John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

Funky Friday: John Coltrane, "Spiritual."

A subdued Funky Friday, today. Many of my friends in South Africa are mourning the death of Anton Hammerl, who was killed over a month ago by Muammar Gadaffi's soldiers in Libya. News of his death came only yesterday. The Libyan government had consistently lied to South Africa about his... Read more →

Happy Birthday, Dear John, Dear Coltrane

Anyone who's serious about music has pieces, composers, and musicians that he or she couldn't live without. I've got a short list. Handel's Messiah, Brahms' symphonies, Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, and Miles' births, blues, smiles, and brews are one it. So is everything that Duke, Strayhorn, and Beethoven ever wrote. John... Read more →

John Coltrane: The "Giant Steps" Solo, Transcribed & Animated

A link to this video showed up in my inbox, this afternoon. It's John Coltrane's monumental solo from his 1959 recording of "Giant Steps." The solo itself is magical, one of the most famous moments in the history of jazz. Now, Alberto Betancourt has both transcribed and animated it. The... Read more →