From the 27 January 1972 edition of the underground British newspaper International Times:

I'm a firm believer that recorded music should, ideally, travel through the air from quality speakers into the ear. But, damn, Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi and Head Hunters albums sound so great on headphones.

Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau will perform next month as a duo at Chicago's Symphony Center (@chicagosymphony.bsky.social). Here's a little article I wrote about their upcoming visit: cso.org/experience/a...

Very sad to hear about the passing of the brilliant Hermeto Pascoal. I interviewed him for the Chicago Tribune 24 years ago and it was a mind-opening joy to hear him describe how he could only be himself and what that was all about. www.chicagotribune.com/2004/10/28/p...

Very much looking forward to the Chicago Jazz Festival. So many fantastic artists to see (though I told my students to be there for Eliades Ochoa). Since that tyrant in DC is talking crap about my city, this musical celebration is a joyful act of resistance. www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...

My institution spent the past several years devoting massive (undercompensated) faculty service hours to documenting qualifications for this program — which detracted from resourcing the educations of our students. And now, poof. Getting positively radicalized against means-testing of all kinds.

Planning for the start of classes next week. It's interesting: While students express visual disinterest when a professor digresses, they do become riveted when the professor goes off topic to talk about the time he was almost arrested.

The list of artists I kick myself about never seeing live is long and Jeff Buckley is in the top ten. I strongly recommend Chicagoans check out this very strong documentary, "It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley" and read Daphne Brooks' "Grace." He was remarkable. www.siskelfilmcenter.org/jeff-buckley

It was so exciting to see a new print of one of my favorites. I remember my first time experiencing "High And Low" when I was 18 and just had no idea that a single film could say all that. Almost 40 years later and I'm still amazed.

Excellent article by Ben Austen detailing how Trump's ignorant ass war on higher education is harming community colleges: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/m...

Sheila Jordan, one of the best jazz singers ever, needs our help. www.gofundme.com/f/support-sh...

While the federal government is shamefully dropping out of arts funding, the City of Chicago is admirably stepping up: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...

Farewell, Ozzy—co-creator of one of the best ever anti war songs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3b6...

CBS canceling Stephen Colbert is one more reminder that Harvey Pekar was ahead of his time.

Finally! Tito Puente has entered the DownBeat Hall of Fame. Here's a little story I wrote to accompany his inclusion: downbeat.com/news/detail/...

Here's the most excellent Noah Schaffer with a terrific review of the Chicago Blues Festival: artsfuse.org/312488/conce...

RIP, the great singer Patti Drew. I spoke with her about our hometown and she said of her teenage gang, The Latin Ladies, "We were the baddest thing in Evanston." www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvdE...

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Curtis Mayfield! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs6w...

Run, don't walk, to see this incredible film about the irrepressible Swamp Dogg. This documentary truly captures the spirit of the man—eccentric, hilarious, affectionate and brilliant. www.magpictures.com/swampdogg/

My book on Aretha Franklin's "Amazing Grace" is now available in the audio format. I'm happy that more people can now have the experience of learning about this classic album. I'm very happy that the narrator's speaking voice sounds far better than my own. www.overdrive.com/media/117405...

I'm not a video gamer (not since I spent quarters playing "Rampage" 37 years ago). So I had not known about the lack of Latine representation in video games until I read about it in a student's paper. Like I say, I'm always glad to learn from my students and I hope they learned something from me.

Here are the headliners for this year's Chicago Jazz Festival. Another fun Labor Day Weekend in Millennium Park. And I know the weather will be great, too. www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...

Kurahara's "Black Sun" (1964) is the strangest jazz film I've seen. It's fascinating---and Max Roach did the score---but it is really, really weird.

I had a great time speaking with the brilliant pianist Adegoke Steve Colson for this Northwestern Magazine article. Great music and video clips (shot at Rudy Van Gelder's studio) are embedded in the piece. magazine.northwestern.edu/features/ade...

I'm excited to participate in the 20th anniversary of The Secret History Of Chicago Music at the Hideout on June 14. And I'm doubly super excited that I'll lead a panel discussion about Chicago soul with the awesome Jackie Ross and Renaldo Domino. PLUS, Renaldo will perform!

Very sad to hear of Andy Bey's passing. One of my favorite jazz singers, I interviewed him in New York 23 years ago. What I thought would be a one-hour conversation at a diner turned into an entire afternoon and evening of walking around lower Manhattan, listening to his incredible life's story.

Learned from my students today: 1.) A Sikh student discussed how his faith corresponds to his reading of Roman philosopher Seneca. 2.) A transgender Mexican student discussed what Willie Colon's "El Gran Varo" means to him. Taught my students today: Real DJs don't use the term "vinyls."

I'm super excited about this year's Chicago Blues Festival. We have a stellar diverse lineup and along with the main events in Millennium Park (Mavis Staples, Latimore, C.J. Chenier), there are Bobby Rush & Billy Branch at the Ramova in Bridgeport. www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...

Tad Robinson is one of the best soul blues singers out there today and he has a bunch of incredible new songs on his upcoming album, "Soul In Blue" (Delmark). It was an honor to write the liner notes. Details: delmark.com/2025/04/tad-...

Horrible news. Aurelio Martínez was a wonderful musician and strong advocate for Garifuna culture. He was also a courageous politician in Honduras. His life and message were truly inspirational. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

I'm very much looking forward to reading this new book about some friends of mine who wound up making a huge impact. And I'm sure it will remind me of things I experienced in a time and place 35 years ago—if you knew me then, you'd know why I need that reminder. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/b...

My short-term memory is so poor, I usually did badly on quizzes in school and I never give them to my students. But I did fine on this one and will require it for everyone: www.axios.com/local/chicag...

Talking to my class about the role of music in Plato's Republic reminded me of when I was their age and almost had a direct confrontation with the head of the PMRC in 1988. That's a story for another time.

I’M STILL HERE becomes the 5th Latin American film to win the #Oscar  for Best International Feature Film and the first for Brazil. The others are: -THE OFFICIAL STORY 🇦🇷 -THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES 🇦🇷 -A FANTASTIC WOMAN 🇨🇱 -ROMA 🇲🇽

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni defined Western Civilization as the embodiment of, among other things, "Greek philosophy." Meaning what exactly? Plato envisioned a quasi-Communist republic and Diogenes thought it was cool to jerk off in the street. As a prof, I give her a C-, at best.

It was terrific to see Cymande at Metro a few nights ago and very cool to see CBS News give the band some attention this weekend: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfF1...

Jerry Butler was a brilliant singer, the nexus between music and politics in Chicago, a driven entrepreneur and crucial musical organizer. He was also a very kind and generous person as he took the time to speak with me at length for my research on "Move On Up." And his quips were hilarious.

Happy President's Day, everyone! www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqbE...

It's always great to speak with Bill Charlap, as much as it makes me sad that I can't go to his beloved Village Vanguard more often. Still, it will be much fun to see him here: cso.org/experience/a...

I just received this beautiful edition of Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's 1967 classic and I'm looking forward to introducing it to my students. I don't know if they'll be thrilled that my recent acquisition means a little more work, but I'm sure they will be happy once they start reading his words.

About 48 years ago, an episode of "The Jeffersons" had a sympathetic transgender woman (Edie Stokes). So anybody who thinks this identity is a new thing invented by the so-called woke needs to watch more '70s sitcoms.

Sad to hear of the passing of Gene "Daddy G" Barge. As a saxophonist, arranger and composer, his contributions to Chicago soul and gospel are immense. He was a wonderful storyteller and a truly kindhearted man. It was a blessing to speak with him and always a treat to hear him play.

All educators should publicly pledge not to share any student's information with any federal agent without the student's consent.

I was honored that Paul Ingles invited me to share thoughts about Buddy Guy. Here's the link to the podcast: exchange.prx.org/playlists/41...

Just saw the incredible film "I'm Still Here." The true account of one family's endurance through Brazil's 1970s dictatorship remains relevant. Tim Maia, Caetano Veloso and The Beatles are also integral to the story. Chicagoans: See it on the big screen: www.siskelfilmcenter.org/im-still-here

RIP Marianne Faithfull. She said this on VH1’s Women Who Rock in 1999: “I have to tell you, the voice of God, if you want to know, is Aretha Franklin.”

Today's email: "Dear Professor Cohen, I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be able to attend class tomorrow due to the ice raids happening here in Chicago. It's making it unsafe for me to leave home." I have no respect for those who enabled what she's enduring now.

After The Clash, Joe Strummer & Mick Jones reunited to write "Beyond The Pale." The song expressed empathy with immigrants in the 1980s U.K., noting that Mick's grandparents were Jewish refugees from Russia. It's even more relevant in the U.S. 40 years later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRvr...

I just interviewed the brilliant, super cool and very funny Janis Ian for the Richard Davis book. Incredible how much musical love there was between them. Very much looking forward to seeing the new documentary about her life.