#300 – Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits

When I started this project, the possibility that it and the pandemic would still be going on at the same level after almost a year did not occur to me. Obviously, this blog has a couple more months to go before the dubious distinction of hitting the year mark, but we’re only a week awayContinue reading “#300 – Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits”

#298 – Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 by Florence Beatrice Price and Fort Smith Symphony

For the last night of Black History Month I wanted to choose a work by a pioneer in their field.  Florence Beatrice Price is recognized as the first Black woman to be considered a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition performed by a major orchestra.  The Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiered her SymphonyContinue reading “#298 – Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 by Florence Beatrice Price and Fort Smith Symphony”

#297 – Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry

What would a discussion about the influence of Black music without Chuck Berry? He clearly inspired a generation of guitarists and is probably as responsible for the rise of rock music as anyone. I would personally prefer it if fewer of these songs were about teenage girls, but I also recognize that they were writtenContinue reading “#297 – Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry”

#295 – self-titled by Black Death

As we approach the end of Black History Month, I’m trying to get as many different genres of Black artists as possible.  Obviously, there is no shortage of soul, hip-hop, r&b, and funk albums to choose from, but now I want to take some deep dives into some more rare genres.  One of my favoritesContinue reading “#295 – self-titled by Black Death”

#294 – Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is by Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

These guys are like a modern version of James Brown’s high-energy soul, with more of a rock sensibility.  Lyrically, they deal unabashedly with the most oppressive issues facing the Black community in modern America, specifically systemic racism and the heavy-handed policing that typifies majority-Black communities.  There could not be a more fitting artist to provideContinue reading “#294 – Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is by Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears”