This episode is a love letter to the blues, with nods towards possible forebears, like the African trickster spirit, Elegba, who morphed into various protagonists of countless folktales of the African diaspora, using cunning to survive. It's e

EP05 - Johnathan Morin: The Dance is Just One Part of Me

14 days ago 1h 30m

Tap dancer Johnathan Morin talks about how his art form has taught him life lessons, and how deeper exploration of his history, and his Cree heritage informs what he does, and helps him develop more as a person. Despite what some have said,

EP04 Steve Bowie - From Aerospace to Ellington

21 days ago 46m 38s

Retired engineer Steve Bowie talks to me about meeting and working with Kenny Burrell, his lifelong love of Ellington, his Ellington Reflections podcast and the upcoming book he's writing about Cootie Williams.Despite what some have said, thi

EP 03 Travis Knights, Tap Dancer: Tapping into Lessons from the Elders, the Diaspora and History, via the Dance

26 days ago 1h 21m

Tap dancer Travis Knights is well respected in the tap dance community. In this interview, he shares what he has learned about himself, his artform and lessons from one of his most valued and important mentors, the late legend, Ethel Bruneau

Bonus

Short Notes: "My Brief Memory of Sonny Fortune"...

May 19th, 2024 8m 47s

For this short edition of the podcast - "Short Notes" - I'm recalling the experience of playing behind Sonny Fortune, a guest artist at the University of New Orleans. Two jazz ensembles got to perform with him, and when it was our turn, I fou

Trailer

Preview of Future Episodes: The Relevance of the Blues (Poem Featured: "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes)

May 12th, 2024 4m 44s

Langston Hughes' classic, The Weary Blues, opens this preview of the Jazz Legacy Podcast's examination of the blues. What does it mean? What is it's function? How has it been used? Is its relevance eternal? Despite what some have said, this

Bonus

Short Notes: A Brief Word on Pianist Willie Metcalf (1930-2004) on His 94th Birthday...

May 3rd, 2024 4m 3s

I'm postponing the next episode of the podcast, but wanted to acknowledge the 94th birthday of jazz pianist Willie Metclaf, who I was fortunate enough to know when I lived in New Orleans 20 plus years ago. If you are trying to remember his face

EP. 02: The Ellington Milestone: 125

Apr 29th, 2024 56m 12s

Ellington Orchestra alumnus Brad Shigeta, and Ellington Orchestra member James Zollar are two friends who have known each other 30 plus years. They are here talking with me about their experiences in New York, elder musicians who took them

Trailer

Preview of EP. 02: Ellington: Milestone 125

Apr 26th, 2024 8m 38s

HEre's a preview of the Ellington birthday episode. We're talkin' 'bout the Duke's legacy and music with 2 veterans of the orchestra from when Mercer Ellington was directing it. Trumpeter James Zollar (presently still with the orchestra) and

EP01: The Musical Mastery, and Pop Culture's Misrepresentation of Billie Holiday

Apr 20th, 2024 14m 38s

A look at Billie Holiday's genius, and popular culture's skewed but accepted narrative of her, which has contributed to a misrepresentation of her legacy. Despite what some have said, this music is far from dead.

Trailer

Preview of Premiere Episode -the Musical Mastery and Pop Culture's Misrepresentation of Billie Holiday

Apr 4th, 2024 1m 53s

This episode is an examination of what influences begat the sound of Billie Holiday - she spoke of being heavily influenced by people like Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith. And we'll also look at how her musical skill is overlooked, while a