ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN JAZZ JOURNAL (UK) ON TENOR SAX GREAT JUNIOR COOK
Today (15 July) Jazz Journal (UK) published an article I authored in the musical career and impact of tenor saxophone great Herman "Junior" Cook. The article is entitled, "Junior Cook: Quintessential NYC Hard-Bop Tenor." The information in the article comes from my forthcoming publication, "Have Horn, Will Travel: A Biography of Herman "Junior" Cook," the first comprehensive biography of Cook's life and career. Check out the article at this link: https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2023/07/15/junior-cook-quintessential-hard-bop-tenor/
COMMON GROUND JAZZ - LIVE AT DELLA J's SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT (Alexandria, VA)
Join Common Ground Jazz EVERY THURSDAY EVENING for Jazz Night at Della J's Soul Food Restaurant, 7692 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA (Route 1, about 10 minutes south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Beltway). Common Ground plays from 7pm to 10pm. Great music, great soul food, great atmosphere....in northern Virginia. Get in on a good time!
NEW RELEASE, "FULL," ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS...
Excited to announce the recent release of my new gospel single, "FULL." It features Naomi Nero on vocals and Asa Nero on drums. Music by Courtney M. Nero and lyrics by Courtney M. Nero and Alvin Fruga. Please check it out on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and other digital platforms.
"SEE" (ORIGINAL POETRY/MUSIC) RELEASED ON YOUTUBE...
Please view, share, and spread the word about my new YouTube release, "SEE." Special thanks to Curtis McCain (voiceover); Rusty Brown Photography (video production); Asa Nero (snare drum); Naomi Nero (photography); Dr. Sabrina L. Wesley-Nero (everything); and all the Black men who contributed their photos to this project. "SEE."
https://youtu.be/VVu5o-ojf0k
NEW SINGLES FORTHCOMING ON ITUNES AND OTHER DOWNLOAD/STREAMING SERVICES
Hope you all are well, safe, and healthy during this period. My prayers go out to all those affected by COVID-19: those who were infected; those family members coping with ailing loved ones; and various workers on the front line carrying for those ailing or maintaining essential stores for the public.
The COVID-19 stay-at-home order this spring gave me a unique and unprecedented opportunity to produce original music using home studio resources. The tragic murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia pushed me with new urgency to complete a few projects I had on the shelf.
In June 2020, I am expecting the release of THREE SINGLES via iTunes and other download and streaming services:
+ "I AM A MAN" is an original jazz composition that evokes the 1968 sanitation workers' protest that used the same iconic slogan. This declaration of African-American men is as relevant in 2020 as it was in '68. This song features Clifton B. Brockington on flugelhorn and Asa Nero on snare drum.
+ "SEE" pairs the "I AM A MAN" original composition with poetry that calls on American society to see beyond their biases and misperceptions of African-American men. "SEE" is an original poem by Courtney M. Nero, recited by Curtis McCain.
+ "ALDERAAN" is a very very special song. I composed this tune about 3 years ago, following the passing of my father, James H. Nero, Sr. The song speaks to the void left when my father departed this world.
The songs were recorded using GarageBand (shout-out to Naomi and Asa for the tutorial) and mastered using LANDR (www.LANDR.com). I will announce when the singles hit the download and streaming venues. I would appreciate your support by purchasing the singles and spreading the word.
