Carolina Chocolate Drops

Black History Month Post-?-Racial String Bands

February 9, 2011 by Howard Mandel

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are at least as entertaining as the 19th minstrel shows they cop songs and style from -- and just as confounding to any strict analysis of American attitudes about what's called "race" -- as noted in my new column in City Arts - New York. … [Read more...]

Prince plays the blues – Chocolate Drops, Wynton, Clapton, too

January 26, 2011 by Howard Mandel

The blues is big-time pop again -- processed to a triumphant apotheosis by Prince at Madison Square Garden as I detail in my new City Arts column -- (but did it ever go away? Here's the Artist with James Brown and Michael Jackson in 1983) -- reinvigorated in acoustic revivalist and hybrid form by the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who kick off a three-month US tour at Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series on Wednesday, Feb 2 -- … [Read more...]

I'm a Chicago-born (and after 32 years in NYC, recently repatriated) writer, editor, author, arts reporter for National Public Radio, consultant and nascent videographer -- a veteran freelance journalist working on newspapers, magazines and websites, appearing on tv and radio, teaching at New York University and elsewhere, consulting on media, publishing and jazz-related issues. I'm president of the Jazz Journalists Association, a non-profit membership organization devoted to using all media to disseminate news and views about all kinds of jazz.
My books are Future Jazz (Oxford U Press, 1999) and Miles Ornette Cecil - Jazz Beyond Jazz (Routledge, 2008). I was general editor of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz and Blues (Flame Tree 2005/Billboard Books 2006). Of course I'm working on something new. . . Read More…

Howard Mandel on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “And a good report it is, adding info from the scene. Thanks Lee. I've asked the IJD publicist to send…” May 2, 12:24
Lee Mergner on Whatever happened to International Jazz Day?: “JazzTimes did publish a report by Evan Haga from IJD in Havana: https://jazztimes.com/features/2017-international-jazz-day-global-concert/” May 2, 12:15
Howard Mandel on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “Wow, cool, David. Not sure I ever got to the Fillmore West (definitely didn't get to the Fillmore East). There…” Apr 28, 12:22
David Butterfield on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “I was at the Fillmore, high on Owsley for the 'Love In' concert. Been digging Charles ever since. Very nice…” Apr 28, 12:16
Howard Mandel on How Charles Lloyd stays marvelous: “Interesting, Herb. The Jazz Discography Project cites about a dozen versions Lloyd has recorded of Forest Flower -- some prior…” Apr 27, 19:56

ESP Disks — origins of jazz beyond jazz

Reviewing a sleeping giant, ESP Disks before its early '00s revival Howard Mandel c 1997, published in issue 157, The Wire It was a time before psychedelics. Following the seismic cultural disruptions of the mid '50s, rock 'n' roll had hit a … [Read More...]

William Parker, my DownBeat feature from 1998

Howard Mandel c 1998/published by DownBeat, July 1998, under headline Beneath the Underdog (the editor's reference to Charles Mingus's autobiography): There's an anchor for New York's downtown free jazz and improv "wild bunch": his name is William … [Read More...]

Matthew Shipp, my feature for The Wire, 1998

[contextly_auto_sidebar id="IFeXJPobvykRyuU4dU68FilRPv0EE8oC"] This is a complete version of the feature on pianist Matthew Shipp I wrote for The Wire, published in February, 1998 Is this the face of New York's jazz avant now? Pianist Matt … [Read More...]

Rashied Ali (1935 – 2009), multi-directional drummer, speaks

A 1990 interview with drummer Rashied Ali, about his relationship with John Coltrane. … [Read More...]

On The Corner program notes, Merkin Hall concert 5/25/09

Miles Davis intended On The Corner to be a personal statement, an esthetic breakthrough and a social provocation upon its release in fall of 1972. He could hardly have been more successful: the album was all that, though it has taken decades for its … [Read More...]