Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. – Charlie Parker, legendary jazz saxophonist Introduction If you listen to music, you would have definitely encountered jazz sometime in your life, whether it be in the form of rock, R&B, hip-hop, or pop music. Perhaps you were even in the Jazz Band at school.…
Jazz became a mainstream staple of American culture in the early 1900’s with the rise of Be-Bop. Many rising artists from this era of jazz suffered from heroin addiction. A Brief History of Jazz Jazz developed from Rag and blues in the late 19th century, and was born in New Orleans. Louis Armstrong was one…
A short continuation to the Cool Kazoo. After recently writing an article about the kazoo, I got one for myself. It took me a week to realize that I was playing it from the “wrong” end, or the end not typically played from. How embarrassing. I guess I wasn’t paying very close attention to how…
Once again, I was able to go to the theater to see the mesmerizing on screen chemistry of Emma stone and Ryan Gosling. I see now why this film won seven golden globe awards and I would not be surprised if this film managed to score an Oscar as well, given its staggering fourteen nominations.…
Ever since I picked up the trumpet in 7th grade, I’ve had a vast appreciation for music and its many genres. It didn’t take me long to discover Jazz and from there on out, a love affair was born. My love for Jazz only blossomed when I entered High School. I’ve had so many crazy…
Source My family has always been particularly gifted in music. The talent passed through each generation can be traced as far back as to my great grandmother, who played live music for silent films. I’ve always considered myself a virtuoso when it comes down to it, although I’ll admit I’m far from perfect. Ever since…
“Well, I started playing music not knowing where it’d take me. Now, I’ve been accepted at McGill and Humber for their jazz studies programs! Jazz connects all of me with everyone else on the bandstand as well as everyone in the audience. It’s an art form that really encourages individual expression while saluting the roots…
I recently found this great series on YouTube called NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. These concerts are basically 5-15 minute acoustic sessions done by up and coming artists and bands in a little corner of the NPR’s office building. I find these videos different and more entertaining than any other music sessions because all of the…
I am an addict. I am addicted to Michael Bublé; furthermore, I am addicted to his Christmas album. In addition, I am also irrevocably hooked on Louis Armstrong’s, “What a wonderful world,” and Ramsey Lewis’, “Here comes Santa Clause.” To me, this is how I reign in the holidays and the winter season. There is…
Most teenagers would never consider jazz music to be anything special, in fact the majority of people our age wouldn’t even consider listening to it for leisure. But I’m here to open your eyes, and ears, to the wonderful world of jazz music. This blog post will have a little bit of the history of…
Picture from interviewmagazine.com We often hear of stories from rags to riches, from the garage to the world stage, from musicians who have made a big impact in the world of audible art. Yet rarely do I come across an artist as inspirational to me as Melody Gardot. Melody was born in New Jersey in…