For the last 6 years, I have been honored to be the Trustee of the William J. “Count” Basie Trust. An American icon, Count Basie was one of the greatest bandleaders of all time. Count Basie changed the jazz landscape and shaped mid-20th century popular music, earning the title “King of Swing” because he made the world want to dance. The Trust’s property included all of the Basie family’s personal possessions which we recently transferred to Rutgers University’s Institute of … read more »
Humanity and the Importance of Jazz
Opening speech at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “God has brought many things out of oppression. He has endowed his creatures with the capacity to create – and from this capacity has flowed the sweet songs of sorrow and joy that have allowed man to cope with his environment and many different situations. Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life’s difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take … read more »