John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

John D'earth's "Green Chemistry." At the Premiere.

Every once in a while, I get it right. Last week I predicted that the premiere performance of John D'earth's Green Chemistry, his new suite for jazz band and soloists, was going to be terrific. As it turned out, "terrific" was an understatement. The fans who packed the University of... Read more →

Funky Friday: DJ Li'l Miss Dolemite (2.0)

Yes, it's Li'l Miss Dolemite, strange visitor from another planet, with powers and abilities to funk you up, far beyond those of mortal men, women, and DJs. She's back for another Funky Friday with "Shutterbugg remix." Play it loud. It just might be the best three minutes and two seconds... Read more →

World Premiere: "Green Chemistry," by John D'earth, with the University of Virginia Jazz Ensemble & the Free Bridge Quintet, Saturday Night!

That buzz you hear is people in the jazz world and at the University of Virginia talking about this Saturday's premiere of John D'earth's Green Chemistry, a large-scale work for jazz band and a quintet of soloists. As a composer, John has been on a real roll, lately, and there... Read more →

The Bang on a Can All-Stars @ the University of Virginia

The Bang on a Can All-Stars tore up the joint at Charlottesville's Jefferson Theater, Saturday night. That's the first time in my life I've used that line about a classical music group, and it's absolutely true. Bang on a Can ended its four-day residency at the University of Virginia with... Read more →

Vusi Mahlasela in Concert: Charlottesville, Virginia, 20 February 2011

James Brown said, "Get up offa that thing. Dance and you'll feel better." Duke Ellington put it this way -- "It don't mean an thing, if it ain't got that swing." These giants were reminding us, of course, that music is food for the soul. My soul feasted, tonight, on... Read more →

How to Shoot Like an Historian

An historian with a camera? That's a bit like a fish with a bicycle, isn't it? After all, a camera isn't a quill, a pencil, or a microfiche reader. It's not a computer or even an audio recorder. It isn't, that is, a tool of the historical trade. Don't get... Read more →

Funky Friday with the Goema Captains of Cape Town

A little Funky Friday music from Cape Town, South Africa. It's Goema Captains playing their version of a song from the Cape Town New Year's Carnival. This is as local as it gets -- music that's unique to Cape Town -- and it's lekker (which means it's exceedingly good.) You'll... Read more →