Originally published June 2022: Honest Patriots: Freedom Loving Americans Black and White Last year internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Ray Blue posted a comment on his Facebook page that caught my attention. I’ve known Ray for over 20 years and he also happens to be featured on my latest album. In temperament, he is typically unflappable, affable,… Continue Reading
Originally published June 2022: Memories of My Segregated American Swimming Pool America used to be full of public pools. So, what happened? Take a wild guess — racism. Young black swimmers enjoy a typical summer day at Carver Pool As Dulcé Sloan explains on The Daily Show, after World War I, public swimming pools in the U.S. soared… Continue Reading
Originally published June 2022: Remembering Ossie Davis at the Apollo with Fisk’s Jubilee Singers A large, beautiful, personally autographed photograph of Ruby and Ossie hung over my mother’s piano at home. It was a gift to her when her album Irene Day – He’s Everywhere was released. I had gifted them with a personal copy of the album.… Continue Reading
Originally published June 2022: W.E.B. Dubois at Fisk: A Discovery of The Beauty and Soul of Black Folks For years my late father maintained a scrapbook he compiled from African American publications like Ebony and The Chicago Defender. It was from his well-kept book of black memorabilia that as an adolescent I learned about Dr. W.E.B.… Continue Reading
Originally published March 2022: Good Hair Vs. Bad Hair My MNN series Global Village Talk’s 2003 documentary entitled “Good Hair vs. Bad Hair” was independently produced by my company D-Day Media Group for MNN Time Warner Cable TV in New York City. Over the ensuing several years this segment, “Good Hair vs. Bad Hair” was made available throughout… Continue Reading
Originally published March 2022: Coach Greg Popovich – Early Roots in a Historic Fair Playing Field Coach Greg Popovich didn’t pull punches about his take on Trump’s leadership and the danger he felt the former president posed to democracy. “Pop,” as he’s widely known, grew up in my hometown of East Chicago, Indiana – an industrial melting-pot blue-collar… Continue Reading
Originally published March 2022: From Antiquity to Modernity: Jason Marsalis’ Ode to Congo Square On Friday night, March 4 at Snug Harbor Jazz Club and Restaurant in NOLA Jason Marsalis celebrated his birthday by premiering a concept piece, Ode to Congo Square, that was commissioned by the Congo Square Preservation Society. Attending this show was a phenomenal experience.… Continue Reading
Originally published December 2021: Barry Harris, a Jazz Man for the Ages The maestro Barry Harris has made his transition. He is esteemed around the world and there is no doubt that his impact will continue to be felt. Irrespective of nation, creed, race, station or gender, Barry Harris’ gift for teaching and sharing his vast… Continue Reading
Originally published December 2021: Handel’s Musical Magnificence Lifts Christmas Spirits at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church Today, Sunday December 6, Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem U.S.A. presented its Annual Christmas Concert of Handel’s Messiah. It was one of the most beautifully rendered performances of the classic oratorio I have been fortunate to experience hearing over the years. During… Continue Reading
Originally published September 2021: A 9/11 Story: Finding Common Ground in Times of Tragedy and Devastation I spend this 20th anniversary of 9/11 in reverence for the deep tragedy as I reflect on what I experienced in an up close and personal way. I stood in the plaza at the foot of the World Trade Center towers… Continue Reading