Thursday, May 5, 2016

Child Prodigies

Composed and posted on May 4, 2016

 Thanks, Susan. Viewing these child prodigies, I am mindful that the gifts that they display may not last.  It is one thing to play or sing like an adult before one reaches puberty, but it is another to be able to transcend puberty and remain a star.  Obviously, Sugar Chile Robinson hit the puberty wall and I sense that another more contemporary child star, Jackie Evancho, is now trying to evolve into something more ... into a "pop" star.  Always in the back of my mind when viewing child prodigies are the tragic tale of Philippa Schuyler   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippa_Schuyler

and the more recent story of Gary Coleman


Such tales of woe accompany my viewing even as I marvel at the talent that such young people do display.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975

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..Joey Alexander just played the White House celebration of International Jazz  - a link from the NYT that I sent out to you and the list several days ago. As noted by the reporter, the least notable thing about his trio's performance in that august group of people was that he was 12 years old. An old soul and immensely talented.

Susan

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Joey Alexander and Sugar Chile Robinson

Composed and posted on May 4, 2016

Tuffy,

Thank you for sending the reference to Joey Alexander.  I immediately went to the youtube video and thought maybe this Wunderkind was the new African American prodigy.  However, when I went to the Wikipedia listing it corrected me.  Joey Alexander is Indonesian and, perhaps, proving the same point that was made by Angelina Jordan, it may be that the future of "old school" jazz lies with the children of lands that are not our own.  You can read about Joey Alexander at


and I must say that my favorite Joey Alexander tunes are his remaking of "My Favorite Things"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pzIlq7jZzw

and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"


Simply brilliant stuff!

As for Sugar Chile Robinson, I do not know if anyone caught the fact that Sugar Chile was the first African American to ever perform at the White House Correspondent's dinner.  He performed for Harry Truman in 1946 and to mark the 70th anniversary of that performance, President Obama invited him to the now rather infamous dinner that occurred this past weekend.  Sadly, it appears that Sugar Chile took a forty year hiatus in his music career. He only returned to it when he entered his sixties.  I certainly hope that such a fate does not befall Angelina Jordan or Joey Alexander.  There is too much music that I would like to hear from the both of them.

Peace, 

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

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She's fantastic. The "Fly me to the Moon" got me and so did "Back to Black". Thank you Skip and Susan for making me aware of Angelina Jordan. It's wonderful how jazz thrives in the Nordic countries and I would very much enjoy going to the Black Sea Jazz Festival one day.  One of the great advantages of YouTube is that younger people can hear and see the performance of music that occurred before their time.  You might know of these two already but here are videos of Joey Alexander and Sugar Child Robinson.

This is Joey Alexander playing a very difficult Coltrane composition entitled Giant Steps with the maturity of interpretation that would be uncanny for an adult. But for a 12 year old it just leaves you speechless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4V_uaxBVOw

Susan you asked whether or not Angelina knew the context of the lyrics. I don't know. But I am 100% sure Sugar Child Robinson did not know anything about  "What Caldonia was putting down" when he sang it.

Caldonia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzJ5T2qC0c ;

Sugar Child Robinson with Count Basiehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYLaE4Gj1oA

In Eb,

Tuffy


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Angelina Jordan


Composed and posted on April 29, 2016

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled on a broadcast of Steve Harvey's "Little Big Shots" show.  I was not going to linger there too long since it was almost time for me to get ready for my zombie apocalypse show.  That is I was not going to linger too long until this happened


If you listen to the voice without watching the video, it does seem as though Billie Holiday is being "channeled" into modern times.  The fact that the channeling is being done through a 9 year old Norwegian girl was simply amazing.  And so, before getting on the road to go home, I leave you with a little more from this Wunderkind. I hope that her career is a long one


and that, for jazz aficionados everywhere, maybe we can say that we have found a bright new star ... "at last".


Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins


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Neurotheology and the Contemplation of the Divine

Composed and posted on April 29, 2016

So far I have watched four episodes of The Story of God with Morgan Freeman. I have found it to be mildly interesting since much of what is discussed I have studied before.  You can learn more about the series and the subject matter at



While I have not be overly impressed by the series thus far, there was one segment that caught my attention.  In the third episode, wherein Freeman posits the question "Who is God?", there is a discussion about neurotheology ... a relatively new scientific endeavor that looks at the increased brain activity and functioning that arises from the contemplation of the divine.  As it happens, NPR did a series on the subject matter some five years ago.  You can find that discussion at 


What intrigued me is the notion that there appears to be some measurable benefit derived from spiritual experience and practice.  As evidenced by the brain scans that have been produced, it would appear that religious activity may indeed have an impact similar to that of some medicines.  In words similar to those of Karl Marx, religion may indeed be an opiate for the masses.  However, unlike the context in which Marx used the concept, in contemporary times, it just may be that the role religion plays is more beneficial than abusive.

Rather curious, don't you think?

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins


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A Bad Month for Music Lovers

Composed and posted on April 27, 2016

April 2016 is turning out to be a bad month for music lovers.  Anyone who lives in the United States, knows about the passing of Prince Rogers Nelson, The Artist who was the master of pop, R&B and funk.  



However, in April, we also lost the "Negus of the Saxophone", Getatchew Mekurya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getatchew_Mekurya


and the "King of Rumba Rock", Papa Wemba




and last, but not least, we lost the iconic balladier, Billy Paul




I am praying that we can get through these last four days without any more of these losses.  This month has already been sad enough.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Benjamin Davis, Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson

Composed and posted on April 18, 2016

For those who watched the first segment of the Ken Burns documentary on Jackie Robinson, you may have caught a glimpse of one of the trailblazing Amherst College African American alums.  As history records, and as the documentary accurately displays, there was a great deal of politics behind the push to integrate baseball and one of the key proponents was a Harlem Councilman named Benjamin Davis... a member of Amherst's Class of 1925.  You can read about the politics behind the integration of baseball at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-conversation-us/how-politics-played-a-maj_b_9701456.html

and you can read about Benjamin Davis at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_J._Davis,_Jr.

Both Benjamin Davis and Paul Robeson were ardent supporters of Jackie Robinson and his valiant effort to desegregate baseball.  It is not a coincidence that both Davis and Robeson had communist leanings and that they both paid a high price for their affiliation with Communist organizations.  For me, one of the sad moments in the documentary occurs when Jackie Robinson consents to give testimony against Robeson before the House Un-American Activities Committee.  According to the documentary, Jackie's testimony eventually led to the destruction of Robeson's career.


There is no doubt that Jackie's desegregation of baseball was an heroic act and that the stress that he endured  in doing what he did on the baseball field probably contributed to his early death.  However, based on what is seen in the video, one also must wonder if there is more to that story as well. 

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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Deluge in Houston

Composed and posted on April 18, 2016

 Ellis,

Just heard about the deluge in Houston... a foot of water in less than 24 hours.  My prayers are with you and anyone else affected by this flood.  I hope that you, Yvette and all your family members are safe, healthy, and reasonably dry.  Take care, my friend.  You can tell me more about it all in June.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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