Porter, Lew's Memories

My Memory of Dr. Charles Kelman, Cataract Surgery Pioneer—and Saxophonist!

It must have been about 1981 or 1982, during my years as a music professor at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, that I got a call from one of…

Jul 20 •

Ornette Coleman: My Memories of Him, 2—A Day at Brandeis University, 1985

In the previous essay (see the Index), I told you about the first time I met Ornette Coleman, when I was a student at the University of Rochester in the…

Nov 19, 2023 •

Ornette Coleman: My Memories of Him, 1—University of Rochester, 1971

I once heard Denardo, Ornette Coleman’s drummer son, say that his father made everybody feel like they were a close friend of his.

Nov 14, 2023 •

Beastie Boys: I Was Asked to Be Their "Expert Witness"

In the Introduction to these essays, I mentioned that sometimes I might post an essay that’s not about jazz.

Sep 26, 2023 •

Coleman Hawkins Tribute: My Second Memory of the Village Vanguard (+Bonus)

(Paying Subscribers, a lesser-known audio interview with Hawkins is your gift, at the bottom.)

Sep 17, 2023 •

Coltrane: A Love Supreme, Part 1—Background Information, and My Personal Memories

THIS IS the first of what will be a series of many detailed essays exploring the beloved album A Love Supreme. This recording is very important to me…

Sep 10, 2023 •

Pete La Roca: He took me on my first trip to the Village Vanguard

(This is the first of what will be an occasional series about my experiences in the jazz world.)

Aug 20, 2023 •

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