32 Bar Blues

The Detroit Jazz Festival begins one week from today! Since 1980, the DJF Foundation has honored Detroit’s vibrant jazz music history through year-round concerts; educational programs, scholarships and mentorships; and producing the world’s largest free-admission jazz festival during Labor Day weekend. Drawing more than 300,000 attendees over the four days – plus another 2.5 million live streamers in 42 countries – the Detroit Jazz Festival excels in propagating its mission of free jazz for all present and future generations.

We feel that an organization of its expansive scope and heart deserves all the recognition and help they can get. With the purchase of our special Detroit Jazz Festival T-shirt - and Mack Avenue SuperBand “Live at DJF” CD, we’re giving 100% of the proceeds to the nonprofit Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. Find the DJF department under THE ARTS on our website. 📷

Life begins at 90. Our new collection is in-home and online now with 90 new styles to rejuve your groove. From textured weaves and knits that hover in the heat to light jacks and bright T’s that usher in the cool, do the new right now.

How to celebrate National Leathercraft Day? We have a few ideas.

Bongo Beep // Rat-a-tat rhythm of sky-blue quartz and marbled tiger’s eye. Strong elastic cord. Sterling silver spacer beads. Handcrafted in the USA.

As our name implies, the 32 Bar Blues brand was founded with a heart for the Arts. Since our first collection in 2012, we’ve featured more than 95 pioneering musicians, writers and photographers on our pages and have given 100% of the profits from the sales of their CDs and books directly back to them – our way of giving back to the arts and those artists who give us so much joy.

In 2020, we formed the nonprofit 32 Bar Blues Foundation to enlarge the scope of our arts-supporting mission – and we began featuring a handful of nonprofit arts organizations whose work provides vital support for American music and writing. In addition to the special items in our “Hearts of the Art” section and the direct donation feature you’ll see during order checkout, we created this 32 Bar Blues Foundation T-shirt to help them with their important work.

The proceeds we receive from its sales will go toward building new arts partnerships and will be dispersed among our current nonprofit arts partners.

Which Way? // Ask the guy in the vest. Authoritative cut and an innovative finish. The cotton-poly canvas is pigment-dyed and washed to look and feel like weathered suede.

The Moon Song // Goes like this. Lunar-lit landscape of tropical palms. Cool as it looks. Linen and cotton. Specially printed on a microcheck weave.

Up Above My Head // Lofty idea for a hat. Fedora number played in straw. Cool basket-woven texture. Burnished and twisted band. And an ample snap brim (2 1/2”). 100% sisal straw.

Rollin’ and Blowin’ // Necessary layer for a legendary player. Three bars, two blue. All-cotton jersey. Well-washed. Made in the USA.

Birk’s Works // The work of a lifetime. All under one vintage leather cover. Made for us in Italy from a remarkable piece of washed leather. 1 large compartment for laptop and other documents. Countless small pockets for all the other stuff. Book-style buckle. Leather strap and handle.

“Music is the ultimate medium of communication. It’s the most direct way to connect people.” Happy Birthday, Ahmad Jamal, legendary pianist, composer, NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner, and 32 Bar Blues’ very first featured artist more than 10 years ago. Miles Davis, who became his close friend, once said, “All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.”

Happyology // Ace this class. Tropical surf and sunshine stripes stirred with float yarns to jangle the texture. Guaranteed to bring a smile. Cool cotton. All summer.

Today is National Sunglasses Day. (Yes, it’s a thing.) Brought to life each year by The Vision Council, it celebrates the importance of wearing ultraviolet (UV)-protective sunwear and eyewear. You know what to do. And we know how to help.

“The older I get, the more I start to see my musical, spiritual and personal influences as all one stream of consciousness. The musical experiences are all tied together.” Happy Birthday, Eric Reed, jazz piano great - and 32 Bar Blues Voice of the Art.

Four or Five Times // Bars to the beat. Stripes in the heat. Cool cotton-linen tune that’s yarn-dyed and woven in Portugal. Count yourself in.

Million Miles // Driver moc takes the long way home. Unhurried. Artisan-crafted. Full-grain leather – finished fine like a saddle. Segmented rubber sole. Extra cushion underfoot. Quad gore designed for ultimate flex.

June 3 is National Repeat Day - a celebration of going back for more, of doing things once and then doing them again. A favorite meal, a favorite song, another guitar for the collection - it’s your call. Some scientists believe there are benefits to having repeat experiences. For example, sometimes we don’t fully appreciate something the first time we do it. So go ahead - grab that second Gibson.

Happy Birthday to jazz legend Kenny Washington. The Brooklyn-born drummer has played behind Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Lee Konitz, Betty Carter, Clark Terry, George Cables, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Stitt, Bill Charlap, Bobby Watson, and Tommy Flanagan, to name a few.

In addition to his incredible discography, Kenny also has a strong interest in jazz history – having written liner notes for and helping prepare classic jazz re-releases by Art Blakey and Count Basie, among others. He taught jazz drumming at the New School in New York City and worked as an announcer at the New Jersey jazz radio station WBGO.

Currently, he’s one of the hosts of “Jazz Across America,” which we featured in a recent 32 Bar Blues catalog with a special T-shirt and hat. 100% of the profits we make from the sale of these items go directly to “Jazz Across America” to help keep the show on the air.

Every weekday at 5PM (PT), KSDS-FM Jazz San Diego 88.3 brings the flavor of a great jazz city to your ears with “Jazz Across America.” On Mondays, NYC host Kenny Washington provides a fresh and local perspective as he plays music from the clubs, great concert halls and ballrooms of The Big Apple, featuring classic and never-heard-before recordings. Tune in at jazz88.org

Bweebida Bobbida // Goes a little something like this: Cool and catchy abstract tune on sky-blue linen & cotton. Coconut buttons. Navy trims. Spread collar and a vented straight hem. Vintage-modern summer style.

Happy Birthday, Bob.

Freedom Machine // Go-to go-time shorts for the big whatever. Cooler all-around because they’re made from linen. Smooth fit and stride. Ample pockets: quarter fronts, welted backs, snapping cargos.

Big Six // Straight up. Line art acoustic number. Catchy with jeans or under a jacket. Cool-wearing jersey. Rich tone and weathered wash.

More than any other season, summer demands a soundtrack - stuff that makes you move, drive a little faster, stay out a little later. Here it is: Ghost-Note’s third studio album “Mustard n’Onions” is a tour-de-funk, alive with rhythmic punch and razor-sharp musicianship. Headed by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy-winning percussion duo - Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth - Ghost-Note features an expansive roster of top-call jazz musicians who’ve played and toured with Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Prince, Toto, Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, and more.

Along with their stellar new album, we worked with the band to offer a tasty new T. Grab it exclusively here and on tour at their shows. 100% of the profits we receive from its sales will be given directly to Ghost-Note. Artwork by:

Royal Palm Special // Take a six-month vacation twice a year. Tropical trees. Golden sun. And a cloud of pure linen. Woven and printed in Italy.

May the 4th be with Dave.

Nights at The Turntable // Cue it up. Artful scatter of vinyl platters through a base of midweight cotton. The pattern is jacquard-woven – not printed – for lasting style. One of our favorite new numbers from the Summer collection – in-home and online now.

I Don’t Want Much // No flap, no snap, and no extra crap. Essentials-only wallet keeps cards on the outside and cash in the middle. Handmade from 3-toned pebbled leather.

Check out today’s print edition of New York Times (online as well) for an excellent profile of Jeremy Pelt and his “Griot” book series. We featured Jeremy as our Voice of the Art last Spring with two of his albums along with signed copies of his “Griot” books. Find Jeremy’s great and important work under The Arts on our website.