Songwriting’s Roots in Poetry and Prose GENERALLY, I’m skeptical of the glib and automatic denoting of any intelligent or articulate musician as “a poet.” But the connection between popular song and literature go back, in the Anglo-American tradition, at least … read more
AJBlog: CultureCrash Published 2017-05-05
Weekend Extra: Billy Hart Seen And Heard At the Portland Jazz Festival earlier this year, photographer Mark Sheldon captured a splendid image of drummer Billy Hart in action. There was no opportunity to use the picture in our Rifftides … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2017-05-05
Shortening Sondheim In today’s Wall Street Journal I review an off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures. Here’s an excerpt. * * * Whenever John Doyle stages a Stephen Sondheim musical, you can always count on being … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2017-05-05
What’s that strange music you hear? In today’s Wall Street Journal “Sightings” column, I write about a new book on film music. Here’s an excerpt. * * * Because I’m a trained musician, I always notice film music, in much the … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2017-05-05