El That Jazz

The month is almost over, but did you know that it is National Jazz Appreciation Month? According to the National Day Calendar, "Throughout the month of April we celebrate the heritage and history of jazz. As a truly American art form, jazz's soulful and rich culture dates back to the 1890s." It goes on to … Continue reading El That Jazz →

Tune Tuesday – Wind Parade

Today, we shine the light on another hometown hero. Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, better known to the music world as Donald Byrd, was born on this day in 1932. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. His mother introduced him to jazz music, and his uncle gave him his first trumpet. He attended Cass technical … Continue reading Tune Tuesday – Wind Parade →

Tune Tuesday – Night in Tunisia

Happy 108th birthday to a jazz legend - Dizzy Gillespie! Dizzy was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. His accomplishments alone could be the subject of 5-20 blogs. His combination of musicianship, showmanship, and wit made him a leading popularizer of the new music called bebop. Gillespie's trademark trumpet featured a bell which … Continue reading Tune Tuesday – Night in Tunisia →

The Cat’s Meow

On the old Soupy Sales show, one of the easiest way to set up a joke was to have someone come banging on his door. One of my favorite lines (that no one else finds funny) goes like this: (Door Knocking) (Soupy opens the door) "Yes?" (Man at door) "Well, I guess you don't like … Continue reading The Cat’s Meow →