ArtsBeat

Just ran across this very curious new blog by University at Buffalo professor Justin Andrew Read. He kicked the blog off on July 5 with an entry about a Freddie Keppard boxed set and has posted several interesting ruminations since then that illustrate the connections between the best jazz of the 20th century and the way we live our lives (and apparently drink our wines) today. Check out an entry from July 8 below and visit the blog for more.

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse)

Late night. You came back from the party exhausted. Something hadn't gone quite right. You ran into someone you didn't expect and didn't want to see (an ex-lover? a colleague from work? an obnoxiously drunk pro-life republican?). And though it wasn't a complete catastrophe, some times you just feel like life just gives you a glancing blow to remind you not to get too excited about it. Even John Coltrane can't manage his usual fireworks. But this is how it should be, just so not to get in the way of Johnny Hartman. A reminder for a bit of restraint. Maybe tomorrow you can pick up the pieces again. Tonight's not going to get any better.

Suggested Wine Pairing: The best tawny port you can get your hands on, maybe the Taylor-Flatgate Vintage Porto (doesn't matter what vintage, there's not a bad one).

Maybe just a teensy bit "Sideways," but fascinating nonetheless.

--Colin Dabkowski