The Friday Riff

Today we welcome special guest, Professor Aldon Nielsen, for a show focusing on the relationship between African-American poetics and jazz. We’ll listen to an eclectic mix of jazz musicians and poets, often in literal dialogue with one another, and investigate the social and aesthetic significance of the jazz/poetry connection.  We focus specifically on the new “Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield” project, a collaboration between bassist William Parker and poet Amiri Baraka.

Aldon Lynn Nielsen is the George and Barbara Kelly Professor of American Literature in the Pennsylvania State University ‘ s Department of English. His works of scholarship include Writing between the Lines, C.L.R. James: A Critical Introduction, Black Chant, and Integral Music: Languages of African American Innovation, and  Every Goodbye Ain ‘ t Gone, an anthology of experimental poetry by black American artists co-edited with Lauri Ramey.

Welcome to the magical acoustical mystery tour: today’s show investigates the ways in which jazz uses musical time –rhythms, meters, tempos, etc.– and sonic spaces to create a wide range of textures and moods. We’ll hear a version of Paul Desmond’s “Take 5” in 4/4 time, Max Roach’s swinging waltzes, and other temporal jazz paradoxes…

Dedicated to the brave Zaca Firefighters.

Drummer, composer, activist, and amazing human being Max Roach passed away this week at age 83. Roach was not only one of the most talented and influential musicians of the last century, he was also a tireless advocate for human rights, and a creative artist who never compomised to the demands of the market or ignorant critics. He performed with everyone from Charlie Parker to Cecil Taylor to Fab Five Freddy. He will be missed. His music and influence lives on. Today we’ll listen to a sample of his wide-ranging recording career.

Thanks, Max. We’ll miss you.

Another edition in our series of shows on various groupings of instruments and musicians in jazz. Today we listen to several examples of one of the most important and aesthetically pleasing combinations in improvised music: the trio. Just as in rock music, the trio in jazz and other improvised genres seems to bring out the best in many musicians, encouraging the perfect combination of personal expression and group communication/support. We’ll hear music from Bill Evans, Nat King Cole, Abdullah Ibrahim, and more!