#NNPA BlackPress

Houston Joins the Jason Moran Bandwagon at Discovery Green

ABOVE: Jason Moran performs with his trio, The Bandwagon, featuring niece, Raven Moran on guitar at Discovery Green for the ‘Jazzy Sundays’ concert series (Photo courtesy of Facebook) The Kinder Foundation’s series of “Jazzy Sundays” continued Sunday night at Discovery Green. The headliner was jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran. Born in Houston in 1975, […]
The post Houston Joins the Jason Moran Bandwagon at Discovery Green first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 years ago

April 19, 2023

Forward Times Staff

ABOVE: Jason Moran performs with his trio, The Bandwagon, featuring niece, Raven Moran on guitar at Discovery Green for the ‘Jazzy Sundays’ concert series (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

The Kinder Foundation’s series of “Jazzy Sundays” continued Sunday night at Discovery Green. The headliner was jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran. Born in Houston in 1975, Moran grew up in the Pleasantville area. He attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, graduating in 1993. As a senior, he was student director of the jazz combo, under a jazz program then led by Robert Morgan.

Moran went on to graduate from the Manhattan School of Music and join the band of saxophonist Greg Osby. Since then, he’s become a noted composer and musician in his own right. This weekend, he returned to Houston with his trio, The Bandwagon, featuring Tarus Mateen on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. This time, they were joined by a special guest: Moran’s niece Raven Moran on guitar.

Jason Moran poses with aunt, Denise Moran Lee at Discovery Green (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

Together they worked through a dense, evolving set of songs: a rollicking, lengthy composition to open, a sophomore selection that (despite a propulsive rhythm section) genuinely swings a gentle, scaled-down ballad. Despite the buzz around him — the din of an outdoor crowd, photographers coming on stage to snap photos – Moran seemed entirely unfazed, lost in the music. He broke the spell briefly to address the crowd before his next song.

He introduced “I’ll Play the Blues for You,” by legendary bluesman Albert King. “He used to come by my house,” Moran said, adding that “he made the piano actually sound fun.” But Moran wasn’t kidding around after the band finished playing.

As the Bandwagon began the next song, Moran took the mic. “We’re talking about books now,” he said. “Talking about how dare anyone be able to take away a book.” He spoke on the importance of reading and his hope that Texas doesn’t become one of the states banning books in schools. He began quoting novelist Toni Morrison, reciting a passage in her book Song of Solomon:

“And talking about dark! You think dark is just one color, but it ain´t. There´re five or six kinds of black. Some silky, some woolly. Some just empty. Some like fingers. And it don´t stay still. It moves and changes from one kind of black to another. Saying something is pitch black is like saying something is green. What kind of green? Green like my bottles? Green like a grasshopper? Green like a cucumber, lettuce or green like the sky is just before it breaks loose to storm? Well, night black is the same way. May as well be a rainbow.”

From there, Moran launched into his song “Black is a Rainbow.”

Next, he launched into “Feed the Fire,” written by the late jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen.

Jason Moran performs with his trio, The Bandwagon, featuring niece, Raven Moran on guitar at Discovery Green for the ‘Jazzy Sundays’ concert series (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

He concluded with “For James,” a tribute piece he wrote for the little-known bandleader and composer James Reese Europe. He was one of the foremost originators of what we now call jazz.

Europe started out as a pianist in New York City. Then he began writing for theater. In 1910, he founded and incorporated The Clef Club — a first-of-its-kind musicians’ union, contracting agency and social organization. The Clef Club Orchestra soon swelled to over 200 members, according to the Library of Congress. In 1912, he brought the orchestra to Carnegie Hall. (According to NPR, “The ‘Concert of Negro Music,’ as it was billed, is often remembered today as the first jazz concert in the prestigious concert hall, though “jazz” wasn’t a word Europe ever used.”) The concert introduced both Black and ragtime composers/musicians to that venue.

During World War I, Europe obtained a commission from the New York National Guard. He fought as a lieutenant in the 369th Infantry Regiment. He managed to balance duties as both a soldier and a military bandleader. The Boston Globe shows he succeeded at both: “As a marching band, the 369th Infantry Regiment is credited with introducing jazz to the continent that shares Europe’s name. As a machine-gun unit, the 369th Regiment fought so fiercely and heroically alongside French forces (American troops were then segregated by race) that the German troops dubbed them “Hollenkampfer” (German for “Hellfighters”).” The band amazed audiences in France, and after the war ended, Europe returned home as a hero. He continued to tour before being fatally stabbed by a band member in 1919.

Europe’s story inspired Moran’s album, From the Dance Hall to the Battlefield. “For James” is the last track on that album, and Moran has used it in his performances for years. Last night, he surprised the audience by breaking into song, singing along with the melody and encouraging them to do so, too. He led the crowd in vocalizing, first singing and then humming – compelling them to pay tribute to one of jazz’s great ancestors.

The post Houston Joins the Jason Moran Bandwagon at Discovery Green appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

The post Houston Joins the Jason Moran Bandwagon at Discovery Green first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

Posts by Forward Times Staff

Up Next

Terence Blanchard’s ‘Champion’ Becomes the Second Opera by a Black Composer Performed at Metropolitan Opera House

Don't Miss

COMMENTARY: Aikido is More than Martial Arts: It’s Community

Forward Times Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

#AutoNetwork

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

Visit Our Website

Home – updated

Read more stories by our team
https://defendernetwork.com/category/news/opinion/

Sign-up for the Top 5 newsletter

Defender Newsletters

Donate/ Support Our Work

Contribute to the Defender Network

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.