Aruṇ Lūthrā | अरुण लूथरा

“And this graf”

It was a bittersweet occasion as we were all sad that Satoshi was leaving, and also a joyous celebration of making music and of friendship. Akiko's joyful and swinging playing and presence made the occasion all the more joyful and memorable. We miss you, Akiko! 2/2

I am saddened by the news of the death of the wonderful organist Akiko Tsuruga. In thinking of her, I was reminded of one of my happiest memories with her, which was the incredible farewell party for guitarist Satoshi Inoue in 2010 when he left New York City to return to Japan. 1/2

I am once again asking you to stop sending us money.

But we do need your time. ⏰

zohranfornyc.com/events

Vernon Reid was born in London, England on this day in 1958. He turns 67 today. He performed with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society from 1980-1986. He founded Living Colour in 1984.

📸 Jeff Caltabiano, Brooklyn, NY, 10.8.22

An endorsement from the largest local union of professional musicians in the world sounds a little different than the others but the meaning is the same: solidarity forever. Thank you Local 802 AFM!

With the updated RCV totals just released by the Board of Elections, our campaign has officially earned the most total votes in a primary in New York City history.

Hope and solidarity won tonight, and will win again in November.

Congratulations, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social

As we head to Election Day, for folks who voted early, thank you. I know some folks have not yet made up their minds. I am making an appeal to you.

Please do not rank Cuomo. I have worked with every single one of the candidates for mayor. I will tell you he does not like us.

Zohran Mamdani has taken the lead over Andrew Cuomo in the final Emerson College New York City mayor’s race poll.

On Friday night, we walked the length of Manhattan, from Inwood Hill to Battery Park.

New Yorkers deserve a Mayor they can see, hear, even yell at. The city is in the streets.

Donald Trump ran for President promising to end wars, not start new ones. Today’s unconstitutional military action represents a new, dark chapter in his endless series of betrayals that now threaten to plunge the world deeper into chaos. In a city as global as ours, the impacts of war are felt deeply here at home. I am thinking of the New Yorkers with loved ones in harm’s way. While Donald Trump bears immediate responsibility for this illegal escalation, these actions are the result of a political establishment that would rather spend trillions of dollars on weapons than lift millions out of poverty, launch endless wars while silencing calls for peace, and fearmonger about outsiders while billionaires hollow out our democracy from within. For Americans middle aged and younger, this is all we have known. We cannot accept it any longer.

My statement on the Trump administration's illegal military actions and the wars that must end.

Economists Support Zohran Mamdani’s Plan for New York City Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral platform is a practical blueprint to tackle some of New York City’s most pressing problems.

“Taken together, Mamdani’s responsibly costed economic policies form a coherent agenda that rejects austerity and embraces the city’s power to make life more affordable for New Yorkers.”

Wonderful to catch-up yesterday with the brilliant drummer and composer, and my Konnakol Jazz Project bandmate, Jonathan Barber at his event "explor[ing] the unifying power of music in celebration of Juneteenth". Great to see you, Jonathan!

Six days left and a city to win.

zohranfornyc.com/events

I was there making music! As @thekidmero.bsky.social said, “This is a night...y'all are gonna look back on & say, ‘...I was there. I was there when NYC changed, when NYC came back to us.’” Rank @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social #1 on your ballot. Vote for a city we can win!
www.youtube.com/live/oymrVNj...

As the next Mayor, I need to be held accountable to my commitments for a more affordable New York.

And @justinbrannan.bsky.social is a candidate for Comptroller who’ll do exactly that.

NYC, give what you can before tonight’s deadline.

Billionaires ke paas already sab kuchh hai. Ab, aapka time aageya.

Billionaires already have everything. Now, your time has come.

The contrast on the debate stage Wednesday night — and in this election — could not be clearer.

Yeah, the cartoonist’s name is RIGHT THERE on the cartoon! What the heck, @mikelevin.org?!

When I see people posting about the "poll tax" on voters and how this hurts married women, I chafe at how much time I wasted breaking down Project 2025.

Also reminder everything they are doing now, my people have had to navigate, with the added stress of lynching threats.

If only Art Tatum had been able to sight-read he might’ve been able to play piano…. 🙄

What about Teddy Kotick on contrabass? Why didn’t you credit him?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Kotick

Calling all blues harmonisers! I was thinking about this classic blues turnaround phrase, and wondering if there's a standard/common practice harmonisation for it. This is what I came-up with, and it sounds good to me, but I'd love to know what all you blues pianists and guitarists think.

सरस्वती पूजा के इस पावन दिन पर, आपके जीवन में खुशियां और ज्ञान का प्रकाश हो। वसंत पंचमी मुबारक!
On this auspicious day of Saraswatī Pūja/Vasant Panchamī, may your life be filled with happiness and knowledge. Happy Vasant Panchamī!

YouTube video by Russ Spiegel Russ Spiegel - Chimera

Today I learned the sad news that drummer Anthony Pinciotti died right at the end of 2024. I had the pleasure of recording with Anthony on the Steeplechase release "Chimera", and it was a treat to make music with him. You are appreciated and missed, Anthony!

YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC Why did so many New Yorkers vote for Donald Trump?

Why did so many working class New Yorkers vote for Donald Trump last week — and even more not vote at all?

I went to Hillside Ave in Queens and Fordham Rd in the Bronx to find out. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Fc...

Notes on Fighting Trumpism - Boston Review To mobilize the abandoned working class, we need to revive the idea of solidarity.

“The Democratic Party lost—again—because it turned its back on working people, choosing instead to pivot to the right…rather than [talk about]…plans to lift thirty-eight million Americans out of poverty.”
https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/notes-on-fighting-trumpism/

Trump’s Reëlection: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
https://youtu.be/LU2atCWyAos‬

“Democrats must choose: The elites or the working class”, op. ed. by @SenSanders @BernieSanders (Independent Senator who caucuses with the Democrats):
https://archive.is/utv0x