Jazz Therapy

Tuesday Tune-Up for November 18, 2022: Follow-Up on Brittney Griner A few weeks ago, I wrote about the American basketball star Brittney Griner, currently wrongfully imprisoned in Russia.  For more on that post, click here: https://jazztherapy.com/2022/11/reflections-on-brittney-griner-a-political-prisoner-wrongfully-detained/.  Since then, a few developments have occurred.  On November 17, 2022, the Russian government reported that Ms. Griner had … Read moreJazz Therapy: “Soothing the Soul”

I have been thinking about the rise in Antisemitism lately, and the connection to Kanye West (now known as Ye West).  Recently, Ye was in the headlines for making several antisemitic remarks.  I won’t repeat them hear, as it can be retraumatizing for people to see the things that he said and wrote.  To read … Read moreJazz Therapy: Reflections on Antisemitism and Kanye West

Reflections on Homelessness I recently came across this article highlighting the rise in elderly seniors becoming homeless due to waxing inflation and the cost of housing increasing, , and I was again reminded  what a pervasive problem homelessness is (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/10/1135125625/homelessness-elderly-housing-inflation).  I live in Sacramento, and I notice increasing homelessness all around the city.  I was … Read moreJazz Therapy Tuesday Tune-Up

Rejoice! Democracy is alive and kicking.  The midterm elections came and went, and it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.  I still feel a little bit disappointed. However, I feel grateful, excited and relieved that there was such a higher voter turnout for these midterm elections. I am also heartened to see … Read moreAfter-the-Midterms: Hope is Here

In “Tuesday Tune-Up,” launched last week, we take a quick look at a news item,pair it with a mini meditation and a song or two. Today in the United States, it is Election Day. These “mid-term” elections are quite important, as right now, control of the House of Representatives is up, well as the Senate. … Read moreJazz Therapy Tuesday Tune-Up: Election Day 2022

It is understandable that she feels hopeless and does not have the energy to do things she formerly loved to do. The act of being imprisoned exerts a very high psychological toll.  Ms. Griner’s wife, Cherelle, gave an interview to CBS News, revealing that being imprisoned has taken a significant toll on Ms. Griner.  Cherelle … Read moreReflections on Brittney Griner: A Political Prisoner Wrongfully Detained

Welcome to the first edition of Tuesday Tune-Up! In this weekly Tuesday segment, launching today, posted every Tuesday, I will feature a short meditation along with a song (or two).  Tuesday Tune-Up is intended to be a short bit of Jazz Therapy, to soothe your soul as the week gets going. Today, we will be … Read moreTuesday Tune-Up- Honoring Día De Los Muertos

In November, 2021, a Georgia state court found three men guilty of murdering Ahmaud Aubrey. Travis McMichael shot him, his father accompanied this, and Bryan took a video of this horrific event happening. Each of the three men, Travis Michael, his father George McMichael, and their neighbor, William Bryan received life prison sentences. They were … Read moreReflections on the aftermath of Ahmaud Abrey’s murder: Hate Crimes Convictions, Race-based Trauma, and Resultant Hope

Last week, a leaked audio recording from October 2021captured former LA city Council President Nury Martinez making racist and demeaning remarks about Black people, indigenous immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as Jewish and Armenian people. Martinez was talking with other LA City Council Members Gil Cedillo, and Kevin de Leon; also present was Ron … Read moreCity of Angels: Racism among Powerful L.A. Politicians