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All That Jazz On Old School Friday

November 21, 2008 2:20 pm

It’s Old School Friday. We are Jazzing it up a bit with the Tribute to Jazz theme.

I’ve listened to Coltrane since I can remember, some of you know that. Jazz, can scream, or squeeze the sorrow out of you, like no other form of music. That’s a good thing.

–

September 15, 1963, my mother was probably playing in the sandbox or painting with watercolors, my father playing gleefully with legos, if they had them at the time. Both blissfully unaware of their privilege.

In a window well outside the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama a group of Klu Klux Klan members placed 12 sticks of dynamite. Another bombing of more than 45 racially motivated bombings which had occurred since the end of World War II, earning Birmingham the nickname “Bombingham.” This was the deadliest of them all. Four girls—three age 14, one 11—were killed and more than 20 people injured in this act of terror.

Justice (if it could be called that occurring as it did so many years later), came slowly, in part because FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover refused to let his agents share the results of their investigation with state or federal prosecutors. Eventually, three members of the Ku Klux Klan were convicted for the murders—the first in 1977. The last, Bobby Frank Cherry, was convicted in May 2002, almost 39 years after the attack.

On November 18, 1963, John Coltrane stepped up to the microphone in fabled Englewood, NJ blowing his searing and definitive statement on the subject of the bombing. “Alabama.”

Old School Friday brought to you by Miss Marv and Mrs Grapevine.

Check out other players:

1.regina
2. Kim
3. Malcolm
4. sHaE-sHaE 5. Keith
6. aj
7. hagar’s daughter
8. prof pc 9. revvy rev
10. clnmike
11.Electronic Village
12. Kevin

peace

Posted in Blogging, MusicTagged , ,

21 Thoughts on “All That Jazz On Old School Friday”

  1. DougNo Gravatar on November 21, 2008 at 2:47 pm said:

    Trane is amazing and I didn’t know this recording. Thanks for that. There were definitely legos by 1970.

    Doug’s last blog post..Elector

  2. revvy revNo Gravatar on November 21, 2008 at 2:52 pm said:

    I remember the tragedy vividly. Coltrane has that knack of “musicfying” the essence of our emotions. Superb choice!

    revvy rev’s last blog post..Savoir-Faire

  3. caseyNo Gravatar on November 21, 2008 at 8:21 pm said:

    That rocks, and I don’t listen to jazz.
    The story behind it is something new to me too.

    Thanks for this one.

    casey’s last blog post..Insider trading, losses and wins.

  4. joegNo Gravatar on November 21, 2008 at 8:45 pm said:

    That is some seriously good stuff right there cooper.

    I’ve done 4 comments in one sitting, I catch up whenever I can cooper.

    I’ll be back around sometime after Thanksgiving.

  5. johnNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 1:56 am said:

    When you put it like that I almost understand Jazz. it’s easier to understand this genre of music, one I’ve never understood, when you present this situation and a song. I guess all jazz is sad. Old jazz I mean. Not talking Miles Davis and so on.
    I don’t think I’d ever have heard that story had this not been jazz day.

    john’s last blog post..Protecting An Image, Denying A Search Engine

  6. laketreesNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 2:39 am said:

    what a senseless tragedy !!!
    certainly makes you appreciate the music even more ..
    from one of my favourite musicians…
    great piece of music Cooper…
    real Saturday night music for me down under..

    laketrees’s last blog post..laketrees is 2 today !!

  7. MarvalusNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 10:34 am said:

    Jazz is one of those genres that you can stand in the middle of and feel it surround you…it gets in your mind and body and spirit…

    John Coltrane…there are no words for the genius that is this man’s music…

  8. gNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 10:48 am said:

    There was a Jazz Fest here the middle of October, it was good for a small beach town Jazz Fest. ( more urban jazz and a little swing music).

    Nothing like Coltrane though- he is prime.

    g’s last blog post..In Search of Rasta

  9. reginaNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 5:13 pm said:

    Thanks for the intro to this video. Coltrane is a genius in his own right. Great pick!

  10. kaitNo Gravatar on November 22, 2008 at 6:23 pm said:

    I don’t do jazz but the story behind this song compelled me to listen to the whole thing. I will give jazz a try.

  11. indeterminacyNo Gravatar on November 24, 2008 at 6:38 am said:

    Thanks for sharing this video with us. Those bombings in Birmingham are a terrible shame for our country.

    Somehow I never started listening to Coltrane until I was in Germany – probably around the time you were born! But I knew his name from the Dream Syndicate song:

    I got some John Coltrane on the stereo baby
    make it feel all right
    I got some fine wine in the freezer mama
    I know what you like

    indeterminacy’s last blog post..Indeterminacy #427