R.I.P. Nouvelle Vague's Oliver Libaux, 1964-2021

Sadly produer/arranger Oliver Libaux of Nouvelle Vague has passed away at the age of 57.

Happy Birthday Steven Krakow!

Celebrating the birthday of Chicago illustrator, musician, historian Steven Krakow with an interview and Moonrises performance.

Modern Harmonic reissuing Sun Ra's 1979 album Omniverse

The Record Store Day (11/26) release of Omniverse will be on purple wax with the CD version containing bonus tracks. 

Here's the scoop...

Recorded in New York in 1979 and released that year on Sun Ra's El Saturn label, this is a solid, overlooked set in the vast Ra canon. The tracks aren't so much compositions as excursions, pure jazz, lots of reflective piano in trio, quartet, and sextet settings. Features cover art interpreted from a favorite Arkestra hand drawn cover, and liner notes from Irwin Chusid. CD version includes 12 minutes of bonus euphony!

Sun Ra and his Arkestra - Omniverse

The Place Of Five Points 

 West End Side Of Magic City [Vita No. 5] 

Dark Lights In A White Forest 

Omniverse 

Visitant Of The Ninth Ultimate 

Over The Rainbow* 

The Sound Mirror*

*CD only bonus tracks

Dennis Bovell's 80s reggae classics get a "repulse"

Dennis Bovell meets Dubblestandart – Repulse "Reggae Classics" is out October 8th via Hamburg's Echo Beach label. 

Here's the scoop...

Dennis Bovell, from Barbados, based in London, England, is a legend - a bass player legend (band leader of the legendary Linton Kwesi Johnson Band) - a producer legend (The Slits, Fela Kuti, Bananarama, Madness, Joss Stone, a.o.). He produced the soundtrack for the critically highly acclaimed movie Babylon and the hit song "Silly Games" by Janet Kay. In recent years his works regained interest, also due to the recent rerelease of the '80s movie Babylon and his participation in Steve McQueen's drama series Small Axe about the real-life experiences of London's West Indian community, set between 1969-82.

In 2019, Vienna's Dubblestandart produced a limited selection of reworks of reggae classics of Dennis Bovell's 1980's band Matumbi, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Twinkle Brothers, Culture a.o., focusing on works that have been pivotal for the inspiration of Dubblestandart's bandleader Paul Zasky. Nicolai Beverungen, dub reggae label headman of Echo Beach outta Hamburg, invited Dennis Bovell to "repulse" the album at Robbie Ost's GoEAST Studio. 

Dennis felt inspired, loved the idea, re-voiced the songs, added a couple of guitar lines and also re-dubbed the album. Repulse "Reggae Classics" features Dennis Bovell on vocals and as a dub producer in co-operation with Robbie Ost from Dubblestandart, mixing on a legendary E-6000 solid state mixing board (taken over from Tears For Fears' studio in London), using selected vintage outboard analog equipment, developing a distinctive dub reggae sound for this release. 

What do songs like "I'm No Robot", "Babylon The Bandit", or Matumbi's "Hypocrite" have in common? All of them were written during the 1980s of the last century, but never lost their contemporary accuracy, still perfectly criticizing and analyzing the "pulse" todays political leaderships and societies controversial points of view, have, while entering the digital age.

Pre-order a limited-run vinyl copy of Dennis Bovell meets Dubblestandart from Rough Trade right  here. Listen to "Babylon The Bandit" followed by Dennis Bovell's epic dub mix of the Pop Group's classic "She Is Beyond Good 'n' Evil" from The Pop Group's forthcoming Y in Dub album (available here) and a 2017 interview with Dennis Bovell below. 

Mute and Nick Smash host a Toronto release party for "Y in Dub" at The Piston on October 31. More info here. 

Bruce Springsteen joins John Mellencamp for "Wasted Days" duet

"Wasted Days" is the first single off John Mellencamp's forthcoming album due in 2022. Watch Thom Zimny's video shot in Jersey.

R.I.P. Dr. Lonnie Smith, 1942-2021

Remembering Hammond hero Dr. Lonnie Smith – who passed away at his Florida home yesterday – with some 1966 footage.   

Watch Jad Fair sing Daniel Johnston's "I Live My Broken Dreams"

Here's Jad Fair performing "I LIve My Broken Dreams" followed by Daniel Johnston's own version shot at Jad's house in 1988. 

Jane Weaver's Sunset Dreams EP offers different view of Flock

The 6-track Sunset Dreams EP features creative remixes of songs from Jane Weaver's Flock LP plus two new tracks.   Photo: Nic Chapman 

Here's the scoop...

A brand new six-track EP elevating the acclaimed new Jane Weaver album, ‘Flock’ to a new esoteric panorama of new pop. ‘Sunset Dreams’ features unreleased new tracks from the ‘Flock’ sessions and remixes from W.H. Lung and See Thru Hands that was released digitally on Tuesday (September 28) via Fire Records ahead of her UK/IRE tour.

One of the most requested selections from her unanimously celebrated 2021 ‘Flock’ LP, new single ‘Sunset Dreams’ is a collaboration between Weaver and long term co-conspirator Andy Votel. The product of the duo’s helplessly expansive listening habitat, the single is the result of Votel’s obsessive digging and Weaver’s mutable songwriting skills which defiantly (and respectfully) transforms this 1980’s mock-Eastern French New Wave sample into a multi-coloured mechanical mid-tempo, head-nodding-pop complete with radio-shack mic interference and broken Japanese toy sound effects. ‘Sunset Dreams’ retains Jane Weaver's returning commitment to sample culture that previously saw her collaborate with Dave Brock on 2016’s ‘Electric Mountain’, and provides a stylistic would-be sequel to classic Weaver tracks like ‘Don’t Take My Soul’ and ‘Modern Kosmology’. Harbouring deep conceptual lyricism and the kind of malfunctioning Funk that kept the bailiffs away from labels like Celluloid and Ze in the early 1980’s, ‘Sunset Dreams’ is yet another frame in the artist’s ongoing sonic adventures on a perfect pop planet from an alternative universe.

The EP features a lengthy mind-expanding, body-swooning excursion on pulsing remix of ‘Solarised’ that’s energised further by northern outfit W.H. Lung who dismantle and reassemble on this exceptional reworking. Furthering the eclectic electronic vibe, See Thru Hands here mix ‘The Revolution Of Super Visions’ alongside two new tracks; ‘The Lexical Distance’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong’ that captures the pop vision of this ever-morphing electronic pioneer.

‘Sunset Dreams’ re-imagines parts of ‘Flock’ and continues the journey whilst shining a light on her glorious new album. Listen to Jane Weaver's previously unissued tracks, the Kraftwerkian 'The Lexical Distance' and the Stereolabby 'Don't Tell Me I'm Wrong' below. 

  

Rodney Crowell gives you the lowdown on his new Triage album

Singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell reveals the stories behind all the songs on his great new Triage album in just five minutes flat. 

Happy Birthday Gary Waleik!

Celebrating the birthday of Big Dipper guitarist Gary Waleik with a 1988 crack at "Loch Ness Monster" and the studio version. 

Brigid Mae Power issues covers collection Burning Your Light

The 6-song EP features Brigid Mae Power's versions of tunes by Townes Van Zandt, Songs:Ohia, Patsy Cline and Bob Dylan.  

Here's the scoop...

Last year Brigid Mae Power’s record ‘Head Above The Water’ saw her unique vocal style and music heralded in all corners. Burning Your Light is her follow up six track EP of covers out now via Fire Records.

Taking on a lesser-known Aretha Franklin track from her 1970 album ‘This Girl’s In Love With You’, "It Ain’t Fair" is a tear-soaked paean of regret that was written by Ron Miller who notably co-wrote  ‘For Once In My Life’ with Orlando Murden which was a huge hit for Stevie Wonder.

 

“I have listened to 'It Aint Fair' by Aretha Franklin possibly thousands of times by this stage. Starting when I was 14. I always loved Aretha's voice and emotion in the song. I also like that the song has a 'feeling sorry for yourself nothing ever works out' vibe but it picks up with 'I believe, I'm hopeful I can make it'.” – Brigid Mae Power 

 

Ranging from the traditional tune "May Morning Dew" to ‘Didn’t It Rain’ (Songs:Ohia) through to the timeless gems of Townes Van Zandt ('I'll Be Here In The Morning"), Patsy Cline ("Leavin' On Your Mind) and Bob Dylan ("One More Cup Of Coffee"), she brings hope and reverence to these classic songs.

Brigid Mae Power’s ability to interpret songs is unquestionable, as is her love of the art of songwriting. She skilfully brings joy from pain which is perfectly illustrated on this new release. 

Get a copy of Burning Your Light right here. Listen to Brigid Mae Power's haunting version of Songs:Ohia's "Didn't It Rain" Bob Dylan's "One More Cup Of Coffee" below. 

R.I.P. George Frayne aka Commander Cody, 1944-2021

Sadly, pioneering country rocker and painter George Frayne, aka Commander Cody, recently lost his battle with cancer. He was 77.  

Brit-jazz duo Run Logan Run roar back with whumpin' third album

Run Logan Run's new album For A Brief Moment We Could Smell The Flowers was given a kick by Nostalgia 77's Riaan Vosloo. 

Here's the scoop...

Run Logan Run’s third full-length album For A Brief Moment We Could Smell The Flowers (out now via Worm Discs) finds the acclaimed Bristolian duo of saxophonist Andrew Neil Hayes and drummer Matt Brown pushing their music forwards in a dramatic new direction in the company of producer Riaan Vosloo (Nostalgia 77). Recorded in lockdown after months of intense jamming, the album bolsters the dynamic improvised sound of the group with expansive synth soundscapes that add depth, warmth and emotional heft to the duo’s uniquely committed style of spiritualised jazz. 

The pandemic that was the backdrop to the creative process also prompted the album’s title: ‘For A Brief Moment We Could Smell The Flowers is a reference to the fact that, for the first time in quite some time, society was together inside a collective moment,’ say Hayes, referring to the lockdowns that accompanied the spread of Covid-19. ‘It didn’t last for long, and it was definitely ugly, but it was also definitely beautiful. We’re working from our intuition and our music is a reflection of the world we inhabit. It’s ugly, but it’s also beautiful, and it’s beautiful, but it’s also ugly.’ 

Pushed onwards by the kinetic ferocity of Brown’s drums, guided by souldeep melodies, motifs and cries unfurled from Hayes’ tenor, the music that emerges is fiercely committed, questing and risk-taking. For A Brief Moment We Could Smell The Flowers is scorching energy music for the 21st century, with the psychedelic heaviness and glowing afterburn of Palm Unit, or Sonny Simmons with Moksha Samnyasin – a thunderous, beautiful soundworld forged on the Bristolian frontlines of a new wave of social protest and historical awareness, and amid the strange silences of the world in lockdown. It’s hopeful, joyous and furious music for a world that might be, and bears witness to the era that might yet make it manifest. 

Get a copy of Run Logan Run's new album For A Brief Moment We Could Smell The Flowers via Bandcamp right here. For more info on Run Logan Run go here: https://linktr.ee/runloganrun. Watch the video for the lead track "Screaming With The Light On" followed by a live performance below. 

Happy Birthday Gary Bartz!

Celebrating the birthday of saxophone great Gary Bartz with Howard King, Curtis Robertson & Charles Mims in Bremen in 1975.

Gary Bartz NTU Troop Live in Bremen 1975

[00:00:00]  1. Nation Time

[00:11:54]  2. Ju Ju Man

[00:30:45]  3. Medley: Rise / Celestial Blues / The Sounding Song / Incident / Uhuru Sasa

[00:40:29]  4. I've Known Rivers

[01:05:06]  5. Sweet Tooth

[01:29:33]  6. Peace and Love

[01:37:30]  7. Sifa Zote

[01:47:32]  8. For the Love

Before They Were Famous: Johnny Paycheck aka 'Donny Young'

Johnny Paycheck (born Donald Lytle) cut some of his finest honky tonk shuffles as 'Donny Young' in the early 60s.

Happy Birthday Steve Mackay!

Stooges saxophonist Steve Mackay released a single as The Everyday Things before reverting to their prior handle, Chaos Inc.  

Portland krautrockers MØTRIK share video for "Streamline"

"Streamline" is off MØTRIK's forthcoming album MØØN: The Cosmic Electrics of MØTRIK now out November 12th. 

William Shatner releases new concept album BILL

William Shatner's new BILL album was put out by Joe Jonas on his boutique label and features John Lurie, Robert Randolph. 

Here's the scoop...

Award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, and chart-topping recording artist William Shatner releases his new album, BILL, today via Joe Jonas’ new label Let’s Get It! Records/Republic Records.

He previewed the 14-track conceptual opus with a pair of singles earlier this month, namely “Clouds of Guilt” feat. Joe Jonas and “So Far From The Moon” feat. Brad Paisley. Right out of the gate, the tracks incited critical applause. Billboard praised how “Clouds of Guilt” ultimately “sees Shatner leaning into self-awareness.” Entertainment Tonight claimed, “William Shatner’s iconic recording is still going strong,” and CLASH Magazine described it as “a spoken word take on lockdown.” 

On the release of Bill, William Shatner said, “This album is an expression of my spirit and the talents of my partners. My fervent hope is that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” 

Among many highlights, the new single “Black Horse” details a powerful story of his immortal friendship with a prized black stallion in the nineties. It chronicles the weight of the animal’s transformation in confinement, redemption back in the wilderness, and finally crossing over to the other side, giving Shatner and the listener invaluable existential perspective.

Through spoken word and genre-bending music, the songs on BILL chronicle significant autobiographical moments in William Shatner’s life and the ideas, challenges, and questions he’s confronted along the way. The tracks were co-written and produced by Grammy-winner Dan Miller [They Might Be Giants], while the lyrics were a collaboration between Shatner and his friend and writer Robert Sharenow. In addition to Joe Jonas and Brad Paisley, BILL features guitarist Joe Walsh [James Gang, Eagles], pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, saxophonist John Lurie [Lounge Lizards], Joan as Police Woman, and more. See the full tracklist after the song clips and interview below.

 On creating the album remotely during the pandemic, William Shatner says, “Through a series of phone calls, texts, and emails, music and words flew back and forth across the country. The [Covid-19] crisis created an urgency and quickly unleashed a candor between us that allowed us to peel back layers that sat on the surface of a subject to reveal the depth of truth buried underneath. What better time to contemplate life’s biggest questions than during a global pandemic? Some songs touched on painful or beautiful moments, while others turned into elliptical philosophical explorations about the very nature of existence and death.”

He continues, “BILL blends long-form autobiographical poetry and prose, music, spoken word performance art, and philosophical exploration. Toggling between passion and despair, reflection and yearning, this collection explores my life journey during a pivotal and chilling moment of history.”

On “Clouds of Guilt,” William Shatner explores the strangely powerful role guilt has played throughout his life, with equal measures of wit, irony, and self-awareness.

Joe Jonas states, “I’ve been a fan of Bill’s for as long as I can remember. He’s iconic. To not only be featured on one of his songs that mean so much to him but to also get to be a label partner on the entire project, it’s an honor.”

While on “So Far From the Moon,” William Shatner revisits a pivotal moment in his life after the cancelation of Star Trek and his divorce, when he was doing dinner theater and living out of the back of his pickup truck. One the night of July 20th, 1969, as he lay out in a sleeping bag in the back of the truck, staring at the sky, he listened to the live broadcast of the moon landing. Despite being at a low point in his career, Shatner found inspiration and a connection to the astronauts in the sky above, who he had met years before while they were training for their mission.

Brad Paisley comments, “It’s so interesting to hear what effect the moon landing had on Bill, because every generation of astronauts since those days credit him with inspiration. I’m so proud to be on this track.”

The other songs on BILL dive into various stories and topics, including the nature of relationships, the struggle with fame and identity, the meaning of life, and more. Like epic song cycles of the past from Homer to Kendrick Lamar, William Shatner’s journey is both extremely personal and universal, extraordinary and relatable. His unique insights and delivery, beloved by millions worldwide, give voice to the joys and struggles we all face.

Get a copy of William Shatner's BILL album right here. Listen to "Clouds of Guilt" and "So Far From The Moon" followed by a recent William Shatner zoom interview with Tom Power for CBC's q below. 

 

William Shatner – BILL 

“I Ride”

“Made In The Shade” feat. Joe Walsh

“Clouds of Guilt” feat. Joe Jonas

“So Far From the Moon” feat. Brad Paisley

“Love, Death, and Horses”

“Just Forgive” feat. Robert Randolph

“Loneliness” feat. John Lurie

“Thunder and Fire” feat. Joan as Police Woman

“The Bridge” feat. Daniel Miller

“Black Horse”

“Masks” feat. Dave Koz

“Monday Night in London”

“Toughie” feat. Robert Randolph

“What Do We Know”

Happy Birthday Jack Costanzo!

Remembering late great conguero Jack Costanzo aka Mr. Bongo with a 1957 clip with Ann Miller and another with Marlon Brando. 

One For The Weekend: ONETWOTHREE

Here's Klaudia Schifferle's animated clip for "Give Paw" by ONETWOTHREE off their new album out digitally October 15.

Watch the Wes Anderson directed clip for Jarvis Cocker's "Aline" cover

Jarvis Cocker's version of Christophe's "Aline" is from The French Dispatch. Check the Javi Aznarez-animated video below. 

Here's the scoop...

Jarvis Cocker and co have made a key contribution to Wes Anderson's forthcoming film, The French Dispatch. JARV IS... are embodying the band Tip-Top, whose French pop songs feature throughout the film, which opens in cinemas on  October 22.

A full album of Tip-Top's songs made in collaboration with Wes Anderson, entitled Chansons d’Ennui, will be released around the movie and features their versions of tracks associated with the likes of Françoise Hardy, Brigitte Bardot, Jacques Dutronc, Serge Gainsbourg and more. The record also includes Stereolab's Lætitia Sadier dueting on Paroles, Paroles which was originally performed by Dalida and Alain Delon. 

The Tip-Top album can be ordered now, including the Limited Super Deluxe Set which features the record on vinyl, a poster and a limited 45 rpm seven-inch single – with Jarvis signing the first copies of that edition to be pre-ordered from ABKCO Music & Records: https://abkco.lnk.to/tiptopSR 

Tip-Top will also feature on The French Dispatch's soundtrack album, with their version of Christophe's Aline appearing alongside Alexandre Desplat's score and other songs from Wes Anderson's film. The soundtrack will be released on CD and digitally to coincide with the film's release, with vinyl to follow in 2022.

 

The French Dispatch soundtrack is available from your preferred platform here. Listen to Alexandre Desplat's "Obituary" below.

Happy 80th Birthday Norma Winstone!

Raising a glass to jazz vocalist Norma Winstone with a Neil Ardley collaboration interpreting Yeats, Joyce & Carroll.

Simply Saucer rarities collection Saucerland now available digitally

Here's the scoop...

Saucerland is a double LP of Simply Saucer rarities released by Chicago's Logan Hardware Records in 2016. Now long out-of-print and extremely rare, the Saucerland collection of raw 70s recordings of Edgar Breau's legendary band from Hamilton, Ontario is now available directly from Simply Saucer HQ as a digital download. Get it right here. Watch Edgar Breau and his fellow Saucerians perform "Bullet Proof Nothing" at The Spot in Lafayette, IN back in 2017 and "Takin' You Down" in Detroit in 2015. 

Simply Saucer – Saucerland

1 Rock and Roll the Brain Cells 4:45

2 I Take It 3:53

3 Baby Nova 4:08

4 Ring-a-ling-Oh My 5:04

5 Nice Noise 4:21

6 Clearly Invisible 15:22

7 Brain Shock 3:08

8 I Don't Care 1:57

9 Takin' You Down 3:21

10 (More Illegal Bodies) 11:39

11 Teenage Dream 3:46

12 Bullet Proof Nothing 3:06

13 Live A Strange Life 3:01

14 Limitless Love 4:30

15 The Story of Simply Saucer 3:15

16 Almost Ready Betty 2:49

R.I.P. Richard H. Kirk, 1956-2021

Sadly, Richard H. Kirk of innovative Sheffield group Cabaret Voltaire has passed away at the age of 65. He'll be greatly missed.  

LINKS 

The Guardian Richard H. Kirk was prolific, hungry, angry and funky to the end

Silent Servant Optimistic Decay: Richard H. Kirk / Cabaret Voltaire Special

ev1lC A Beginner's Guide to Richard H. Kirk mix

Sidney Barnes recalls his Rotary Connection days

Songwriter Sidney Barnes built a concept around the voice of Chess receptionist Minnie Ripperton that became Rotary Connection.

Now how badass were we in 1969. Rotary Connection, a little up-and-coming psychedelic soul band from Chicago on Chess Records, our weapons were the amazing voice of a 19 year old Chicago cutie named Minnie Riperton. With very little stage experience her looks and voice captivated young hippies. And me (Sidney Barnes) fresh off of a venture of writing and producing records in Detroit with George Clinton and The Funk Brothers. I brought along my years of touring one nighters on the famous "Chitterling Circuit" with Little Richard and other Soul stars, and helping young acts like The Dramatics, and Funkadelic "I was seasoned." 

The Rotary musicians (guitar player, organ player, drummer, bass player) called themselves "The Proper Strangers" and had only done local gigs for their neighborhood friends , nothing professional. Chess Records gave us a finished album to promote, with all of us singing on it, and very little money and said 'Sidney. do what you do best.' By 1969, after adding and changing various band members, what started officially in 1966 as a wild innovative recording project turned into the very first successful Soul/Rock band on the entire East Coast. 

We ended up with Minnie being called an up & coming Rock Diva, as she and I both suddenly became considered Chicago's very first black crossover artist of the 60's. Suddenly we were opening shows for Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Sly, Jefferson Airplane and  all the other rock legends of that era, at The famed Fillmore East and other legendary Rock venues. When my buddies George and Maurice saw what we were doing they were directly inspired to build on their Parliament/Funkadelic & Earth Wind & Fire concepts. So Rotary Connection wasn't only just a weird concept that some how worked, it helped to create something far greater than itself. Man the fun I've had, "WOW"  – Sidney Barnes

Midweek Mixdown: Nat Birchall salutes Lee Perry

Check out Nat Birchall's superb selection of the Upsetters' recordings in memory of the musical magician Lee Perry right here. 

TRACKLIST  

1. Bucky Skank - Lee Perry 

2. Black Panta - Upsetters 

3. Herb Vendor - Leroy Wallace 

4. Give Thanks - Delroy Butler (Delroy Denton) 

5. Words Of My Mouth - The Gatherers 

6. Words - Anthony Sangie Davis/Lee Perry 

7. Station Underground News - Lee Perry 

8. Freedom Fighter - Bunny & Ricky 

9. Ring Of Fire - Upsetters 

10. Lion Of Judah - Jah T 

11. Enter The Dragon - Lee Perry 

12. Public Jestering - Judge Winchester (Winston Blake) 

13. Sunshine Showdown - Lee Perry 

14. Tipper Special - The Upsetters 

15. Curly Locks - Junior Byles 

16. The Long Way - Junior Byles 

17. When Jah Come - Devon Irons 

18. Callying Butt - Upsetters 

19. Chase The Devil - Max Romeo 

20. Croaking Lizard - Prince Jazzbo & The Upsetters 

21. Keep On Moving (12"mix) - Bob Marley & Wong Chu 

22. Vampire (12" mix) - Devon Devon Irons & Dr Alimantado 

23. History (12" mix) - Carlton Jackson 

24. Natty Past Through Rome - Prince Jazzbo 

25. Mr Money Man - Danny Hensworth 

26. Unity - Lawyer (Horace Martin) 

27. Unity Dub - Upsetters 

28. Open the Gate (12" mix) - Watty Burnett 

29. Rally Dub - Upsetter 

R.I.P. Melvin Van Peebles, 1932-2021

"Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise" - Melvin Van Peebles

Eve Of Darkness: Toronto Metal in the 1980s book launch, Saturday

Get a copy of Eve Of Darkness at Shacklands Brewing from 12 noon. Authors Derek Emerson & Chris Turner talk 80s metal here.

Watch Nashville Pussy tear it up at So-Cal Hoedown 2021

As usual, Blaine & Ruyter of Nashville Pussy came to So-Cal Hoedown on Friday loaded for bear as can be seen in the clips below. 

Whaddya mean you don't know the Chaffey College Jazz Ensemble

Here's "Imagination Flight" by Chaffey College Jazz Ensemble famously flipped by DJ Shadow for "Changeling"

R.I.P. Barbara Moore, 1932-2021

Remembering UK singer/composer/arranger Barbara Moore who passed away recently at her Bognor Regis home.  

LINKS

The Guardian The overlooked musical magic of Barbara Moore

Barbara Moore talks about The Saint and other film work

Long overdue Karen Dalton documentary out October 1

Influential bluesy folk singer/songwriter Karen Dalton finally has her story told with help from Nick Cave & Angel Olsen.

Here's the scoop... 

Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the documentary Karen Dalton: In My Own Time uses Karen’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.

Directed by Robert Yapkowitz & Richard Peete

Produced by Traci Carlson & Richard Peete

IN THEATERS OCTOBER 1. ON DIGITAL NOVEMBER 16.

LINKS

Karen Dalton: In My Own Time www.KarenDaltonMovie.com

Rolling Stone New doc tells story of Karen Dalton

Happy 70th Birthday Daniel Lanois!

Celebrating the 70th birthday of producer/composer and pedal steel picker deluxe Daniel Lanois with a couple of recent interviews. 

Habibi vs. Kleenex

Habibi just shared their cover of Kleenex's "Nice" for Kill Rock Stars' 30th anniversary collection Stars Rock Kill. 

R.I.P. jazz bassist George Mraz, 1944-2021

Sadly bass boss George Mraz has passed away at 77. He'll be greatly missed. Here's George with Herbie Hancock & Joe Henderson.

That time Nick Lowe played the El Mocambo in 1978

Here's a clip of Nick Lowe performing four tunes with the Attractions at the El Mocambo on March 6, 1978.  Photos: Chalkie Davies

LINKS

Read the story behind the photos taken by Chalkie Davies right here. 

Last Poets' co-founder Abiodun Oyewole shares "Harlem" and "My Life"

Check out "Harlem" and "My Life" off the forthcoming Gratitude album by Last Poets legend Abiodun Oyewole due in February. 

Here's the scoop...

Over the past several months, American and UK music fans have been enthralled with a documentary directed by Questlove about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival titled ‘Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)’ featuring previously unseen footage of Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, The Staple Singers, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Nina Simone filmed live in August 1969 at Mount Morris Park in Harlem (New York City). 

‘Summer of Soul’ is interspersed with interviews and historical film footage of Harlem during the late 1960s-early 1970s – helping to define why this African American urban landscape is culturally, musically, and politically important. 

At the end of the movie, Nina Simone reads a poem ‘Are you ready, Black people?’ written by Dahveed Nelson of The Last Poets – the legendary grandfathers of rap & hip-hop. With a joyful passion she asks the 50,000 citizens of Harlem gathered in that park, “Are you ready to do what you have to do to create life - are you ready to build Black things?”

Just a year earlier (May 1968), The Last Poets in that same Mount Morris Park (in Harlem) performed their first-ever concert! 

Now, in 2021 – Afar is proud to present, not just the postscript to the Harlem based messages of ‘Summer of Soul’ – but a whole new way of thinking with a Harlem perspective from Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets - it's not a protest song, it's an inspirational one via the inclusive words and God-like voice of Abiodun - this is not an angry man, but an older wiser man - reflecting on his life and spiritual quests. Rappers love him for coining the phrase "Party and Bullshit" decades ago - but this is not that - this is a sacred journey with a universal message for all people regardless of their race.

In a new exclusive interview with Pat Thomas, author of Listen Whitey! The sounds of Black Power 1965-1975, Abiodun explained the inspiration of Harlem (the city) on “Harlem” (the song): 

“You gotta realize, Harlem was the place I wanted. It was like a desire, a dream. I was raised in Queens, New York. I would see Harlem every Sunday of my life because we went to church in Harlem. The energy of Harlem was exciting, electric. I told myself, 'I got to be here,' because there was no place in New York City that had that kind of energy and I really wanted that.

“When the opportunity arose that The Last Poets were gonna happen and Dahveed Nelson, a brother who I consider part of the group because it was his idea, he told me that we were going to read poetry at Mount Morris Park in Harlem, there was a part of me that was very happy and a part of me that was very scared. I was intimidated because I thought Harlem was a tough place to do anything. 

“Harlem was where everything was going to happen. When we set up our home base in Harlem, I spent all my time in Harlem, I got an apartment in Harlem - Harlem became everything to me.”

With all that in mind, tying together Harlem in 1969 with Harlem in 2021, comes Abiodun Oyewole's latest releases “Harlem” and "My Life" off his forthcoming Gratitude album slated for release in February from Afar Records. Get it from your favourite streaming service right here. Listen to audio clips of "Harlem" and "My Life" below. 

One For The Weekend: Ill Considered

Check out "Loosed" off Ill Considered's new Liminal Space album out November 12th. 

Here's the scoop...

Free-wheeling live improvisers Ill Considered open a new chapter with Liminal Space (out November 12th) – their first fully produced studio album on New Soil – featuring special guests Tamar Osborn, Sarathy Korwar, Theon Cross and more. 

Having exploded onto the scene with 9 self-released albums between 2017 and 2019, UK-based outfit Ill Considered are breaking new ground with their first fully produced studio album and an interactive audio/visual performance residency at Southbank Centre's Purcell Room, this autumn. 

Capturing a moment of transformation for the group, the 10-track double album Liminal Space not only features a new core line-up of Idris Rahman (saxophone), Liran Donin (bass) and Emre Ramazanoglu (drums), but also sees Ill Considered bounce their live-wire style off a range of collaborators such as Collocutor’s Tamar Osborn, Steam Down saxophonist Ahnanse, tuba player Theon Cross and percussionist Sarathy Korwar.

Pre-order a copy  off Ill Considered's Liminal Space double album via Bandcamp right here. 

Listen to the first track "Loosed" below. 

 

Happy Birthday Peter Zaremba!

Cheers to the hexbreakin' Peter Zaremba still getting down SuperRock™ style with The Fleshtones after 45 years on stage. 

LINKS

WNYU-FM Interview with The Fleshtones, 1980

Watch saxophonist Jan Garbarek live in Molde, 1968

Here's a 21 year-old Jan Garbarek blowing heat with Terje Björkland, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.

R.I.P. bassist Melvin Dunlap of Watts 103rd Street Band and The Blazers

Melvin will be remembered for his rock solid rhythms on "Express Yourself" and many Dyke & The Blazers jams.