pascal, and I are going to see My Bloody Valentine at the Paramount Theater. No doubt it’s going to be a full on sensory event. My ears are ringing just thinking about it… and it’s gonna be
“The Mother” (Evangeline) by Brandi Carlile Welcome to the end of being alone inside your mind Tethered to another and you’re worried all the time You always knew the melody but you never heard it rhyme She’s fair and she
I first heard this song a couple of days ago and I haven’t been able to get it out of my heart. Some deep parts of me resonate with the feelings Bea Miller gives voice to… I’m guessing that maybe
Happy to Be Here by Julien Baker If I could do what I want I’d become an electrician I’d climb inside my head And I’d rearrange the wires in my brain A different me would be inhabiting this body Have
This year marks the 25th anniversary or the release of R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People, which contained, “Everybody Hurts.” I must be getting old. Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. When your day is long And the night, the night is yours
Chance the Rapper, together with Daniel Caesar performed an unrecorded song on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I think he’s calling it, “First World Problems.” So beautiful! First World Problems by Chance the Rapper, featuring Daniel Caesar I get
On this July 4th when the United States of America celebrates its birth as a nation, the myth of its “independence” feels like a cruel blending of narcissism, racism, sexism, classism, and naturism… Independence for whom? From whom? American “independence”
This year to celebrate Lynette’s birthday we went to The Triple Door to hear the great Naomi Wachira! It was an awesome show. Naomi even sent out a birthday wish to Lynette from the stage… so cool, and I didn’t
It’s “Thanksgiving” in the USA today… thanksgiving for whom? is a great question to be asking. USAmerican “Thanksgiving” appears to be weighted in the direction of settlers and colonizers. If you are an indigenous “American” or an African “American” or
Prince’s latest release contains the track to the above video… “Baltimore.” This song holds the memory of Freddie Gray and his killing at the hands of the Baltimore police department. We all know that Mr. Gray was not killed because
Invisible by U2 It’s like the room just cleared of smoke I didn’t even want the heart you broke It’s yours to keep You just might need one I finally found my real name I won’t be me when you
I stumbled across the above video; its a live performance of “Alive” by Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder’s introduction where he shares some of the backstory is beautiful. He shares how that experience felt like a curse at the time of
KEXP introduced me to a new artist: Perfume Genius (new artist to me, think I heard this is the third release). I heard the single, “Queen” off the new Too Bright release. So good! Peace, dwight
I stumbled across this video by a Croatian cellist duo – 2Cellos – consisting of classically trained cellists, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. I had never heard of them before, but they play instrumental arrangements of well-known pop and rock songs, as well as
