Happy Birthday Johnny Coles!

Remembering trumpeter Johnny Coles with a 1964 performance in Norway alongside Eric Dolphy and Charles Mingus. 

Straight outta Montpellier – it's Les Grys-Grys!

Les Grys-Grys stompin' new album To Fall Down is out July 5th on Norton Records. Check their KEXP performance below.

Here's the scoop from Norton HQ...

The crew at Norton is thrilled to present the first American album from continental sensations les Grys-Grys (pronounced "gree-gree") Hailing from Montpellier, France, these lads bring on a new blast of energy that is due to turn your head around with their aggressive new sound. Not revivalist 60's a-tall! This pressing will sell out quickly, so pick it up now. I'm Going Back/ So Long/ Watching My Idols Die/ Tell Me/ See Me Frown/ Milk Cow Blues/ By The River/ Mrs. Rampage/ Turn My Head/ To Fall Down

"It’s puzzling, but true - some groups come on the scene and are instantly hailed as worthy newcomers, culling praise from the public and other musicians alike, whether they have hit records or not. Les Grys-Grys are one of those groups. Hailing from the continent— France, precisely— these lads have honed their musical skills in the midst of controversy, broken strings, sheer hatred from parents, headlines, noise complaints, and uninhibited, original Rhythm & Blues. They sell excitement, in person, and on record. It is for you now to enjoy the experience of Les Grys-Grys as I have, and I know that once you have, you will be changed forever. Since their first record appeared in their home country a year ago, they’ve not only been involved with more dust-ups than any other group, but have also managed to infiltrate the ears and eyes of music lovers across the pond, in America, and beyond. Listen now, to the new sound that’s going round — les Grys-Grys — and please, as always, do turn it up..."  – Shadow Norton

You can get a copy of Les Grys-Grys' To Fall Down LP directly from Norton right here. Watch 'em live in Rennes back in 2019 followed by a few tracks from the new album below. 

Happy Birthday Ahmad Jamal

Celebrating the birthday of pianist Ahmad Jamal with recordings which may sound familiar to fans of Nas, De La Soul & Common. 

LINKS
Udiscovermusic Pianist Ahmad Jamal recalls 'At The Pershing'

One For The Weekend: True Believers

Here's Alejandro Escovedo and his True Believers rockin' up a storm with "Hard Road" at Austin's KUTX in 2013. 

Happy Birthday Rashied Ali

Remembering Rashied Ali with a 1972 performance of "Leo" featuring Carlos Ward, Dave Burrell and Norris 'Sirone' Jones. 

 

Pokey LaFarge goes tropical with "Get It Fore It's Gone"

"Get It Fore It's Gone" is off Pokey's new album In The Blossom of Their Shade due Sept 10. He's at the Horseshoe Nov 19 & 20.

Here's the scoop from New West Records...

Pokey LaFarge will return with In The Blossom of Their Shade on September 10th via New West Records. The 10-song album was produced and arranged by Pokey LaFarge and Chris Seefried and recorded in Chicago, IL & Los Angeles, CA. 

Speaking to NPR Music, LaFarge offered, “This album is a result of my 2020 experience. Before the pandemic, I was in a dark place but the pandemic actually created the much needed space for me to reflect. Turns out that being completely sedentary for once was a good thing. I found peace in the stillness. I was able to recalibrate what it is I do and why I’m doing it. Who I’m to do it with and most importantly, who I’m doing it for.” 

Check out the Brandon Bernath-directed video for “Get It ‘Fore It’s Gone” below. 

In March 2020, LaFarge packed up and left his Los Angeles abode behind, putting his belongings in storage in anticipation of spending extensive time on the road in support of his then-forthcoming album, Rock Bottom Rhapsody. He couldn’t wait to head down to Austin a few weeks later to showcase those songs and launch the album with his band at SXSW. Then the pandemic hit and all of LaFarge’s well-laid plans went into thin air.

Stuck in East Austin with nowhere to go, LaFarge did what he does best: he got to work. He used the sudden change in plans to his advantage, having perhaps his greatest period of personal growth in the midst of the crippling pandemic. 

Unlike its melancholy predecessor, In the Blossom of Their Shade showcases the positivity of coming out of the darkness and into the light and is one of his strongest and most mature lyrical efforts to date. The record was nearly titled Siesta Love since it captures the thematic notion of being the perfect summer afternoon soundtrack and is a far cry from the swing and blues-infused songs of his earlier work. Looking in, inspired by the deep soul not just from these shores, but from distant geographical places like Africa or South America, LaFarge set out to create a body of work that paired emotional lyrics with a killer groove and grabby melodies.

Pokey LaFarge has also announced his initial tour dates in support of In the Blossom of Their Shade. He'll begin the tour with a handful of solo appearances in Switzerland on August 7th. A full band tour featuring a brand new live lineup will follow on September 1st with Toronto dates slated for The Horseshoe Tavern on November 19 and 20.  

Pokey LaFarge’s In the Blossom of Their Shade will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 2,000 Translucent Orange Vinyl Edition will be available at Independent Retail and packaged with a bonus Peach Colored 7” featuring an unreleased bonus track. A limited to 1,000 Green Vinyl Edition will also be packaged with the bonus Peach Colored 7 inch and is now available for pre-order via New West Records right here. 

Watch the video for "Get It For It's Gone" followed by the track listing and Pokey's upcoming tour dates. 

 

Pokey LaFarge – In The Blossom of Their Shade 

1.  Get It ‘Fore It’s Gone

2. Mi Ideal

3. Fine to Me

4. Drink of You

5. Rotterdam

6. To Love or Be Alone

7. Long for the Heaven I Seek

8. Killing Time

9. Yo-Yo

10. Goodnight, Goodbye (Hope Not Forever)

 

Pokey LaFarge On Tour:  

August 7 - Bagnes, Switzerland - Palp Festival Rocklette (Solo)
August 24 - Ridgefield, CT - CHIRP (Solo)
August 25 - North Truro, MA - Payomet Music Tent (Solo)
August  26 - New Haven, CT - Folk at the Edge Concert Series (Solo)
September 1 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Maassilo
September 2 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje
September  3 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso September 4 - Schijndel, Netherlands - Paaspop
September 5 - Groningen, Netherlands - De Oosterpoort
September 6 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar October 2 - Paducah, KY - YAC-toberfest
October 6 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
October 7 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
October 8 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bells Back Room *
October 9 - Milwaukee, WI - BackRoom @ Colectivo *
October 12 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre *
October 13 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert *
October 15 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note *
October 16 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads *
November 3 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line *
November 4 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall *
November 5 - Grand Rapids, MI - Wealthy Theatre *
November 6 - Indianapolis, IN - HiFi *
November 7 - Charleston WV - Mountain Stage
November 9 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird *
November 10 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
November 12 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live *
November 13 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
November 14 - Fairfield, CT - The Warehouse *
November 15 - Holyoke, MA - Gateway City Arts *
November 17 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge *
November 18 - Ottawa, ON - Club Saw *
November 19 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern *
November 20 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern *
* with Esther Rose (duo)

Daniel Lanois plus Leonard Cohen equals "Torn Again"

Daniel Lanois added steel guitar to a Leonard Cohen recitation to create "Torn Again" which was released today. Hear it below. 

Here's the scoop from Daniel Lanois...

"There are moments in this creative journey that stand out in a quiet profound permanence. This Leonard Cohen poem and reading from the man himself, always left me with that special feeling. The framing of Leonard’s reading started as a slide guitar performance with my good friend Rocco Deluca. The spine of our steel guitars became the rock for the poem to stand on. Wayne Lorenz and I spent many hours in the studio rearranging and dubbing out the steel to enhance the lyrical journey with orchestral compliment. I’m very proud of this work, may it keep on reaching and speaking. With thanks to Adam Cohen, for his friendship and help and to Sony for their kindness and co-operation."

- DL

Get "Torn Again" from your preferred music service right here. Watch the new video for "Torn Again" (created by Roland Schlimme, Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier) followed by a zoom interview with Dan Lanois.