Stephen Mejias

For just a few days now I’ve been receiving mysterious e-mails from “Jazz on the Tube.” At first I wondered if they were spam, and I was afraid to click on the links inside. But they all seemed harmless enough: A few kind and thoughtful words, a passion for jazz, a hand held out in friendship, a smile. So I clicked the link and was taken to a simple page with a narrow, white field against a black border and a YouTube video at the center.

Each day, Jazz on the Tube sends another video, and so far they have all been excellent. Today, Jazz on the Tube is thinking about Abbey Lincoln, jazz singer and extraordinary voice of the civil-rights movement, who passed away on Tuesday, August 10, just days after her 80th birthday.

The first time I heard Abbey Lincoln, I was at the beautiful home of Tone Imports’ Jonathan Halpern, US importer of Shindo, Leben, EMT, Auditorium 23, and other fine gear. I was blown away. It was another one of those moments where I find myself wondering how I’ve made it this long without these songs.

Check out the Max Roach Combo performing “Freedom Day,” and, if you like that, you can visit Jazz on the Tube for more.