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Wilm Wenders documentary Buena Vista Social Club, encaptures the life of the forgotten musical greats in Cuban history. The crew of this documentary follow members such as Ibrahim Ferrer, a singer and Ruben Gonzalez a pianist. After learning about their lives growing up, their associating with music, and where they are now the group is reassembled to perform in the United States. This film documents Ry Cooder bringing together 10 well known and forgotten Cuban musicians to perform together.…

Jazz as a genre evolved throughout years due to the progressive artists that create it, but when deciding on who is the "greatest" of jazz musicians, the most important criteria when deciding should be influence and innovation, as the lasting effects of an artist on their artform is what they should be judged by. With this set criteria, the only artist that can be considered the "greatest" is Miles Davis, as he pioneered many of different techniques and genres of jazz. The first reason why Miles…

The beginning of rock and roll music in Brazil came shortly after its genesis in The United States. After the release of the American film The Blackboard Jungle, a Brazilian cover of the film's featured song, “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley, was soon recorded. This American rock standard performed in Portuguese by Brazilian singer Nora Ney, and its subsequent popularity in Brazil marks the beginning moment of the country's rock music genre. ("History of Brazilian Rock Instro.") Most…

important for a person to follow his or her own dreams even if those dreams conflict with their family’s values. In the story there are many circumstances where Sonny’s brother tries to talk Sonny out of being what he wants to be. Sonny wants to be a jazz musician. Sonny’s brother wants the best for Sonny. He wants him to stay out of trouble and do what is best for his future. Sonny’s brother doesn’t agree with that choice of a career because the environment is dangerous, it won’t make him much…

looking at the top music charts, you'll see that he has managed to constantly be on the charts. He has been able to get any type of song on the charts including jazz, pop, and soul music, Joel has applied his skills in a diversity of genres and instruments. He is the creator of the legendary pop song “Piano Man” and the incredible jazz song of “Just the Way You…

The narrator struggles with expressing his emotions, his brothers addictions, believing his brother is possible of change and his music career. Sonny’s Blues has an undertones similar to the christianity, with Sonny sacrificing so much to overcome addiction. Although the story invokes Sonny in its title, it is through the narrator’s eyes that Sonny and Harlem are revealed. Compared to most of the men in his community, the narrator has succeeded: he has a wife, two children, and a good job as a…

Often times in life, unfortunately, we face situations that vindicate us, these conflicts can be within our own families and sometimes there is even conflict between parents and their own children. In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there is an opposition between Walter and Mama. After Walter Lee Sr. passed away, Mama receives a life insurance check of $10,000. At the time, Walter believes that starting a liquor store with the money will be the best thing for the family, but…

Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, follows the Younger family through a short time period and addresses their dreams and hardships. The play is ripe with themes and motifs, a few major ones include poverty, race, and the power of dreams. As the setting of the play, the Younger family apartment holds many of these motifs within itself and carries its own symbolism as well. The small apartment began as Mama and her late husband’s, Big Walter, starter home. Mama tells Ruth in the play…

How would you react if you held off your biggest dream? Would it die, haunt you? Would it hurt those around you and explode? In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, many of the characters go through dream-related struggles. Shortly after the Harlem Renaissance, Hansberry meets Langston Hughes, a famous poet, in Harlem, New York. She is so amazed by his work that she writes her play, A Raisin in the Sun, based off of Hughes’ poem, A Dream Deferred. In her play, A Raisin in the Sun,…

On the evening of February 21, 2018, I attended a Jamey Aebersold live jazz concert featuring Howard Levy and Chris Siebol at the music building at UIC. Since, I had never been to a jazz concert prior to this one, I did not know what to expect, but since it was my first time, I was excited. In my opinion, the evening’s program was nicely presented. The musicians started by introducing themselves, Howard Levy, an American multi-instrumentalist who switched off with playing the harmonica and the…