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Edward Lee Morgan Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony | All That Philly Jazz
I nominated Edward “Lee” Morgan for a Pennsylvania historical marker on February 19, 2022, the 50th anniversary of his death. I chose that date to ensure the conversation was not solely about how Lee Morgan died. I wanted to shift the conversation to how the legendary trumpeter lived. In an open letter published in the…
‘The Sidewinder’ Added to National Recording Registry | All That Philly Jazz
To commemorate International Jazz Day 2023 , I nominated Lee Morgan’s “The Sidewinder” for listing on the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Established in 2002 as part of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”…
‘The Sidewinder’ Added to National Recording Registry | All That Philly Jazz
To commemorate International Jazz Day 2023 , I nominated Lee Morgan’s “The Sidewinder” for listing on the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Established in 2002 as part of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”…
Jazz Appreciation Month: Francis “Frank” Johnson | All That Philly Jazz
In an opinion piece published in the Philadelphia Inquirer for African American Music Month 2023, I noted that keyed bugle player, bandleader and composer Francis “Frank” Johnson toured the United States, and was the first Black musician to tour Europe. I stand corrected. As electric guitarist, music educator and musicologist Tyler Diaz made clear during…
Jazz Appreciation Month: Billie Holiday | All That Philly Jazz
Billie Holiday was born at Philadelphia General Hospital on April 7, 1915. Located in the Black Bottom, the public hospital was the “hospital of choice” for African American women during the Great Migration. WKCR is hosting a special birthday broadcast in honor of Lady Day. You can listen to the 24-hour broadcast on 89.9 FM…
Jazz Appreciation Month: Edward Lee Morgan | All That Philly Jazz
Jazz Appreciation Month, also known as JAM, is an annual celebration held in April to honor and promote jazz and its cultural significance. JAM was conceived by the National Museum of American History in 2001. This year, Jazz Appreciation Month celebrates the 125th birthday of Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. However this year in Philadelphia, it’s…
Women In Jazz Month: Samara Joy | All That Philly Jazz
Women in Jazz Month is celebrated annually in March. It is a time to recognize and honor the contributions of female vocalists, composers, bandleaders, and instrumentalists. Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan are jazz icons who are ensconced in the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. With a voice that evokes Ella and Sarah, 24-year-old Samara Joy McLendon…
Women’s History Month: Augusta Savage | All That Philly Jazz
Augusta Savage was a sculptor and arts educator, and an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. She founded the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts in Harlem, where she mentored and inspired many well-known Harlem Renaissance artists including Ernest Crichlow and Jacob Lawrence. Like her monumental work, Savage’s story was almost lost to history. “The…
Sunshine Week: John Coltrane House Update | All That Philly Jazz
March 10-16, 2024 is Sunshine Week, a time to celebrate transparency, and the right to know what government officials are doing and saying behind closed doors. I used the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Pennsylvania’s Right-To-Know Law to tell the story of the deteriorating condition of the John Coltrane House and the drama over…
Women’s History Month: Claudette Colvin | All That Philly Jazz
I want to kick off Women’s History Month with Claudette Colvin who on March 2, 1955 refused to give up her seat to a white woman while riding a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The school student refused to move to the back of the bus when ordered by the bus driver. Claudette’s defiance led to…
Lee Morgan Historical Marker Unveiling | All That Philly Jazz
Lee Morgan’s life was tragically cut short more than 52 years ago. Lee lingers in our hearts and memories. His game-changing album, “The Sidewinder,” captivated jazz enthusiasts and rescued Blue Note Records from the brink of bankruptcy. The title track soared to number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1965. The album was…
Remembering Malcolm X | All That Philly Jazz
Brother Malcolm X was gunned down at the Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965. https://youtu.be/L2PQ3XY_j2E?feature=shared The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center is hosting an evening of prayers, performances and reflections to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the assassination of “our own black shining prince,” El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. The event will…
Name That Tune | All That Philly Jazz
I recently felt like a contestant on the TV show “Name That Tune” except I already knew the name of the tune. I was stumped when someone at a community event asked me why Lee Morgan named his smash hit “The Sidewinder.” https://youtu.be/qJi03NqXfk8?feature=shared I had a vague recollection but not a good answer. So after…
All That Philly Jazz
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved my nomination of Lee Morgan for a historical marker in December 2022. However, due to supply chain issues, fabrication of the marker was delayed. On the first day of Black History Month 2024, I received notice that Lee’s marker has been shipped. During the Black History Month celebration…
All That Philly Jazz
February is the shortest month but it packs a cultural wallop. I cannot think of a better way to kick off Black History Month than with “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.” Composed by Anthony Davis (music), Thulani Davis (libretto) and Christopher Davis (story), the groundbreaking opera was workshopped at the Trocadero Theater…
Black History Month: Lee Morgan and the Power of Art | All That Philly Jazz
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History designated “African Americans and the Arts” as the theme for Black History Month 2024. African Americans used art to both survive and escape enslavement: The suffering of those in bondage gave birth to the spirituals, the nation’s first contribution to music. Blues musicians such…
Happy Birthday, Dr. King | All That Philly Jazz
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. https://youtu.be/hrIrEgEX2hU?feature=shared The Apollo Theater is hosting its 18th annual celebration of Dr. King’s heavenly birthday, “Uptown Hall: The Inconvenient King,” in partnership with WNYC and March on Washington Film Festival. A panel discussion focusing on Dr. King’s enduring legacy on the culture,…
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On January 16, 1865, Union General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15 which promised the formerly enslaved 40 acres and a mule. The descendants of enslaved Africans are still waiting for their inheritance, preferably payable by check. https://youtu.be/pLV5y4utPKI?feature=shared The call for reparations dates back to 1783 when Belinda Royall petitioned the Massachusetts…
All That Philly Jazz
I want to send season's greetings from some of the legendary artists who performed at the Showboat and stayed at the Douglass Hotel. https://youtu.be/NWLfSInlZ6Y?feature=shared https://youtu.be/3MihqGJ4PkY?feature=shared https://youtu.be/qJXnEs5PEuQ?feature=shared https://youtu.be/xSjgFe9APu0?feature=shared https://youtu.be/6WFi5l0ixJY?feature=shared
All That Philly Jazz
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. While this is my least favorite time of the year, I love Christmas blues. https://youtu.be/mIOcxEsX2pE?feature=shared https://youtu.be/-os1uN2YOS8?feature=shared https://youtu.be/M4XCoSb5t-0?feature=shared https://youtu.be/nXBR6EQYcME?feature=shared I recently learned that long before the film “Ray.” Ray Charles made his film debut in 1966. Brother Ray starred as himself in the movie “Blues for Lovers” (later…
All That Philly Jazz
The Champagne Bowl opened May 28, 1957. It was located on the ground floor of the Flamingo Apartments. Pianist and composer Johnny Houston, who later joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, began a two-week gig at the “Bowl” in December 1957. Hundreds attended a star-studded salute to R&B legend Little Willie John at the Bowl in…
Keeping Hope Alive on Philadelphia Courthouse Mural | All That Philly Jazz
I was on jury duty last week. During breaks, I checked out one of my favorite works of public art. When I first saw the Philadelphia Courthouse Mural in 2016, I nearly passed out. The panoramic mural has more stories about Philadelphia jazz than any source other than this website. I was stumped by a…
Broad, Germantown, Erie Percent for Art Project | All That Philly Jazz
Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. Legendary trumpeter Lee Morgan grew up on Madison Street in the Nicetown/Tioga neighborhood in North Philly. Lee’s block is a 20-minute walk from the intersection of Broad, Germantown and Erie (BGE). In conjunction with traffic safety and beautification improvements to the iconic intersection, the Office of Arts, Culture, and…
1st Annual Music Landmarks Virtual Fest | All That Philly Jazz
All That Philly Jazz was an official partner of the 1st Annual Music Landmarks Virtual Fest, organized by the American Music Landmarks Project. The virtual event celebrated the architectural legacy of American popular music. The Douglass Hotel, former home of the Cotton Club, Show Boat and Bijou Café, was featured on Day 2. The Aqua…
Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places | All That Philly Jazz
Black sacred places matter. From Bishop Richard Allen preaching at Mother Bethel, Denmark Vesey planning a slave rebellion at Mother Emanuel, and Minister Malcolm X teaching at Muhammad’s Temple of Islam No. 12, Black sacred places have been the heart and soul of the African American community. Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., an advisor to…
And the winner is… | All That Philly Jazz
In March 2022, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced plans to give Wesley Wofford, a white artist who has never won a public commission for a Harriet Tubman statue, a $500,000 “direct commission”; in other words, a no-bid commission. In a city that is 40 percent African American, Black artists were not given an opportunity to…
All That Philly Jazz
Opened in 1965, the Starlite Supper Club was one of several nightspots owned by serial jazz club owner Benjamin Bynum Sr. Kenny Gamble and the Romeos, Ben E. King, Lou “Philly Dog” Lawton, Nina Simone, Jimmy Smith and Kim Weston were among the up and coming and established artists who performed here. https://youtu.be/T5fCC7L_C48?feature=shared https://youtu.be/oVkXrimUidA?feature=shared Fittingly,…
The Bainbridge Club | All That Philly Jazz
The Hotel Brotherhood USA was a benevolent and mutual aid society founded in 1883 by African American hotel workers. A precursor to the labor movement and Civil Rights Movement, the Hotel Brotherhood advocated for equal pay for Black hotel workers and provided members with healthcare, life insurance, and death benefits. The historic union hall moved…
Happy Birthday, Monk | All That Philly Jazz
Thelonious Sphere Monk was born on October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The legendary pianist and composer performed at several Philadelphia jazz clubs, including Emerson’s Tavern and the Showboat. He was a headliner at the 1st Quaker City Music Festival. The bebop pioneer joined the ancestors on February 17, 1982. He bequeathed musicians…
International Underground Railroad Month 2023 | All That Philly Jazz
September is International Underground Railroad Month. September was chosen because it was the month that Frederick Douglass (September 3, 1838) and Harriet Tubman (September 17, 1849) made their escape from bondage. https://youtu.be/KTBQBtxJa6w?feature=shared On September 17, 2023, the Navy announced it will name the ninth John Lewis-class oiler after Harriet Tubman. Secretary of the Navy Carlos…
Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes | All That Philly Jazz
Drummer and bandleader Max Roach’s music is at the intersection of art, activism and resistance. His groundbreaking “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” was influenced by the then-emerging Civil Rights Movement. https://youtu.be/UsvFzXr-o-8?feature=shared This week, American Masters will premiere Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes. The documentary explores the life of the pioneering drummer and…
National Voter Registration Day 2023 | All That Philly Jazz
In the coming months, you will be told the 2024 Election is the most consequential election since, well, the last presidential election. The hype notwithstanding, the right to vote is the right that secures all other rights. If voting didn’t matter, conservatives would not try to block access to the ballot box. National Voter Registration…
Prince’s Total Experience | All That Philly Jazz
Prince Artis Gilliard Jr., a former investigator with the Philadelphia Police Department, opened Prince’s Total Experience in the 1970s. In the mid-’70s, Sun Ra and the Arkestra had a weekly engagement at the North Philly jazz spot. Prince’s Total Experienced played host to soul and jazz legends, including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Billy…
March on Washington: 60 Years Later | All That Philly Jazz
Thousands gathered in the nation’s capitol to mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Organizers said the march is “not a commemoration, but a continuation” of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march was convened by Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action…
Slavery Did Not Benefit Black People | All That Philly Jazz
The arrival of the “White Lion” at Point Comfort (modern day Fort Monroe), Virginia on August 20, 1619 marks the beginning of 250 years of chattel slavery in America. The slave ship carried “20 and odd” Africans who were traded to the English colonists for food. Hungry for attention, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through…
Nina Simone at 1966 Newport Jazz Festival | All That Philly Jazz
The 2023 festival is history but if I could go back in time, it would be to the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival. The lineup included Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Rushing, Esther Phillips and Joe Williams. Verve Records has issued a newly discovered recording of Nina Simone’s…
Vote for Harriet Tubman Statue Design | All That Philly Jazz
The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) has unveiled the proposed designs for the statue honoring Harriet Tubman. As I told the Philadelphia Inquirer, it was a needlessly bumpy process to get to this point, but I think Philadelphia can be proud of the visions presented by the five semi-finalists, Vinnie Bagwell,…