Hey, you, long time no see! While it may seem as though I've completely abandoned this page in the last few years, you'll be pleased to know that I've just been writing elsewhere. In January 2021, I became secretary of the High School for the Performing & Visual Arts (HSPVA) Black Alumni Network (BAN). HSPVA… Continue reading Catching up, checking in.
I'll admit it. Sometimes when I'm forced to talk to new people at a party or at a gig, I can feel myself turning into some kind of autopilot robot, mindlessly carrying on as if the human experience can be easily boiled down to a series of decisions a person makes: how to make a… Continue reading Sara Finkle — SINK or SWIM
Catcher in the Rye, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird. These classic coming of age novels are often chosen as required reading in schools across the country because regardless of how old you are, the process of growing up and growing older can be a particularly hard pill to swallow. Whether it's… Continue reading Lizzi Trumbore– Lifelines
This post was originally written for El Paso Jazz Girls, an organization that was founded by vocalist and composer, Amanda Ekery, in an effort to "empower girls in a supportive community that fosters self-expression, confidence, and collaboration through music education and performance." I am eternally grateful to Amanda for presenting me with this opportunity to… Continue reading Summer Playlist: Night and Day
We have a double-header! spotify:user:121217307:playlist:3PiIFLKVklA7CMrW8VL7VD A few album highlights: For the past few weeks Daniel Caesar's Freudian has been playing on repeat in my house, in my car, in the grocery store, and at work. At first listen I thought "this is way too chill and it never peaks anywhere" but then I realized... it… Continue reading Songs of the Month: August/September 2017
The word is this byrd has been busy! Now that I've finished moving in and out and in again, I thought I would switch things up and share some of what I've been reading this summer. I stumbled upon issue #56 of Wax Poetics Magazine about three years ago and, after reading it cover to… Continue reading What’s The Word?
spotify:user:121217307:playlist:5YhMGPnybMLvijR0ioEdyE Jazzmeia Horn's "Up Above My Head" is a reimagined gospel tune (originally recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe) from the Dallas native's debut album A Social Call and is just one of ten expertly arranged jazz and soul standards. Not only is she a winner of both the Sarah Vaughan and Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz Competitions, but Jon… Continue reading Songs of the Month: June 2017
For the past six years, Amber Navran (vocals, tenor sax, flute), Andris Mattson (trumpet, keyboards), and Max Bryk (alto sax, clarinet, keyboards) have been quietly making a name for themselves as Moonchild, an LA-based neo-soul jazz trio. The neck-breaking nods to J Dilla combined with Navran's whispery yet sassy Badu vibe have helped them garner the attention of Soulquarian fans… Continue reading Eye to Eye with: Moonchild
For the past few weeks I have been without my laptop and a fully-functioning phone (read: just barely surviving), but now I'm back on track and I have something SUPER EXCITING planned for my next article! This month, instead of making a playlist of new releases, I decided to compile a handful of songs that remind me… Continue reading Songs of the Month: May 2017
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