I’m getting used to the cold mornings. At least no snow on the horizon for the rest of the week. I started the day with Paula Morelenbaum “Berimbaum”–one of my absolute favorite recordings. It has it all.     And then on to one of my favorites in the Toshiba TOCJ 24 bit by RVG series, Pete La Roca “Basra”     Awesome band and performances.

November 21, 2025: Anat Cohen, The Clarion at Brazosport College, Lake Jackson November 22,2025: Jim Snidero, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth December 5, 2025: Shelley Carrol, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth December 6, 2025: Quamon Fowler, Scat Jazz, Fort Worth January 10, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin January 11, 2026: Brandon Woody's Upendo, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston January 17, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin January 23, 2026: Al Dimeola, Kessler Theater, Dallas January 24, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's Austin                                 Al Dimeola, Heights Theater, Houston January 31, 2026: Jackie Venson, Antone's, Austin February 22, 2026: Branford Marsalis Quartet, Wortham Theater, Houston March 5, 2026: Pat Metheny, Charline McCombs Empire Theater, San Antonio March 6, 2026: Pat Metheny, Paramount Theater, Austin March 7, 2026: Pat Metheny Side-Eye, Wortham Theater, Houston March 13, 2026: T.K. Blue and African Rhythms Alumni, A Tribute to Randy Weston, Walton Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas March 20, 2026: Sarah Hanahan, Monk's Jazz Club, Austin March 21, 2026: Sunny War, Anne Harris, Buffalo Nichols, Jake Blount, Justin Robinson, Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival, Southside Preservation Hall, Fort Worth March 22, 2026: Sarah Hanahan, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston March 26, 2026: Pat Metheny Side-Eye III,  Marc Ribot, Ches Smith Clone Row, Isaiah Collier,  William Hooker Quartet, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 27, 2026: Chucho Valdes Royal Quartet, John Scofield Trio, Ghost Train Orchestra: The Music of Moondog, Jeff Parker Expansion Trio,  Miles Okazaki Trickster, Nate Smith, Ned Rothenberg, Nik Bartsch, Sullivan Fortner Trio, Tim Berne, Thomas Fujiwara: Dream Up, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 28, 2026: Darius Jones Trio, Either/Orchestra, Incerto, Marquis Hill Blacktet, Mary Halvorson, Miles Okazaki: The Compete Monk, , Nate Smith,  Nik Bartsch Ronin, Patricia Brennan Septet, Shabaka, Yasmin Williams and William Tyler, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee March 29, 2026: Brandon Woody's Upendo, Chicago Underground Duo, Dave Douglas Gifts Quartet, Either/Orchestra Plays Eithiopiques, Julian Lage Quartet,Marc Ribot,  Matt Mitchell's Zealous Angles, Miles Electric Band, Nels Cline: Lovers, Openness Trio, Tom Skinner,, Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, Tennessee April 1, 2026: Samara Joy, Winspear Opera House, Dallas                        Pat Metheny Side-Eye III, Majestic Theater, Dallas April 2, 2026: Kaia Kater, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock, Arkansas                        Samora Joy, Austin City Limits April 4, 2026: Samora Joy, Tobin Center, San Antonio April 10, 2026: Coltrane at 100 (Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Ndudzo Makhathini, Matt Garrison, Jefftain Watts), Cullen Theater, Houston April 23-26, 2026: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival April 30-May 3, 2026: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival May 9, 2026: Hiromi's Sonic Wonder, Cullen Theater, Houston May 16, 2026: Chucho Valdes, Paramount Theater, Austin May 17, 2026: Lucia, Eldorado Ballroom, Houston

Hadda Brooks - Femme Fatale (Ace Records)  Wow -  what a voice! Her early recordings are a treat. My discovery of the year from long ago jazz.  

For sure. I'm of the opinion that one can't truly get an accurate history of anything in the US without accounting for organized crime syndicate involvement.