Articles by Lee Whiteman

Journey into Jazz

Keith Jarrett – My Mother’s Favorite Jazz Pianist

by Lee Whiteman
May 24, 2026

My mother passed away on July 9, 2003. She was a classically trained pianist with not much interest in jazz. She taught music at PS 136 in Queens, New York, and she put up with my musical taste. She tolerated jazz pianists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, and Les McCann. My father, sister, and I did give her a copy of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha. She did hear Eubie Blake, but I do not think she ever heard Oscar ...

Journey into Jazz

Lee Whiteman: My Jazz Odyssey

by Lee Whiteman
April 20, 2026

Everybody has their own jazz journey, which details what attracted them to this art form. Something clicked when they were introduced to jazz. Each one of us has a unique story to tell about how they became entranced with jazz. So, without any reservations, here is my story. Being from New York City, you would think that I would be introduced to jazz early in my childhood. That was not the case. My mother was an elementary music ...