iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Early autumn, and a busy season is getting busier. Good thing I’ve rounded up some of the best new music on the near horizon. Have a look.

thegig.substack.com

Falling into Take Five

Get it? A musical cornucopia, and some news

0122

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Do you think Dolly heard an advance cut of this "Islands in the Stream" by Meshell Ndegeocello and Chaka Khan? I think she would have felt honored and delighted. From SYNONYM, the crazy-good new Meshell joint, which is a covers album in the way that Notre-Dame is a building youtu.be/Py-wFewGs48?...

youtu.be

Islands In The Stream

YouTube video by Meshell Ndegeocello - Topic

1176

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Tonight I get to see Yannick Nézet-Séguin lead The Philadelphia Orchestra in Mahler’s Fifth. Really looking forward to the side-on podium tackle in the Trauermarsch.

youtu.be

Tár (2022) - Lydia’s Meltdown Scene | Movieclips

YouTube video by Movieclips

391

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

What does a viral Top 20 electro-pop hit have in common with a 70+ year-old jazz standard? Well, the title. But wait, there’s more. thegig.substack.com/p/midnight-s...

thegig.substack.com

“Midnight Sun” (the other one)

What Zara Larsson and Ella Fitzgerald have in common

051

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There's a fed-up Opinion essay by @billmckibben.bsky.social in the NYT, and somebody on their digital advertising team either has an ironic streak or has just given up

"Recent polling shows that roughly seven in 10 people ages 18 to 34 distrust Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei and the other would-be wizards leading the big A.I. companies," writes Bill McKibben in a guest essay for NY Times Opinion. Shortly after this sentence, there's a large ad for a memoir "From international supermodel and mother of visionary Elon Musk."

140

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You know what? It’s time to bring back the shame of selling out

091

Reposted by Nate Chinen

ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Man in a Blue Mantle, by John Singer Sargent, 1891, 📸 via @cjzero.bsky.social

305031756

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

That hit on Jalen Hurts. WTF, Chicago?

140

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A touch more on the Coltrane centennial, real quick: about the Tiberi Tapes, and tribute concerts by Jaleel Shaw, Immanuel Wilkins, and Odean Pope / Reggie Workman / Andrew Cyrille.

thegig.substack.com

Acknowledgement: More Coltrane 100

A blessed overspill for John Coltrane’s centennial

381

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The “Choosin’ Texas” take I’ll read is about “Abilene,” the Kacey Musgraves song. Ella Langley: “I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene.” Kacey: “Nothing good ever happens anyway in Abilene.” Get a reporter on the ground, see how Abilene feels about it! youtu.be/JdGYm_NLtwY?...

youtu.be

Abilene

YouTube video by Kacey Musgraves - Topic

091

Reposted by Nate Chinen

Phil Gentry @pmgentry.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

lol, something about the publication of that bizarre NY Times best TV list and the simultaneous retirement of the last classical music critic mark a certain...moment, in culture. Not a good one!

1232

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Tonight at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Nels Cline and Yuka Honda begin a two-night residency with some awesome friends. Ahead of that, I had a great conversation with them about collaboration, conflict, Yoko Ono, and each other. Read it here.

walkerart.org

Nels Cline and Yuka Honda with Nate Chinen on Musical Worlds, Collaboration, and Yoko Ono | Walker Art Center

061

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What’s more Philly than Jaleel Shaw, shredding on “Cousin Mary,” on John Coltrane’s 100th birthday, in the shadow of City Hall? (Go Birds!)

1478

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

John Coltrane has another Platinum album, as Blue Train joins A Love Supreme! Only a few instrumental jazz artists are in the Platinum club (Brubeck, Hancock among them. Miles has three. Let’s agree to leave out Kenny G.)

0346

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Ralph J. Gleason, who got to know John Coltrane on the way up, wrote the liner notes for ‘Coltrane’s Sound’ on Atlantic Records. A memorable first few paragraphs here.

Ralph J. Gleason’s liner notes for ‘Coltrane’s Sound’ on Atlantic Records.

04415

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Coming soon to the Verve Record Club: 'Chasin’ the Trane: Copenhagen 1962.' An amazing concert recording. (I wrote the liner notes.) If you know it from bootlegs, trust that the restoration and mastering have done wonders. store.ververecords.com/products/joh...

store.ververecords.com

John Coltrane: Chasin’ The Trane: Copenhagen 1962 LP VRC Edition - Verve Record Store

SUBSCRIBE NOWJohn Coltrane – Chasin’ the Trane: Copenhagen 1962: Captured at a pivotal moment, this newly released live recording showcases John Coltrane’s Classic Quartet—McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison ...

0235

Reposted by Nate Chinen

Jaleel Shaw @jaleelshaw.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Happy 100th Birthday to the great John Coltrane! Tonight, Wednesday, September 23rd at 6pm, I’ll be in my hometown - Philadelphia, to perform a FREE admission concert celebrating his birthday in Love Park with Philadelphia’s own - Alex Claffy on bass & the Master, Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums.

213629

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My report from inside the Coltrane centennial complex, which is a lot more soul-affirming than that description makes it sound

thegig.substack.com

Countdown: John Coltrane at 100

In celebration of an artist who set so much in motion

15412

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On Saturday, a whole mess of jazz legends gathered to honor one of their own, one of the greatest to ever do it.

thegig.substack.com

Memorializing Sonny Rollins

Notes on a celebration of the Saxophone Colossus

2174

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Today the original artwork for 'Time Out,' by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, sold at auction for a record-breaking $576K. Its artist and designer, S. Neil Fujita, is part of a brilliant new exhibition at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Here’s a piece I just wrote about him, and the show.

wrti.org

A designer of iconic jazz albums shines in a new show at the Barnes

'Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America' explores the impact of Japanese-American incarceration on modern American design. One of its six featured artists is S. Neil Fujita, whose work is known t...

16827

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

George Wein, majordomo of the Newport Jazz Festival and so much else, died on this day five years ago. He was a mentor to me and countless others. Here’s some writing I shared on the occasion of his centennial last fall. thegig.substack.com/p/george-wei...

thegig.substack.com

George Wein at 100

To a mentor, and a memory (one of many)

0101

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Forgot that this was the release date. An awesome and important album.

0111

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A reflection on the first live music I heard after 9/11, which felt like some kind of miracle. It was later released, but can no longer be streamed — so I’m sharing four tracks with you here.

thegig.substack.com

Respite and Remembrance

Lost sounds, and a story, from 9/11

191

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Wrote about Kacey Musgraves' sublime Middle of Nowhere Tour, savvy country cosmopolitanism, and what Dolly has to do with it.

thegig.substack.com

Not Her First Rodeo

Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere Tour is, well, deeper than it seems

071

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A meditation on Cassandra Wilson, in the immediate void left by her passing. This gets to some places I couldn’t reach with the obit.

thegig.substack.com

Cassandra Wilson, The Conjurer

Parting thoughts on a singular voice and incredible artist

0187

Reposted by Nate Chinen

the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

if you are unfamilar with Cassandra Wilson's artistry, tonight maybe listen to "Traveling Miles" from '99 or "Another Country" from 2012. put your other stuff aside if you can and hear what we lost when she died today. immortal music. one of one.

713627

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Cassandra Wilson was one of our most gifted vocalists, just an unreal talent. Here is my obituary for NPR Music. (I believe I’ll also be on the broadcast later this evening.)

npr.org

Cassandra Wilson, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist, dies at 70

Wilson, who's deep, dark contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, died on Wednesday in her hometown of Jackson, Miss.

818180

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

This National Dog Day, everyone needs to know that Dolly Parton's most famous album includes a (really good) song all about "the best friend that I ever had," her childhood rescue pup. youtu.be/h-Jaz0CW4Sk?...

youtu.be

Dolly Parton - Cracker Jack (Audio)

YouTube video by Dolly Parton

1296

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Andy Beta wrote an illuminating biography of Alice Coltrane, and we had an illuminated conversation about it, with key contributions from Surya Botofasina. A good listen!

thegig.substack.com

Alice Coltrane: Cosmic Music

A conversation with Andy Beta and Surya Botofasina

1121

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

This is awful news for a community still recovering from Lala — but also, if you know Pidgin, “Tropical Storm Moke” sounds like a Rap Reiplinger bit.

010

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Courtney Pine is one of the most consequential figures in the modern history of UK jazz. I saw him play a fantastic career retrospective in London last week, and had this to say.

thegig.substack.com

Modern Day Jazz Story

Catching a vibe with Courtney Pine

0141

Reposted by Nate Chinen

Julian Booker @booker-julian.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Had a chance to talk to a few of the members of one of my favorite contemporary bands earlier this summer. Check out my conversation with SML wherever you get your podcasts ✌️ www.wrti.org/podcast/late...

wrti.org

Sabotage the Plan, with SML

SML is one of our era's most beguiling bands: a collective rooted in group improv, with a blend of loopy groove, staticky texture and shifting timbre. Three of the band's five members — bassist Anna B...

052

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Love this @annkpowers.bsky.social review for many reasons, one of which is "the unkempt magic of the everyday" — a phrase that jangles like a favorite moment in DeLillo's Underworld. (The "name the parts" scene. Y'know it?)

npr.org

Phoebe Bridgers remembers everything

Bridgers' third solo album is her account of a time in which she retreated from the public eye, reeling from the effects of fame, a complicated love life and the sudden death of her father.

2100

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Portraits (Billy Steiger / Daniel Blumberg / Seymour Wright) at Cafe OTO tonight. Abrasion, abstrusion, ablution.

Portraits (Billy Steiger / Daniel Blumberg / Seymour Wright) at Cafe OTO on Aug. 9, 2026.

071

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

About 100 years ago. George Orwell moved into the drafty attic of this house on London’s Portobello Road. Stopped here this morning, paid my respects. “Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.”

George Orwell’s house on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

2325

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Angine de Poitrine was wondrous and wild at Newport today, in what I didn’t realize was their American debut. Here’s one minute from stage right.

4658

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Tony Bennett’s centennial falls on Monday. There’s one classic performance from his vast catalog that I think says almost everything about his persona as a singer. Now at The Gig.

open.substack.com

Tony Bennett at 100

The song that sums up the singer.

1101

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Herbie Hancock (far left, with keytar) played with god-tier energy and creativity for more than two hours tonight in Philly. This man is 86. (The band also cooks, but you knew that.)

Herbie Hancock, with keytar, onstage at Marian Anderson Hall in Philadelphia, with his touring band. He is 86.

4535

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This could be my pinned status. (I gather Josh means it in a different way tho) 👇🏽

0130

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Street work in the suburbs apparently now involves a Kenari droid

Kenari droid, or human construction equipment? I don’t know, man, I just live here under the yoke of this authoritarian regime.

1110

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The current front page of The Gig. Feels like an accurate representation of what I’m generally up to there. 🎧 thegig.substack.com

0101