Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Weather Report was a jazz fusion band (from 1970 to 1986) founded by keyboardist Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and bassist Miroslav Vitous. During their tenure in the jazz world, members came and went, with Zawinul and Shorter always there. They usually maintained a quartet which was rounded out with … Continue reading Spotlight 06/29/21: Weather Report
Author: jblackstarr
novelist and screenplay writer, also known as "the wordsmith", "blackstarr", "the literary sculptist", as well as "the master of word manipulation".
Manic Monday Music Medicine 06/28/21
Photo by Adrianna Calvo on Pexels.com OK, you sleepyheads – up and at ‘em! Another Monday has descended upon us. Well, most of us, anyway. I’ve got some Musical Monday Meds for you to help cure the mania of a new week. And, if you know like I know, a cup or two of java … Continue reading Manic Monday Music Medicine 06/28/21
Change
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Well, not that kind of change. As predicted by virtually everyone who has ever lived in our modern age, the world is rapidly changing. Of course, I see the change being reflected in the music that I play, as well as in the ways that I listen to it. As … Continue reading Change
Weekend Mix – 06/26/21
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com I hope you’re having a laid back kinda day - no rush, no worries, no bother. Here’s a SMOOTHE playlist taken from a much longer one called Chilled Jazz, which was curated by Spotify. Chilled Jazz contains 118 songs, so I guess I’m going to create another one from it … Continue reading Weekend Mix – 06/26/21
JAZZ(Y) – 06/25/21: Three Lovely Ladies
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com Three beautiful women and three marvelous voices: Vanessa Williams, Brenda Russell, and Randy Crawford. Vanessa has always been better known as an R&B artist (as well as an actress and Miss America Pageant winner). Her most acclaimed recording was The Comfort Zone (1981). That said, I took a liking … Continue reading JAZZ(Y) – 06/25/21: Three Lovely Ladies
Live: Location, location, location!
Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com Sometimes, the setting, the location, and the splendor of a live show provoke as much anticipation as the artists who are performing: Carnegie Hall, Montreux, Ronnie Scott's, The Blue Note, and, of course, the list goes on. Without much ado, here are some of the best live recordings, in … Continue reading Live: Location, location, location!
Essentials: 06/23/21
Photo by Stas Knop on Pexels.com I've always been a huge fan of the saxophone, and saxophonist Dexter Gordon (Feb. 27, 1923-April 25, 1990) was one of my favorite artists. Can you imagine being the role model and inspiration to such greats as John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins??!! That's as great a notch in one's … Continue reading Essentials: 06/23/21
Spotlight 06/22/21: Rick Braun
Photo by Lucas Craig on Pexels.com I'm from Philadelphia, PA, and just North of here is a place called Allentown, about an hour's drive. There, Rick Braun was born in 1955. He started out playing drums, but switched to the trumpet, following his brother's lead. He also excelled at the flugelhorn and keyboards. He has … Continue reading Spotlight 06/22/21: Rick Braun
Monday Morning Mix 06/21/21
Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels.com As promised (about a week later, albeit), an eight-hour playlist to chase away those Monday blues. I ran a tad bit over, but one never knows how quickly one can slip out that door at the end of the day - may take longer than you have anticipated. I … Continue reading Monday Morning Mix 06/21/21
Navigating SMOOTHE.
Photo by Daniel Maforte on Pexels.com If you haven’t been to the site before now, then you’ve missed a lot. If you’d like to start from the beginning, this link will take you there. (Unfortunately, the links to music on TIDAL may not work anymore, as I am no longer a TIDAL subscriber)). That will … Continue reading Navigating SMOOTHE.
Smoothe 