New Beginnings...

This is the beginning of something new for me. I will no longer be a spectator. Watch this space.

I can no longer hold my tongue. On the one hand, there are too many of these things. On the other, I am a participant. I am a musicker. I have things I want and need to say. Granted, those of you who have followed me on Facebook or Twitter/X for years or Instagram have been subject to my rantings and ravings, but I can no longer take part in this platform without being an active participant.

For a long time, I’ve been considering and been egged on to start a Substack or a podcast, and in 2025, I’ve vowed to do both. This is my first Substack post. Herein, I crystallize some ideas for myself so I can move forward with a broad mission statement.

The idea is this: we have a fragmented media landscape, and very few people are talking about the nitty-gritty of our music (read: jazz/creative music). There are a handful of folks – we have Piotr Orlov of Dada Strain; we have Nate Chinen of The Gig, we have Transitional Technology by ETHAN IVERSON, we have Chronicles by Vinnie Sperrazza; we have Michelle Mercer; we have Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches by Hank Shteamer, we have Nowhere Street by Peter Margasak, we have Steve Smith of Night After Night, we have my comrade-in-arms Bret Sjerven of who can bphresh and many more. But it feels like there’s room for more voices and a broader diversity of voices, whether folks are actual “critics” or “journalists” or just people with a point of view who work in the industry and really know what’s up.

I’ve long felt it necessary for someone in my position to step up and tell the stories of lesser-known people. This is, after all, what I do in my job as a publicist. And over the years I’ve basically let others tell these stories with my guidance. But I feel like I have a unique way of teasing out narrative and instructive lessons for both musicians and fans. I want to share those insights here. The people whose stories I tell might be leaders, sidepeople, or people who help make the scene what it is—agents, managers, venue staff, talent buyers, record store owners and clerks, people who run Bandcamp, people who curate music for streaming platforms, Instagram or TikTok influencers, YouTubers, fans, recording engineers, album designers, writers/critics, publicists, DJs, festival bookers; essentially anyone and everyone involved in the music landscape who make the scene what it is.

One thing I really admire about Dada Strain newsletter (which is a model and massive inspiration for this substack) is how he captures the full spectrum of the music ecosystem. For Piotr, it’s not just about musicians; it’s about everyone who makes the music happen. These people dedicate themselves to the art of music and deserve recognition. I want to interview Piotr at some point too.

Originally, I thought of calling it “Sidemen,” but I want the title to be as inclusive and as broad-minded as possible, so it’ll simply be called The Side People…for now (I am a Gemini, after all).

I’ve been brainstorming a structure and a list of people I’d like to feature. Some names immediately come to mind, and I’ll mention a few now. This project will involve both quick posts and deeper dives, including interviews and profiles and some will likely only appear as audio podcasts. I am not sure yet whether or not I seek to monetize this so I’m keeping it free for now, with the option to pay $5 if you wanna help me out.

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The first name that keeps coming up on so many records is Tyrone Allen, a bassist and fellow D.C. native; a player who has appeared on so many incredible recordings at the tender age of. I don’t know much about him yet, but every record he’s on is elevated by his presence. I think I first heard him on recording with Kazemde George in 2021, though I could be wrong. I definitely know him from his work with Miki Yamanaka, Sullivan Fortner, Chase Elodia, Nicole Glover, Wendy Eisenberg, Miriam Elhajli and others in the NYC scene. AllMusic credits him as being on a Louis Cole record, though! That’s what I plan to excavate on this platform. People like Tyrone who make the music world go around, with a relatively low profile. Tyrone hasn’t released his own record, but his contributions are remarkable. I plan to do a deep dive into his own music this week and hopefully interview him to share his story. Look out for that.

I plan to interview Patricia Nicholson Parker, founder of Arts for Art and its flagship annual event, The Vision Fest. She has, with the help of so many in her extended community, built a scene, a home, a haven and very vitally a grant and community-funded financial structure for “creative improvised music” or what she often calls “FreeJazz” or “music for a free world” in NYC. She has been a “musicker” since the 1970s, as a dancer coming of age in the loft scene. She has too often been defined by her role as life partner to the bassist and composer, William Parker, an important father figure of the scene she stewarded as an organizer for all these years. She raised a family in NYC’s East Village and has come to thrive after very DIY beginnings. She has managed to build a brand that is known the world over and has produced numerous households names in creative music. I am fascinated by her tenacity, determination, wit, humor and hustle.

Another name that stands out is drummer Allan Mednard. I’ve known Alan for years, and he’s an incredible talent who’s played with artists like Marta Sánchez, Ben Allison, and Brandee Younger. Allan is everywhere—on sessions, records, and live dates—and he’s one of the kindest, most beautiful people in the scene. I’m excited to feature him and give him the recognition he deserves.

I also want to profile concert promoter Danny Melnick, who worked with George Wein and has booked the Saratoga Jazz Festival for many years. Danny recently opened a new venue in Saugerties, NY, called The Local, with fellow musicker Isabel Soffer. He’s a major figure in this music, and I look forward to speaking with him after many years of friendship.

These are just the first four names on my list, but there are so many others. My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to make this project a reality.

Traditional media is shrinking, and much of the discourse has moved to social media. There are fewer outlets where writers can get paid for their work, and more content is being created by both professional journalists and enthusiasts on platforms like Substack. My hope is to expand my advocacy beyond pitching to the media and connect directly with fans, musicians, and industry folks.

Thank you for reading. I’m excited to share these stories and discoveries with you. Stay tuned for more, and let’s make 2025 a year to celebrate the The Side People.

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