In no way was the recognition that Ira Sullivan received commensurate with his skill.
Music
Folk Album Review: Tyler Childers’ “Long Violent History” – An Appalachian Murder Ballad for Breonna Taylor
The Kentuckian’s message is one of both heritage and empathy — and the necessity of both.
Jazz Album Review: “Monk: Palo Alto” — An Unlikely But Welcome Discovery
This 1969 concert by the Thelonious Monk Quartet was produced by a high school student and recorded by his school’s janitor. It presents this particular group at its optimistic best.
Jazz Album Reviews: Mesmerized By Vinyl — Newvelle, Louis Armstrong, and Stan Getz
Playing vinyl involves holding something in your hand, putting a needle down and, at least on my high end system, listening to sound quality that can mesmerize.
Jazz Remembrance: The Lasting, Complex Legacy of John Coltrane
Of all the musicians who were harbingers of change, none has had the long-term influence on young musicians that John Coltrane has had.
Jazz Album Review: “Artemis” — Inter-generational Jazz That Expands the Tradition
This is state-of-the art modern jazz, alternately hard swinging, contemplative, commercial, and abstract.
Opera Album Review: A Version of One of Rossini’s Finest — Recorded on CD for the First Time
Rossini’s Zelmira is a powerhouse opera that features two coloratura tenors and equally demanding roles for soprano and mezzo.
Jazz Album Review: Christian McBride’s “For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver” — A Mighty Cheery Big Band
Inspired by their leader, bassist Christian McBride, the musicians in this big band always sound like they are having the times of their lives.
Jazz Album Review: Butcher Brown’s “#KingButch” — Beautifully Blurring Retro and Progressive
“Best band in the world”? Butcher Brown spends the next 40 minutes or so living up to its boast, as song after song heads off into a different direction without a stumble or misfire.
Arts Remembrance: Critic Stanley Crouch — Jazz as a Metaphor for Democracy
“I’m trying to get people to be at ease with the incredible amount of variety in the United States.”