About the Blog
Welcome! Thanks for checking out ALTERNATE TAKES.
ALTERNATE TAKES is a blog geared toward discussing and exploring jazz within a myriad of social contexts. While this premise may not be new, the lens through which this subject is being explored is. Jazz has been analyzed historically; examined, evaluated, critiqued, poked and prodded, predominately by White males. Jazz is America’s freedom music, invented by African Americans. The art form is part of the soundtrack to the African American experience and progression toward social justice in America. This is not a journey which any sole group of people can document, at least not accurately. And while I take no issue with any human being analyzing any art, it is disturbing and detrimental when Black art forms are being nearly exclusively examined by almost no one of color; and the pool of women writing about jazz, shallower yet. This “tradition” results in a long list of damaging consequences. Moreover, the generational disparity is another glaring factor. If jazz music is to continue thriving, music journalists and other influencers within the music industry must simply engage and embrace young people. Jazz is a living, breathing art form, and for it to stay afloat, its audience must be also.
ALTERNATE TAKES is an effort to broaden the perspective of the jazz discussion, through broadening the spectrum of its contributors, ultimately, in an effort to broaden the listenership, support and appreciation of the music.
ALTERNATE TAKES will cover current and classic subjects in the jazz world through interviews, reviews, and essays drawing from my experiences and observations. And while the main theme is jazz music, my love for so many different styles of music will inform blog entries about subjects beyond jazz, so there’s something for almost everyone. But it’s time to document and discuss jazz music through a different lens; a larger scope, and invite musicians (and you!) to open up on these platforms and expand the discourse.
A different view, an alternate take.
- The Improbable Aficionado
Edits: Laura Hogan
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39 Responses to About the Blog
Hi,
Please send me an email at redcatjazz@mac.com – I am Marcus’ and EJ’s (and Strick Muzik’s) publicist. We should be in touch – I’d like to add you to my database, so please include your mailing address.
The blog looks fantastic – really well done!!
Cheers,
Jason Byrne
Red Cat Publicity
Tel 347 578 7601
Email Redcatjazz@mac.com
Peace,
I cannot say how happy I am to find your blog. I am a Jazz Lover and to find a place where the information will be maintained by my sister, who shares the same appreciation well words cannot express the Joy. I am also a blogger here on Word Press, and for the same reasons. Mainly sharing that side of Hip Hop we grew up on that has been silenced by the mainstream. Now billed “Golden Years of Hip-Hop” 79-97 and current music that’s in that same vein to uplift and educate. Jazz, Reggae, Broken Beat, and Art I try to feature as well. Great Work here with Alternate Takes!!
Peace & Light,
B.Lowe
www.blowevibrations.wordpress.com
www.soundcloud.com/b-lowe
e-mail – www.blowevibrations.hotmail.com
B. Lowe,
Many, many thanks for the support and encouragement. Your blog sounds very interesting and so timely. I’m looking forward to checking it out. It’s a great thing you’re doing. I agree, we have to broaden the spectrum of people who tell our story, and it should be a given that people of color be largely the narrators of our art. But it could not be more disproportionate. So, I’m trying to do my part.
Sending you a warm welcome, and much success with your blog. I love real hip-hop and have a real interest in its relation to jazz and bringing back quality hip-hop. I’m working on a piece you may dig on that subject!
Peace,
A. Beener
Very nicely done. Dope stuff:)
Chandra, thank you very much!
Hello, I discover your blog today .. just fantastic ! congrats and keep on please ! kind regards
Thank you, Juan-Carlos! I appreciate your kind words, and I promise to keep on going! Kind regards to you…
hey again .. I’m jazz photographer based in Europe and I invite you to discover my work if you don’t know it already. I made the official calendar of Sonny Rollins, realized promo shots for Ornette Coleman concerning his Pulizer Prize and a CD Cover for Dave Douglas among other things .. My blog wil be redesigned this week-end. My purpose with my blog is to make discover jazz artists to people across my photos and below my photos some videos. My blog exists since May 2009 and you will find 280 photos and a useful name index in the menu (bottom of the page, right menu) Thanks for your attention
and i forgot the link
juancarloshernandezjazzphotographer.blogspot.com/
Very nice work, Juan-Carlos! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Angelika,
My name is Kate and I work with Creative Entertainment Group
(CEG)in New York City. I’ve looked through your impressive blog and I am very
interested in working with you, as we work closely with jazz musicians. NolaFunk.com, a subsection of CEG, works with New Orleans musicians/bands in promoting concerts around NYC, as we are dedicated to bringing the music and spirit of New Orleans to New York. We are a valuable resource for New Orleans jazz musicians to extend their talents and share the unique music of the Big Easy with the rest of the nation. Please email me at Kaschles@loyno.edu to discuss further. Keep up the good work!
my pleasure ! i still follow your blog and the last article about the top 25 in NY is just great !
Angelika, I finally got a chance to have a look. Well done!
Thanks very much for checking it out!
Hello Angelika,
I’m the publicist for Brownman Ali (trumpet player for Guru’s Jazzmatazz, replacing Donald Byrd in that ensemble in 2006), considered an iconic evolutionary jazz artist in Canada, where he now resides (heralded as “Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpet player by the New York City Village Voice magazine). I would like to add you to our database. Please send me an email at andrew@brownman.com .
I just read your Ari Hoenig article – fantastic & well researched writing. Looking forward to more!
Best,
Andrew McIntosh
andrew@brownman.com
Publicity & Logistics, Brownman Music Inc.
New York: 718-701-9449
Toronto: 416-767-9446 Ext. 3
Great blog- I have recently discovered a love for Jazz- and this is a very informative way to help me along my journey. Thanks for sharing
I’m thrilled to help you along your journey! That’s really the goal of this blog, and it makes me really happy to share and learn through music. Best of everything as you move along…it’s an amazing feeling to discover jazz! If you like, subscribe and this way you can always stay current with me!
We really like your blog. Follow you on twitter,too. – the transatlantic diablog
I just have to say, I’ve been listening to more jazz today after watching last night’s The Sing-Off (a capella reality show). They had a GREAT group called Afro-Blue who did a jazzy-soul rendition of Put Your Records On (www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHmjR1-vUpU). I’m looking forward to seeing where they go. Enjoying your blog! -Abi
WOW! They sounded GREAT!!!! Thanks so much for sending that to me. I hope they go really far. It’s nice to see an a capella group with both men and women singing — wow, they really sounded great. I hope to share more music together!
Great blog – I love it already and can’t wait to dig into it in detail! A quick question; are you related to the great trumpeter Oliver Beener?
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that, and look forward to you being a part of the AT community.
Yes sir, he was my father!
Wow. Wonderful site – and thanks for hipping me to Marcus Strickland. Looking forward to troving the archives and am looking forward to whats to come. I don’t know if ‘troving’ is actually a word. Anyway, happy Sunday and thanks!
LOL! That’s a great word, though!
You’re welcome. Marcus is a wonderful artist. Here’s to much more “troving” and you have my sincerest gratitude for that!
Happy Sunday
I’m so excited to come across your blog! I am a lover of music in general, but jazz music holds a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see what you introduce me to and all that’s to come in the world of Jazz from Angelika’s perspecitve. As an African American woman living in the D.C. area, I can totally agree that the African American perspective of Jazz has been lost somewhere along the way. Thanks for this.!
Thank you! I’m excited that you’ve joined me! And I really appreciate your sentiments, truly!
All the best,
Angelika