R.I.P. "Fast" Eddie Clarke, 1950-2018

The last original Motörhead member, guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke died of pneumonia yesterday. He was 67.

Saxophonist Nat Birchall ventures further out with Cosmic Language

UK jazz explorer Nat Birchall is bolstering his sound with harmonium and percussion for Cosmic Language out March 9. 

"Our new album Cosmic Language is set for release on Jazzman Records on March 9th! Featuring the very wonderful Adam Fairhall on (his very own) Indian harmonium, Michael Bardon on bass, Andy Hay on drums and percussion and special guest Chris Cruiks on additional percussion. Vinyl, CD and download. Healing vibrations to soothe the nations." – Nat Birchall

Listen to song clips from Cosmic Language right here. Watch the Nat Birchall Quintet perform "Divine Light" back in March followed by a discussion of his formative influences.

Happy Birthday Slim Harpo!

Remembering Louisiana blues great Slim Harpo with That Ain't Your Business cut at Jay Miller's Crowley studio. 

Brenda Navarrete launches Mi Mundo @ Jazz Bistro, January 16

R.I.P. Betty Willis, 1941-2018

Sadly, soulful singer Betty Willis was murdered in a Santa Ana parking lot on New Year's Day.

Ilios Steryannis launches the Bethany Project @ The Burdock, Thursday

T.O. drummer/composer Ilios Steryannis presents music – like this Afro-Cuban jam (below) – from his new album. 

Unissued Arthur Russell recordings appear on new Peter Zummo album

Trombonist Peter Zummo's Frame Loop album – out March 2 on Foom – features Arthur Russell on amplified cello.

Here's the scoop...
A few years ago​,​ ​American composer and trombonist ​PETER ZUMMO discovered a ​1984 ​recording ​of unreleased material from his ​Six Songs​ suite in his archive. Six Songs was the basis for LATERAL PASS​ (Foom 2014), his award winning score for modern-dance choreographer Trisha Brown’s work of the same name. Material taken from Six Songs can also be heard on ​his seminal ZUMMO WITH AN X (Loris Bend, 1985/Optimo 2012).

The work is now being released as a new LP, FRAME LOOP. Recorded live and ​in single takes, it features​ a stellar line-up of longtime ZUMMO collaborators:​ ARTHUR RUSSELL on amplified cello, BILL RUYLE on marimba, ​and ​MUSTAFA AHMED on congas. ZUMMO ​plays trombone and euphonium.

​ZUMMO describes ​the recording as ‘a​n ​exercise in spontaneous arrangement’. ​He ​mainly ​​hews close to the ​score, ​while from time to time introducing canonic lines ​and variations. ARTHUR RUSSELL, using his signature amplified cello sound, alternates between ​solos and rhythm playing​. BILL RUYLE ​vamps on the notation, while MUSTAFA AHMED’s improvised percussi​on​ ​drives the forward momentum.​ Sometimes the music takes its time ​traversing a sonic landscape; at other points, it ​jumps from one section to another​​. Players'​ decisions ​push and pull the downbeat​; rounds ​emerge, then disappear​. Listen to Song II: Right; Off The Beat below.