Author Archives: The Independent Ear

Interview: Toyin Spellman-Diaz/Imani Winds

Posted on February 2, 2009 by The Independent Ear

Members of Imani Winds backstage. That’s Toyin Spellman-Diaz in between John Patitucci and Joe Lovano.  Flautist Valerie Coleman next to Patitucci, bassoonist Monica Ellis next to Lovano.  (Not shown: Mariam Adam, clarinet; Jeff Scott, French horn.)   One of the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Artist's P.O.V. | 1 Comment

Soundviews: Highly Recommended Records

Posted on January 27, 2009 by The Independent Ear

Soundviews is a weekly feature produced by Willard Jenkins for WPFW, Pacifica Radio in Washington, DC at 89.3 FM, that focuses on highly recommended new & recent releases.  The most recent installments of Soundviews have been as following:   Week … Continue reading →

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Ancient/Future: January 22, 2008 Playlist

Posted on January 27, 2009 by The Independent Ear

Ancient/ Future is a bi-monthly radio program hosted by Willard Jenkins on WPFW, Pacifica Radio for the Washington, DC metro area at 89.3 FM.  Ancient/Future playlists will be regularly posted at The Independent Ear.                       MLK & Enter: The … Continue reading →

Posted in General Discussion | 1 Comment

FESMAN 2009: World Festival of Black Arts

Posted on January 27, 2009 by The Independent Ear

I had the pleasure of joining Randy Weston at the United States launch of The World Festival of Black Arts, FESMAN 2009, on January 14 at the United Nations in the Chamber of Economic and Social Council.  FESMAN 2009, which will take … Continue reading →

Posted in General Discussion | 4 Comments

2008: The Year in Recordings

Posted on December 11, 2008 by The Independent Ear

One afternoon hanging out with a good friend and fellow writer in the Crescent City during my November completion of the Randy Weston book manuscript for our publisher (Duke University Press) we started speculating on the various end-of-the-year lists we’d been … Continue reading →

Posted in General Discussion | 2 Comments