You Can’t Buy Swing at the White House
I’m still pinching myself but it’s true, we played at the White House with my quintet three times over the holidays in the East Room. When I was there for the Jazz Studio in June, I left a couple copies of my CD, You Can’t Buy Swing, for them to check out. Sure enough, in […]
Blues Band Broadcast from Albania
This just in from Albania. It’s an excerpt from our Rhythm Road Tour in June where we appeared on E Diel, the live, weekly, variety show broadcast nationwide. We were knocked out by the multi-generational-over-the-top-enthusiastic reception we received there. Thanks again to our great hosts at the Embassy in Tirane and our wonderful co-sponsors at […]
A Wail of Two Cities
Last week, Evan Christopher invited us to do a concert with him at the University Club in Manhattan. It was Evan Christopher, clarinet, Ari Roland, bass, LaFrae Sci, drums and myself on piano. The concept was “A Wail of Two Cities: New Orleans to New York.” Evan put together a distinctive, fiery and sweet program. […]
Jazz Quartet at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Jazz At Lincoln Center in New York City
We had a wonderful week at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. It was great to be home again and performing with great musicians and close friends in such an illustrious venue. You can see Columbus Circle from the piano bench. It feels like you are playing jazz […]
The Jazz Drama Program In Mississippi
The trip to Mississippi was amazing. The photo above captures the sheer joy we felt at the culmination of the workshop performance of Nora’s Ark, the jazz musical by Clifford Carlson and me. Judi Holifield, Director of Whole Schools Initiative, sponsored by the Mississippi Arts Commission, brought me down to University of Mississippi at Oxford, […]
Litchfield Jazz Camp in Kent, Connecticutt
I was blown away by Litchfield Jazz Camp in Kent, CT. The atmosphere was pure learning. The young people were hungry and joyful. My colleagues on the faculty were giving it every minute. What a wonderful exchange. Playing, teaching, learning, discovering, experiencing, cooperating, uncovering, swinging, playing the blues and believing in the power of our […]
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White House Jazz Studio
Eli Yamin arrives at the East Gate Arriving at the White House today was a dream come true. I was invited to participate in the launch of the White House Music Series: Jazz Studio. It was the first ever jazz education event at the White House and we were given the run of the East […]
Blues Band back in the U.S.
We returned to the U.S. on June 2, had a day off, then hopped the train to Washington DC for a concert at the National Geographic Society. The following day we were invited to the U.S. Department of State in Washington to discuss our trip with officials from the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs […]
Blues Band in Tirane, Albania
At this point, we are real close. There’s nothing like making music together on the road and meeting such great people along the way. Here’s the workshop at the High School for Music in Tirane. There’s such curiosity for our music here, and such great talent. The trombone professor thanked us for drawing the power […]
Blues Band in Elbasan, Albania
Our first stop in Albania was the High School for Music and Art in Elbasan. The students were super enthusiastic and supremely soulful. Here they learned the words to Healing Song: “It’s not just a song for me. Take a breath…and you will see. Why the blues has the power to be. A healing song. […]
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