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A tribute to Jali Foday Susso: Custodian of the Kora, voice of Manding, pride of The Gambia

Tom Harrell “Moving Picture” HighNote cd There’s something addictive about Tom Harrell’s music. It took a bit for me to “get hooked” but now I have to have it in the rotation. When he got to HighNote he found a real home to center within–the production, recording and feel of these albums are top-notch and the music has a consistency of identity (but not an outright sameness) to just sink back into. This one is really nice, but they all are.

I just learned from Tommy Smith's Facebook page that pianist Brian Kellock died last night at the age of 63. I have Tommy's duet CD recording with Brian, "Whispering of the Stars" (available on bandcamp) and it's a wonderful recording. I'll have to spin it later in Brian's memory. Tommy's Facebook post: With a broken heart, I am one of many sharing the news of Brian Kellock’s passing. Brian wasn’t just a colleague — he was family, family to many. We shared hundreds of concerts together, most often as a duo, but also in many other settings. His playing was a conversation, a joy, a deep connection — and through all those years, we created something that words can’t fully capture. Hearing of his passing last night was utterly devastating. The shock, the sadness, the sheer weight of this loss has left me, and I know so many others, without words. Brian was so deeply loved — not just for his extraordinary musical gifts, but for his humour, his warmth, his generosity of spirit. His talent was immeasurable. He had a way of playing that could break your heart one moment and swing it sky-high the next. That kind of artistry is rare. That kind of person even rarer. To those of us lucky enough to know him, play with him, laugh with him — this is a grief that runs deep. He was a supremely beautiful soul, and his absence will be felt profoundly. We will miss him forever. With love, Tommy