Fillmore East witnessed the raw chemistry of a supergroup in the making.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1969 Fillmore East concert was a defining moment for the newly formed supergroup, blending their signature harmonies with electrifying jams in an intimate yet powerful performance. The show highlighted their seamless fusion of folk and rock, with delicate acoustic sets giving way to raw, electric energy that foreshadowed their influence on the era’s music scene.
Their chemistry was palpable, proving that the addition of Neil Young added a new depth to their sound, balancing haunting melodies with fiery guitar work. Capturing both the spirit of the time and the magic of their collaboration, this concert remains a pivotal chapter in rock history.
The pianist who blended blues, swing, and ragtime to redefine jazz.
Jelly Roll Morton, born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe in 1890, was a pioneering jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who played a crucial role in shaping early jazz. A self-proclaimed inventor of jazz, Morton blended ragtime, blues, and swing to create a more structured yet improvisational style, laying the foundation for future jazz musicians.
His compositions, such as King Porter Stomp and Black Bottom Stomp, showcased his innovative approach to syncopation and rhythm. Morton was also among the first to notate jazz music, helping to legitimize the genre in the eyes of critics and scholars.
Though his popularity waned with the rise of the swing era, his influence endured, and later recognition affirmed his status as a foundational figure in American music. Jelly Roll Morton Playlist ↪
Remember when every girl was required to take Home Economics, no exceptions.
Boy, how times have changed since we were in school! Back in the 1960s, the educational experience was drastically different, particularly for girls. Every young woman was required to take Home Economics, a class aimed at preparing them for their "future roles" as wives and mothers.
The curriculum, steeped in traditional societal expectations, focused on cooking, sewing, and household management, with little regard for individual aspirations or personal choice. Fast forward to today, and it's clear that many women no longer subscribe to the limitations of that old lifestyle.
The rise of broader opportunities, personal freedoms, and a focus on individuality has empowered people to carve out paths based on their passions and ambitions, not just societal expectations. The contrast between those days and now is a testament to how far we've come in challenging conventional roles and embracing diversity in life choices.
Death may be a reset button in an advanced game, with consciousness shifting to a new realm?
The Simulation Theory proposes that our reality is not an organic, physical universe but rather an advanced, artificial simulation, akin to a highly sophisticated computer program. Under this framework, death may not represent the cessation of existence but instead the conclusion of an individual’s “game” or program within the simulation.
Just as a player might exit one level to enter another in a video game, consciousness could transition to a different state, suggesting the possibility of a broader, perhaps infinite, existence governed by the creator of the simulation.
This perspective challenges traditional understandings of life and death, encouraging us to consider the implications of our actions, emotions, and experiences within a reality that could be meticulously designed.
If life is indeed a simulation, it raises profound questions about purpose, free will, and the nature of the entity—or entities—controlling the system.
Listening to Gershwin and Seeing the Past Come Alive in My Mind.
I've been listening to Gershwin a lot the past couple of days, and I can’t help but imagine what it must have been like to be alive during his time—a world filled with the electric energy of the Jazz Age, where art and music were breaking boundaries and reinventing themselves.
Picture sitting in a smoky speakeasy, the hum of conversation blending with the lively syncopations of a piano as someone plays “Rhapsody in Blue” for the very first time. The elegance of the Roaring Twenties, with its glimmering flapper dresses and daring spirit of modernity, seems to align perfectly with Gershwin's music—sophisticated yet playful, grand yet deeply human.
His melodies must have felt like a reflection of the moment: a bold, hopeful time bursting with creativity and the promise of something new. It’s not hard to imagine feeling as though every note he composed carried the rhythm of life itself, as if the future was opening before you, soundtracked by a clarinet’s glissando.
Harmonies and Fire
Fillmore East witnessed the raw chemistry of a supergroup in the making.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1969 Fillmore East concert was a defining moment for the newly formed supergroup, blending their signature harmonies with electrifying jams in an intimate yet powerful performance. The show highlighted their seamless fusion of folk and rock, with delicate acoustic sets giving way to raw, electric energy that foreshadowed their influence on the era’s music scene.
Their chemistry was palpable, proving that the addition of Neil Young added a new depth to their sound, balancing haunting melodies with fiery guitar work. Capturing both the spirit of the time and the magic of their collaboration, this concert remains a pivotal chapter in rock history.
Listen to full concert ↪ CSNY Fillmore East Concert
Jelly Roll Morton
Syncopation and Swagger
The pianist who blended blues, swing, and ragtime to redefine jazz.
Jelly Roll Morton, born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe in 1890, was a pioneering jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who played a crucial role in shaping early jazz. A self-proclaimed inventor of jazz, Morton blended ragtime, blues, and swing to create a more structured yet improvisational style, laying the foundation for future jazz musicians.
His compositions, such as King Porter Stomp and Black Bottom Stomp, showcased his innovative approach to syncopation and rhythm. Morton was also among the first to notate jazz music, helping to legitimize the genre in the eyes of critics and scholars.
Though his popularity waned with the rise of the swing era, his influence endured, and later recognition affirmed his status as a foundational figure in American music. Jelly Roll Morton Playlist ↪
Barefoot, Pregnant,
and In the Kitchen
Remember when every girl was required to take Home Economics, no exceptions.
Boy, how times have changed since we were in school! Back in the 1960s, the educational experience was drastically different, particularly for girls. Every young woman was required to take Home Economics, a class aimed at preparing them for their "future roles" as wives and mothers.
The curriculum, steeped in traditional societal expectations, focused on cooking, sewing, and household management, with little regard for individual aspirations or personal choice. Fast forward to today, and it's clear that many women no longer subscribe to the limitations of that old lifestyle.
The rise of broader opportunities, personal freedoms, and a focus on individuality has empowered people to carve out paths based on their passions and ambitions, not just societal expectations. The contrast between those days and now is a testament to how far we've come in challenging conventional roles and embracing diversity in life choices.
The Simulation Theory
Life as a Program
Death may be a reset button in an advanced game, with consciousness shifting to a new realm?
The Simulation Theory proposes that our reality is not an organic, physical universe but rather an advanced, artificial simulation, akin to a highly sophisticated computer program. Under this framework, death may not represent the cessation of existence but instead the conclusion of an individual’s “game” or program within the simulation.
Just as a player might exit one level to enter another in a video game, consciousness could transition to a different state, suggesting the possibility of a broader, perhaps infinite, existence governed by the creator of the simulation.
This perspective challenges traditional understandings of life and death, encouraging us to consider the implications of our actions, emotions, and experiences within a reality that could be meticulously designed.
If life is indeed a simulation, it raises profound questions about purpose, free will, and the nature of the entity—or entities—controlling the system.
Living in the Key of Gershwin
Listening to Gershwin and Seeing the Past Come Alive in My Mind.
I've been listening to Gershwin a lot the past couple of days, and I can’t help but imagine what it must have been like to be alive during his time—a world filled with the electric energy of the Jazz Age, where art and music were breaking boundaries and reinventing themselves.
Picture sitting in a smoky speakeasy, the hum of conversation blending with the lively syncopations of a piano as someone plays “Rhapsody in Blue” for the very first time. The elegance of the Roaring Twenties, with its glimmering flapper dresses and daring spirit of modernity, seems to align perfectly with Gershwin's music—sophisticated yet playful, grand yet deeply human.
His melodies must have felt like a reflection of the moment: a bold, hopeful time bursting with creativity and the promise of something new. It’s not hard to imagine feeling as though every note he composed carried the rhythm of life itself, as if the future was opening before you, soundtracked by a clarinet’s glissando.