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McCoy Tyner was one of our great American originals
McCoy Tyner was one of our great American originals. His piano sound and style were unlike any other. Virtuosity and virtue, soul and sophistication, tenderness and thunder; all delivered with pinpoint accuracy and concentrated intensity. Keep reading »
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About Forms
In 1990, I wrote my first extended composition, _Blue Interlude_. At that time, Jelly Roll Morton’s and Duke Ellington’s methods of constructing longer, more complex pieces were a great inspiration. Keep reading »
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Sitting next to Jeff Hamilton judging the Essentially Ellington Festival is the highlight of my year
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I truly love Jeff Hamilton. He is not only deeply soulful and totally engaged with the music, he is incredibly funny. Sitting next to him judging the Essentially Ellington Festival is the highlight of my year. Keep reading »
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Bolden is the rarest form of originator: one who invents an approach that is itself an entire universe
When Dan Pritzker approached me to do a mythic version of Buddy Bolden’s life, I was excited for the possibility. Though no recording of Bolden has ever been found, I tried to conceive of his style as a more advanced composite of Keep reading »
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JLCO trumpet section and the Juilliard jazz trumpets
Great dinner last night after our first Christmas concert at Gabriel’s (across the street from the House of Swing) with our JLCO trumpet section and the Juilliard jazz trumpets. Keep reading »
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We lost a true missionary and minister of our music this past week in Roy Hargrove
We lost a true missionary and minister of our music this past week in Roy Hargrove. Although he faced an uphill battle with his health over the years, it didn’t deter him or even slow him down from doing what he was undoubtedly born to do – minister through music. That he did until the end. Keep reading »
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One of the greatest exemplars of this axiom is Betty ‘Bebop’ Carter
This is from The Road Ahead 12 Steps to Achieving a Jazz Way of Conducting Business. I wrote this in 2011 during a difficult time for Jazz at Lincoln Center. The first step is: embody the music you serve. Following that heading was a technical breakdown of its meaning and a story that exemplified the principle in practice. Keep reading »
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Celebrating Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood 51st Anniversary
I had the honor of playing on Mister Rogers’ show in 1986. Never before or since, have I interacted with a staff that was as enthusiastic, complimentary, and fired up about their boss. From the airport to the studio each and every person gushed about Fred’s human qualities. And they weren’t at all exaggerating. Keep reading »
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In memory of Kofi Annan
A man of intelligence, humor and grace. A man with a big big heart. A trumpeter for humanity and a believer in our ascendancy through collective creativity. (I hope he doesn’t play the trumpet for the archangel Gabrielle) Keep reading »
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The soul quotient in the world is lower today.
Absolute and thorough soul through and through. Not just the Queen of song, Ms. Aretha Franklin was a fount of great stories delivered with downhome wit, intelligence and incredible insight. The soul quotient in the world is lower today. Keep reading »
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