Kahil El'Zabar + David Murray Duo @ Contxt By Trane, May 29 & 30

Saxophone great David Murray and percussion master Kahil El'Zabar return to Toronto for a two night stand next week. 

Caliban Arts Presents: 

The Pan-African Jazz Series Parts 1&2

with the Kahil El'Zabar + David Murray Duo

at CONTXT By Trane (254 Lansdowne Ave. at College) 

Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th

with host Michael Williams (who'll chat with the artists during the intermission)

Doors: 6:30pm, Concert: 7:30pm. 

Tickets: $45 Advance, $55 Door for each night; or $75 for both nights.

About the Kahil El'Zabar + David Murray Duo:

Sir Kahil El’Zabar, was Knighted by the Council General of France for his Global contributions to the Arts. He has performed with luminaries like, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Pharoah Sanders, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Archie Shepp, Eddie Harris, Donny Hathaway, Paul Simon, Ntozake Shange, Nona Hendryx, Neneh Cherry, Lester Bowie, Hamiet Bluiett, Malachi Favors, Billy Bang, Gene Ammons, to name a few. Dr.El’Zabar, holds a PHDfrom Lake Forest College in Inter-Disciplinary Arts. He taught music and inter disciplinary arts at the U.Nebraska/Lincoln, and U. IL/Chicago. He was Appointed by Pres. Bill Clinton to the National Task Force for Arts Presenting in Education. He won the International Ambassador Award from Pres. Barak Obama’s Administration. Kahil El’zabar ,has served on the prestigious boards of the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund, The National Endowment of the Arts, and the National Campaign for the Freedom of Expression. He is also the former chairmen of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). El’Zabar, Has recorded over 100 acclaimed projects, and founded and leads the legendary Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Ritual Trio.

David Murray is considered to be the most influential tenor saxophonist of his generation. He has recorded more than 300 acclaimed projects. He has worked with many of the giants, such as Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Cecil Taylor, Jack DeJohnette, Chico Hamilton, Elvin Jones, Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Randy Weston, the list goes on. He is co founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, and leads the famed David Murray Quartet, David Murray Octet, and the David Murray Big Band. Dr. Murray was awarded a PHD in the Arts from Claremont College, and is also a Guggenheim Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar. Mr. Murray has won 2 Grammys and is the prestigious recipient of the Jazz Par Award from the country of Denmark.

Get tickets for night one: Wednesday May 29 right here, for night two: Thursday May 30 right here here, for both nights: May 29 & 30 right here. Check out a few recent performances below. 

Echo & The Bunnymen's Will Sergeant is fond of his Rickenbacker 12-string

Will Sergeant will be relying on his trusty Rickenbacker for Echo & The Bunnymen's show at History on Thursday (May 23).

That time Marc Bolan's T.Rex played the Midnight Special in 1973

Marc Bolan's T.Rex appears along with Arlo Guthrie, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Uriah Heep in this Seals & Crofts-hosted episode.

Happy 70th Birthday Marc Ribot!

Cheers to innovative guitarist Marc Ribot! Here's a performance with B3 ace Greg Lewis & drummer Joe Dyson and much more. 

Tropa Magica open for Shannon & The Clams @ The Concert Hall, Saturday

Tropa Magica make a rare Toronto appearance opening for Shannon & The Clams at the Concert Hall on Saturday. 

Singer/songwriter Tim Easton releases Canadian-made "Find Your Way" album

Tim Easton's latest album Find Your Way is out now. Check out the title track and listen to his chat with Johnny Goudie.

LINKS
How Did I Get Here? Tim Easton chats with Johnny Goudie

Happy Birthday Susan Cowsill

Cheers to singer/songwriter Susan Cowsill! Here's a recent tour de force performance in New Orleans and much more. 

Celebrate 50 years of Chris Bell's "I Am The Cosmos" in Memphis, June 8

The 50th Anniversary salute to Chris Bell, "I Am The Cosmos" happens at the Maria Montessori Amphitheatre in Memphis.  

Here's the scoop...

"I Am The Cosmos" single from 1978.

Step into the timeless universe of Chris Bell's musical legacy at our tribute concert featuring his iconic "I Am the Cosmos," alongside tracks from Big Star's "#1 Record" album and Chris Bell's "Looking Forward" compilation released by Omnivore Recordings in 2017.

Prepare to be mesmerized as talented musicians breathe new life into the ethereal melodies and poetic lyrics of "I Am the Cosmos," capturing the essence of Bell's visionary genius. Join us for an unforgettable evening where we honour Chris Bell's contributions to music, showcasing not only the brilliance of "I Am the Cosmos" but also the timeless classics from Big Star's groundbreaking "#1 Record" album. 

The River Series is a fundraiser for the Maria Montessori School (MMS). We host shows at our on-campus amphitheatre (740 Harbor Bend Road, Memphis) every spring and fall, bringing an eclectic mix of local and touring acts together for performances at a truly special place in Downtown Memphis. This Spring series is sponsored by Wiseacre Brewing, Cordelia's Market, WYXR, Tom Martin Design and Goner Records and produced by a collection of MMS parents. 

Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for kids. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the show. All proceeds go to support the Maria Montessori School. Doors open at 4pm. There will be Wiseacre beer available for a donation and the ChiPhi food truck will be on site! Get tickets right here. 

Happy Birthday Grace Jones!

Cheers to Grace Jones on her 76th birthday! Here's a recent performance in Stuttgart and a few talk show appearances. 

Neil Young & Crazy Horse play Budweiser Stage, Monday

Neil Young & Crazy Horse return to Toronto for a show at Budweiser Stage on Monday night. Watch their recent show in Phoenix.

R.I.P. Randy Fuller, 1944-2024

Sadly Randy Fuller – bass playing younger brother of Bobby Fuller – has passed away at the age of 80. He'll be greatly missed. 

Get a copy of I Fought The Law: The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller co-written by Randy Fuller right here. 

LINKS

WFMU-FM Randy Fuller & Miriam Linna discuss "I Fought The Law" with Rex on Fool's Paradise

Clifford Jordan's performance with Han Bennink issued as Beyond Paradiso 1969

Three songs from saxophonist Clifford Jordan's classic Strata-East album 'In The World' were performed in Hilversum in '69. 

Clifford Jordan – Beyond Paradiso 1969 

Nederlands Jazz Archief

Saxophone great Clifford Jordan was actually supposed to perform at Paradiso on September 10, 1969, but at that time the stage was facing problems and closed for a month. He diverts to VARA studio 7 in Hilversum with pianist Cees Slinger, bassist Ruud Jacobs, drummer Han Bennink and hand percussionist Steve Boston. Three of the four pieces were recorded by Jordan in early 1969 for the Strata-East label released as the spiritual jazz classic "In The World." Listen to a few excerpts from Beyond Paradiso 1969 and get a copy from Soundohm right here. 

India Ramey shares video for "Ain't My First Rodeo"

Check out the new video for "Ain't My First Rodeo" from rising country star India Ramey – available right here. 

India Ramey just started a crowd-funding campaign for her new album Baptized By The Blaze due in August. Check it out here.

That time Ann Peebles played the Midnight Special with Hi Rhythm & Willie Mitchell

Ann Peebles is backed by Teenie Hodges and his brothers Leroy & Charles along with Willie Mitchell on electro-percussion! 

Numero Group returns to the soul side of Wisconsin's Cuca label

Numero Group's 26-track double vinyl compilation Eccentric Soul: The Cuca Label is out July 12th. 

Here's the scoop...

Late night '60s R&B caught on tape at Jim Kirchstein's jack-of-all genres Cuca studio. Released on minuscule pressings into the Wisconsin wilderness, these 26 sasquatch-rare tracks – many of which previously appeared on Numero Group's digital comp Eccentric R&B: The Cuca Label back in 2020 and still available here – uncover the soulful paths between the Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford scenes. Featuring Harvey Scales, Step By Step, Betty Moorer, Seven Sounds, Twilighters, Birdlegs & Pauline, Esquires, Artie & The Pharaohs, and Fantastic Six, this 2xLP tells an alternate history of soul music that could only happen in the Hinterlands on Highway 12. 

You can pre-order a copy of Eccentric Soul: The Cuca Label right here. Check the preview clip, Betty Moorer's "The Long Hot Summer" (originally released under the name "Betty Moore" on Cuca's Badger A Go Go comp), Birdlegs & Pauline's "Too Much At Stake," Harvey Scales' "Independency" and Rex Swanigan & the Fabulous Troubadores' cover of "Hey Joe" issued as "Tribute To Jimi Hendrix" followed by the track listing below. 

Eccentric Soul: The Cuca Label

1. Twiliters - Restless Love / 2. Harvey Scales - Glamour Girl / 3. The Devilettes - I'll Say "Yes" / 4. Little Artie & The Pharaohs - It Puzzles Me / 5. Birdlegs & Pauline - Too Much At Stake / 6. Betty Moorer - The Long Hot Summer / 7. The Esquires - You Don't Care / 8. Supreme Four - I Lost My Job (And I've Got To Find Another) / 9. Harvey Scales - Ten Thousand Years / 10. Betty Moorer - One More Time / 11. The Devilettes - I'm Leaving You / 12. Supreme Four - I Love You, Patricia / 13. Twiliters - We Three / 14. The Devils & The Devilettes - Tell Me / 15. Step By Step - Time After Time / 16. Harvey Scales - Independency / 17. Betty Moorer - My Man Lives / 18. Twiliters - Can't You Stay A Little Longer / 19. The Devils & The Devilettes - Love And Understanding / 20. Step By Step - She's Gone / 21. Harvey Scales - Every Step Of The Way / 22. Twiliters - Girl Of My Dreams / 23. Fantastic Six - I Never Knew Love / 24. Artie & The Pharaohs - I'll Take Care Of You /  25. Birdlegs & Pauline - Mist Of A Dream / 26. The Fabulous Troubadores - Tribute To Jimi Hendrix

Toronto's primo blues rockers Catl. feel the spirit on Catl's Country Gospel Hour

Catl. kicks off a series of digital singles with updates of heavenly gems from The Louvin Brothers and Carter Family. 

In advance of Catl's upcoming European tour, Toronto's favourite blues bashers are sharing a digital single of their Catl-ized versions of two country gospel tunes "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by the Louvin Brothers and "No Telephone In Heaven" popularized by the Carter Family. Have a listen to Catl's update of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" right here and "No Telephone In Heaven" right here. 

 

Before any nasty rumours start spreading, it should be made clear that Catl's dynamic duo of Jamie & Sarah didn't "get religion" during the pandemic. Although their time away from the stage did present the opportunity to listen to more vintage country and blues recordings which they found inspiring. And just as many of their favourite purveyors of "the devil's music" – namely Charley Patton, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Washington Phillips – also dabbled in the spiritual realm, Catl like to keep all the bases covered. In fact, they've previously recorded a version of Phillips' "Keys to The Kingdom" for their 2018 album Bide My Time Until I Die (available here) and they also did "He'll Make A Way" by Robert Johnson (the other one, documented by George Mitchell) for 2012's Soon This Will All Be Gone (get it here). 

Explains Jamie: "During the Covid lockdown, Sarah and I were buying and listening to a lot of country music. I've always loved gospel music and how it's structured to 'uplift' people out of their troubles and embrace the 'spirit' (which can be interpreted differently from person to person). Also, how it balances with blues music.

"Since we haven't had a practice space in years,  playing drums loudly was not an option. Sarah switched back to her original instrument, the organ, and we started working on a gospel/country set. A handful of songs were recorded over a three-day session during June of 2023 in the French countryside near Rennes, where our label Beast Records resides. More tracks were cut with Franck Thareault at his home studio called Fly House Records. 

"Initially our plan was to make this a series of singles, with future releases would share the same theme. Not sure if we would ever play these songs live, but it's been a nice side distraction learning songs from the old country catalogue.  

"If we get an album's worth of material covered we're gonna consider a physical release, but for now we're sharing the first two songs, "Satan's Jeweled Crown" by the Louvin Brothers and "No Telephone in Heaven" by The Carter Family."

Check out Catl's versions of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" and "No Telephone in Heaven" on Bandcamp (right here) or via your streaming platform of choice.

You can catch Catl. on their European barnstorming tour of Finland, France Germany and Belgium this June (see dates following the clips). Those interested can check out the Louvin Brothers' 1958 recording of "Satan's Jeweled Crown" and the Carter Family's 1929 recording of "No Telephone In Heaven" back-to-back with Catl's versions below. 

Andy Maize shares "You Knock Me Out" from his Goldslinger EP

Cheers to Andy Maize of the Skydiggers on his 65th birthday! Check out two songs from his new Goldslinger EP out now! 

You can get Andy Maize's new Goldslinger EP via your streaming service of choice right here: https://eek.lnk.to/AMGold. 

One For The Weekend: Beachwood Sparks

Check out "Falling Forever" off the new Beachwood Sparks album, Across The River of Stars out July 19.   Photo: Kathleen Nicholson

Here's the scoop...

Beachwood Sparks recently announced their return after a 12-year hiatus with a new album, 'Across The River Of Stars,' (out July 19th via Curation Records – pre-order it right here) and they've just shared a new single,"Falling Forever," catapulting listeners into a sonic odyssey, echoing the cosmic fervour of The Byrds' legendary sound. Conjuring a kaleidoscope of melodies, weaving intricate harmonies reminiscent of the timeless magic of "Notorious Byrd Brothers," their eagerly anticipated album was produced by Chris Robinson (of The Black Crowes), a stalwart champion of the band, and the track is a testament to timeless psychedelia, jangle and gratitude in a 3-minute pop song.

 

Across The River Of Stars

 

Forming in the summer swelter of 1997 — built on the bones of Further and Strictly Ballroom — Beachwood Sparks stood among the charmed few who picked up the yoke left loose as Alt-Country’s early ‘90s wave crested and cooled. 

While the whole world was wrapped in pop, nu-metal, and indie rock, Beachwood Sparks were aloft on winds with The Byrds, weaving harmonies like Starry Eyed and Laughing, and lost in the heat-ripple haze with the Flying Burritos. 

To the uninitiated they’d seemed out of step, but to those who’d already been scanning the Cosmic channels, waiting for kindred hearts to answer the call, they were far ahead of their time. The Cosmic American tide has finally caught up to their curl in the last few years, and it seems like it’s finally just the time and place for Beachwood Sparks to assume their rightful place at the forefront of the new wave of psychedelic country.  

 

Some heads were always clued in. Sharp ears at Sub Pop picked the band up after their debut single on Bomp! and set sail the journey of Cali’s most consistent sunbeam surfers. The group stuck out like a wild hair on the Sub Pop roster, but as the label eased into their reputation as indie rock’s rudder in the early aughts, the band laid down a celebrated string of albums — S/T (2000), Once We Were Trees (2001) and the EP Make The Cowboy Robots Cry (2002) — before slipping into the ether in favor of new projects like All Night Radio, Mystic Chords of Memory, and GospelbeacH. They’d return to form, and their home at Sub Pop, after a decade away for The Tarnished Gold (2012) and revisit some early material on Desert Skies for Alive (2013). Now the band’s three founders — Brent Rademaker, Chris Gunst, and Farmer Dave Scher —  return to the fold once more for a new album that’s just in time to sweeten the Summer air. 

 

The band hunkered down at John Dwyer’s Discount Mirrors Studios in Los Angeles. Producer Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood) along with renowned house engineer Eric Bauer (Ty Segall, Osees) helped the band give their sound a fresh salt scrub, tacking the sails into those requisite warm winds once more. A few more familiar names entered the studio as well, with Benjamin Knight (The Tyde) adding guitar, Andres Renteria (John Dwyer’s Bent Arcana) laying down the drums, Jen Cohen Gunst (Mystic Chords of Memory, The Aislers Set) on keys, and Clay Finch (Mapache) peppering in background vocals. The mix of friends and family (and friends who feel like family) helps add to the warmth and ease of the album. The band has long captured a kind of California ideal, and as we slip into Across The River of Stars, it still feels like a place where the days never end, the sun never burns, and the crash of waves lulls the listener into a place of peace. 

 

From the backstage stomp and dance floor romp of “My Love My Love” the band sets the scene, flings open the shutters, and lets the amp-fried goodness roll out into the streets. The album captures classic shades of Beachwood bliss — lovelorn yearning, now underpinned with Jen’s keys (“Torn In Two,” “Faded Glory”), last call crooners that slip over the horizon with the final rays of sun (“High Noon”) and a classic stacked-harmony hummer that reaches back to the haze and humidity of the Once We Were Trees era. While feeling at ease on the shelf alongside your copies of Rose City Band, Silver Synthetic, Color Green, The Hanging Stars, or any of the newer guard on Rademaker’s Curation Records, the band keeps one foot in classic territory and another just past the modern mirage. Far from following any trend, the band are keepers of the flame. Beachwood Sparks long ago entered the pantheon of country-psych’s headiest hitters, but with Across The River of Stars, they prove that they’re luminaries and leaders of a sound that still soaks the soul in the sublime.  - Andy French, 2024 

 

GBV previews new Strut of Kings album with "Cavemen Running Naked"

Guided By Voices' "Strut of Kings" album is out June 28th which you can pre-order here. Check out "Cavemen Running Naked" 

Guitar Wolf rocks Lee's Palace, Saturday

Guitar Wolf's long overdue return to Toronto on Saturday night promises to be a typically unhinged jet-rock 'n' roll blowout.  

T.O. guitar slinger Nichol Robertson releases Mimico Moonlight LP @ The Cameron, Friday

Nichol Robertson is joined by The Sadies' Mike Belitsky & Sean Dean on "Mimico Moonlight" – check the title tune.  Photo: Laura Proctor

Here's the scoop...

Nichol Robertson is a Canadian roots music guitarist, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.  Equally at home melting faces with his high octane guitar onslaught as he is gently picking Hawaiian tunes for background ambience at the local bar, Nichol Robertson is a sonic painter with an ear for Bob Ross-esque aural landscapes. From twangy melodies echoing The Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet to B-bender shredding reminiscent of the late Clarence White, his six-string technique is very impressive. 

Robertson's first solo album was the critically acclaimed “Stranger Things” released back in 2011, long before that show. His latest opus “Mimico Moonlight” – recorded with his Honkytonk Boogaloo band cohorts, drummer Mike Belitsky  & bassist Sean Dean of The Sadies – is out Friday (May 17th). While 13 years between releases might seem a bit long, Robertson has spent that time working on countless projects including but not limited to The Layrite Boys, The Hulagoons, Thelonious Hank, Nic & the Narcs, Robertson & Kerr and Snowbird when he isn't accompanying rising country stars or recording viral videos with his family band, The Robinson'sons. 

Get a copy of Nichol Robertson's Mimico Moonlight album on vinyl right here. 

Nichol is launching the vinyl version of his Mimico Moonight album in the back room of The Cameron House on Friday (May 17) at 7:30 pm surrounded by the oil paintings of the multi-talented Sean Dean. Check out a performance of the title track from "Mimico Moonlight" below. 

 

Happy Birthday Ray Condo!

Remembering the late great Ray Condo with a raucous performance at The Horseshoe and a 2000 spot on The CBS Early Show. 

Whaddya mean you don't know The Treasures

Fargo's Paul Hubbard, Jerry Jacobson, Don Formanek and Neil Olsen cut the surf instro "Minor Chaos" as The Treasures in 1964.

UK dark-folk ace Simon Finn and Mexico's Los Dug Dugs to play Million Tongues Fest

Psych fans will be descending on Chicago for the 20th Anniversary edition of the Million Tongues Fest on August 15 & 16.

Here's the scoop from Steven Krakow...

Ok Folks, This is a BIG ONE!! After MUCH planning, I can finally announce....

The 20th Anniversary Celebration of Million Tongues Festival at Empty Bottle!

Yes, for you younger heads, my very first Million Tongues fest was wayyyy back in 2004, and featured a VERY rare appearance by 70s UK dark-folk legend, Simon Finn (of Pass the Distance fame)--as well as astral folk vagabond Josephine Foster, avant goddesses Spires That in the Sunset Rise, and when legendary Deviants frontman Mick Farren canceled last second, my band instead ended up backing local legends like Christopher Connelly (of Ministry/Sons of the Silent Age/Rev Co), for a rousing "Proto/spacepunk cover set"

ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND THEN SOME!! 

The fest has always had a tradition of hosting international "cult/underground legacy" artists like Terry Reid, Keiji Haino, Bert Jansch, Acid Mothers, Mark Fry, LSD March, and Michael Chapman, and this fest is no exception—with the second-ever Chicago appearance of exalted Mexican 70s psych-rockers Los Dug Dug's! Thrilled to also have the long-awaited return of Windy City hallucinogenic hellions, The Great Society Mind Destroyers, who played MT eons back with literal cult-rockers Ya Ho Wha 13 of the Source Family. Folk/drone has a rich history with the Tongues, with past fests featuring Tony Conrad, Peter Walker, Cave, Mark Fosson, Ruthann Friedman, Jack Rose, Espers, Fursaxa, Charalambides, 6 Organs, and now the acclaimed Eli Winter. If that wasn't enough, the genius sike-tunesmiths The Joy Poppers with Tom Szidon and Jason Batchko are back for a rare side set, as well as the esteemed William Vermette, who has been crafting synth soundscapes since the 70s. There'll be psychoactive/rare record dealers too, and mind-expanding visuals courtesy of Interstellar Space Records. There's discounted 2 day passes too, so miss this hoo hah at your own peril (your spiritual growth might be stunted forever). Major thanks to sponsors Daze Off and there just MIGHT be more fest-related haps being announced soon, so stay tuned in and turned on...

Get tickets for the 20th Anniversary Million Tongues Festival's opening night Thursday (August 15) at Chicago's Empty Bottle (1135 N. Western) headlined by Simon Finn right here and for the Friday (August 16) show headlined by Los Dug Dugs over here. Those wishing to attend both nights can also get a special rate two-night pass right here. Check out Simon Finn and Los Dug Dugs in action below.  

Colombian Codiscos gems uncovered for Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!!, Vol. 2

Another batch of rare Colombian cumbia cookers have been unearthed for the second volume of Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!! 

Here's the scoop...

The second volume of VampiSoul's brilliant Colombian archival series "Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!!" series presents a mind-melting selection of 28 vintage dancefloor-ready cumbia bangers from deep in vaults of Codiscos and associated labels Costeño, Zeida and Famoso, all of them originally released between 1962 and 1983. "Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!!" combines well-known classics and rarities that are difficult to find in their original formats. An invitation to enjoy and be amazed, above and beyond ethnographic and academic concerns. 

Get a copy of the 2 LP version of Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!! Vol. 2 and listen to a few snippets via Bandcamp right here. Check the impressive track listing below followed by a couple of classics from Hermanos Martello and Antonio Leon y su Conjunto.  

Cumbia Cumbia Cumbia!!! Vol. 2 

Side A 1. LOS HERMANOS MARTELO - CUMBIA CIENAGUERA 2. LOS TROTAMUNDOS - CUMBIA PORTEÑA 3. ANTONIO LEON Y SU CONJUNTO - CUMBIA TRISTE 4. ANTOLIN Y SU COMBO ORENSE - EL PAJARO MILANO 5. FRANCISCO ZAPATA - UNA CUMBIA PARA MARIA6. CRESCENCIO SALCEDO - TIPICISMO 7. SONIDOS DE GAMERO - LA CUMBIA DEL NEGRO 

Side B 1. LOS TEEN AGERS - CUMBIA SOBRE EL MAR 2. MIGUEL VILLALBA Y SU CONJUNTO - CUMBIA MANGUELITERA 3. CALIXTO OCHOA - EL INDIO MAPUCHI 4. ALFREDO GUTIÉRREZ Y LOS CAPORALES DEL MAGDALENA - RASPACANILLA 5. EL MICHI Y SU COMBO BRAVO - ANTONIA 6. LOS GRADUADOS - ALUMBRA LUNA 7. GABRIEL MESA - LA LUNA Y EL PESCADOR

Side C 1. ADOLFO PACHECO Y SU CONJUNTO - PAJARO MACUA 2. EL CONJUNTO MIRAMAR - CUMBIA DEL SOL 3. EL COMBO CIENAGUERO - FIESTA DE CUEROS 4. LA SONORA UNIVERSITARIA - MARGOT 5. ORQUESTA DE MARCIAL MARCHENA - LINA 6. RITA FERNANDEZ - LLORA SU PENA 7. JAIME LLANO GONZALEZ - CUMBIA EN DOMINANTE

Side D 1. LOS ARKO - CUMBIA BOGOTANA 2. ANICETO MOLINA Y SU CONJUNTO - CUMBIA CANDELA 3. LOS BOBBY SOXERS - CUMBIA SABROSONA 4. CATALINO Y SU COMBO NEGRO - CUMBIA MONTAÑERA 5. LA CUMBIA MODERNA DE SOLEDAD - CUMBIA SOLEDEÑA 6. ALEJANDRO BERNAL - AL COMPAS DE LAS POLLERAS 7. GRUPO LA DROGA - LA CHICHARRA

Happy Birthday Pete Wiggs!

Celebrating the birthday of Saint Etienne's Pete Wiggs with an interview and "We've Got The Moves" 

Saxphonist Joe McPhee shares his poetry on Musings of a Bahamian Son

Joe McPhee is joined by fellow saxophonist Ken Vandermark to duet during nine interludes between his poems. 

Here's the scoop...

Joe McPhee is one of the great multi-instrumentalists of contemporary improvised music. His instrumental battery has included saxophones, clarinets, valve trombone, pocket trumpet, sound-on-sound tape recorder, and space organ, but another arrow in his quiver is text. McPhee has been writing poems since the 1970s. He occasionally introduces one into performance, as an introduction or afterword to music, and in recent years he's been known to do full-on readings, text only, featuring his inimitable sense of dramatic timing intoned in his rich voice. The poems range from the observational to the political to the surreal. They're composed in rhyme or according to an internal rhythm, sometimes utterly prosaic, sometimes fantastic and flamboyant. A few of them capture the immediacy of improvised music more acutely than any critical writing on the subject, his half-century immersion in the craft of free music having given him a bottomless cup to draw on and his sensitivity to the nuances of language providing a host of palpable metaphors and metonyms, similes and strophes. 

The poems are marvels on the page, but they really take flight in McPhee's mouth. In 2021, during a flurry of pandemic-inspired poetic activity, he traveled to Chicago expressly to record a program of his poems. For the studio date, he invited saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Vandermark to play duets as interludes between groupings of the poems. Then Vandermark, engineer Alex Inglizian, and the CvsD team sat breathless in the Experimental Sound Studio control room as McPhee proceeded to perform his poetry nonstop and without repetition for nearly two hours. The result is Musings of a Bahamian Son, the first full-length release dedicated to McPhee's writing, with 27 poems interspersed with nine musical interludes and a postlude. 

This CD release anticipates the forthcoming McPhee memoir, Straight Up, Without Wings: The Musical Flight of Joe McPhee, written with Mike Faloon, a book that will be published in the fall by CvsD. 

Get a digital copy of Joe McPhee's Musings of a Bahamian Son via Bandcamp where you can listen to a few excerpts right here.

CD available at found.ee/Musings from May 12th. 

Listen to Joe McPhee Po Music perform "The Lonely Woman" from 2012 below.  

B-Side Wins Again: Rubye Shelton with Sister Orr

Rubye Shelton was a street corner-style gospel evangelist working in the Detroit area connected with the COGIC. 

Listen to "The Hypocrite" by Rubye Shelton with musical accompaniment provided by Sister Orr right here. 

William Parker Organ Quartet's album Uncle Joe's Spirit House gets vinyl release

A long overdue vinyl pressing of  Uncle Joe's Spirit House was made for William Parker's Baltimore show on May 19th. 

Here's the scoop...

A simply gorgeous soul-jazz organ quartet album that hearkens back to early-mid 60s sessions of similar form; fully revitalized by bassist William Parker's indelible compositions and the generous musical gifts of tenor saxophonist Darryl Foster, organist Cooper-Moore and drummer Gerald Cleaver. A straight-up joy.

This very special project was produced by William Parker for his own Centering Records imprint, and dedicated to his Aunt Carrie Lee & Uncle Joe (pictured on album cover). It was created to celebrate the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary on August 6th, 2010. William really wanted to get this album finished in time to gift to them for that auspicious date, and he did! He wrote seven of the songs in Dec 2009 toward the Jan 2010 recording session; "Ennio's Tag" and "Oasis" were previously written and they fit in perfectly.

The 9-song CD was officially released on Centering Records in October 2010.  Two pressings were made, and have long sold out. The special one-time only 6-song LP pressing (with digital download coupon for all nine tracks) was made in time for the family celebration / Organ Quartet performance on May 19, 2024 at An Die Musik in Baltimore. Get a vinyl copy of Uncle Joe's Spirit House from Aum Fidelity right here. Have a listen below. 

"A family thing. And a lot more than that: one of the great bassist’s most joyful, sunshine-filled records. An album of very accessible creative jazz with irresistible grooves. A federating record. A gem."

–Monsieur Délire blog, François Couture

"Though mysticism and spirituality play a hand in his expansive aesthetic, so do earthly concerns like social justice and family. Uncle Joe's Spirit House is a deeply personal offering from a musician whose role as a scene leader and social activist is as significant as his instrumental prowess." –All About Jazz, Troy Collins

"The music flows like a deep and powerful river."

–Music and More, Tim Niland

"For a guy who’s rightly regarded as a load-bearing column holding up much of the New York avant-jazz scene, bassist William Parker records some remarkably mainstream-friendly albums. Don’t let this disc pass you by. It’s emotional, hard-grooving, occasionally abstract but often raw and bluesy music that shakes hands with the past before striding confidently into the future."

–Burning Ambulance, Phil Freeman 

William Parker Organ Quartet – Uncle Joe's Spirit House

1. Uncle Joe's Spirit House - 09:01

2. Jacques' Groove - 02:13

3. Ennio's Tag - 05:41

4. Document for LJ - 10:44

5. Let's Go Down to the River - 07:19

6. Buddha's Joy - 08:47

7. The Struggle - 08:46

8. Theme for the Tasters - 07:47

9. Oasis - 04:12

LP edition

Side A:  Ennio's Tag / Let's Go Down to the River / Buddha's Joy

Side B: Uncle Joe's Spirit House / Jacques' Groove / The Struggle

* and includes download card for all 9 tracks as originally released on CD

Happy Birthday Richard Brooks of The Impressions, Brooks Brothers, Bits N'Pieces

Richard Brooks (front left) can be heard on The Impressions' 1961 hit "Gypsy Woman" and left to form the Brooks Brothers.