Deep Focus

The future that Sun Ra sang of has arrived in so many ways.  No one knows this better than the musicians who made the music with him.  Ahmed Abdullah was part of Sun Ra's Arkestra for more than 20 years and his insights about that time could fill a book.  In fact, they have.  "A Strange Celestial Road" is newly released and Ahmed joins host Mitch Goldman to discuss it on this week's Deep Focus.   ...

The future that Sun Ra sang of has arrived in so many ways.  No one knows this better than the musicians who made the music with him.  Ahmed Abdullah was part of Sun Ra's Arkestra for more than 20 years and his insights about that time could fill a book.  In fact, they have.  "A Strange Celestial Road" is newly released and Ahmed joins host Mitch Goldman to discuss it on this week's Deep Focus.   ...

Who was Joseph Jarman?  A shaman?  A conjurer?  A Buddhist priest?  A poet?  An Aikido sensei?  In the words of his fellow member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Lester Bowie, "Well, I guess that all depends on, ah, what you know."  We know that in the universe of this music, which thrives on original thinking, few ranged as far and as free as Jarman.  He brought us songs and stories, large-scale...

Who was Joseph Jarman?  A shaman?  A conjurer?  A Buddhist priest?  A poet?  An Aikido sensei?  In the words of his fellow member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Lester Bowie, "Well, I guess that all depends on, ah, what you know."  We know that in the universe of this music, which thrives on original thinking, few ranged as far and as free as Jarman.  He brought us songs and stories, large-scale...

Who was Joseph Jarman?  A shaman?  A conjurer?  A Buddhist priest?  A poet?  An Aikido sensei?  In the words of his fellow member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Lester Bowie, "Well, I guess that all depends on, ah, what you know."  We know that in the universe of this music, which thrives on original thinking, few ranged as far and as free as Jarman.  He brought us songs and stories, large-scale...

Yes, I am starting to see the pattern!  Vijay Iyer has joined Mitch Goldman for Deep Focus programs on Andrew Hill, Thelonious Monk, and Geri Allen.  This Monday the lens turns to McCoy Tyner.  Do you see what I see?     You will this Monday night from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD and  wkcr.org .   Next week it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at  h...

Yes, I am starting to see the pattern!  Vijay Iyer has joined Mitch Goldman for Deep Focus programs on Andrew Hill, Thelonious Monk, and Geri Allen.  This Monday the lens turns to McCoy Tyner.  Do you see what I see?     You will this Monday night from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD and  wkcr.org .   Next week it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at  h...

Yes, I am starting to see the pattern!  Vijay Iyer has joined Mitch Goldman for Deep Focus programs on Andrew Hill, Thelonious Monk, and Geri Allen.  This Monday the lens turns to McCoy Tyner.  Do you see what I see?     You will this Monday night from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD and  wkcr.org .   Next week it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at  h...

William Parker has perhaps done more than any musician alive to spread understanding and support for open improvised music.  More than that, he is a bassist, bandleader, and conceptualist of the highest order.  The sheer volume of projects (including the upcoming Vision Festival) that he commits energy to is simply daunting and the list of noted improvisers he has played with is practically a who'...

William Parker has perhaps done more than any musician alive to spread understanding and support for open improvised music.  More than that, he is a bassist, bandleader, and conceptualist of the highest order.  The sheer volume of projects (including the upcoming Vision Festival) that he commits energy to is simply daunting and the list of noted improvisers he has played with is practically a who'...

William Parker has perhaps done more than any musician alive to spread understanding and support for open improvised music.  More than that, he is a bassist, bandleader, and conceptualist of the highest order.  The sheer volume of projects (including the upcoming Vision Festival) that he commits energy to is simply daunting and the list of noted improvisers he has played with is practically a who'...

When the centennial of an artist as singular and inventive and influential and expressive as Wes Montgomery passes, one Deep Focus is not enough.  Several weeks ago, Rodney Jones brought us a whole new appreciation for Wes.  Can Mark Whitfield do it again?        This Monday (5/8), Mark takes a deep dive into the WKCR archives on Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus.  Not only are we going to play some neve...

When the centennial of an artist as singular and inventive and influential and expressive as Wes Montgomery passes, one Deep Focus is not enough.  Several weeks ago, Rodney Jones brought us a whole new appreciation for Wes.  Can Mark Whitfield do it again?        This Monday (5/8), Mark takes a deep dive into the WKCR archives on Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus.  Not only are we going to play some neve...

When the centennial of an artist as singular and inventive and influential and expressive as Wes Montgomery passes, one Deep Focus is not enough.  Several weeks ago, Rodney Jones brought us a whole new appreciation for Wes.  Can Mark Whitfield do it again?        This Monday (5/8), Mark takes a deep dive into the WKCR archives on Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus.  Not only are we going to play some neve...

This Monday  (5/1) Jazz Alternatives presents Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus on Andrew Cyrille with guest Daniel Sadownick.   Take a stroll through Andrew Cyrille's discography.   The range of his work across the last 60+ years is practically gasp-inducing.  Admire How many of the hundreds of sessions that he has anchored in that time represent the leader's best works.  Weigh the sense of anticipation...

This Monday  (5/1) Jazz Alternatives presents Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus on Andrew Cyrille with guest Daniel Sadownick.   Take a stroll through Andrew Cyrille's discography.   The range of his work across the last 60+ years is practically gasp-inducing.  Admire How many of the hundreds of sessions that he has anchored in that time represent the leader's best works.  Weigh the sense of anticipation...

This Monday  (5/1) Jazz Alternatives presents Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus on Andrew Cyrille with guest Daniel Sadownick.   Take a stroll through Andrew Cyrille's discography.   The range of his work across the last 60+ years is practically gasp-inducing.  Admire How many of the hundreds of sessions that he has anchored in that time represent the leader's best works.  Weigh the sense of anticipation...

The streets of NYC are vibrantly alive with the spirits of the originators and the thrust and tumult of what they created.  If, that is, you know how to summon them, and few do as our guest for this Deep Focus, Ras Moshe.  He and host Mitch Goldman bring us to the legendary Tin Palace for an exploration by Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre at the height of his creative powers in the mid-Seventies.  He...

The streets of NYC are vibrantly alive with the spirits of the originators and the thrust and tumult of what they created.  If, that is, you know how to summon them, and few do as our guest for this Deep Focus, Ras Moshe.  He and host Mitch Goldman bring us to the legendary Tin Palace for an exploration by Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre at the height of his creative powers in the mid-Seventies.  He...

The streets of NYC are vibrantly alive with the spirits of the originators and the thrust and tumult of what they created.  If, that is, you know how to summon them, and few do as our guest for this Deep Focus, Ras Moshe.  He and host Mitch Goldman bring us to the legendary Tin Palace for an exploration by Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre at the height of his creative powers in the mid-Seventies.  He...

It's 1965.  Wes Montgomery has been on the scene for more than 2 decades but he is just emerging as a major pop star.  He has hit singles on the charts and he is touring major European concert venues.  But in New York, he plays a series of shows at a small club on Spring Street called the Half Note.  It's the spot downtown where all the cats check each other out.   For this episode, recorded on th...

It's 1965.  Wes Montgomery has been on the scene for more than 2 decades but he is just emerging as a major pop star.  He has hit singles on the charts and he is touring major European concert venues.  But in New York, he plays a series of shows at a small club on Spring Street called the Half Note.  It's the spot downtown where all the cats check each other out.   For this episode, recorded on th...

It's 1965.  Wes Montgomery has been on the scene for more than 2 decades but he is just emerging as a major pop star.  He has hit singles on the charts and he is touring major European concert venues.  But in New York, he plays a series of shows at a small club on Spring Street called the Half Note.  It's the spot downtown where all the cats check each other out.   For this episode, recorded on th...

Celebrating the glorious music of Dexter Gordon on the centenary of his birth, February 27, 2023, with the brilliant Eric Person.     Photo credit: Dexter Gordon at Mountain Winery Jazz Festival, Saratoga CA_1981 Brianmcmillen, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org-licenses-by-sa-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Celebrating the magnificent Dexter Gordon on the centenary of his birth, February 27, 2023, with the brilliant Eric Person.     Photo credit: Dexter_Gordon at Mountain Winery Jazz Festival, Saratoga CA_1981 Brianmcmillen, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org-licenses-by-sa-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons