Musical Dialogues
@jaysonkerrdobney.bsky.social
A yearlong journey through 20th-century music. Daily song pairings, reflections, and stories that connect the sounds of America across genres and generations. **Launching January 1, 2026 on Substack.
My latest post. Minimalism in both classical and pop music. Take a listen: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Glassworks / Once in a Lifetime
January 19: Repetition
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:18 AM
My latest post. Minimalism in both classical and pop music. Take a listen: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Today is MLK’s birthday (we will celebrate it on Monday). Thinking of his legacy, I paired two songs. The first a gospel song important to the Civil Rights movement. The second a Broadway song about ending racism. Check it out:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 15, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Today is MLK’s birthday (we will celebrate it on Monday). Thinking of his legacy, I paired two songs. The first a gospel song important to the Civil Rights movement. The second a Broadway song about ending racism. Check it out:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Mixing together musical genres successfully is rare. One of the most successful examples is Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Another example is the Aerosmith / Run DMC. Read about these two pieces in today’s Musical Dialogues: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 15, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Mixing together musical genres successfully is rare. One of the most successful examples is Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Another example is the Aerosmith / Run DMC. Read about these two pieces in today’s Musical Dialogues: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Great musical anecdote. French composer Pierre Boulez sees Paul Simon and his wife at a party in the 1980s. The Frenchman repeaters calls the rock star Al. The result is one of today’s songs for my Musical
dialogues pairing.
Check it Out: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
dialogues pairing.
Check it Out: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 11, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Great musical anecdote. French composer Pierre Boulez sees Paul Simon and his wife at a party in the 1980s. The Frenchman repeaters calls the rock star Al. The result is one of today’s songs for my Musical
dialogues pairing.
Check it Out: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
dialogues pairing.
Check it Out: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Check out today’s Musical Dialogue. The influence of country singer Jimmie Rodgers on blues man Howlin’ Wolf. An interesting link.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 10, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Check out today’s Musical Dialogue. The influence of country singer Jimmie Rodgers on blues man Howlin’ Wolf. An interesting link.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Reposted by Musical Dialogues
Happy Birthday to Joan Baez, singer-songwriter born in Staten Island, New York 🇺🇸 85 years ago today.
What are your favourite songs by Joan Baez?
#JoanBaez
What are your favourite songs by Joan Baez?
#JoanBaez
January 9, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Happy Birthday to Joan Baez, singer-songwriter born in Staten Island, New York 🇺🇸 85 years ago today.
What are your favourite songs by Joan Baez?
#JoanBaez
What are your favourite songs by Joan Baez?
#JoanBaez
Today is Joan Baez’s birthday. Perhaps her best known album is Diamonds & Rust. Learn more:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 9, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Today is Joan Baez’s birthday. Perhaps her best known album is Diamonds & Rust. Learn more:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Bluegrass guitarist Rick Snell pointed me towards this old fiddle tune “Eighth of January.” I remembered it as the song “Battle of New Orleans” check it out:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 8, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Bluegrass guitarist Rick Snell pointed me towards this old fiddle tune “Eighth of January.” I remembered it as the song “Battle of New Orleans” check it out:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Charley Pride became the first Black solo singer to perform on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 7, 1967. Decades earlier, Black harmonica virtuoso DeFord Bailey was there when the Opry began. Learn more: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 7, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Charley Pride became the first Black solo singer to perform on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 7, 1967. Decades earlier, Black harmonica virtuoso DeFord Bailey was there when the Opry began. Learn more: open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Jan. 6 - Epiphany. Marks the 12th day of Christmas, the end of several regional traditions including “Old Christmas” in parts of Appalachia. It also marks the beginning of Carnival in New Orleans. One day. Two songs. A beginning and an ending.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Breaking Up Christmas / Carnival Time
Epiphany
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Jan. 6 - Epiphany. Marks the 12th day of Christmas, the end of several regional traditions including “Old Christmas” in parts of Appalachia. It also marks the beginning of Carnival in New Orleans. One day. Two songs. A beginning and an ending.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Train songs is a category unto itself across genres. These songs are a reminder of how important trains were to daily life. One for the great is Freight Train, by Elizabeth Cotten. She was born on Jan. 5, 1893.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 6, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Train songs is a category unto itself across genres. These songs are a reminder of how important trains were to daily life. One for the great is Freight Train, by Elizabeth Cotten. She was born on Jan. 5, 1893.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Today’s Musical Dialogue: My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music. A favorite childhood memory for many, John Coltrane completely reimagined it.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
My Favorite Things
January 4:
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Today’s Musical Dialogue: My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music. A favorite childhood memory for many, John Coltrane completely reimagined it.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Today’s Musical Dialogue features a pairing from two
black women of different generations and genres. Aretha Franklin’s Respect with Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
black women of different generations and genres. Aretha Franklin’s Respect with Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 3, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Today’s Musical Dialogue features a pairing from two
black women of different generations and genres. Aretha Franklin’s Respect with Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
black women of different generations and genres. Aretha Franklin’s Respect with Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Today’s post thanks to collaborator Rogelio Plasencia. open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
January 2, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Today’s post thanks to collaborator Rogelio Plasencia. open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Launching today. A yearlong exploration of American music. Each day will suggest 2 songs. I’ll provide a commentary about what I think they have in common. Here is the first post. Today, songs about community and featuring super groups of performers
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
A Brand New Day / Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Jan. 1: Community
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Launching today. A yearlong exploration of American music. Each day will suggest 2 songs. I’ll provide a commentary about what I think they have in common. Here is the first post. Today, songs about community and featuring super groups of performers
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Not too late to think about New Years Eve plans. Thanks to DJ y2aura for sitting down and telling me all about the role of a DJ to make sure such a night is a great success. open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
The Person Behind the Party
A conversation with DJ y2aura
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Not too late to think about New Years Eve plans. Thanks to DJ y2aura for sitting down and telling me all about the role of a DJ to make sure such a night is a great success. open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Here is my Christmas Jazz playlist. I’ll
Be using it a lot the next few days and hope you might enjoy it too.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Be using it a lot the next few days and hope you might enjoy it too.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
A Little Night Music for December
An Instrumental Jazz Holiday Playlist
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Here is my Christmas Jazz playlist. I’ll
Be using it a lot the next few days and hope you might enjoy it too.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Be using it a lot the next few days and hope you might enjoy it too.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
My latest post features Bing Crosby and two songs he sang about being peace into a world of conflict.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Bing Crosby and the Sound of Hope
Song: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My latest post features Bing Crosby and two songs he sang about being peace into a world of conflict.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Looking for some holiday music? Maybe some that’s a mix of traditional a bit quirky? Check out this playlist with contributions from friends and family.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Holiday Playlist
Special Preview
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Looking for some holiday music? Maybe some that’s a mix of traditional a bit quirky? Check out this playlist with contributions from friends and family.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
My recent Substack features an interview with one of my early and influential music teachers about the power of Christmas music. Enjoy:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
A Musical Christmas Memory
On Christmas music, tradition, and teaching
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My recent Substack features an interview with one of my early and influential music teachers about the power of Christmas music. Enjoy:
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Thinking about duets this week and here are a few more that were sung by real life couples - Ike and Tina, Faith and Tim, and more.
substack.com/@jaysonkerrd...
substack.com/@jaysonkerrd...
Musical Dialogues (@jaysonkerrdobney)
A few more duets by real life couples - Ike and Tina, Faith and Tim, and more. Listen to more below.
substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Thinking about duets this week and here are a few more that were sung by real life couples - Ike and Tina, Faith and Tim, and more.
substack.com/@jaysonkerrd...
substack.com/@jaysonkerrd...
Musical Dialogues is back with a preview featuring two actual couples who sang together. Spoiler: beautiful harmony ≠ marital harmony
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
We're Gonna Hold On / No Me Ames
Real Couples Singing Real Songs
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Musical Dialogues is back with a preview featuring two actual couples who sang together. Spoiler: beautiful harmony ≠ marital harmony
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
On Monday, I featured a song written during the height of the AIDS epidemic. I stated thinking about music written during Covid. Today, I share a handful of songs that document that recent health crisis.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
Songs from the Covid Era
Special Preview
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
On Monday, I featured a song written during the height of the AIDS epidemic. I stated thinking about music written during Covid. Today, I share a handful of songs that document that recent health crisis.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
I’m thinking about songs that feel like they are taking care of you. Which artist has written the most healing music in your life?
December 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I’m thinking about songs that feel like they are taking care of you. Which artist has written the most healing music in your life?
Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day. music has always helped people get through the hardest times. My latest post includes two songs written during public health crises of the last century.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
One Sweet Day / 1919 Influence Blues
Special Preview
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day. music has always helped people get through the hardest times. My latest post includes two songs written during public health crises of the last century.
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...
open.substack.com/pub/jaysonke...