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My first time ever visiting New York, I was 10 years old and had the pleasure of going to Dizzyās at Lincoln Center with my father. I donāt remember how it happened but we somehow randomly met a photographer (?) who brought us backstage (everyone loves 10 year old girls) and directly to Mr. Marsalis. I had listened to jazz growing up, but this experience deepend my love for it. I had been keeping a *New York Journal* (pink with gold edged pages) and started writing a song (used to want to be a pop-star) called āNew York is magnifasent.ā Magnificent spelled horribly wrong. I brought the journal with me everywhere that weekend, so it was under my arm while meeting him. He ended up signing his autograph on the following page to which he wrote āGrace, New York is magnifasentā spelled wrong just like I had. 15 years later, he is not only one of the greats, but one of my favorites. I listen to his album Standard Time Vol. 2: Intimacy Calling all the time, I hope you will too.
Oct 7, 2021
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For music I meanā¦ music's so hard. I love music so much. I was looking at this picture called A Great Day in Harlem and it's a collection of jazz artists taking a picture on a stoop in Harlem. It's a very iconic photograph. Sonny Rollins is in the picture and he's still aliveā I think he just turned 90. He's been around a long time. Sonny Rollins is my favorite player of all time and that's a hard thing to say because there's a lot of sax players I love.
He's got a record called East Broadway Rundown that is just one of the most astonishing recordings I've ever heard in my life. There's a song on there called East Broadway Rundown and it's quite long, almost 20 minutes long I think. That's one of my favorite songs to listen to. The places it goes to, you just don't hear very often.
There's a big component of the jazz or genre of jazz, I guess called free jazz that can get pretty out there, and a lot of people hear it are like, āoh, that just sounds like cats in pain or somethingā and they're not really into it,Ā andĀ I can understand that sometimes. It's not for everybody. Sonny, on this song, gets to a place that's even beyond free jazz. It's some world that exists only in this song. I've never heard it in any other song.
Sonny Rollins in general, his devotion to playing, the fact that he was already successful in his field and yet took time off to to practice on the bridge because he wasn't satisfied with where he was at and he wanted to push himself even further. I just always admired the heck out of him.Ā
Feb 12, 2025
THIS ISNāT JAZZā¦THIS IS PURE METROPOLITAN SOUND MATTER.
SONNY ROLLINS ON IMPULSE WITH FREDDIE HUBBARD, ELVIN JONES AND JIMMY GARRISON BEHIND AND BESIDE HIM.
IS THIS THE FURTHEST āOUTā SONNY ROLLINS EVER WENT?
MAYBE.
BUT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE FOR GUYS WITH SOUL PATCHES AND KNIT āWORLD MUSICā STYLE CAPS.
NOT ME.
ELVIN JONES PLAYS HIS DRUMS LIKE GOD PLAYS WATERā¦
STRAIGHT LIQUIDā¦TOTAL FLOW.
LATE 2010s. I LIVED ON MOTT STREET. I WALKED TO EAST BROADWAY. I NOTICED THE YOUTH. THEY TURNED 18 AND EITHER CHOSE āKIDSā (1995) OR āTRAINSPOTTINGā (1996) AS THEIR IDENTITY.
SONNY ROLLINS WOULD EXIT THE SCENE AFTER THIS RECORD FOR 6 YEARS.
I WONDER IF HE WILL BE PRACTICING ON THE WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE TOMORROW MORNING WHILE SOME DRUNKEN CANAL TYPE KID PASSES HIM, PHONE IN HAND, EN ROUTE TO DROP $12.99 FOR A COFFEE WITH RARE NUT MILK. WILL THEY LEAVE THE CUSTOMARY 25% TIP FOR THE MISERABLE BARISTA? WILL THAT PORCHES CHAP BE THERE? HE IS EVERYWHERE.
IāM NEVER TIPPING AGAIN.
Jan 30, 2024
I used to listen to more jazz, dusted off some old favorites though this week. Story time with this album, like 7-8 years ago I rolled up solo to a show at the Village Vanguard in NYC and was seated next to another solo attendee- over some martinis we got to chatting about lots of topics, jazz being one of course, sharing recs, and he spoke very highly of this album which I hadnāt heard before. Coincidentally we even ended up at the same pizza place for a slice after it happened where our discussion continued. Shout out to you Alan youāre a real dude hope youāre doing well.
Feb 28, 2025
Top Recs from @grace-dougherty
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I have a lot of hair, and Iām trying to grow it out as long as Lissieās.Ā My hair can be temperamental, (I have a cowlick that has a mind of its own) a few drops of this stuff and my hair is not only tamed, but it smells amazing and people will hug you for longer. Whatās not to love??
Oct 7, 2021
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Alice is my astrologer and the most important person in New York because she can look at your birth chart transits and tell you what to expect in the coming days, weeks, months, etc. When I first met Alice in June 2019 she told me I'd be in a new relationship that fall. I thought, āthereās no way Iām going to be in another relationship, Iām going to get back together with my ex boyfriend!ā Much to my dismay, that September I was in a new relationship. Turns out, I was dating someone who Alice had also dated back in her days at Vogue. Ever since, we have been fast friends. Also: itās easy to make friends with girls who have kissed the same boys as you, you can form a strong bond!
Oct 7, 2021
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Easily one of the five things I would take with me in a fire. This is the blouse for every occasion. I bought it for my birthday in 2020, approximately 1 week before the world decided to end (??), so it holds a lot of sentimental value. Itās easily dressed down (I like to wear it with the Nu Swim Moon shorts), but itās most classically dressed up. Armani trousers from Chickeeās Vintage plus this perfectly structured blouse is heaven on earth to my eye.
Oct 7, 2021