Blog — Riffs, Beats, & Codas

Riffs, Beats, & Codas

Freddy Cole (1931-2020): Quietly legendary

Vincent StephensJuly 6, 2020Freddy Cole, vocal jazz

Am I a music “collector”? and other reflections on buying music

Vincent StephensJune 3, 2020record stores, music collecting, Melody Record Shop, Olssons Books and Music, CD Depot

Lorez, Gloria, and Dakota: On being black, female, and ‘underrated’ in jazz singing

Vincent StephensMay 23, 2020vocal jazz, jazz singers, Lorez Alexandria, Dakota Staton, Gloria Lynne, underrated

Whose Songbook? Questioning the “Great” and “American” in popular music

Vincent StephensApril 7, 2020popular standards, Great American Songbook, R&B, country music

On the Road with Rocking the Closet: Going public, answering burning questions, giving advice, and finding inspiration

Vincent StephensMarch 12, 2020Rocking the Closet, Vincent L. Stephens, queer music, LGBTQ music, LGBTQ history

Synthesis, growth, and eclecticism: Favorite albums of 2010-2019

Vincent StephensDecember 27, 2019Best of 2010s, vocal jazz, R&B, Best Albums, blues, country music

Music on TV Part 2: Engineering musical “quality”: A review of The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Vincent StephensSeptember 29, 2019music documentary, Arista Records, Clive Davis, music industry

Music on TV Part 1: Mining country music for riches: A review of Ken Burns’ Country

Vincent StephensSeptember 29, 2019country music, women in country, Ken Burns, race and pop music, authenticity and country music

A life in song: Carmen Gillespie’s playlist

Vincent StephensSeptember 2, 2019

Is Beyoncé an “artist” and other questions: Musical significance in a post-rock critic era

Vincent StephensJuly 10, 2019rock criticism, rock canon, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, art

Rocketman soars to new creative heights for musical biopics

Vincent StephensJune 2, 2019

To listen or not? Responding to “Baby, its Cold Outside,” Michael Jackson and R. Kelly in an age of sexual enlightenment

Vincent StephensMay 27, 2019Baby Its Cold Outside, Frank Loesser, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, sexual abuse, sexual assault

Occasional Tapas: Episode 00: Pre-OSCARS discussion featuring guest Riccardo Dragani

Vincent StephensFebruary 23, 20192019 Academy Awards, 2019 Oscars ceremony

Living legacies: Reflections on “Old School” 80s R&B

Vincent StephensFebruary 23, 201980's R&B, R&B, Regina Belle, Miki Howard, Stephanie Mills, Freddie Jackson, neo-soul, old school R&B

Driving toward the middle of the road: Notes on The Green Book

Vincent StephensJanuary 7, 2019

Rave & Faves: The Best of 2018

Vincent StephensDecember 17, 2018Best of 2018, Madeleine Peyroux, Maria Muldaur, Rumaan Alam, Alexander Chee, Philip M. Gentry, Pose, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Sorry to Bother You

Aging fiercely: Mariah Carey’s Caution and the new realities of pop music

Vincent StephensDecember 6, 2018Mariah Carey, R&B, hip-hop soul

Cautionary rock tales on film: A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody

Vincent StephensNovember 18, 2018A star is born, Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, biopics, celebrity, Queen, Rami Malek, Freddie Mercury

Aretha’s Rainbow: Notes on Aretha Franklin’s music beyond ‘soul’

Vincent StephensSeptember 2, 2018Aretha Franklin, soul music, R&B, vocal jazz, cabaret music, gospel

The stories behind the art: Notes on Pose

Vincent StephensAugust 6, 2018transgender, African-Americans, Latinx, drag ball, Pose, 80's R&B, queer people of color