Grandmaster Boots: Shakuhachi Renegade or Champion? Dai Shihan Certification
"Every creative thing leaves home and gets into trouble somewhere out there. Me and this bamboo are all about connecting to each other and getting in creative adventures: that’s it." Born in 1974, my [...]
Becoming a Wood Prophet
A Wood Prophet believes in the power and majesty of the element of wood. The wisdom of symbiosis. The benefit of forming a personal, expressive voice through woodwinding. I turn 47 [...]
Ex-Jazz Musician’s Brief Reflection on Black Lives Matter
Cornelius Boots, 1997 David N. Baker (1931-2016) Educator, Jazz Pedagogy OG, Composer, Leader, Author, Conductor, Trombonist, Cellist, Activist, Black Consciousness Advocate & my teacher 1997-1999 "The final project forces my students [...]
Blues? What do you mean “blues”?
As briefly as possible on this very deep and rich topic: listen up to Son House and Cedell Davis. If you can dig what they are up to, then we can [...]
50 Years of The Inflated Tear
One of the deepest and brightest Woodwind Wizards of the 20th century recorded his seminal album, The Inflated Tear, for Atlantic Records 50 years ago today in New York City. It includes his [...]
Holy Flute v. Holy Diver: an Iconographical Tribute
At the great risk of angering testosterone-riddled (or, deprived?) metal fans everywhere and for all time, I decided to make the bold choice of titling--and deriving the artwork for--my "heavy metal bamboo album" directly [...]