Keith Jarrett:  My Wild Irish Rose

Keith Jarrett: My Wild Irish Rose

I’ve always viewed my journey with jazz and improvisation akin to someone’s journey with the game of golf – each year, I hope to suck just a little bit less than the previous one. And what’s the most common answer I would get when I asked jazz musicians how to get...
Sergei Rachmaninoff:  Son

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Son

‘Son’ can be translated as either “sleep” or “dream” in Russian – in this poem by Feodor Sologub, the former seems not only evident but sensually and powerfully personified. I have included this song, not just because it happens to be one of my favorites,...
Melody Gardot:  Baby I’m a Fool

Melody Gardot: Baby I’m a Fool

My dear friend and colleague Kelley Kimball introduced me to the music and artistry of Melody Gardot back in 2015, and her music became a friend to me at a time I needed it the most. You can easily find Gardot’s story with a bit of research, but in summary, a car hit...
Bill Evans plays ‘Danny Boy’

Bill Evans plays ‘Danny Boy’

These days I find myself more on the vulnerable side of my reality, not the intellectual one, so I give you this week’s selections desiring little more than for you to listen. Listening with an open mind, much less an open heart, too often runs contrary to my...