Author Archives: The Independent Ear

One of our earliest iterations of Tribeca Performing Arts Center’s ongoing Lost Jazz Shrines series was a season celebrating the unique legacy of Cafe Society.  In 1938 a New Jersey shoe salesman named Barney Josephson sought to open his own … Continue reading →

The first time I caught Ralph Peterson, Jr. live was a 1986 performance by the Blue Note Records band Out of the Blue (OTB).  The band, befitting its era as a sort of Young Lions on steroids unit, included Kenny … Continue reading →

R.I.P.—Brooklyn born jazz giant, pianist Ed Stoute moved on from our plane of existence to join musicians in a heaven ripe for listening to his talented fingers. Stoute traveled the world with the flavor of Brooklyn’s Bebop, with jazz standards … Continue reading →

Last week’s post featured a May 1999 performance by a special Oliver Lake Sextet in homage to Eric Dolphy at the legendary Five Spot Cafe.  Our Lost Jazz Shrines: Five Spot series actually kicked off by a very special performance … Continue reading →

In 1998 my friend, colleague and longtime arts consultant Mikki Shepard and I met with David Jackson, a then Memphis-based journalist who had done significant time in New York and to whom I’d been previously introduced by our mutual friend, … Continue reading →