We’ve had many great jazz critics and writers, but perhaps no one whose work rose to the literary, and even poetic, reaches of Whitney Balliett’s. … Continue reading “Whitney Balliett, Jazz Poet”

This is the story of how a piece of classical music composed in 1893 crossed over to other genres, tapping into a universal longing for … Continue reading “Goin’ Home”

Thelonious Monk was not known for his volubility. This podcast focuses on a few of his known conversations, and one notable missed opportunity. Playlist “Blues … Continue reading “Conversations with Thelonious”

As a fledgling jazz disc jockey in Newark, New Jersey in the early sixties, the author had an unexpected encounter with a future jazz great. … Continue reading “Woody n’ Me”

A virtual anthem of World War II, the song “I’ll Be Seeing You” was popularized by Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and … Continue reading “I’ll Be Seeing You”