5/13/21
Coltrane Watch
The Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation (SMCDC) issued a press release on the status of the Coltrane House on May 3, 2021, and I called Tonnetta Graham, President of the SMCDC, the next day to get some clarity on a few things.
4/1/21
Coltrane Watch:
Interventions surrounding the Coltrane House over the last decade—from nearly all quarters of the Philadelphia jazz community—prove how anguished advocates have been over the condition and the future of the property.
4/1/21
Keep Going, and It Will Happen
This is a time-honored tradition of how the art of jazz is transferred from one generation to the next. The elder gives from a position of experience and honesty. The younger receives with a spirit of openness and humility. This process is essential to preserving the integrity and quality of the music while allowing space for it to grow and evolve.
3/25/21
A Shot in the Arm for the Arts
The line of people snaked around the block looked like it wasn’t going to ever move. Yet there was very little grumbling from the participants in spite of the frigid morning air. Everyone wanted to be here. This wasn’t a queue for a Black Friday sale on televisions or to buy tickets to the first of the live shows we can’t wait to see.
3/25/21
Coltrane Watch
There have been questions from some quarters about why there is such renewed interest in the Coltrane House, which can be roughly summarized with, “Where was the jazz community all the time the historic home was slowly deteriorating?”
3/25/21
Coltrane Watch:
There have been questions from some quarters about why there is such renewed interest in the Coltrane House, which can be roughly summarized with, “Where was the jazz community all the time the historic home was slowly deteriorating?”
3/18/21
Coltrane Watch
Questions surrounding how any person or business gets a demolition permit for a building are rampant in the jazz community, especially when it concerns the John Coltrane House at 1511 North 33rd Street, or in this case, the house at 1509 North 33rd Street, which is attached to the historic home site. The owners of 1509 have applied for, but not yet received, a demolition permit.
3/18/21
Coltrane Watch:
Questions surrounding how any person or business gets a demolition permit for a building are rampant in the jazz community, especially when it concerns the John Coltrane House at 1511 North 33rd Street, or in this case, the house at 1509 North 33rd Street, which is attached to the historic home site. The owners of 1509 have applied for, but not yet received, a demolition permit.
2/11/21
Let Freedom Ring
When my youngest daughter was in middle school, I discovered that Black History Month was a tricky proposition. Her sixth-grade teacher’s announcement of the February events was met by a chorus of mostly-white classmates who collectively groaned, “Do we have to talk about slavery again?”
2/3/21
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation announces grant award to WRTI
This grant will provide general operating support and funds for innovation, and promote investment in the future of public jazz radio in Philadelphia.
1/27/21
Sumi Tonooka
Awarded a New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America in 2019, pianist/composer Sumi Tonooka found herself inspired by the root systems of trees.
1/21/21
New Documentary Shines a Light on the Legendary Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
Precious places exist all around Philadelphia, and tonight, one of the city’s most important jazz clubs will be celebrated in a Scribe Video center documentary, which is free for the public to see when it premieres at 7 p.m. tonight.
1/21/21
New Documentary Shines a Light on the Legendary Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts Educator Lovett Hines talks about survival and what’s next
Precious places exist all around Philadelphia, and tonight, one of the city’s most important jazz clubs will be celebrated in a Scribe Video center documentary, which is free for the public to see when it premieres at 7 p.m. tonight.
1/20/21
Albert “Tootie” Heath
1/18/21
The Revolutionary Spirit of Jazz on MLK Day
In past years, celebrations for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day would have included live musical performances and service projects throughout Philadelphia that people could participate in shoulder to shoulder, and hand to hand. This year, the Philadelphia Jazz Project and the Museum of the American Revolution are among the partners who have looked to highlights of celebrations past to create a beautiful and moving video celebration featuring Philly jazz artists such as V. Shayne Frederick and the renowned Philadelphia graphic artist Eric Battle. While we may not be shoulder to shoulder, we can still be heart to heart. “We Shall Continue: Celebrating MLK Weekend with the Philadelphia Jazz Project” can be viewed online on demand for anyone who needs to center themselves in the spirit of the day.
1/6/21
Immanuel Wilkins: In His Solitude
A couple of weeks ago, Immanuel Wilkins, 23, was awakened at home in Upper Darby when his mobile phone buzzed with congratulatory messages lauding the selection of his debut album, Omega, by The New York Times as the #1 Best Jazz Album of 2020.