Artist-Educators, Blog, Jazz on the Tube Interview, People, Podcasts
Interview
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Singer, writer, and educator Tom Cunniffe was part of the legendary and unfortunately now-defunct Jazz.com.
He’s captured the spirit of that site and put his own unique twist on it with a unique approach to reviewing the music and shining a light on some of the great music of the past that deserves a second look – or maybe even a first look for some of us. Highly recommended.
Details: JazzHistoryOnline.com
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Artist-Educators, Blog, Jazz on the Tube Interview, People, Podcasts, Video
Interview
Download the mp3 here
Milcho’s Official website: Bio and more info
http://milcholeviev.net/new/en/
Pianist and composer Milcho Leviev was born and raised in Bulgaria in 1937 which means he had the experience of World War II, the Soviet invasion, and a long dictatorship as a child and young man.
Milcho is part of a wave of supremely accomplished musicians from Eastern Europe who’ve made huge creative contributions to jazz over the decades.
Their dedication to the art is epic and perhaps not fully appreciated.
During the Communist times, jazz was, for all practical purposes, a banned music in the Eastern Bloc. Schools did not teach it, public performances were frowned on, jazz records were seized at Customs and pursuing jazz was a potential career-killer for a professional musician.
Still they persisted.
Milcho relates how a small group of dedicated musicians and fans in his country tuned into Willis Conover’s 1 AM Voice of America jazz broadcast with their primitive tape recorders turned on.
The hope was that one of the group would get a relatively clear signal (the program was jammed by authorities) and could share the tape with others. They then laboriously worked together to transcribe the recordings so they could study them.
Why did they love jazz so much? Because it exemplified freedom.
A sampling of where that love of freedom has brought Milcho. Enjoy!
Milcho returns to Bulgaria
With Art Pepper
With Don Ellis
With Bill Cobham
With Dave Holland
Tribute to Voice of America’s Willis Conover
Bulgarian cartoon from the 60s (Jazz in banned in Heaven)
Where Milcho lives now: Thessaloniki, Greece
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
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Artist-Educators, Blog, Chroniclers, Jazz on the Tube Interview, People, Podcasts
Interview
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Musician, educator and historian Bruce Conforth introduces us to the real Robert Johnson.
Far from the one-dimensional “native genius” he is often portrayed as, Robert Johnson was a well read, well traveled, versatile artist whose genius was no accident.
Dead at the age of 26, in his short life Johnson’s art left an indelible mark on American and world music.
Conforth, a guitarist and harmonica player, has been studying Johnson’s life and work for 40 years.
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
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Artist-Educators, Blog, Cuba, Jazz on the Tube Interview, Podcasts, The Cuba-US connection, Travel to Cuba
Interview
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For further study:
M-Base.com
More information about Steve Coleman is available at M-Base.com including a detailed biography, upcoming gigs and projects, music (which you can download for free), scores, essays and interviews.
Steve’s essay on Charlie Parker is must reading.
M-Base.net
You can register here for free at m-base.net and watch the trailer for the film “Elements of One” that Steve and I talked about.
The complete film is also available for online streaming from the site for $18.00 and is well worth it.
Mongo Mangue, the piece Steve and I discussed in the interview that features Charlie Parker playing with Machito and his Afro-Cubans
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
P.S. Our unique programming is made possible by help from people like you. Learn how you can contribute to our efforts here: Support Jazz on the Tube
Thanks.
Afro-Cuban culture, Artist-Educators, Blog, Jazz on the Tube Interview, Latin Jazz, Podcasts, Puerto Rico, The Cuba-US connection, Video and audio
Interview
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I say our beloved Bronx because the Bronx is a cultural treasure that all Americans can be proud of.
In this wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, Bobby Sanabria talks about the state of jazz education, the historic and ongoing contribution to jazz by Latin music and musicians, and the history of the Bronx, one of the most important centers of musical innovation in the modern world.
“The soul of the people of the Bronx is one of resilience, resistance, and pride,” Mr. Sanabria said. “It really is a majestic history.” (New York Times)
Additional references:
The official Bobby Sanabria Web Site
BMHC just broke ground last month, on January 13th, on what will be a 300-seat theater as part of a massive housing complex of over 300 apartments on E. 162nd St. and Elton Ave in the Melrose section of the South Bronx. It will open in December of 2018. This will be the permanent home of the Bronx Music Heritage Center.
From Mambo to Hip Hop
Before the Fires: An Oral History of African American Life in the Bronx from the 1930s to the 1960s by Mark Naison and Bob Gumbs Info about the book “Before the Fires”
The Clave – The Key: Africa, the Caribbean and New Orleans
What New York City sounded like when Bobby was 15. The Puerto Rican community gathers at at the Bandshell in Central Park.
– Ken McCarthy
Jazz on the Tube
Artist-Educators, Jazz on the Tube Interview, People, Podcasts
From South Carolina to Ghana to New York City, Frank Malloy IV and his family have been on a remarkable journey.
After inspiring trips to Ghana, Frank’s parents founded the Harambee Dance Company in Charleston, South Carolina and later brought it to New York City.
Frank, in addition to being a West African Drumming instructor for United Palace of Creative Arts (UPCA) – a stunningly beautiful former movie “palace” at 4140 Broadway (near the A Train stop at 175th Street) – is also the music director of the Harambee Dance Company.
On Saturday, June 25, he’s putting together a showcase at UPCA featuring Les Nubians, Chargeux, the Harambee Dance Company, and ADH.
Details here: Soulevate – a night of jazz, funk and Afropean soul
Interview
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