"The impact of music on literature is simple: to have a great song you always need two main ingredients, words and music. You can’t have one without the other. The relationship to music to socio-cultural is a much bigger topic, possibly even a book."

Paul Charles: Literary Notes &…

"The Blues is as expressive as any music ever created. The profound struggles and challenges of human existence, being in our fragile bodies, is a universal experience. The feeling of blues music is innate, transcends history, and is understood by everyone."

Greg Anton: The Spiritual…

"If given the choice, today’s youth would choose the Beats over Podhoretz by an overwhelming majority. The older following discovered the Beats in their youth and simply continued to enjoy their literature."

Michael Schumacher: Howlin' Lion Blues…

"Rock isn’t dead. Each generation passes on their love of rock to the next. It’s a trickle down affect."

Neil Daniels: Steel, Rock & Boogie

Neil Daniels is a freelance British writer specialising in…

"The original utopian ideals resonating in the Chelsea’s halls are the same ideals that informed the creation of the artistic communities downtown."

Sherill Tippins: The Blues of Chelsea Hotel…

"Everyone can relate to the Blues. Everyone has experienced sadness and they feel connected…drawn to others who share their feelings. Not to mention, the sound of Blues is so unique and will draw you in!"

Anita Havens: That’s Why We Sang the…

"Jazz and blues continue to generate a devoted following simply because it sounds good. From a poetic standpoint, the complexity really begins when we have to rationalize lyrics that we don't agree with." 

Hiram Sims: The Imag(in)e of Poetry…

"My hopes for the future are for world peace, love and compassion for all sentient beings and forms of life on this planet." 

Lee Harris: The Underground Alchemist…

"Art of all kinds help us push against the limits of what it means to be human, and allows us to explore all sorts of other possibilities."

Brian Evenson: Fiction's Brotherhood

Brian Evenson was born in…

"The main legacy of the Blues is that you can let your raw emotions and point of view tells the story. You don’t have to be polite or subtle. It’s like the law; there are precedents that dictate what’s acceptable... what works."

Terry Abrahamson: The Bluesman's Chakra…

"Hopefully, we will see another music revolution soon, as it is nearly impossible for the Indie musician to keep re-inventing himself for the sake of survival."

Vicki Welch Ayo: Notes from Houston

The…

"Corso loved jazz music. He grew up in a milieu where a parallel search for individual freedom was going on in the jazz world."

Kirby Olson: The Beat of Silence

Kirby Olson studied poetry at Naropa Institute…

"They all have exposed me to the jazz life—the ups and downs."

Marc Myers: Culture of Jazzology

Marc Myers is a journalist, author, and historian, and a regular contributor to the Wall Street…

The philosophy of the blues? As one musician said, "The blues ain't nothin' but the truth."

Willard Manus: Under the Aegean Sun

Willard Manus is a Los Angeles-based novelist, playwright, and journalist. His best…

"The wandering muse, the irrepressible spirit of the human to resist oppression, suppression, & repression on so many levels of our spiritual existence."

Bart Plantenga: Literary Booze 'n' Roll

Bart…

"Don’t go with the flow. The majority is usually wrong."

Bruce Louis Dodson: Citizen of the world

Bruce Dodson is a sculptor, photographer and writer of fiction and poetry in Seattle, WA. He was born in Alton,…

"Blues and Jazz are connected through the idea of improvisation, which is the life force."

Sean Thomas Dougherty: Power to the People

Sean Thomas…

"I go on with my life as if none of this has ever happened.  I do what I do to make my life in the present tense as simple as possible."

Gerard Malanga: Under the Muse's Spell

Poet,…

"The beauty of both poetry and music – and all art forms – is that once you tap into their power they never cease influencing you."

Peter Conners: Don't be afraid the Deads

Peter Conners is…

"I am a literary anthropologist who loves people and wants to know their souls and hearts and tell their tales."

Joan Jobe Smith: Tales of West Coast Pearl

Joan Jobe Smith, founding editor…