Tag Archives: Jazz

Covers, Echoes, and New Music from Gregory Porter

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

What happens when Gregory Porter covers the Temptations (and others’) “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” echoes passages from Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?,” and writes, records, and shares his own 21st-century soulful jazz compositions with the world?  Great music– over … Continue reading →

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Lena Horne: Life, Music, Struggle, and Success

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

As I join others in  commemorating the centennial of the birth of Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (1917-2010), I am reminded of the struggles and triumphs of African American musical artists–in both their public careers and private lives. This week, I … Continue reading →

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Singing, Swinging, and Bopping with Dizzy, Ella, and Lena!

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

I am certain that writer-photographer William Gottlieb enjoyed his work as a journalist, especially since it afforded him countless opportunities to see and hear many of the greatest jazz artists of all time–including Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne.  … Continue reading →

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Jazz in Retrospect: From “Come Sunday” to “Divine Music”

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

Regennia N. Williams, PhD During a year-long journey through recent jazz history, I discovered that many artists continue to view jazz as spiritual music.  Others describe it as nothing less than divine.  Some even borrow a line from Duke Ellington … Continue reading →

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History, Humanity, and the Humanities: Getting to the Art of the Matter

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

      As an educator and an arts lover, I have always been very proud of the fact that history, my chosen field of study and, by definition, one of the humanities, invites people to give careful consideration to the ways … Continue reading →

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From Hymns to Horn — My Favorite Songs for This Season Are Celebrations of Life!

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

This is one of those posts that won’t require a lot of typing, because, fortunately, I’ve found two songs that seem to say it all — when it comes to the reasons for this season of rejoicing among Christians the … Continue reading →

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Phillip K. Jones, II & Friends Present FREE Concert Salute to Pianist Billy Strayhorn on November 19, 2015

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Dr. Regennia N. Williams, Founder, President, and Executive Director

Phillip K. Jones, II & Friends will present a Centennial Birthday Concert Tribute to jazz legend Billy Strayhorn, on Thursday, November 19, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Cleveland State University, Music and Communication Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue,  Drinko Recital Hall.  This … Continue reading →

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