Reminicing About A Memorable New York Hot Spot

If you had a chance to go there you might have rubbed shoulders with the likes of James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, or Toni Mossison. All hip. That's the type of crowd you'd expect at Mikell's, a hot spot that was  located on the corner of 97th & Columbus. 

Mikell's opened in 1969, and closed in 1991. It's owner was Mike Mikell, who died in 2005. It's gone now, but in the seventies and eighties Mikell's was a happen' place for some of New York's best session and studio musicians who would drop in to jam.  Art Blakey would rehearse and record there with the Jazz Messengers. Other frequent notables included Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and Cedar Walton.

I remember being there on one occaission when Hugh Masekela
almost blew the roof off the room. It was SRO, and I don't think sitting was even an option as the room was pulsating on a night that I remember like it was last night.

But, sadly, Mikell's is gone. Gone the way of other New York Jazz venues, such as Slugs, Port of Call East, and The Lennox Lounge.

Great memories, though.

The Late David "Fathead" Newman, Flora Purim, Sachal Vasandani and, It was All Free

Annual spring and summer festivals celebrating the performing and visual arts are so plentiful that it's impossible to see them all. But, if you are in or near Raleigh, NC, in May of the year, you've got to check out Artsplosure. 

Conceived in 1978, Artsplosure's goal was to create an "explosion" of art activity, and "expose" large numbers of people to all types of art. The event lasts several days, and is totally free.

In my years in Raleigh I saw the late tenor sax giant, David "Fathead" Newman, Brazilian super vocalist Flora Purim, and vocalist, Sachal Vasandani. All free, at Artsplosure. I had never seen any of these

What is the Periodic Table of Jazz?

If you haven't seen this, you should.

The Periodic Table of Jazz is a creation from Seattle based Jazz trombonist and educator, David Marriott, Jr.

There's not a lot I can say about this table, I just think it's very cool. If you click on the table it will enlarge and you'll see the names and time periods he has chosen. You'll also note that there are some names are obvious by their absence. Well, I'll let you read the words of it's creator, which you can do by going to, theperiodictableofjazz.com

Once at the site you can also order a poster of the table to hang on your wall, or give as a gift.

Click on the table.

Larger Than Life: Bobby Timmons at the Piano

One night in the late sixties I was walking down Avenue C in the East Village. It was late, and I was looking for a new place to grab a meal, and listen to some Jazz.

As I walked, I found a spot called, Rafikki. Not sure of the spelling now. I was only there once, and, I think it's gone now. But, it looked like a nice place, and the sign outside read, " live Jazz". Well, I had found a little piece of paradise.

Having been exposed to live Jazz from the age of eight by my mother in 1955, I was impressed even then with the music. But, my interest waned as one might expect from a child. It was only years
later that my interest and love of this music began to evolve. Sometime in the early sixties, when I was fifteen, my oldest brother, Dan, brought home some albums, Ramsey Lewis, among them. I'd heard of Ramsey,

The Cedar Walton Trio at the Village Vanguard, and, Suddenly in Walked Roy

In the late sixties, when I was hanging out around Jazz clubs in lower Manhattan, I couldn't afford to go to the storied, and costly, Village Vanguard. Enjoying a live show at this Jazz shrine had been a life long dream. I finally get there a few years ago.

I went with my wife in 2008. The cover was still a bit pricey, but I was no longer a broke college student. Once we were comfortably shoe-horned into our seats, the great Cedar Walton, and his trio, began the set. Trumpeter, Roy Hargrove, was also on the bill. Hargrove and

1968: The Jazz Journey Takes a Detour

The Jazz Journey has taken several artistic detours over the course of it's fifty plus years. In March 1968 I saw Jimi Hendrix perform live at the Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio. While Jazz has always been the main focus of my musical journey, you couldn't help but notice other genres of the period. 

Like many others, I was intrigued by what Hendrix was doing, and later, discovered that Miles Davis himself was discussing a collaboration with the guitarist just before Hendrix died.

Also, many of the hip Jazz clubs in the fifties and sixties were in the East Village in lower Manhattan. It was a paradise if you were into Bebop, Improv/Avant Garde. Of course, the West Village was home to

Next Stop for the Jazz Journey: The Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium Festival

Jazz: A Music of the Spirit 

The Thirteenth Annual Central Brooklyn Jazz  Festival(CBJC) will kickoff on March 30, thru April 30, 2013. Since 1999 the consortium has worked to recognize the works of  African American artists that have a "social conscious", and seek to improve relations among people and institutions in their community. The annual festival is a showcase for their efforts, for Jazz, and the arts.

This year's festival will feature Lou Donaldson, Dee Alexander, Houston Person, Winard Harper, Arturo O' Farrill, Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers, and many other international and local artists. Also, tributes will be made to honor many other artists, among them, Gloria Lynne, Gil Scott-Heron, Kenny Dorham, and Cecil Payne.

The Consortium will also give awards in the following categories: Jazz Impact Award, honoring the Jazz member credited with making the most significant contribution to the community; CBJC Hall of Fame Awards, which has inducted such notables as, Mary Lou Williams, Art Blakey, and Carmen McRae, among others; and the the Jazz Shrine Award, selecting a Jazz venue that has made a significant contribution to the community.

This event is held annually. But, I hope to see some of you this time around.

For more info write to, info@cbjcjazz.org or call (718) 773-2252.