Jazz on the Brain

March 5, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: awe, brain, cecil taylor, forehead, funky butt, invisible button, jazz, Jazz Osmosis, kitchen sink, musical improvisation, musicians, neurological functions, new orleans, orleans writer, poem, prefrontal cortex, rampart street, Real Life Stories, scientists, summation, wwoz, ya

People who know me will tell you I always have jazz on the brain. Guilty as charged. Recently, scientists studied improvising musicians, hoping to unlock the underlying neurological functions of high and low level musical improvisation. A summation of the study is here.
Turns out all you have to do is turn off your prefrontal cortex (can an Idiot's Guide to Turning Off Your Prefrontal Cortex be far behind?).
This study reminds me of a conversation I had with the New Orleans writer, performer, and creator Kalamu Ya Salaam. One night on Rampart Street, at a club called The Funky Butt, I watched in awe as Kalamu performed an original poem in a style similar to the way that pianist Cecil Taylor played his music. Kalamu and I worked together at WWOZ in New Orleans. One night, during his Thursday evening Kitchen Sink show, I asked him how he could do such things.
He said, "There's an invisible button located on your forehead. It controls the part of your brain that says you cannot do something. Turn it off."
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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Jason Lindner and Now Vs. Now - Hear the Studio Session

March 4, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: Interviews, jason lindner, Jazz Alive, josh jackson, lagniappe, Live Music, new songs, now vs now, npr, Remix, studio session, Studio Sessions, Video, wbgo

FYI - The WBGO studio session with Jason Lindner's Now Vs. Now has been posted. Five completely new songs. And for a little lagniappe, you can download two of them, and dig the video from the session. Check it out now. Versus now...
-Josh
PS See the band live at The Jazz Gallery, Friday and Saturday, 3/14 and 3/15.

© 2008 WBGO
Becca Pulliam on the Town

March 4, 2008. Posted by Becca Pulliam.

Add new comment | Filed under: Jazz Alive

This could become an occasional report from your JazzSet producer, ears and eyes open, standards on the high side.Last night I went to see Michelle Walker sing at Zinc Bar. She's next generation and I like her! People will ask "who does she sound like?" so, without taking anything away from Michelle, I'll say Roberta Flack. Much of Michelle's material is original. With Daniela Schaechter (who's been on JazzSet and I'm a fan) on electric piano, Joseph Lepore on bass, and Dan Aran on drums, Michelle is leading a GREAT band, and deserves one. She sings on March 24 at The Bar Next Door. Her company is Jazz Girl Productions, and her myspace page is http://www.myspace.com/michellewalkerjazz

When I got home, I opened a CD entitled "The Third Time Around" by pianist Sacha Perry, with Ari Roland on bass and Phil Stewart on drums. With all compositions by Perry, I'm reminded of "The Amazing Bud Powell" LP's. In other words, I'm happy! New compositions, miniature in feel, fast paced, well played, brain food and sounds good too. I listened to this CD three times this morning! On the Smalls Records label. http://www.smallsrecords.com/art-perry.htm

Hope to report again soon! -- Becca Pulliam

© 2008 WBGO

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