Some Virtual Stocking Stuffers

A couple of quick ideas for filling your time online during the holiday season and beyond:

Accujazz.com: Right now I’m listening to the “Swingin’ Christmas” channel, but there are multitudes of other channels to choose from and listen to. This one has really brightened my morning. They also have a blog where they review new releases, and occasionally refer you to other sites of interest. Check it out.

Jazz.com Slightly over a year old now, this is a jazz site that is informative, funny, and visually pleasing without being so visually heavy that it takes ten minutes for a page to load. Reviews, interviews, lots of good writing, images (check out the gallery for some other great jazz photogs & artists), and Lewis Porter’s Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians. Author/Musician Ted Gioia’s site.

jazzvideoguy.tv   

http://www.planetbret.com/  Both of the above are sites that belong to Bret Primack, aka jazzvideoguy. Like mini-jazz docs. Interviews & performance mixed. Bret has been around for many years and has experience in all sorts of Jazz enterprises. Check him out.

Thanks to the Accublog for the links to Bret’s spaces.

Jazz Online-Share the Experience

There are more people out there “in the world” that don’t know enough about jazz music to appreciate and support it, than there are people who do. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be the problems of funding, support and appreciation that there are. Part of the problem seems to be that people wanting to learn about the music are overwhelmed by what they see as an insider attitude, exhibited by some of those “in the know.” So my first rule for those just beginning to learn and ask questions, is, Don’t be intimidated by Jerks. They exist. Move on.

Jazz also is both hurt and helped by the existance of so many sub-genres of the music. If you aready know what type you like and want to listen to, fine. There are many sites online that address specific “types” and I’m sure you can find them simply by Googling the one you are most interested in. Big Band. Bop. Fusion. Nu-jazz. Or you can simply Google Jazz and get many millions of choices. It’s all out there.

One of my favorite ways of learning more about old favorites is NPR. They have numerous choices and programs. I subscribe to Nancy Wilson’s Jazz Profiles on I-tunes podcasts. I can listen when I have time, and never have to worry that I’m missing a show. And it’s free. NPR also hosts Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz. And they have a Jazz for Kids program that I’ve never checked out, so if anyone else is familiar with it, feel free to write in and let me know what you think. Share your knowledge, and your links. In the meantime I’ll keep adding my own, and hopefully we can help a few fellow travelers to the Emerald City.