Top 10 Gil Scott-Heron Tracks
I just discovered the news of Gil Scott-Heron’s passing and want to put this list together for all those like me who in this moment are compelled to reflect on his legacy.
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Ron Carter Baker’s Dozen: Top 12 + 1 Ron Carter Top 10 Lists
In honor of Ron’s birthday I wanted to come up with a Top 10 list, but narrowing down and leaving things out proved to be too hard. So I came up with 12 Top 10 lists, with an extra one to make a baker’s dozen and accommodate some of my favorite tracks that didn’t fit easily into these categories.
Continue ReadingAdvice to a College Graduate
This is a particularly “transitional” spring, with many of my students preparing to graduate from college, while one of my daughters graduated in December and another is months from wrapping up high school. Amidst this climate, I was asked by a student (well, technically, by his mom on his behalf) for advice relating to this…
Continue ReadingBlack Bean Soup with Squash
This soup ultimately began as a means of using up some stuff in the fridge that was on the verge of going over the hill, but it turned out to be tasty and popular in the household. The large amount of onion makes everything very flavorful and the squash not only adds nutritional value and flavor, but does a nice job of thickening the soup.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Most Mind-Blowing Concerts: The Rutgers Years (1992-1998)
Recently I returned to New Brunswick/Rutgers for the first time in seven years, which not surprisingly led to a pretty heavy nostalgia trip. While my relationships with the faculty (particularly Kenny Barron and Ted Dunbar) dominate my memories of my time there, there was much else. One of the main reasons I wound up there…
Continue ReadingTop 10 Slide Guitar Solos
I have a particularly strong soft spot for slide guitar, and here is the result of my agonizing attempt to narrow down to a Top 10 list.
Continue ReadingTofu Dip (Pseudo-Mayo)
If you at least tolerate tofu (you don’t have to love it like I do, you just have to not hate it) and want a healthy and tasty and easy-to-make dip, I encourage you to check this one out.
Continue ReadingTop 10 R&B Keyboard Performances
One of the purposes of my Top 10 lists is to discuss the music that moves me, whether the influence is obvious in my own music or not. This is a case where the connection is a bit more direct, since I’ve taken a lot from classic R&B/soul records and worked to incorporate it into what I do without casting aside the authentic elements of jazz. Here are some tracks/players that have helped open my ears and expand my vocabulary.
Continue ReadingUnreleased Music: Girl in the Overalls
This recording from 2006 features Jason Castonguay on vocals, Carl Knox on tenor saxophone, Henry Lugo on bass and Vinnie Sperrazza on drums. I wrote the song and play piano on it. The other vital piece of information is that it is not autobiographical! Yes, I shop in health food stores and yes, my wife…
Continue ReadingLemon-Lime Pudding
This rich but relatively uncomplicated dessert is somewhere between a pudding and a cake (the top layer becomes spongy/cakey) and unless you dislike citrus and/or tangy desserts, you are very likely to enjoy it. At least virtually everyone to whom I have served it has dug it and come back for more.
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