Sunday jazz interlude

Check out Ravi Coltrane's MySpace page, where among other cuts you can listen to "Dear Alice," Ravi's haunting tribute to his late mother Alice Coltrane.

While you are at it, be sure to add Jeffrey Siegel's excellent "Straight No Chaser" program to your list of jazz podcasts.

Back soon with more on politics, including some thoughts on the 30-year fallout of Jimmy Carter's decision to allow the Shah of Iran into the U.S. for medical treatment.

Update: Speaking of the Trane family, this week Ken Laster's jazz podcast (about which I have blogged before) features a great segment of John Coltrane compositions played by other artists. The podcast also includes a bunch of summertime-themed jazz. Ken's show is by far the best jazz program around, so be sure to subscribe to it and support it--jazz is one dying art that refuses to die!

More jazz: Readers in, and visitors to, New York City might want to check out the weekly jazz series at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on East 3rd St. I have never been there myself but hope to check it out when next in the city this fall. It is, however, recommended by writer and jazz columnist Ishmael Reed.