Like What You See?
Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter here to get even more educational content sent to your inbox every month!
-
Cassandra Wilson
By: Jeff Peckham Cassandra Wilson is a visionary vocalist who fundamentally reshaped the landscape of modern jazz by expanding its sonic vocabulary and repertoire. Known for her distinctive, smoky contralto voice and genre-blurring style, she broke the traditional mold of the jazz diva. By incorporating elements of blues, country, folk, and pop into her music,…
-
Birdland
By: Jeff Peckham The original Birdland jazz club opened on December 15, 1949, at 1678 Broadway in Manhattan, just north of Times Square. The venue was founded by a syndicate led by Morris Levy, Irving Levy, and Oscar Goodstein. They named the club in honor of alto saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, who was the defining…
-
Al Jarreau
By: Jeff Peckham Al Jarreau was a virtuoso vocalist who redefined the boundaries of jazz, pop, and R&B. Over a career spanning five decades, his unique vocal style and elastic range earned him international acclaim. He remains the only artist to win Grammy Awards in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B. Born Alwin Lopez…
-
A Great Day in Harlem (1958)
By: Jeff Peckham On August 12, 1958, a 27-year-old Sonny Rollins eagerly answered a morning call to gather outside an East 126th Street brownstone for a freelance Esquire magazine photo shoot. Having grown up in central Harlem surrounded by his musical idols, the acclaimed tenor saxophonist jumped at the chance to stand alongside his contemporaries…
-
The Architect of the Modern Big Band: Glenn Miller
By: Jeff Peckham While the 1930s and 40s were defined by the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman and the sophistication of Duke Ellington, no musician captured the American zeitgeist quite like Glenn Miller. His signature “Miller Sound”—characterized by a clarinet-led reed section—became the literal soundtrack to the World War II era, bridging the gap between…
-
The Village Vanguard
By: Jeff Peckham The Village Vanguard, a venerable institution nestled in the basement of 178 Seventh Avenue South in New York City’s Greenwich Village, stands as a living testament to the evolution and enduring spirit of American music, particularly jazz. Opened in 1935 by Max Gordon, the club initially showcased a diverse range of acts,…
