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JAZZ: an African-American Creation, a Universal Connection. We have CD's, music videos and photos of Chicago's finest performers, CD Giveaways, Lyrics on request, calendar updates, soundbites, links to CD BABY,Rhapsody, etc, social commentary and more! Share your thoughts on any subject, scatter-chat with like-minded friends, and enjoy McCLERKIN'S HOUSE OF JAZZ!

LP's are back! (well, some are). Straight Ahead Be-Bop, Soul Jazz and Down Home Funk from the 80's! Exposure on today's You Tube and Facebook with their Neverending Search for Something New Generation have made LP's ITEMS OF iNTEREST! CD copies of this album are available at CD Baby or Dusty Groove America, Inc. Revisit the Past, Enjoy the Present! Remember, Quality Music NEVER gets old--Because it's QUALITY!

Many believe we're living in a post-racial society, that race is no longer important. Really! Well, I disagree. Someone needs to tell the truth. TV talking heads question respected African Americans for answers they already know. But membership in hate crime groups continues to rise. Voices from "Free speech" advocates threaten the very core of our democracy.Think we need to rethink our thinking.

Think Katrina was catastrophic? Another nightmare has begun. In 2008, Wall Street won the government's highest honor for Most Unbelievable Examples of Incompetence and Greed-Ever (MUEIGE). In 2009, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase tied for 1st place. The banks, however, were unhappy. Sharing, not winning 1st prize meant potential losses to shareholders. But in 2010, the Deciders have already decided: BP is undisputed winner! Public outcry against Halliburton and Blackwater never reached the fever pitch of today's distrust of BP. Birds, Sea Turtles, Tuna, Pelicans, Whales, Dolphins, and Shrimp struggle in vain to escape the grimy globs of gooey slime. The Wetlands has become a Wasteland. Irreversable damages to our ecosystems have occurred. Is there an end to the Neverending pictures of gushing oil contaminating our water? Consumed with locating oil reserves suggests a future filled with instability. Drilling for oil cannot be more important than protecting the Land and Sea. WATER, not oil, is the lifesource for our future. We should seek help from the United Nations, the World Water Council, Underwater Robotics Asso., Aquaman Society, or Native Americans, original protectors of the land. Remember "Networks" Howard Beale? "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." He was a Madman trying to make sense of Madness. I'm going to Google him. Maybe he can provide some answers.

Today is Cinco de Mayo. Let us celebrate with our Hispanic Brothers and Sisters. Meanwhile, Information Streams concerning African-Americans continues to free flow. Read Kevin Phinney's "Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture", and Eric Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Jazz"? Some identify JAZZ as the Life-Source of American Creativity. Find out why.

Enjoy a good book? Visit  www.amazon.com  and check out the re-release of my book UNDERCURRENTS. Characters such as Dr. Dheade and the Black Headucator introduce the science of Gitology.Written years ago, past themes reflect present and future concerns. Try it. You'll like it.

"The FUTURE belongs to those who prepare for it TODAY" MALCOLM X

"Ain't Misbehavin'", "Honeysuckle Rose"," Black and Blue", "Stompin' at the
"Savoy", "In the Mood"' and "Memories of You". Familiar songs to many. Lyrics of these six were written by Andy Razaf, an African-American. In the 1920's and early 1930's, Harlem recognized Andy, with over 800 songs to his credit, as one of their most accomplished and prolific lyric writers. Today, most of us, myself included, who regularly perform these songs, never heard of this talented writer. Interestingly, my Fake Book has NO composer or lyricist on five of the above listed tunes. How many other unknown African-Americans have made significant contributions to the fabric of this country? Sorry to say, quite a few.

At Last!! Congress has passed the Health Bill! Statistics for quality health care scream for reform. The documentary FOOD,INC was frightening. If the phrase "you are what you eat" is true, I'm afraid to look in the mirror. Also, from a credible source, I was told our current food and water supplies include pesticides, growth hormones, and estrogen that can sneak through water filtration plants. So tell me, after eating dinner, drinking a gass of water, and taking medicine before going to bed, can we wake up in "Good Health"?

Some months ago I was given the opportunity to perform a one Hour Solo concert for the Piano Forte Foundation on the Fazioli Piano,located;in Chicago's Fine Arts Building,This Italian made Piano continues to gain international recognition as the Piano for the 21st Century. I recommend All pianists: amateurs, profesional, classically trained and those bold souls in the Jazz tradition to find THEIR opportunity to hear,feel, and produce their own unique Fazioli Sound for the Future! Thank you, Thomas Zoells!

EbonyJet published an article in 2008 about Black Buying Power. I'd like to share some of their findings. "...African American consumption draws the attention of companies that make consumer goods and marketing professionals engaged in trend spotting because they know that tastes and preferences initiated in the African American community eventually intersect with the larger society and translate in importance to the overall market. Then there's the international bounce...Companies that set their sights on African American consumption know trends that emerge from the Black community also cross over overseas". Something to remember.

Recorded September 1st, 2009, listen to Corky McClerkin, Piano, Anthony Brock, Bass and Harold Morrison on Drums as they perform the classic
GREENSLEEVES. Click on the "Great Version of Greensleeves" link under Corky's picture. Wait while it loads.
 
 
 

"WAR is PEACE  FREEDOM is SLAVERY  IGNORANCE is STRENGTH" George Orwell 1984 or.....?

A Serious Soul Shout to Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, and Ether Records for including my 1983 title song Searchin' for the Soul as part of their 2006 release, DINGWALLS. To be associated with some of the world's greatest soul and jazz performers is an honor I will sincerely cherish.

In 1942, Germany had concentration camps. On Feb. 1st, 2009, U.S. House of Representative Bill 645 calls for "national emergency centers" for keeping civilians (Code Words: political dissidents?) on military installations. They're not  the same thing, right? RIGHT?

M. Phil Brooks developed the disposable syringe; Dr. Daniel Williams performed the first successful open heart surgery; Dr. Charles Turner, zoologist, was the first to demonstrate insects can hear; Dr. Ben Carson is a neurosurgeon who led the first medical team to successfully separate Siamese twins; Otis Boykin invented 28 electronic devices including the control unit for the pacemaker; and Dr. Charles Drew, best known for his work with blood plasma, also established the first blood bank in England. These men are Scientists. They are also African Americans. Their accomplishments continue to benefit us all.