Jazz Video Guy

Sonny turns 95 today. I did this film in 2007 during a tour of New Mexico. At the time I was producing Sonny's website, and we did a number of videos together, which you'll find here on my channel. I hope you like it!

1 week ago | [YT] | 83

Jazz Video Guy

My book, How John Coltrane Changed Me - A Jazz Journey, is now available for pre-order as an ebook on Amazon. Peperback, hardcover and audiobook coming next

www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPPTHSVW?ref_=pe_93986420_7750…

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 36

Jazz Video Guy

Coming September 23 on Amazon: How John Coltrane Changed Me: A Jazz Journey

This deeply personal memoir traces how Coltrane’s music transformed my life—from a suburban teenager tripping on “A Love Supreme” in 1970 to a jazz journalist, filmmaker, and creator of the Jazz Video Guy channel.

Through five decades of American jazz culture, I chronicle intimate conversations with Sonny Rollins, Billy Taylor, Sun Ra, and more. I explore how Coltrane’s discipline shaped my writing, how Buddhist meditation rewired my listening, and the kitchen at the Village Vanguard became a classroom on integrity.

This isn’t a typical music biography. It’s a meditation on creativity, aging, and authenticity in a noisy world. It spans the analog age, the dot-com era (Jazz Central Station), and the rise of YouTube, where my videos have reached 50 million views. Coltrane’s sound guided me through it all.

In the final chapters, I reflect from Guanajuato, Mexico, where I finally found the silence between the notes.

This book is for anyone who’s ever been changed by music

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 135

Jazz Video Guy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KENNEDY CENTER ANNOUNCES TRUMP HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: “THE BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT MUSICAL EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, now under the bold artistic direction of President Donald J. Trump, proudly announces a once-in-history musical extravaganza: The First Lady Melania Trump Holiday Spectacular.

“This will be the greatest Christmas concert ever staged — bigger than Sinatra, bigger than Elvis, bigger than Jesus, frankly,” Trump declared at a press conference held beneath a 40-foot gold-plated Christmas tree. “Melania will debut her incredible singing voice — people don’t know this, but she has the voice of an angel. Better than Celine. Much better. Everybody says so.”

The First Lady will be joined by her newly christened backup group, The Angels of America, featuring South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, and America First legal warrior Laura Loomer.
Musical direction has been entrusted to Kid Rock, “a man who understands real music, real patriotism, and real ratings,” according to Trump. Legendary patriot guitarist Ted Nugent will serve as featured soloist, performing holiday classics such as “Silent Night (With AR-15 Solo)” and “Deck the Halls with Ammo and Freedom.”

The program will open with a 100-piece choir of January 6 protesters, flown in specially from undisclosed holding facilities, performing a rousing rendition of “God Bless America.” Trump explained: “These are beautiful people, very unfairly treated, but now they’ll get to sing in front of the world. Tremendous voices, believe me.”

Future plans include a world tour in spring 2027, with stops in Moscow, Pyongyang, Budapest, and Caracas. “We’re bringing freedom, Christmas, and beautiful smooth jazz-adjacent sounds to the world,” Trump said. “Putin loves Christmas, Kim Jong Un loves entertainment, Orbán is a tremendous fan, and Venezuela — we’ll fix them with music. It’s diplomacy through jazz-pop-classic-rock-country fusion. Nobody’s ever done it before.”

The President concluded, “This will be the most-watched concert in human history. Bigger than Woodstock, bigger than Live Aid, bigger than the Bible. People will say: ‘Christmas was good, but Trump made it great again.’”

The concert will be televised live on all major networks, Truth Social, and pay-per-view through Trump Entertainment Worldwide. Tickets for the in-person event will range from $2,500 to $100,000 for premium “Freedom Seats” which include autographed copies of Melania’s debut album “Very Be Best: The Christmas Sessions.”


Disclaimer: This content is satire. It is a humorous and critical commentary, not a factual report. Any resemblance to actual events, persons, or statements is for satirical purposes only.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 60

Jazz Video Guy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Trump Administration Announces 2026 NEA Jazz Masters Program Honorees
President Trump to Host Ceremony Personally, Selects Recipients for Prestigious Jazz Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Endowment for the Arts, under the direct oversight of President Donald J. Trump, today announced the 2026 class of NEA Jazz Masters, marking the first year of the program's new selection process. Following his successful restructuring of the Kennedy Center Honors, President Trump has personally chosen this year's recipients and will serve as host for the televised ceremony to reflect "the true greatness of American musical achievement."

"Jazz is America's music, and we're going to honor it like never before," President Trump stated at a Mar-a-Lago press conference. "I'll be hosting the show myself – nobody knows entertainment like I do. These are tremendous artists – really tremendous. Paul Anka, for instance, has sold millions and millions of records. 'My Way' – what a song! Sinatra made it famous, but Paul wrote it. That's the kind of winning we need to celebrate."

The 2026 NEA Jazz Masters honorees include:

Paul Anka – The legendary singer-songwriter, known for hits like "Diana" and writing "My Way," will be recognized for his contributions to American popular music. "Paul Anka is a class act," Trump noted. "He's performed at my properties many times. Fantastic golfer, too."

Kenny G – The best-selling instrumental musician of all time will be honored for bringing jazz to the masses. "Kenny G – now that's what I call smooth," Trump declared. "His soprano saxophone is like butter. Beautiful sound. I've had him perform at many of my events. The ratings are always huge."

Dave Koz – The smooth jazz saxophonist and radio personality will be recognized for his decades of musical excellence. "Dave Koz knows how to pack a room," the President noted. "Very professional, very classy operation."

Peter White – The English-American smooth jazz guitarist will be honored for his melodic contributions to contemporary jazz. "Peter White – tremendous musician. Plays guitar like you wouldn't believe. Very sophisticated sound."

Chris Botti – The trumpeter known for his jazz and pop crossover success will round out the honoree list. "Chris Botti is pure class," Trump stated. "That trumpet – it's like liquid gold. He's performed with all the greats."

When asked about the honorees' primary association with smooth jazz rather than traditional jazz forms, Trump responded, "Jazz, smooth jazz, pop – it's all American excellence. We're not going to get bogged down in categories when we're talking about winners. These artists have sold millions of records and filled concert halls around the world. That's success."

Trump confirmed he will personally host the ceremony, stating, "I hosted 'The Apprentice' for 14 seasons – massive ratings, by the way. I know how to put on a show. This will be the most-watched NEA Jazz Masters ceremony in history, believe me. We're going to make it entertaining, we're going to make it classy, and we're going to make it great."

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., with performances by "the best musicians money can buy." The President indicated that the event would be "unlike anything the NEA has ever produced – much classier, much more successful, and with a real host who knows television."

Several longtime jazz critics expressed surprise at both the selections and the hosting announcement, though White House Press Secretary noted that "President Trump believes in recognizing artists who have achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success – the American way – and who better to celebrate American excellence than America's President?"

The NEA Jazz Masters program, established in 1982, traditionally recognizes musicians who have made significant contributions to jazz music. This marks the first time the selection process has been directly overseen by a sitting President, and the first time a President will serve as master of ceremonies.

For more information, contact the White House Press Office, but please, do not call collect.

Note: This is a work of fiction created for entertainment purposes.

1 month ago | [YT] | 73

Jazz Video Guy

One of the problems with aging is that the cast of characters keeps changing and the pace quickens. We lose our loved ones, our friends and eventually we join them. I'm blessed to have known Mulgrew and heard him play live, many times. His is missed. BIG TIME

1 month ago | [YT] | 39

Jazz Video Guy

Very sad to learn of the passing of Hal Galper. I had the honor of writing the introduction to one of his books, and we did some great video together.

Hal Galper was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. He was born on April 18, 1938, in Salem, Massachusetts. Galper has been a prominent figure in jazz for several decades, known for his unique approach to improvisation and his collaborations with other notable jazz musicians.

Galper first gained fame in the 1960s as a sideman with musicians such as Chet Baker, Stan Getz, and Phil Woods. He later formed his own bands and recorded many influential albums as a bandleader, including "Wild Bird," "Speak with a Single Voice," and "The Guerilla Band."

Galper was known for his use of harmonic substitution and rhythmic displacement in his improvisation, as well as his ability to blend different styles of jazz into his playing. He was also an acclaimed jazz educator, having taught at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and the William Paterson University Jazz Studies Program.



youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX...

1 month ago | [YT] | 39

Jazz Video Guy

John Coltrane died fifty-eight years ago this week on July 17, 1967.

By 1966, John Coltrane had established himself as one of jazz's most innovative voices through his work with Miles Davis and the albums Giant Steps and A Love Supreme. Yet as he ventured deeper into free jazz, he faced the harshest criticism of his career—attacks that would have broken a lesser artist but ultimately revealed his profound artistic conviction.

The turning point came with Ascension (1965), a sprawling 40-minute collective improvisation that abandoned traditional harmonic structures entirely. Where once Coltrane had been praised for his technical mastery and spiritual seeking, critics now accused him of self-indulgence and cacophony. The jazz establishment that had embraced his earlier innovations began turning against him as he pushed into what many considered mere noise.

DownBeat, long a supporter, published reviews reflecting the growing divide. Critics complained his music had become "screaming" and "incoherent," with Martin Williams writing that Coltrane's new direction represented "an all-too-willing surrender to chaos." Personal attacks followed, with reviewers questioning his mental state and suggesting his spiritual searching had devolved into self-absorbed navel-gazing.

The criticism peaked in 1967 with albums Expression and Interstellar Space. These recordings, featuring extended saxophone solos that stretched the instrument's limits, were met with bewilderment and hostility. Critics who had once hailed him as a master now wrote him off as a has-been who had abandoned melody, harmony, and structure for formless experimentation.
Yet Coltrane's response revealed his true artistic integrity. Rather than retreating to safer territory, he doubled down on his explorations. "I know that there are some people who say I've gone too far," he told journalist Nat Hentoff. "But I can't worry about that. I have to follow what I hear and what I feel."

Coltrane viewed his musical journey as part of a larger spiritual quest. "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am," he explained. "If you don't like it, you don't like me. But I can't change what I am to please other people."

His refusal to compromise his vision, even facing widespread rejection, demonstrated artistic integrity few musicians have matched, establishing him as a model of artistic courage whose uncompromising vision continues to inspire.

1 month ago | [YT] | 92

Jazz Video Guy

“Oh, jazz is dead,” they say. “Nobody listens to that music anymore.” Really? Dead? Then explain this: in the past month alone, nearly a quarter million views poured into my Jazz Video Guy channel. That’s right—250,000 souls, from every corner of the globe, tuned in to hear Coltrane cry to the heavens, to feel Elvin’s thunder, to float on a cloud of Bill Evans chords or ride the fire of Freddie Hubbard’s horn.
Jazz isn’t dead. It’s underground, eternal, waiting for the needle to drop or the next curious ear to click play. They’ve buried it a thousand times. But the truth? Jazz doesn’t die. It resurrects. Over and over again. And the proof? You’re watching it.

1 month ago | [YT] | 392

Jazz Video Guy

🎷 The Fifth Bar of Heaven – A Jazz Afterlife Play

open.substack.com/pub/bretprimack/p/the-fifth-bar-…

What happens when jazz legends meet again… beyond the stars?

Step into The Fifth Bar of Heaven, a one-act metaphysical play where Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane reunite in a celestial jazz club somewhere beyond Saturn’s rings.

Through poetic dialogue and musical rhythm, the play explores melody, harmony, rhythm, spirituality, legacy, and the transformative power of love — all in the language of jazz.

✨ Written with reverence and soul, this play is for jazz lovers, dreamers, musicians, and anyone who’s ever felt the universe in a single note.

🎭 Characters: Louis Armstrong | Duke Ellington | Charlie Parker (Bird) | Miles Davis | John Coltrane

🌌 Setting: A timeless afterlife jazz club — floating in cosmic silence, echoing with sound, memory, and meaning.

📖 Themes:
• Jazz as philosophy
• Music as a prayer
• Growth through sound
• Love beyond legacy

🎶 “We weren’t playing solos. We were sending messages.” – Coltrane

5 months ago | [YT] | 18