I arrived in New Orleans Thursday, and I've barely rested since. I'm ambivalent about the whole "Katrina Anniversary" thing: one the one hand, it seems shallow and crude and beside the point; on the other, markers are makers and, when it comes to journalism, pegs are pegs. And so many smart and hard-working people in New Orleans are making use of this moment to highlight what's … [Read more...] about when katrina turned two
walking to new orleans
Apologies to Fats Domino for stealing his line -- especially since I'm flying, anyway, on JetBlue. But these rains threaten to slow air traffic to a crawl anyway. I'm heading back to New Orleans for another long stay--probably through October, to pick up where I left off on stories that continue to unfold, mostly about The Fight for Music in New Orleans and What That … [Read more...] about walking to new orleans
to the max
Max Roach died yesterday at 83, silently in his sleep. But from his teens until his death he was gloriously unsilent as a drummer, composer, bandleader, organizer, activist and fearless creative soul. Roach was one of those few who helped define what bebop sounds like but who transcended that and every other category. It was hardly coincidence that Roach was at the drums for … [Read more...] about to the max
sweet home chicago, sweet home new orleans
Wherever they go these days, musicians from New Orleans spread not just their time-honored sense of spiritual joy and rhythmic magic but also a newfound message of purpose and conscience. I reflected on all that anew, and on the deep connections between New Orleans and so many other American cities when I was asked to write a program note for an August 24th free concert at … [Read more...] about sweet home chicago, sweet home new orleans
a tale of one trumpeter’s will (part one)
Terence Blanchard's story, as told through his horn: For the past twenty years, Terence Blanchard's music has supported Spike Lee's stories. Now, inspired by Lee, Blanchard tells his own tale, furthering both his own artistry and the healing process throughout New Orleans. Blanchard's new CD, "A Tale of God's Will"(Blue Note, out 8/14) adapts the music he composed for Lee's HBO … [Read more...] about a tale of one trumpeter’s will (part one)