Happy Birthday Melvin Davis!

Raising a glass to Detroit soul legend Melvin Davis on his birthday with an interview, performance and a few classic recordings.

Black Milk shares a few songs off Food From The Gods w/ Fat Ray & Guilty Simpson

Detroit hip hop producer/MC Black Milk just released his new album Food From The Gods available right here. Check it out...  

Remembering J. Dilla on his birthday

Raising a glass to producer James Yancey aka J. Dilla for whom a street has been named in Detroit at Nevada St. E and Charest.  

Happy Birthday Wendell Harrison!

Celebrating the birthday of saxophonist and Tribe co-founder Wendell Harrison with a few stellar recordings and an interview.

Andre Williams vs. The Seminoles with Lowrock

Andre Williams cut a swell version of The Seminoles' doo wop gem "Open Your Eyes" but he couldn't top the original on Go-Gee.

Spend a few minutes with legendary Tribe trombonist Phil Ranelin

Since it's also the 85th birthday of Detroit trombonist Phil Ranelin today, here are a few clips worth checking.  

Detroit's Shadow Show, Royal Family, Roach @ The Monarch Tavern, tonight!

Detroit's Shadow Show will be playing songs from their new album, Fantasy Now! at the Monarch Tavern. Get tickets right here. 

Here's the scoop on Fantasy Now!

Ava East, Kerrigan Pearce & Kate Derringer

Hailing from Detroit, Shadow Show is an uncompromising power trio that combines elements of 60’s garage-psychedelia into a 21st century modern pop-art incarnation. Sleek and spellbinding, the music sweeps you up into frenetic grooves and dazzling harmonies. Their music pushes the boundaries of what can be, yet remains deeply rooted in the raw, untouchable Detroit sound. 

Three years ago, Shadow Show released their debut album, “Silhouettes,” in the US (Burger Records) and UK (Stolen Body Records). Since then, they have dedicated themselves to writing, arranging, and producing their epic masterpiece, “Fantasy Now!”, while occasionally taking breaks for full length US, UK, and EU tours, as well as obtaining support dates with bands like Automatic, Death Valley Girls, The Nude Party, and the 5.6.7.8’s, to name a few. “Fantasy Now!” is a huge step forward from their debut LP, reaching a more ambitious Sgt. Peppery psychedelic vision that includes swirling pop melodies, fuzz guitar hooks, flutes, tympani, backwards surprise twists, and a magical medieval a capella interlude. 

Shindig Magazine says Shadow Show "transport the listener down a spiral into the mind's eye.” AllMusic praises their "kaleidoscopic explosion of tremolo guitars and mod pop vocal harmonies,” and YouTube user KEVIN_USA1980 commented "These songs, those harmonies and their stylish sensibilities defy all reasonable expectations after hearing them simply described as Detroit Garage Rock." The band has recently completed a USA tour, and full USA and European dates are being booked for Spring 2024. 

Shadow Show’s transcendental triumph, “Fantasy Now!” was written, recorded, and produced by Shadow Show in Detroit, MI, with the exception of “Aunt Maizy,” recorded live in London, UK. Mastered by Warren Defever (Third Man Records, His Name Is Alive). The album will be released worldwide February 16, 2024 on Little Cloud Records (US) and Stolen Body Records (UK). 

Pre-order Fantasy Now! via Bandcamp right here. Check out the "Mystic Spiral" video shot by McKenzie Pearce with editing by Kerrigan Pearce and projections by Craig Adams, followed by the new clip for "Aunt Maizy" along with performances of "Charades," "Aunt Maizy" and "On A Cloud" after the track listing below. 

Shadow Show – Fantasy Now!

1. Your Fantasy

2. The Madrigal

3. Mystic Spiral 

4. Aunt Maizy

5. Vertigo

6. Illusions

7. Fell Into A Spell

8. Still A Day

9. Clown Song

10. Wizard's Harp

11. Don't Make Sense

12. On A Cloud

Happy Birthday Thornetta Davis!

Cheers to Detroit's amazing Thornetta Davis on her birthday! Here's a Tiny Desk audition and a show at Rosa's Lounge in Chicago. 

Happy Birthday Kenny Burrell

Celebrating the birthday of guitar great Kenny Burrell with a couple of recordings with King Curtis, Blossom Dearie and more.

Black Milk connects with Phonte and Raphael Saadiq on "Everybody Good?"

Check out "Ain't Nobody Coming Down To Save You" off Black Milk's new album Everybody Good? out Wednesday. 

Yusef Lateef's Detroit concept album being recirculated for RSD

A bespoke limited-edition of Yusef Lateef's Detroit Latitude 42° 30′ Longitude 83° from '69 is being released on April 22. 

Here's the scoop...

Jet-setting UK DJ and Brownswood Recordings head honcho Gilles Peterson has dug deep into the Warner Music archives to uncover Yusef Lateef's  1969 concept album about his hometown, Detroit Latitude 42° 30′ Longitude 83° despite the fact that you can still find copies of the Joel Dorn-produced spiritual jazz swinger in second-hand shops selling for under $20. 

Of course, Arc Records' new bespoke version of Lateef's overlooked gem – remastered from the original analog tapes by audio engineer deluxe Bernie Grundman on 180 gram noir vinyl resplendently housed in a thick cardboard sleeve reproducing the original artwork with new liner notes by Dexter Gordon's widow Maxine Gordon – is clearly aimed at the deep-pocketed vinyl collector nouveau market who dare not frequent establishments that deal in previously owned recordings and typically restrict their purchases to Record Store Day events. 

With that specific target audience in mind, it makes perfect sense then that this new limited edition of Yusef Lateef's Detroit album will be strictly limited to 2000 copies and on sale for UK Record Store Day which is coming up on Saturday, April 22. Some British mail order sites are already listing copies at anywhere from £36 to £60 (that's $60 to $100 Canadian!) so when shipping costs are added, you can expect to pay a hefty sum here in North America. And once the opportunistic speculators get involved, who knows to what heights the price may soar at resale sites online. Or you could just keep an eye out for a considerably less pricey red label Atlantic original Canuck copy and support your local vinyl shop in the process. Wasn't that the purported reason for creating a "record store day" in the first place? Maybe not. 

Hopefully Peterson will turn up some harder-to-find artifacts for his Arc Records imprint in the future. Perhaps some previously unreleased material might be nice but even a lesser known private-press corker from the late 70s or early 80s – there's loads of great stuff waiting to be discovered – would be a more worthwhile pursuit for the entire vinyl eco-system than re-releasing an album that's already been reissued numerous times and is still widely available on vinyl and CD formats. 

For those interested in what Yusef Lateef himself had to say about his Detroit project, check out the Wax Poetics feature interview right here. Listen to a few tracks off the Detroit album below.    

 

Happy Birthday Bettye LaVette!

Celebrating the birthday of Detroit soul great Bettye LaVette with a stellar 2013 performance of "Let Me Down Easy"

R.I.P. rockabilly rebel Johnny Powers, 1938-2023

Remembering Detroit rockabilly great Johnny Powers with a documentary trailer and a performance on Art Fein's Poker Party.  

R.I.P. Detroit soul great J.J. Barnes, 1943-2022

Sadly, Detroit soul great J.J. Barnes – popular on the UK Northern Soul scene – has passed away. He'll be greatly missed.  

LINKS

Detroit Metro Times R.I.P. Detroit soul singer J.J. Barnes, dead at 79

Detroit Free Press Detroit soul singer J.J. Barnes died Saturday morning, according to family

Detroit jazz icons Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison preview new album with "Genesis"

Trombonist Phil Ranelin and Tribe pal Wendell Harrison cut a new album with Adrian Yonge for Jazz Is Dead due in January.

Here's the scoop...

To be an independent artist means to not only be free to share your most ambitious artistic impulses, but to retain ownership of them, working tirelessly to market and produce a body of work that stands apart from corporate decision-making and interference. For Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison, it was this guiding principle that led them to found the Detroit-based Jazz label Tribe Records in the early 1970s. 

Focusing on self-reliance and communal support, Tribe provided a platform for local jazz artists such as Ranelin and Harrison to record and release albums, and had community members taking full control of the promotion and distribution. The label and its magazine set an important early precedent for community-driven arts organizations, and still stands as a testament to their potential and efficacy. 

Today, the legacy of Tribe lives on in labels like Jazz Is Dead, making these recordings at Linear Lab Studios in Highland Park all the more significant. In their latest dispatch, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad craft a poignant batch of new material that celebrates the lasting impact of Tribe, and the perpetual greatness of Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison.

Emerging from misty trumpets and tremoring keys is album opener "Genesis", which takes its time introducing each element before breaking out into a fiery funk. On "Open Eye" kaleidoscopic percussion takes over, leading into a cool, Samba-inflicted guitar that flutters in between a formidable saxophone solo, courtesy of Harrison. From the moment the cymbals and bass take off on "Running With Tribe", the exhilaration remains high, before tempering into a slithering strut, the string section lingering in the background, both glistening and nervous.

Coming in at the album's mid-point, "Fire In Detroit" blossoms from a gentle swing into a kinetic push and pull, showcasing the broad range of Younge and Muhammad's arrangements. Like its celestial namesake, "Ursa Major" illuminates and leads listeners through a sonic roadmap of the album's repertoire, contrasting softer meditative moments with jagged, fuzzed-out guitars and urgent drums. 

Entering with bass and quickly building into a trenchant groove, "Metropolitan Blues" features an exceptional trombone solo by Ranelin that feels as fresh as the maestro's work on classic albums like "The Time Is Now". Building around a call-and-response between the horns, keys, and percussion, album closer "Black Census" is a supercharged funk burner that peppers in woodwinds alongside hi-hats for an eclectic blend. You can hear the sheer joy of the musicians throughout the recording, so it more than makes sense to hear Harrison laugh at the end of the take.

As each Jazz Is Dead record focuses on bringing a different legend from the past to the forefront and highlighting their deep contributions to Jazz and popular music, the label's most recent collaboration with Ranelin and Harrison is more than that: it is a symbolic passing of a generational torch, celebrating both groups' continued dedication to remaining independent, and continuing to produce compelling and unique Jazz music. 

Pre-order the forthcoming Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison album via Bandcamp right here. Listen to "Genesis" below. 

Happy 80th Birthday Wendell Harrison!

Celebrating the 80th birthday of Detroit saxophone great Wendell Harrison with a chat about the influence of Charlie Parker. 

Happy Birthday Paul Humphrey!

Remembering Detroit drummer Paul Humphrey – who played on Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" – with a few gems.

Happy Birthday Melvin Davis!

Cheers to Detroit's Soul Ambassador Melvin Davis on his birthday! Here are a few of his classics. 

Midweek Mixdown: DJ Amir's The Strata sound of Detroit mix

DJ Amir's mix pairs Strata joints from Kenny Cox, Maulawi, Bert Myrick & Larry Nozero with other spiritual jazz gems of the era. 

Track listing:

 

1. Stanley Cowell-Equipoise-Strata-East Records

2. NTU & Gary Bartz-Singerella-Fantsay Records

3. Kelelee Patterson-Maiden Voyage-Black Jazz Records

4. Eddie Russ-Take A Look At Yourself-Monument Records

5. Maulawi-Root in 7-4 Plus-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

6. Stanley Cowell-Trying To Find A Way-Strata-East Records

7. Kenny Cox-Clap Clap! The Joyful Noise-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

8. CJQ-Nguzo Saba-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

9. Max Roach featuring Abby Lincoln-Garvey’s Ghost-Impulse Records

10. Calvin Keys-B.K.-Black Jazz Records

11. Larry Nozero-Tune L.N.-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

12. Maulawi-Unknown Track-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

13. Bert Myrick-Scorpio’s Child-Strata Records/180 Proof Records

Check out DJ Amir's hour-long mix via Soundcloud right here. 

Get the album from BBE over here. 

LINKS

Bandcamp.com The Unheralded Music of Detroit's Strata Records

R.I.P. DJ/producer Mike Huckaby

Sadly, Detroit DJ/producer and educator Mike Huckaby passed away on Friday from complications due to COVID-19.  He was just 54.