Word: jazz
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Take for example Harvard’s course offerings. Only one undergraduate course in the music department focuses on music created by people of African descent, even though much of the world’s music has been created by this population, including jazz, spirituals, blues, gospel, rap, country, rock-n-roll, meringue, folk, samba, reggae, ragtime and calypso. The de-colonization movements in Africa, the abolitionist movements of the 19th century and the recent Civil Rights and Black Power movements in America have been powerful incubators for black philosophers, yet the philosophy department has not deemed any of these...
...Mark Turner’s fifth album, Dharma Days, he displays his eclectic breadth of taste in jazz music and his great skill and virtuosity in the art of playing the tenor saxophone. Although the album showcases nine of Turner’s own compositions, the album is as much led by guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel as it is by Turner. Like most contemporary saxophonists, Turner’s work is greatly influenced by John Coltrane, especially Coltrane’s post-bop period. The first and third songs, “Iverson’s Odyssey?...
...complex improvisations to the casual listener is one of tension, almost panic. Just as the music is layered, so is the inherent emotion and attitude. A certain level of effort is required to understand the feeling behind each song, but the outcome is rewarded and fans of contemporary jazz will enjoy this album. However, those listeners who are accustomed to the slow, deep and easygoing style of blues may find Dharma Days abrasive and lacking in hooks and melody. In either case, this album has the potential to broaden the listener’s musical horizons if listened to with...
...John Scofield wants his audience to know that [despite evocative tune titles] he has not used drugs or alcohol since 11 July 1998” read the liner notes to the jazz guitarist’s Überjam—an appropriate admission since the album has all the trappings of an experimental drug-fueled trip. With Hindu-themed artwork, haunting strains of sitars and a profusion of distorted, screeching guitars, Scofield’s latest jazz-funk fusion feels much like an experimental album from the ’70s when Miles Davis brought fusion into popular consciousness...
...Ideofunk” and “Tomorrow Land,” are when he slows down his fingers and mellows his sentiments. Eclectic as the day is long and with virtuosity to spare, Überjam is yet another noteworthy marker on Scofield’s journey from jazz to funk to jazz and back again...