Top 10 Favorite Elvin Jones Tracks
I’m always hesitant to offer definitive “favorites” for most anything but Elvin is my favorite drummer, period. Enjoy this varied list . . .
Continue ReadingMLK and How to Measure Success
This post is predicated on my belief that all we can control is doing the right thing to the best of our ability – to a large extent, the specific outcome is out of our hands. As such, when we try to affect positive change, the tangible outcome is an inadequate measure of success. Here I discuss this idea and tie it in with the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Continue ReadingTomato Sauce – Basic and with Variations
A good tomato sauce is a great for coating pasta or spreading on pizza, and it’s a multi-purpose way to spruce up vegetables or soups or even sandwiches. AND, it’s actually quite easy and relatively cheap to make a tomato sauce that’s better than anything you’ve ever had from a jar.
Continue ReadingCommon Decency and Obeying the Muse
2011 end-of-year reflections on sincerity, common decency and the elusive ways of “the muse.” And you can even hear me sing if you have the stomach for it 🙂
Continue ReadingThe Underbelly of Race and Jazz
It seems like everyone is throwing their hats into the ring in the aftermath of the scrum catalyzed by Nicholas Payton’s blog post this week (suggesting that the word “jazz” be replaced by BAM, an acronym for “black American music”). Here is my $.02.
Continue ReadingOvercoming Overeating Without Deprivation
Last winter I dropped 20+ pounds and have kept the weight off for over a year now, even though I feel like I’m enjoying food more than ever. Since many of us in the U.S.A. now find ourselves smack in the middle of the biggest period of food-excess of the year, it seemed like a good time to discuss the insights that have allowed me to pull this off.
Continue ReadingThe Grand Pizzexperiment Part 1: The Preparation
Pizza is so simple and it can be so good or so crappy. This week began Kate’s and my quest to find the best pizza in Middletown, CT.
Continue ReadingThe Ethics of “Doing Your Best”
One fascinating element of the scandal at Penn State is how people are having to grapple with the moral question of whether they did the best they could to deal with the situation. I’m realizing that evaluating whether people have done the best they could requires a deeper philosophical look at what that actually means.
Continue ReadingLessons Learned from Kenny Barron
Pretty much every time I play the piano is an opportunity, however indirect, to appreciate all that I learned from 6 years of study with Kenny Barron. This year has been a particularly fertile year for that sort of reflection, as he played two concerts in CT this summer. Beyond that, I’m currently gearing up…
Continue ReadingPesto (with variations)
The recipe below represents an approximation of what we typically do. It’s interesting to note, however, that there is a lot of variation possible with not only amounts (you’ll learn how you like it best) but also actual ingredients, and there are satisfying variations for people who have allergies and sensitivities.
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