What I learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today (jazz and blues).

Every year on this day, I try to learn something new and interesting about Dr. King to share with my niece. Recently, the bebop has taken hold of my heart again, and so I decided to see what Dr. King thought about jazz and the blues.

Well, it turns out he liked 'em, probably not as much as his beloved gospel, but enough to speak about it. Dr. King helped kick off the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival with some brief remarks which as usual clarify, edify, and uplift:

God has wrought many things out of oppression. He has endowed his creatures with the capacity to create—and from this capacity has flowed the sweet songs of sorrow and joy that have allowed man to cope with his environment and many different situations.

Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph.

This is triumphant music.

Modern jazz has continued in this tradition, singing the songs of a more complicated urban existence. When life itself offers no order and meaning, the musician creates an order and meaning from the sounds of the earth which flow through his instrument.

Full text of remarks.

It is perhaps appropriate that one of the more notable events to arise in the wake Dr. King's passing in the music world was in the blues. Reputedly, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and B.B. King had found one another with a little free time and were playing the blues together when word of Dr. King's assassination reached them.

They kept playing.

A few days later, the three took the stage together for the so-called "King's Jam," a fundraiser for Dr. King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It was, as far as I know, the only time those three particular musical giants appeared on stage together.

Anyway, I thought some of you might like to see this. How I wish Dr. King could be here with us, on this evening and for tomorrow's triumphant day, the culmination of his dreams and aspirations for our nation.

(Incidentally, I have President Obama pegged as a Miles Davis guy--kind of blue, pre-Bitches Brew. Anyone know?)

educating me about Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and B.B. King. Musical kings honoring Rev. Martin Luther King. Very cool.

Thanks to all of you for getting me through these horrible, horrible past eight years!

I think I've scared up at least one tune that fits my mood, though the video doesn't fit so well:

Answer the door, George. It's for you.

He would be 80. A dream realized. I like to think that in some way, he is with us.



Something I recently learned was that Miles was getting ready to do an album with Jimi before he died.


What an incredible time this is. I can't compose words to describe it. Good riddance, and Thank goodness simultaneously.