About this blog

I wrote this story many years ago, not suspecting it would become an internet phenomenon among jazz musicians and those rare non-musicians who inexplicably still give a shit about jazz. The only problem is, my byline was removed from the story early in its voyage (when it was retitled "How Jazz Works" in excerpted form), so I’m rarely credited as the author. It has been sent to me, and quoted to me, by countless people who didn’t realize that I had written it. It also has been translated on various websites into French, Greek, and Japanese, yet the network talk show circuit remains an elusive dream.

This blog is my attempt to re-attach my name to my writing, and to shamelessly self-promote by directing you to my website (www.billanschell.com). There, you can find many other jazz stories you may enjoy, including my well-traveled “Jazz Math.” While you’re there, why not check out some of my music? Writing is purely a sideline for me; I had to do something sensible for a living, so I’m a full-time jazz pianist and composer.

Feel free to post comments here if you are so moved, but feel freer to visit my website, www.billanschell.com. Did I mention my website?