Honey & Juba Dance
Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) composed two pieces, Honey and Juba Dance, that intrigue me. Both are from a suite, “In the Bottoms,” published in Music …
Welcome to Ohio
Just as runaway slaves in the mid-1800s found refuge in Ohio, I found a warm welcome and relief from Florida heat with …
Nimble Feet
Florence B. Smith Price (1887 – 1953) was the first female African-American composer to receive national recognition. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, …
Evenings
“Momma, is it evening yet?” asked my 4-year-old daughter Lilli as we waited at the piano for Steve to come home from …
Women at Work, 1970-2020
Exactly 50 years ago today, August 26, 1970, four of us on the support staff of McKinsey & Company, management consultants, gave …
Artists & Musicians Matter
In my recent Self-Examination, I have come to realize how much Black artists and musicians matter to me. This poster by Romare …
Self-Examination
Protests this summer have challenged me to examine myself for deep-rooted, but obsolete mindsets. After all, I am a fourth-generation Texan, raised …
Historic Georgetown
From 1969 – 71 Steve and I rented a townhouse at 2715 “O” Street N.W. in the Georgetown section of Washington DC. …
Slow Tempos for Troubled Times
From my earliest days at the piano, I have preferred fast tempos. Music from my high school years is often marked “Don’t …
Grant: Then & Now
Why tackle a 1104-page book about a guy who died 135 years ago? Just because he is the General who won the …