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The Universe and John Coltrane: The Physics of Cosmic Vibrations
by Victor L. Schermer
The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe Stephon Alexander 272 Pages ISBN: # 13: 978-0465093571; # 10: 0465093574 Basic Books 2016 On the face of it, the premise that jazz and physics are related disciplines seems strange and remote. Because of its spontaneous nature, rhythmic pulse, and emphasis on emotion, jazz is a personal, subjective artistic means of expression which is accessible to almost ...
Continue ReadingJohn Coltrane: Trane 90
by Stefano Merighi
Coltrane l'apprendista, il collaboratore di talento, il leader, il visionario. È davvero possibile suddividere la carriera di John Coltrane attraverso questi ruoli ben distinti? O piuttosto la sapienza coltraniana si affina contando tuttavia già su una forza di partenza tutta particolare, e straordinaria? A parte le incisioni dei primi anni Cinquanta, infatti, sembra che la maturità di Coltrane sia già compiuta dalle prime importanti sessioni con Miles Davis; che il sassofonista sia cioè già toccato dalla grazia ...
Continue ReadingJazz and Philosophy
by Douglas Groothuis
Philosophy warms to jazz, but not as much, perhaps, to rock or blues. We can talk through the night about rock and blues, and it may be fun. But just how philosophical can we get about rock and blues--even with the help of a few smart friends and a few adult beverages? Rock is the rambunctious and electrified child that came out of the blues, and the blues are a way to make pain bearable and even enjoyable, once the ...
Continue ReadingDr. Cornel West: A Real-Life Superhero
by Christine Passarella
This column focuses on the lives of people searching for and finding a human connection inspired by the life and music of the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane. Trane was a spiritual, gifted jazz musician dedicated to loving people through his heart which exquisitely came out of his instrument. I have come to discover that there are presently many people who are influenced by him even decades after his passing. This column will make an attempt at answering the question: “How ...
Continue ReadingChasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
by Victor L. Schermer
John ColtraneChasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary Meteor 17 and Crew Neck Productions2017 Because it is poised to contribute to the image of John Coltrane in popular culture for years to come, a thoughtful appraisal of this film is very important. Promoted at major film festivals and released to theaters worldwide, Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, directed by John Scheifeld (noted for The U.S. vs. Lennon (Liongate, 2006)--and other films about iconic cultural figures ...
Continue ReadingPhiladelphia Jazz: A Brief History
by Jack McCarthy
This article was first published at the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia website. Jazz began to emerge as a distinct musical style around the turn of the twentieth century, a merging of two vernacular African American musical styles—ragtime and blues—with elements of popular music. New Orleans, the “cradle of jazz," was the most important city in this process, with Chicago and New York playing particularly significant roles in the 1920s and 1930s. By the mid-twentieth century Philadelphia had become ...
Continue ReadingThe Cultural Politics of Jazz Collectives: This Is Our Music
by Ian Patterson
The Cultural Politics of Jazz Collectives: This Is Our Music Edited by Nicholas Gebhardt and Tony Whyton 250 Pages ISBN: 978-1-138-780602-0 Routledge 2016 The recording of jazz history has overwhelmingly focused on individuals. Yet while biographies that lionize great jazz men--women are sorely underrepresented--abound, the socio-political environment in which all musicians make and play jazz--the networks and collaborations that help nourish the music--is often ignored, or considered only in passing. In The ...
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