Reviews

The Collection: Chapter 1 | Mingus Ah Um

The Collection: Chapter 1 | Mingus Ah Um The Collection is an audio essay exploring a son’s journey through his late father’s records—connecting through music and reflecting on its meaning.  Click on the image to listen. Youtube Membership Purchase  

1984

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 81984 By Amari Pleasant Share Essays Eeriness is the aura that sweeps out the speakers. A mosaic of anguish illustrated through solemn instrumentation…punctuated by sobering groans, gravely bass strums, moody keys, and grimacing whimpers.

Monk’s Dream

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 9Monk’s Dream By Amari Pleasant Share Essays Over the past weeks, I have gained a great appreciation of the American cultural masterpiece known as Jazz.  My dad’s collection is diverse but has a heavier

Bumpin’

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 7Bumpin’ By Amari Pleasant Share Essays A silhouette of a man clinching a cigarette between his fingers on his right hand adorns the dark album cover. A blue glow illuminates his head and smoke

Make Way for Dionne Warwick

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 6Make Way For Dionne Warwick By Amari Pleasant Share Essays On a chilly night, I relax on the sofa while sipping a mug of warm ginger and turmeric tea. I stare at three images

The Collection: Time Out

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 5Time Out By Amari Pleasant Share Essays After placing the Super Fly album back on the shelf, I randomly pull another album from the shelf. Instantly, the album cover draws me in with its

The Collection: Super Fly

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 4Super Fly By Amari Pleasant Share Essays The sensation of fondness fills my body as I look at the somewhat worn album cover. Super Fly written in yellow font appears in the bottom left

The Collection: Caught Up

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 3Caught Up By Amari Pleasant Share Essays With my feet resting on a brown ottoman bench, I take a sip of rum from the Glencairn glass that rests between my lips. A familiar smooth

The Collection: freeflight

Membership Login Forum Search The Collection:Chapter 2freeflight By Amari Pleasant Share Essays “Recorded in performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival – admad jamal – freeflight,” my eyes read from top to bottom of the album cover. To the left of

The Collection: Mingus Ah Um

The Collection:Chapter 1Mingus Ah Um By Amari Pleasant Share Essays It has been a few weeks since I returned home from Little Rock. The steady flow of raindrops pounds the windows surrounding my family room. Several albums from my dad’s