Archive for Commentary

Happy Birthday, Miles Davis!

// May 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // Commentary, News

Miles Davis, circa Kind of Blue (1959). CREDIT: Don Hunstein © Sony BMG Entertainment

Today marks what would have been the 84th birthday of Miles Davis.

Late last year, the US House of Representatives decided to pay tribute to to his quadruple-platinum selling album, Kind of Blue. In a unanimous vote of 409-0, they recognized Davis’s contribution to jazz and reaffirmed the genre as a national treasure. Read more at Wikipedia.

That’s some talent! How often can anyone get Congress to agree on anything?  Happy Birthday to one of the greats of jazz!

Happy Birthday, Fats Waller!

// May 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Commentary, News

Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Today we send birthday wishes to one of the great Jazz pianists of the 20th century, Thomas Wright Waller, better known to Jazz fans as Fats Waller.

Famous for classics such as “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” he also appeared in the classic film “Stormy Weather” with Lena Horne, who passed away earlier this month.

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Great News For Jazz In New Jersey! (Bad News For Whoever Writes UCPAC’s Press Releases)

// December 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Commentary, News

The newly renovated Union County Performing Arts Center's fascade.

The newly renovated Union County Performing Arts Center's fascade.

Great news for live Jazz fans in New Jersey!

Union County Performing Arts Center has been chosen (along with New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall and 18 other venues) as a Member of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Jazz Touring Network. See their press release here.

What does this mean for you, the Jazz fan?

More live jazz, more frequently with more performers! Who could argue with that? (more…)

A Little (belated) Thanksgiving Jazz Humor

// December 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Commentary

Ok, admittedly this has little to nothing to do with New Jersey, but it does deal with Jazz and being that we just had Thanksgiving a few days ago, I figured I’d be forgiven for sharing this humorous litle ditty.

Sung by Garrison Keillor of NPR’s “A Prarie Home Companion“, here is a humorous recounting of some (presumably) fictional Thanksgiving statistics.

Listen here:

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A Prarie Home Companion is a weekly, live radio variety show and can be heard on National Public Radio every weekend. Find your local station.

Falling Into Jazz

// October 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Commentary

The following “love letter” for Jazz was written by our own Aditi Tuteja, after being introduced to jazz music during her recent move from Guragao, India to the US.

Its been just two months that I have fallen for the Jazz Music, I enjoy it and I want to listen more & more. In the beginning It was not easy to understand Jazz….The depth and passion behind this music was evident, when I met people who love jazz, getting to know why they love it! has provided interesting insights and great stories.

Picture 1

Thankfully I have had chance to learn from my dear friend Dave, and I am especially fortunate to have met Ms. Yvette Glover & Stan Myers, both of whom have extreme knowledge about the people & the music in New Jersey.

Stan’s husky voice is the perfect complement to his uncanny knowledge about Jazz. I love how he describes the artists from past and expresses the need for this history, and legacy to be passed on to the new generation.
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