Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 225

Terri Lyne Carrington: Trailblazer, Advocate and NEA Jazz Master

'In her more than 40 years behind the drum kit, 2021 NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington has built a reputation as one of the most dynamic instrumentalists, bandleaders and composers in jazz. But before she became an in-demand musician, she was a kid growing up outside of Boston, swinging behind the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. On this episode of Jazz Night in America, we'll hear music that encapsulates Terri Lyne Carrington's wide-ranging sound as she joins Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Ravi Coltrane, the late Geri Allen and more on the bandstand. We'll also hear from her mentors, friends and collaborators — including Herbie Hancock, Spalding and Jack DeJohnette — as we trace her rise as a consummate drummer, tenacious producer and dedicated advocate for gender justice in jazz.'

Butcher Brown: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

'Butcher Brown takes to a restaurant's rooftop terrace in the band's hometown of Richmond, Va., for a home concert and sizzles from the first note. The band opens with "Sticky July," a tune every bit as catchy as its name implies; think rollerskating with a popsicle under a cloudless sky of blue. When you think you've figured it out, keyboardist DJ Harrison switches it up, launching into a solo so funky you wonder if it's a new song, that is until Marcus "Tennishu" Tenney brings us back home with some sweet trumpet. That's the thing about Butcher Brown: are they playing jazz ... or funk ... or soul? They scoff at the limitations of adjacent genres with the expertise of master musicians who've played together so long that they flow from one vibe to the next without missing a beat."

Acting Is 'Problem Solving,' Says Courtney B. Vance

'Actor Courtney B. Vance plays Rev. C. L. Franklin in the National Geographic series, Genius: Aretha, now streaming on Hulu, which chronicles the conflicts that developed between father and daughter. For Vance, playing Aretha Franklin's father was a chance to reconnect to his own roots. He grew up "churched," in Detroit, with music all around.' --  Fresh Air

New York City's Influence On Latin Music

'Felix Contreras host of Alt.Latino, speaks with Ben Lapidus, author of New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990. The deeply researched and resourced page-tuner puts the music we hear today into historical context. In the book, the scholar and Grammy-nominated musician posits that New York City and its Latin musicians have actually influenced in other countries across Latin America.'

Do The Golden Arches Bend Toward Justice?

'Calls for racial justice are met with a lot of different proposals, but one of the loudest and most enduring is to invest in Black businesses. But can "buying Black" actually do anything to mitigate racism? To find out, Code Switch takes a look at the surprising link between Black capitalism and McDonald's.'

Reimagining Blackness & Architecture: Kinloch and Outer Space are Both Frontiers | Amanda Williams

"How can we imagine new ways of being? Artist Amanda Williams discusses her project “We’re Not Down There, We’re Over Here,” the history of African American innovation, and the inspirations she found in Kinloch, Missouri to imagine what Black people might need to arrive at free Black space." -- The Museum of Modern Art

Invisible Blackness – How Black is Black Enough? An Interview with Wayne Brady

"Multidisciplinary performer, producer and host Wayne Brady is the comedic force you may know as the Black guy on "Whose line is it anyway”. As a renaissance talent with a brand that seduces mainstream America, he is our generation's Nat King Cole. In this episode of Invisible Blackness Wayne and host Adrian Younge discuss the power of code switching, defining success and exploring the idea of blackness in America."

Harlem On My Mind: Abram Hill

'In the final installment of Harlem on My Mind, Trymaine Lee learns about the legacy of playwright Abram Hill, who used his work to center Black characters, Black audiences, and Black communities unapologetically. Abram Hill co-founded the American Negro Theater in 1940, operating a small 150-seat theater from the basement of Harlem’s Schomburg Center. The American Negro Theater, also known as the ANT, would become a launch pad for stars like Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, even as Hill’s name was largely lost to history.'

Erasing Genres With Cinematic Flair: Kris Bowers Talks With Lara Downes

"Kris Bowers, the composer for the Oscar-winning film Green Book and the runaway hit series Bridgerton examines intersections between classical, jazz and pop, while paying homage to past musical pioneers with Amplify host Lara Downes."

Confronting Stereotypes Through Swim Lessons

"Paulana Lamonier, founder of Black People Will Swim, joins All Of It to discuss the program’s initiative to teach 2,020 people to swim by 2022 and to confront stereotypes about Black people and swimming."