David Brent Johnson

Deluxe version of Nina Simone's final studio album coming September 23, 2025: Today, Omnivore Recordings announced A Single Woman: The Complete Elektra Recordings, the definitive version of Nina Simone’s final studio album, out November 7 on CD and Double-LP...

An expanded version of Nina Simone’s final album A Single Woman (1993) out next week. I’ve actually never heard it before & will pick this up because well, it’s Nina Simone, and because it’s from the wilderness years of her discography.

For Jack DeJohnette Tributes and tributaries, on the passing of a titan

A few more thoughts about Jack DeJohnette, who left us this week (but is still with us in many ways)

TT 555: Jack DeJohnette The drumming great has passed away at 83

For DeJohnette
iverson.substack.com/p/tt-555-jac...

A sad start to the week.

In honor of jazz promoter & pianist George Wein, we’re re-airing “Jazz From Storyville” this week, w/commentary from Boston jazz historian Richard Vacca & live performances by Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and others.

George Wein at 100 To a mentor, and a memory (one of many)

Happy 100 to a real one. I loved this man, and whether you know it or not, you love the musical reality he helped bring into being.

Jim McNeely | Pianist, Composer Jim McNeely was born in Chicago into a musical family. He started piano lessons at the age of six. When he was eight he started lessons with Bruno Michelotti, who taught him basic music theory as well...

R.I.P. to pianist Jim McNeely, one of the preeminent composers of his generation.
#JimMcNeely

The winds of musical & cultural change were blowing through the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. We'll hear background stories & live performances from Don Ellis, Charles Lloyd w/a young Keith Jarrett & Jack DeJohnette, Randy Weston, Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderley, & Bola Sete.
#MontereyJazzFestival

One for John Coltrane on the 99th anniversary of his birth.
#JohnColtrane

Jazz From Monterey, 1963: Dizzy For President! Though it received middling reviews, the 1963 concert series included the festival debuts of Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, the rollout of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Dizzy For President” campaign, one of ja...

Ahead of this year's Monterey Jazz Festival, a look back at some early ones starting with 1963, which featured the festival debuts of Miles Davis & Thelonious Monk, a swan song from Jack Teagarden, a Modern Jazz Quartet homage to MLK, & Dizzy Gillespie's presidential campaign. #MontereyJazzFestival

We are vibing the same vibe this weekend, my friend!

Various Artists - Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind The Iron Curtain - Part 1 - Jazzman 2LP Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind The Iron Curtain - Part 1 by Various Artists. DUE LATE OCTOBER 2023 Many artists achieve greatness but very few produce work that is so moving it's considered sacred

Listening to the latest entry in Jazzman’s outstanding spiritual jazz series, now up to 18 volumes. #spiritualjazz

Yes!! ❤️ Has there been any reissue of the Roots and Folklore series in recent years, either on LP or CD?

Fascinating article. I read Ellman's Joyce biography many years ago and will put this on my to-read list. Much appreciation for all that you publish, LRB.

YouTube video by Duke Ellington - Topic Come Sunday (Live)

Duke Ellington on my mind this weekend. The 1943 debut of his Black, Brown and Beige suite at Carnegie Hall includes a beautiful feature for saxophonist Johnny Hodges on “Come Sunday.” To quote the Duke himself, “We, too, sing America.”

Also why I haven’t given up my CDs.

This shop fixes student instruments for free. Now, a music legend is chipping in Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.

Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.

This weekend WFIU is re-airing my 2004 documentary about Duke Ellington’s 1941 musical revue Jump For Joy, in celebration of the station’s 75th anniversary. Jump For Joy satirized Hollywood’s treatment of race & drew many famous artists into its orbit. You can listen on demand & read more here.

So glad that Mosaic devoted a box set to him. I’m overdue to revisit it.

YouTube video by Elvin Jones - Topic Thorn of a White Rose

Happy birthday to one of my greatest heroes, Elvin Jones, b. 9/9/27. Here's Jan Hammer's "Thorn of a White Rose" from one of Elvin's best records as a leader: ELVIN JONES IS ON THE MOUNTAIN (1975). Hammer on keyboards, Gene Perla on bass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q65x...

I've been telling friends for the past few months that Document is a stunningly (and sadly) relevant album for our current moment.

Whoa, I never realized that. Just bought the recent reissue with Nate Chinen’s notes, but haven’t cracked it open yet. You’ve helped set my playlist for tonight!

The worship of guns designed solely to kill large numbers of people, the insistence on this even when it leads to the mass deaths of children & others, is idolatry. And Jesus afawk never killed anybody, though the Bible we have was written & re-written over hundreds of years by many people.

Well, if you read the Bible and the Constitution in a contextual manner, as your profile states—and I certainly agree with you!—you’re definitely not on the same page as the GOP or far-right evangelism originalism.

YouTube video by Willie Ellebie Love - John Coltrane

Feeling the need for some Coltrane today. This favorite is one of the last studio recordings made by the Classic Quartet.
#Coltrane #Love

I call gun idolatry. The GOP also loves wealth, taking from the poor and giving to the rich, denying or revoking health care for millions of Americans, polluting and destroying God’s creation, worshipping a leader who embodies Mammon… the list is endless.

Leviticus 19:33-34: “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”

I doubt their stance on gun violence and this country’s insane gun idolatry has changed after the latest mass shooting. There are all too many to comment on. Appreciate your concern, though! 😉

Well on its way to becoming TASS-lite. (Fox otoh is full-on TASS.)

Beautiful!