News

On January 20, 2012, an important piece of African-American history will be revealed to all fans of action movies.  Star Wars famed George Lucas has produced RED TAILS, the true story of African American fighter pilots in World War II.  They were called the Tuskegee Airmen.  Today, their exploits have  been forgotten or ignored. This film includes popular African-American Acadamy Award actors Terence Howard and Cuba Gooding.  Mr. Lucas decided  to invest 58 million of his own money after the top 7 major Hollywood studios turned him down. Basically, they said,  "African-Americans will not support a "black action movie". I believe they underestimate black, brown and white communities.  Tell your family. Tell your friends.  Remembering our past is a key to inspiring our future.

Delicious Food, Interesting People, Lively Conversation!! Hear Hot, Swinging Jazz, with Randy Ford, Guitar, Mick Muse, Drums, and myself on Roland Keyboards! This is the place, EVERY FRIDAY, from 6PM-9PM.

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!

"WAR is PEACE  FREEDOM is SLAVERY  IGNORANCE is STRENGTH" George Orwell, 1984.  Add "KNOWLEDGE is EVIL", Head U. Cate, 2011.

Randy Ford Trio, with Mick Muse, Drums, Randy Ford, Guitar, and Corky McClerkin on Yamaha Keyboards!

If you want to learn any up-to-date news on Jazz, checkout Willard Jenkins and his website, Open Sky Jazz and read his blog. His opinions on Ken Burn's Jazz documentary series and African-American Jazz Writers were both ON TARGET!

Why do so many forget our contributions to this country?  In the movie United 93, depicting the events of 9/11/2001, LEROY WILTON HOMER JR. was portrayed as white. How could the producers ignore the fact he was African-American? I'm ashamed to say I only recently learned myself. Despite ten years later, my prayers to his wife Melodie, and daughter Laurel.

"All things in the world are two. In our minds we are two, good and evil.  With our eyes we see two things, things that are fair and things that are ugly,,,,,the righr hand that strikes and makes for evil, ....and the left hand full of kindness, near the heart.  One foot may lead us to an evil way, the other foot may lead us to a good.  So are all things two, all two."   Eagle Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee

Democracy and Freedom are consistently bieng defined and debated. But sometimes the Present is merely a reflection from the Past. In 1999, I Say Freedom, (WinCor Records, 2001), was written, heralding the release of Nelson Mandela.  One day, I hope to meet and thank him for his inspiration. 

Soul Jazz!! Hear the Jazz. Feel the Soul. I can still hear the spirit-filled styles of Ray Charles, Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, Gene Harris, Les McCann, and Ray Bryant. Soul Jazz was smooth, souful, and " slick".  Most, if not all,  of these African-American Pianists have passed on.  But they have left us a Jazz Legacy we will never forget. 

LP's are back! (Well, some are).  Did you support Record Day in April? Did you buy "old school" Straight Ahead, Be-Bop, Soul Jazz, and Down Home Blues Records from the 80's?  Exposure on You Tube and Facebook with their neverending search for Something New Generation have slowly 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!

There is written history on the impact of African-American Music.  Kevin Phinney's "Souled American: How Black Music Transformed White Culture", Eric Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Jazz?",  and Robert Cataliotti's "The Music in African American Fiction" are three examples.  Some identify JAZZ as the Life-Source of American Creativity. Find out why.

"Ain't Misbehavin'", "Honeysuckle Rose"," Black and Blue", "Stompin' at the "Savoy", "In the Mood". Familiar songs to many. Lyrics of these songs 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 four of the above listed tunes. How many other unknown African-Americans have made significant contributions to the musical and intellectual fabric of this country? Sorry to say, quite a few.

I attended a Piano Workshop sponsored by Michael Manson's Musical Art's Institute, featuring the dynamic Pianist George Duke. He shared his exceptional keyboard skills, while adding insightful discussions on technique, style and substance inspiring all in attendance. Visit his site, www.georgeduke.com. Read his 2007 comments entitled " An Observation". Many thanks to Mike for introducing us to a Master Teacher.

EbonyJet published an article in 2008 about Black Buying Power.  "...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 overseas". It's 2011. Still true.

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 making sense of Madness. I'm going to Google him. Maybe he can provide some answers.

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

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.

What is Jazz? How would you describe it? In 2007, George Duke, Keyboard Master and teacher, has given , in my opinion, the best definition and insightful meaning on identifying this African-American art form. "Jazz is an attitude that has the Blues at it's core. It is at its best, mostly spontaneous.That is what separates it from other Music. Jazz musicians are spontaneous composers, versed in the art of theme and variations, couterpoint wizards, rhythmic voodoo doctors, melodic swans, harmonic oceans, creating what has yet to be created, constantly searching, assimilating and birthing a new music child."--George Duke. Nothing more to say.

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 performed 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!

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.