Bernie Crane: Rock Star (0)

Posted 29 May, 2007 in Family

My son Bernie sings his 2007 hit “If I Don’t Know What To Do” in glorious Dolby (TM) sound!

The Jazz Session: Bobby Sanabria (1)

Posted 21 May, 2007 in Jazz, Music, Podcast, The Jazz Session

Jason Crane interviews percussionist, bandleader, composer and educator Bobby Sanabria. Sanabria is a living link to the great Afro-Cuban jazz tradition. He’s played with just about everyone, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, Charles McPherson, Mongo Santamaria, Chico O’Farrill and Mario Bauza. He’s also a Grammy-nominated solo artist and a powerful force in bringing the Afro-Cuban tradition into the 21st century. This interview features a sneak peek at his new album, Big Band Urban Folktales (Jazzheads, 2007), which hits stores in June.

LISTEN

Mahr On Falwell, So To Speak (0)

Posted 19 May, 2007 in Atheism, Politics & Activism

Brilliant!

Marlene Ver Planck (0)

Posted 18 May, 2007 in Jazz, Music

My most recent article for The Guide on Hilton Head Island is about singer Marlene Ver Planck, who performs there this weekend. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Bert! (0)

Posted 18 May, 2007 in Atheism

Today is the birthday of Bertrand Russell, the philosopher who wrote the extremely influential book Why I Am Not A Christian. If you’ve ever received an e-mail message from me, you’ve seen this Bertrand Russell quote at the bottom:

“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”

Hard to go wrong with a philosphy like that.

Respect! (0)

Posted 17 May, 2007 in Atheism, Random Musings

The Rochester Dissident (0)

Posted 14 May, 2007 in Politics & Activism, Rochester

I’ve mentioned my colleague Jack Bradigan Spula before. He writes the wonderful blog The Rochester Dissident.

I think the thing I like most about Jack is that he sees an entirely different side our of city from what most people see. Jack rides his bike everywhere, and his years on two wheels have caused his eye for detail to strengthen. Reading Jack’s blog is always revealing. He forces me to think about the world around me in ways that I often forget in my daily life.

For example, check out today’s post on a new college development project.

The Jazz Session: Jeff “Tain” Watts (0)

Posted 14 May, 2007 in Jazz, Music, Podcast, The Jazz Session

On the new episode of The Jazz Session, Jason Crane interviews drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. You might know him from his years with Wynton Marsalis, or his years with Branford Marsalis, or his stint as the drummer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, or from his many, many recordings as a leader and sideman. Tain’s new album is Folk’s Songs (Dark Key Music, 2007). It features his band The Ebonix with Marcus Strickland on saxophone, David Kikoski on piano and Christian McBride on bass.

LISTEN

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