Posts

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A Year In Review Like No Other, Really

It was a classic July evening in L.A. as I rolled my camera case the mile or so up to the Greek Theatre from Los Feliz Boulevard. I was excited to be covering one of Neil Young’s two shows at the Greek as part of a brief West Coast solo tour…
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Joni, Jazz Fest and the Continuing Journey – The Year in Review

December 20, 2022 What a difference a year makes, right? Some 12 months ago I wrote I don’t know jack and I still stand by that. Would stadium concerts rule (they did)? Would the world flock to music festivals in huge numbers (they did)?…
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Reflections on a year of music photography like no other

There is no rewind to this year, nor any fast forward. We are stuck in uncertainty. A year ago, the prospect of live music coming back, let alone shows of major touring scale, was the stuff of pure fantasy in a locked down world. Now, after…

Billy Cobham’s Spectrum 40 Band, The Mint

January 26, 2013 Mahavishnu Orchestra is in the pantheon of jazz fusion pioneers. Black hole density, volcanic intensity and ridiculous virtuosity. I had never heard anything quite like John McLaughlin’s searing fretwork, Jan Hammer’s…

Jazzfest 2012 Reflections

From the Revivalists passionate opening Gentilly set to the final moments of Springsteen’s plaintive reading of Saints, the first weekend of Jazzfest 2012 was an abundance of special moments.  Yes, the draws were the Acura headliners.…
Chick Corea, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke

Return to Forever IV, Greek Theater

September 20, 2011 There are only so many seminal musical moments in one's life, and the first time I saw Return to Forever live was one of them.  I felt as if my head cracked open and exploded from the inside.  But I digress. As…

Jim Brock Photography raises over $1,100 for the Tipitina’s Foundation

Three Jim Brock Photography prints raised over $1,100 for the Tipitina's Foundation as part of this year's Instruments A Comin' event during Jazzfest.   The featured images were of Donald Harrison, Jr., James Singleton and Snooks Eaglin,…

Jazzfest 2011 closing thoughts

Jazzfest 2011 is in the books.  Weekend 2 brought the it could only happen here bag of familiar closers (Jimmy Buffet, the Nevilles, et al), epic sonics (Arcade Fire, Wilco), roots, (not so) alt-country and blues (Lucinda Williams, Greg…

Jazzfest 2011 impressions so far…

Shooting the Fest is akin to an endless buffet, musical whiplash and constant discovery. Instead of full sets, joy is more concentrated, fleeting. Depending on the stage and act, three and done translates to here/now/next move. The fan inside…

New Orleans is back, and so is the talent

Jim Brock Photography's image of Shamarr Allen from last year's inaugural Threadhead Thursday at City Park is featured in this excellent USA Today article.  Paying the rent as a professional musician is tough enough as it is.  To…