It's been a dreary, rainy day here on the East Coast, which almost begs for some tunes from a time when boy and girl groups who could sing harmonies without Autotune ruled the world. You can dance to...
This week’s post isn’t going to have a lot of commentary since my computer is acting like Tito Puente beat on it like a rented timbale. I’m phone blogging, but since I’m working on a little...
We are afforded moments of clarity from time to time, those rare moments of time when memory and opportunity collide. At times like this, reflection and introspection are suddenly in the forefront...
One of the cool things about jazz is that percussionists can front their own band instead of playing in relative anonymity. Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa and others...
The truth is, MGMT, with their newest release after more than 5 years, is still pure hipster rock. It's the purview of college radio rotations and 20 year old lit majors (I should know. I used to be...
Julian "Cannonball" Adderly reportedly got his nickname not from being round and explosive but from having a sizable appetite. Guys called him "cannibal" which eventually evolved into the less grisly...
This week, we around Phantom Sway think it's time for a dance break. It's been a tough week, hasn't it? Kind of dreary and cold and maybe filled with 19 feet of snow? The news has been, well, the...
I hope everyone enjoyed last week's post and playlist featuring Herbie Hancock. This week we move from the keyboard to the unique guitar mastery of Wes Montgomery. Jazz is best experienced live but...
Our playlist this weekend celebrates the funky bass work of Tina Weymouth, one of the finest bass players whose name you probably have never known. The Talking Heads have changed their musical style...
Herbie Hancock is a name that should be familiar even to you jazz haters. Like last week's subject Hugh Masekela, Herbie Hancock crossed over into other genres and even landed a track or two on the...
