For me, it all started here, so this short story bears repeating. I was hanging out with a cousin, doing the usual late 70s thing. That is, listening to music, playing backgammon, and wondering if we’d ever get laid. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’llRead More

Discovering that Keith Jarrett could play the guitar was a little like finding out that Bob Dylan could speak coherently. Wait, what? You May Also Like: Keith Jarrett Returned to His Strengths on ‘Testament Paris/London’ Noah Haidu – ‘Slowly: Song For Keith Jarrett’ (2021)

The music Sun Ra never disappoints. His “Arkestra” had the ability to swing like crazy in conventional contexts as well as more “out” presentations. You May Also Like: Ivo Perelman, Mat Maneri, Mark Feldman + Jason Hwang – ‘Strings 2’ (2018) Ivo Perelman – ‘Strings 3’ (2019) Golden Dawn ArkestraRead More

There are many descriptions of the album The Ghost of Tom Joad as being “bleak” and “tuneless,” which leads me to wonder how exactly is a person supposed to render situations of no hope in an artistic context. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Oh, the rumors they are a’ raging. Word is that on November 19th, a recording of Bruce Springsteen doing “High Hopes” will be released in Germany. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Despite my musing last week that maybe April Joy is a more appropriate closer for this album, there’s no denying the fact that “Lone Jack” finishes things off on a note of bursting energy. You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen Pat Metheny, MayRead More

When’s the last time you sat down and wrote somebody a letter? Have you ever done it? You May Also Like: Kate Gentile – ‘Find Letter X’ (2023) Why I Avoided Herbie Hancock’s Triumphant ‘River: The Joni Letters’ For So Long Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Open Letter: StopRead More

To the statement that “Nobody sounds like Derek Bailey” comes the snarky reply, “Just who the hell would want to sound like Derek Bailey?!” You May Also Like: Joe Bailey, “Waiting” from ‘Ghosts’ (2021): One Track Mind Joe Bailey – ‘Splinters’ (2023) Plucky Strum [Sheryl Bailey & Harvie S] –Read More

The 1970s No Wave movement spawned some dark, aggressive, and beautiful music. Do those adjective belong together? Of course! You May Also Like: Rhys Chatham – Pythagorean Dream (2016) When John Frusciante Returned to Solo Work on ‘Shadows Collide With People’

I’ve always been a big fan of Jack Kerouac. There’s a lot of bad behavior in those stories, but there’s also a kind of innocent embrace of life’s possibilities. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’ Jack Bruce and Robin TrowerRead More