The Missouri State Penitentiary was the second largest prison in the nation. It was very harsh and the other inmates were criminals. They were there for murder, theft, and lots of other horrible things. The inmates were cruel to each other and hated the guards. There were lots of different people there for many different reasons. There were even famous criminals there. In 1954 there was a riot that broke out and was chaos. There were people that escaped from here. There is a lot of history that…
Louis Riel After the events of the Red River Rebellion and the Northwest West Rebellion, there has been much controversy over Louis Riel, who was the leader of the Metis. In a textbook, you might find articles that say he betrayed the government or you may find an article online that say he is a true Canadian hero. Inevitably, Riel was a hero who was determined to fight for his and his people’s rights to the very last breath. Despite the disdainful views that the textbook depicts, Riel should…
During the final week of classes at Truman, I had the pleasure of hearing the school’s jazz bands in concert. During the concert, the Jazz Lab band and the Jazz Ensemble, both directed by Tim AuBuchon, played several jazz standards and modern favorites. The Jazz Lab band started out the night with five big band pieces. The instrumentation of the Jazz Lab band was standard for a big band; it included about four of each horn (saxophone, trumpet, and trombone), an upright bass, a piano, and a…
“Americana is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw.”( americanamusic.org) Aaron Copland was an American composer who instilled a great sense of nationalism in the American people through his many works of music that became known as the standard of the…
The concet I attended is called Azesu (Maria Marquez) held in the California Jazz Conservatory. Azesu is comprised by Grammy winners David Pinto on bass, Omar Ledezma on percussion, Sheldon Brown on reeds, Alan Hall on drums and Jonathan Alford on piano. They plays songs from the Latin American Songbook and originals which represent the diverse musical heritage of its members. Featuring the vocals of Maria Marquez and Omar Ledezma, Azesu is a true hybrid group combining the rhythms of the…
What a great show from the veteran super group The Cookers. They presented their magnificent repertoire in two sets at the Nublu Jazz Festival. The band comprises an inflammatory frontline composed of Billy Harper on tenor saxophone, Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, and trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss. The respectful rhythm section brings us George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. For tonight’s concert, pianist David Bryant, 33, replaced the…
It is of the utmost importance that Americans uphold and honor the true quintessential values upon which our country was founded; values which allow us to function as a democracy. Arguably the most profound is freedom of speech. So that while we indulge in the privileges of today, we regard with great respect the fight that it took to get here. Charlotte Anita Whitney fought until her final days for freedom to speak in America. In the impressive book, “Speaking Freely,” Philippa Strum outlines…
On Monday evening, September 21, 2015, I had the pleasure of watching University Jazz Combos. The performance was held at the University of Louisville School Of Music in the Bird Recital Hall. These three combos consisted of the Mark Turner Combo directed by Tyrone Wheeler, Illinois Jacquet Combo directed by Ansyn Banks, and Michael Brecker Combo also directed by Ansyn Banks. I wasn’t for sure what to expect when coming to this concert. Different from the other jazz performance I attended, this…
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet was an exceptionally fascinating occasion. My purpose for my statement is that I have never really been to a live jazz performance and it was a new experience for me. My immediate thought upon entry was that the presentation was going be exhausting and long. In spite of the fact that it lasted quite a while it was justified regardless of my while in light of the fact that I really wound up liking the performance. I think the Brubeck Brothers Quartet was amazing and I…
New Orleans, LA is not just known for the famous tourist attraction, it is also known for the music lover people of this area. The traditions of various types of music are practiced for generations here. New Orleans is famous for its traditional love for jazz music. In fact, this is the birthplace of jazz music. The original music evolves and creates some different kind of jazz, which just the tribute for the original creators. Today, we discuss that. A Little history: New Orleans music has…