Author Archives: The Independent Ear

Our dialogue on the black audience for creative music, which began with filmmaker-educator Natalie Bullock Brown, vocalist-educator Alison Crockett, and vocalist Angela Stribling, has stimulated some very interesting follow-ups. The first comes from an old friend, the distinguished writer, editor … Continue reading →

New Year, New Voices in Jazz: Monk in Motion’s Top Finalists Perform in NYC this Winter The BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center is proud to present the talented winners of this year’s Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in piano. We … Continue reading →

Trumpeter Nicholas Payton has fostered a healthy, ongoing dialogue on the subject of the creative music widely known as jazz, the implications of that “J” word (negative as he sees it; preferring Black American Music, or the acronym BAM he … Continue reading →

National Endowment for the Arts Announces $135,000 in NEA Jazz Masters Live Grants Grants support unique opportunities to engage with NEA Jazz Masters through performance and education opportunities Announcement made during 30th anniversary celebration of NEA Jazz Masters program New … Continue reading →

In the spirit of The Masked Announcer, the ancestor Joel Dorn, ace record producer (Atlantic Records, 32Jazz, etc.) who first made his mark on the music spinning platters in Philly and subsequently released a must-have compilation titled “Songs That Made … Continue reading →