A long way from the block

Stories of how passion and craft take us to different corners of the world.@alongwayfromtheblock@dialoguesofjazz

A long way from the block is a education podcast hosted by Anthony Thomas, with 138 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Anthony Thomas hosts A long way from the block, a education show with 138 episodes published.

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  Episode #137

  Ep. 136-A Carnival of Resistance-my conversation with Wayne Campbell and Wayne Crichlow

  Sep 27, 202649 minS1

  https://gofund.me/6d4221cea Wayne Crichlow (aka chasingthelight_67 ) is a London-based documentary and street photographer, and the Founder of Chasing The Light Media Ltd , a creative media platform encompassing photography, film, podcasting and long-form visual storytelling. Born in East London, his work examines social justice, protest movements, storytelling, and everyday life within Black British and urban communities. He is the son of Caribbean migrants who arrived in the United Kingdom during the post-war period, part of a generation whose movement reshaped British society and forms part of the wider African and Caribbean diaspora. Wayne Campbell is a London based photographer, my work has allowed me to capture many emotional and spectacular moments, often in amazing locations whilst meeting some incredible people. In 2020 my view of photography went on an explosive journey, I discovered Visual Activism and gave birth to 'A Celebration of Demonstration' This idea came from the understanding that art can be used to express our emotions and our empathy. This journey began with a collection of images I captured in London, after the televised, brutal murder of George Floyd. At this time, we were also being told to stay indoors, to protect the NHS and to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. I felt that I was living in the middle of two pandemics, coronavirus and racism. Fast forward to 2022, and my first photography book 'A Celebration of Demonstration' is in production, this work feeds my soul and burns bright my creativity. By 2024 my second self-published photography books ' 0710 Year One' is released. Visual Activism is a language, which I will continue to use to tell stories and to share voices. ​ A Celebration of Demonstration is located at: Unit 22a Market Row, Brixton Village SW9 8LF

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  Episode #66

  Coltrane 100 re-release - Ep. 66-John Coltrane—a tribute to the man and the music

  Sep 23, 20263h 7mS1

  In this episode, I discuss legendary saxophonist John Coltrane with talented historians, writers, and, of course, musicians. One of those musicians, Charles McPherson, knew Coltrane personally. Coltrane's signature album A Love Supreme and his groundbreaking song "Giant Steps" are singled out for attention, and we talk about his classic quartet with Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison, as well as some of his other great bandmates, including Eric Dolphy, Pharoah Sanders, Rashied Ali, and Alice Coltrane. Coltrane's spirituality, its influence on his sound, and his passion and dedication to the horn permeate the interviews. Recommended listening: A Love Supreme Blue Train Africa Brass Impressions Giant Steps Meditations Kulu Se Mama Black Pearls Transition Live at Birdland Duke Ellington and John Coltrane Interstellar Space Ballads Coltrane's Sound Out of This World My Favorite Things

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  Episode #135

  Ep. 135-TEAR THE CITY DOWN-my conversation with Andre Hardy

  Sep 7, 20261h 40mS1

  https://www.gofundme.com/u/d5009c4a-fdcd-4494-bc4b-b19377260e17 TEAR THE CITY DOWN is a classic noir—a find-the-girl mystery, a father-daughter story, a buddy story—but Hardy subverts the genre with a front-face Black world that has jazz running through its bones. Exploring race, identity, power and agency, this is a series launch not to be missed. The odds of being drafted into the NFL are roughly 1.6%. The odds of landing a debut novel with a Big Five publisher aren't much better. Andre Hardy has done both—and he's applied for a Guinness World Record to prove it. A former running back for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, Hardy went on to earn an MFA from Antioch University and secure a two-book deal with Grand Central Publishing. His debut novel, TEAR THE CITY DOWN , publishes September 1, 2026 . Andre Hardy has written across multiple genres, including creative nonfiction, essays and short stories, screenwriting, and long-form narrative. Andre’s essays, interviews, and critical analysis have been published in L.A. Tribe Magazine , Lunch Ticket , Antioch University’s cutting-edge literary and visual arts journal, and The Los Angeles Review of Books . His short story, “Negro in a Hot Tub,” is featured in Made in L.A .: An Anthology of Stories Rooted in the City of Angels , written by Los Angeles-based writers. Andre was the fourth pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1984 National Football League draft. He is a member of the NFL Retired Players Association and the NFL Legends Community, and he earned his MFA through the NFL Players Trust tuition reimbursement program. Andre was born and raised in San Diego and recently moved to Charlotte, NC with his beautiful wife, renowned Buddhist meditation teacher JoAnna Hardy.

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  Episode #134

  Ep. 134-Keeper of the Rhythm-my conversation with Corcoran Holt

  Sep 1, 20261h 8mS1

  https://gofund.me/9ee7bcb33 Son of D.C. Voice of the Bass Corcoran Holt—bassist, composer, arranger, and educator—is a son of Washington, D.C. who began playing djembe and West African percussion at the age of four with the Wose Dance Company under Baba Aidoo Holmes and Mahiri Fadjimba Keita. At ten, he took up the upright bass with the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, discovering a family connection to the instrument through his great-grandfather, a bassist who reportedly gave lessons to a young John Coltrane. While studying classical bass at DCYOP, Holt attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (1996–2000), working under Carolyn Kellock, Davey Yarborough, the late Keter Betts, and Steve Novasel, and soon began performing widely on the D.C. jazz scene. In this episode we discuss his 2026 sophomore album, Freedom of Art, a deeply personal and expansive statement that explores themes of lineage, fatherhood, identity, community, and spiritual growth. Featuring an all-star ensemble, the project blends original compositions with intimate interludes that incorporate the voices of family, mentors, and lived experience. The album has received critical acclaim, including a 4-star review in DownBeat, and continues to resonate with audiences for its honesty, depth, and musical integrity. https://corcoranholt.com

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  Episode #133

  Ep. 133-Views from the Real World-my conversation with Sean Jones

  Aug 8, 20261h 46mS1

  Jones is an internationally recognised educator, currently holding the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair of Jazz at John Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory and is Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall's NYO Jazz ensemble. Previously, Jones was Chair of the Brass Department at Berkeley College of Music and served as President of the Jazz Educators Network. Jones was lead trumpet for Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the SF JAZZ Collective, and is now with the Baltimore Jazz Collective. He is featured on three GRAMMY Award-nominated albums by Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, and Gerald Wilson. In this episode we discussed his journey as an artist, his church upbringing and how spiritually and eastern philosophy has shaped his life.

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