Carl Medsker

Since: 2025 | Position: Contributor | Reviews Albums | Location: Philadelphia | Page Views: 3,344

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About Me

Half my career in healthcare, half in IT, passionate jazz fan throughout.

The Philadelphia jazz scene, well, along with a job offer, lured me east after graduating with a degree in Biology. The first 20 years of my career were with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. A Master's degree in Information Science from Drexel University led to my second career in IT. Once I retired from the life of a nomadic consultant, I relocated back to the Philadelphia area to be closer to family and to reinsert myself into the local jazz scene.

Badge

Tier

Advocate

Points Earned

5,077

Favorite Musicians / Bands

Allison Miller

Andrew Cyrille

Andy Sheppard

Anthony Braxton

Behn Gillece

Bill Frisell

Brad Jones

Chad Taylor

Charles Lloyd

Christian McBride

Craig Taborn

Dave Holland

David Murray

Eric Harland

Eric Revis

Henry Threadgill

Jaleel Shaw

James Brandon Lewis

Jason Moran

Joey Baron

John Lindberg

Linda May Han Oh

Marc Copland

Marcin Wasilewski

Mathias Eick

Matthew Shipp

Myra Melford

Nasheet Waits

Nicole Mitchell

Nubya Garcia

Orrin Evans

Patricia Brennan

Peter Bernstein

Ron Carter

Sasha Berliner

Satoko Fujii

Tomeka Reid

Tyshawn Sorey

Vijay Iyer

Wadada Leo Smith

Yelena Eckemoff

MORE FAVORITES

My Jazz Story

I kid my children that they owe their very existence to jazz. I had two career options in 1974 following graduation from a Midwest college. Fortunately for all of us Philadelphia won out, mainly due to the vibrant jazz scene. Third Street Jazz record shop quickly became my regular Saturday morning haunt, followed by evenings at the New Foxhole Cafe. Philly had many other venues, and of course, NYC was a short hop. All very exciting for a budding jazz fan. WRTI broadcast jazz full-time in those days, and Harrison Ridley Jr. taught the history of the music most Sundays. Bags, Diz and Bird introduced me to jazz. The Philly scene quickly expanded my appreciation: Rollins, Miles, Monk, Tyner, Art Farmer, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Mal Waldron, Hank Mobley, Jim Hall, Keith Jarrett, Archie Shepp, Anthony Braxton, the Art Ensemble, Ornette Coleman, Air, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Khan Jamal, Monnette Sudler, Byard Lancaster and more -- in person during my first 5 years in Philly! I am deeply grateful for the beauty, passion, and the creativity gifted to all present at those shows. Those jazz-indebted children of mine grew up to also enjoy the music and have shared numerous concerts with my wife and me during the intervening years, with more to come. Very grateful. Yes indeedy.