Category Archives: General Discussion

Some regular Independent Ear readers may recall our piece on the exceptional Washington History volume released by the Historical Society of Washington, DC last spring titled “Jazz in Washington.” That project was a labor of love for author Blair Ruble … Continue reading →

There is so much to be done on earth, do it soon! I cannot carry on the everyday life I am living; art demands this sacrifice too. Rest, diversion, amusement – only so that I can function more powerfully in … Continue reading →

Composer Randy Klein has been inspired by the poetry of the great Margaret Walker Jazz composition and what motivates composers is a source of endless fascination for me, as one who appreciates composition on the same scale as inventive improvisation. … Continue reading →

“It’s not about how much you know, it’s how much you hear that counts.” – NEA Jazz Master Benny Carter (as told to trombonist Ira Nepus; from The Quotable Musician by Sheila E. Anderson) June has always been a splendid … Continue reading →

Trumpeter Mark Rapp first came to my attention through our mutual friend & colleague, artist manager Gail Boyd of Gail Boyd Artist Management. At that point Mark had completed what turned out to be a lovely Billy Staryhorn-focused record with … Continue reading →