Wynton Marsalis weighs in on Black Lives Matters

''Change requires imagination, courage and dogged dedication. The momentum of folly always pushes us down the inevitable path of contention, calamity and chaos. I hope that the social and political corruption and turmoil of these times cast a light …

Published: 9 Jan 2021. Updated: 3 years.

''Change requires imagination, courage and dogged dedication. The momentum of folly always pushes us down the inevitable path of contention, calamity and chaos. I hope that the social and political corruption and turmoil of these times cast a light on the individual investment required to maintain a libertarian democracy. May the events of these times inspire us all to engage even more deeply in the rights and responsibilities we have as citizens.''

That's the takeaway from a new article by Wynton Marsalis titled ''Sloganize, Patronize, Realize, Revolutionize'' that features the great trumpeter-composer's thoughts on Black Lives Matters (pointedly parenthesised) and recent events in the US.

Wynton is promoting his new Blue Engine album The Democracy Suite that follows on from last year's excellent The Ever Fonky Lowdown and a fun Sesame Street-themed holiday period record. The Democracy album is to be released on Friday just days before Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th president of the US. Read Wynton's piece: here

Wynton Marsalis, top. Publicity shot

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Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo, El Arte Del Bolero

An incredible piece of work: bolero classics delivered in an alto saxophone and piano setting from two masters, Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo, thinking as one. Zenón has recorded some of these before, for instance 'Que te Pedi' presented as …

Published: 9 Jan 2021. Updated: 3 years.

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An incredible piece of work: bolero classics delivered in an alto saxophone and piano setting from two masters, Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo, thinking as one.

Zenón has recorded some of these before, for instance 'Que te Pedi' presented as a bonus track on his Awake album. Here he completely inhabits the songs ornamenting the beautiful classic melodies often as not via a bebop filter while Perdomo's impressionism and the faraway quality that he brings to his improvisations is a perfect foil. Prepare to be completely blown away, no kidding. Out now via Zenón's Bandcamp page.

Miguel Zenón, top.