Style, ease, grace, beauty, power and a wonderful reminder that perhaps perfection is attainable.
Read MoreA little over a year ago, transgender Americans were granted the right to serve openly as such in the U.S. Military. This was a decision that allowed an estimated 2,500 people the freedom to be themselves. Following the repeal of this decree four days ago, I felt it necessary to share just one more selection by Ted Hearne.
Read MoreToday’s selection comes from Ted Hearne’s 2015 composition Coloring Book. He describes the work as such: “I set the words of three great black American writers of different generations (Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Claudia Rankine) in texts dealing with identity, not because I could ever pretend to speak for them, but because I wanted to know: Could I better understand their words by speaking them in my own voice?
Read MoreIn a search for understanding how people with the power to do good choose evil, I turned to music—particularly the music of Ted Hearne.
Read MoreThe one and only time I’ve ever enjoyed (let alone paid attention to) NYC taxi cab t.v. was I saw a clip of this song last December. “On the outside, always looking in, will I ever be more than I’ve always been?” As artists, we’ve all felt these feelings, to one degree or another. If I could go back in time, and perform a role in musical theater, Evan Hansen would be my choice.
Read MoreWith all due respect to the song I was planning to post, Alison Krauss’ beautiful rendition of the Beatles “I Will,” I felt compelled to instead share Marvin Gaye’s 1971 chart-topper, due to the events of this past week (and month, and year…).
Read MoreSheer perfection. All I ever wanted as a singer was to have even 50% of her breath control.
Read MoreI’ve now spent equal time on this planet with my father as I have without him. I don’t even know if he liked this song. But since he’s been gone, these lyrics have always reminded me of his tenderness, his love of music, and his unfulfilled dreams.
Read MoreIn my 9th grade English class, all of the students had to memorize a Shakespearean sonnet. I chose “Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shores,” but only because another student had already chosen “My mistress’ eyes.” Alan Rickman—whom I first encountered in Galaxy Quest—delivers his stirring rendition with gravitas and subtle passion.
Read MoreA remix of Beyonce, and Kendrick Lamar’s “Freedom” this piece is filled with references to the Black Lives Matter movement as well as actual video content from many of the murders and assaults on people of color from the past few years. The work is combined with Jesse Williams’ incredibly powerful BET Awards speech about cultural appropriation.
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