Author Archives: The Independent Ear

Old friend Steve Schwartz, the former and much-lamented long time jazz radio show host at Boston’s WGBH who was axed during that station’s draconian program grid change last year, sent me a very provocative recent article. In the February 10-12 … Continue reading →

One of the finest performances at last month’s Jazz Education Network Conference in Atlanta was turned in by a quartet led by the prolific and inquisitive violinist Christian Howes. It had been a minute since I’d seen Christian, a fellow … Continue reading →

Last weekend at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club provided the fortunate listener with two sterling examples of the intersection of artistry and stagecraft. If you haven’t been to the Kennedy Center Jazz Club, physically and artistically its an attractive and … Continue reading →

Next weekend February 15-18 marks the 4th annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, produced by DC-area based Texas tenor man and ace educator Paul Carr and his wife Karmen. Back in the late 1980s and through the 90s, the much-loved DC-area vocalist … Continue reading →

There are certain musicians who are a breed apart; such is the case with the Cubano pianist Omar Sosa. Born in Camaguey, Cuba’s largest inland city, Omar Sosa is a true world citizen. When he left Camaguey, he spent significant … Continue reading →