Author Archives: The Independent Ear

Patricia Nicholson Parker resembles the wise university professor, pleasant of disposition but iron-willed when it comes to ensuring students do the right thing in her classroom. It would appear that blend of wisdom and tough-mindedness has served her well in … Continue reading →

ON THE SUBJECT OF MUSICIAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO HIS/HER AUDIENCE. Dig this… CREATE RELATIONSHIPS PLEASE EMPOWER CREATE TRUST CREATE COMMUNITY CREATE LEGACY YOUR LOCAL SCENE. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. JAZZ IS NOT JUST NEW YORK! offer present receive include convince … Continue reading →

The JEN Masters: l to r Javon Jackson, John Clayton, Bob Mintzer, Don Braden, and moderator Martin Mueller dropped some real science on a packed house during a session at last week’s Jazz Education Network conference in Atlanta; John Clayton … Continue reading →

Been away for a few days R&R with family, when up popped a truly sad Tweet from pianist Vijay Iyer, reporting on the passing on to ancestry of my favorite performance poet, Jayne Cortez. Mother of drummer Denardo Coleman (son … Continue reading →

The Open Sky 30 Recommended 2012 Record Releases (listed in alphabetical order and based on the Ancient/Future radio program, now airing on Wednesdays 10pm-midnight on WPFW 89.3 FM in the Washington, DC metro region and streaming live at www.wpfw.org) Artist/Band … Continue reading →