Anderson@Large

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Drummer and bandleader Max Roach’s music is at the intersection of art, activism and resistance. His groundbreaking “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” was influenced by the then-emerging Civil Rights Movement.

This week, American Masters will premiere Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes.

The documentary explores the life of the pioneering drummer and cultural activist who spoke truth to power. The film traces Roach’s epic musical journey from bebop to hip-hop. It features Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln; Philadelphians Jimmy Heath, Sonia Sanchez and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson; and music legends Harry Belafonte, Abdullah Ibrahim, Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins and Randy Weston.

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzespremieres Friday, October 6 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App.

Pops is Still Tops

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, a National Historic Landmark that housed the archive that was lovingly curated by Lucille Wilson Armstrong.

With over 60,000 items, the Louis Armstrong Archive is the largest for one jazz musician. On July 6, the Louis Armstrong Center opened across from the house in Corona, Queens where Pops lived from 1943 until his death on July 6, 1971.

Check out CBS Sunday Morning’s tour of the Louis Armstrong Center.

Lee Morgan (1938-1972)

Edward Lee Morgan was born on July 10, 1938 in Philadelphia. Lee joined the ancestors on February 19, 1972.

A Google search returns 635,000,000 results about the legendary trumpeter. Bassist Ben Williams and emcee John Robinson tell Lee Morgan’s story in less than five minutes.

Join All That Philly Jazz and the Free Library of Philadelphia at a community celebration of Lee Morgan’s heavenly birthday.

To RSVP, click here.

Lee Morgan Birthday Celebration

Legendary jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan was born on July 10, 1938 in Philadelphia. To commemorate Lee’s heavenly birthday, All That Philly Jazz and the Free Library of Philadelphia are cohosting a community celebration.

The community is invited to share memories of Lee Morgan, West Philly’s famed commercial and entertainment district, “the Strip,” and the Aqua Lounge.

The Aqua Lounge is where Lee gave his last hometown performance before his tragic death four months later. Lee’s state historical marker will be installed in front of the former location of the jazz club (Date TBA).

The community celebration will be held on Monday, July 10, 2-4pm, at the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, 125 S 52nd St. To register for the free event, please go here.

John Coltrane House Update

May is Historic Preservation Month. This year’s theme is People Saving Places. In Philadelphia, four people are ripping each other apart in court filings while the John Coltrane House continues to deteriorate. It’s particularly disheartening that Ravi and Oran Coltrane have dragged the Estate of Mary Lyerly King, aka “Cousin Mary,” into the courtroom drama.

I successfully nominated the Coltrane House for listing on Pennsylvania At Risk 2020. I sounded the alarm to raise the specter of an Act 135 conservatorship. Instead of reaching out to me, the defendants, the daughters of the deceased property owner of record, and Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation used the renewed focus on the National Historic Landmark to raise money for the proposed John Coltrane House Museum and Cultural Arts Center.

Ravi and Oran are using their fundraising against them claiming the $855,000 raised is “part of their plans to profit from the Coltrane House.” At the same time, John Coltrane’s sons are using my work to dispute the defendants' counterclaim for $220,877.11 for “the expenses [Aminta Weldon] and her parents have incurred in maintaining, renovating and insuring the property.” They question “whether the purported expenses even satisfied the basic upkeep of the Coltrane House.”

This increasingly nasty family feud is in the name of preserving the John Coltrane House.

To catch up on the drama, click here.

Mtume Honored with Ceremonial Street Renaming

James Forman, known professionally as James Mtume or Mtume, was born and raised in South Philly. His biological father was legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath of the Heath Brothers. Mtume was a jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, producer, activist and radio personality. He came to prominence as a jazz musician working with Miles Davis between 1971 and 1975.

In the 1980s, Mtume formed his own band, which combined jazz, funk and R&B. The group’s biggest hit was the 1983 single “Juicy Fruit” which reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and became a crossover hit on the pop charts.

“Juicy Fruit” is one of the most sampled songs, including by the Notorious B.I.G.

Mtume also had a top-five R&B hit with the single “You, Me, and He”. He created hits for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (“The Closer I Get To You” and “Back Together Again”), and co-wrote and co-produced Stephanie Mills’ Grammy-winning “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”

Mtume joined the ancestors on January 9, 2022. He is gone but not forgotten. On May 12, 2023, the 1500 block of Wharton Street will be ceremoniously renamed James Mtume Way. Special guests include singer and actress Melba Moore and survivors of the Heath Brothers band. Faulu Mtume said:

It’s beyond words just how great this is, the City of Brotherly Love honoring my father, a Philly native. Wharton Street is where his journey into music, social activism and politics began. The roots for all three are there.

Jazz Appreciation Month 2023

April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), a time to increase awareness and appreciation for jazz as a uniquely American art form that is rooted in the Black experience. JAM was first celebrated in 2001. This year’s poster, “Jazzed about Art,” features Miles Davis.

Davis’ 1959 album, “Kind of Blue,” was one of the four albums that changed jazz forever.

“Kind of Blue” is the best-selling jazz album of all time. It has sold over five million copies. Several of the songs from the album, including “So What,” have become jazz standards.

Philly Celebrates Jazz is Philadelphia’s annual celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month.

The full calendar of events is available here.