more
Susan Alcorn (1953-, pedal steel guitar), Nels Cline (1956-, guitar, electronics), Chris Corsano (1975-, drums, electronics), live, New York, 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
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reading table
As the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi said, life is like getting into a boat that’s just about to sail out to sea and sink.
—Pema Chödrön (1936-), When Things Fall Apart (1997)
passings
Little Richard (aka Richard Penniman), singer, pianist, songwriter, December 5, 1932–May 9, 2020
“Didn’t It Rain” (trad.), live, New York (Apollo Theater), 1985
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“Yes, God Is Real” (K. Morris), 1960
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“Peace in the Valley” (T. Dorsey), 1961
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
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reading table
The hope that is left after all your hopes are gone—that is pure hope, rooted in the heart.
—Br. David Steindl-Rast (1926-), Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer (1984)
never enough
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), 24 Preludes, Op. 28; Maria João Pires (1944-, piano), live, Portugal (Évora), 1987
More? Her wonderful 1994 recording of these pieces is available on Spotify.
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), “The More I See You” (H. Warren, M. Gordon), live, Sweden (Stockholm), 1964
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
what’s new
Susan Alcorn (1953-, pedal steel guitar), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), 4/29/20
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lagniappe
random sights
a while ago, Maine (Monhegan Island)
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reading table
LET THERE BE PHYSICAL SUDDENNESS!
—Michael McClure, poet, playwright, songwriter, etc., October 20, 1932–May 4, 2020, from “PLUME ODE”
sounds of India
The sounds he makes with this instrument—a bamboo flute—are among the most haunting I know.
Hariprasad Chaurasia (1938-, bansuri), et al., Raga Bhimpalasi, live
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, outside Chicago (Prairie Path, Elmhurst)
what’s new
Nate Wooley (1974-, trumpet), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), 5/1/20
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
Feeling lost?
John Luther Adams (1953-), The Farthest Place (2001); Robin Lorentz (violin), Amy Knoles (vibraphone, marimba), Bryan Pezzone (piano), Barry Newton (bass), 2002
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
more sounds of Charlotte
The United House of Prayer Band, live, Charlotte, N.C., 2012
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
Goodbye to forever now.
Hello to the empty present and.—Mary Jo Bang (1946-), from “No More” (Elegy, 2007)
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streaming
Bang on a Can Marathon: today, six hours, beginning at 3 p.m. (ET). Meredith Monk, Vijay Iyer, George Lewis, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams, Mary Halvorson, et al. If this turns out to be even half as good as it might be, it’ll be monumental. (In the department of delicious serendipity, I just learned about this, waiting for tea water to boil, here.)
passings
Tony Allen, drummer, August 12, 1940–April 30, 2020
Today, remembering him, we revisit some old posts.
8/15/18
like nobody else
Tony Allen (drums), “Wolf Eats Wolf,” 2017
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9/23/15
Perhaps the greatest drummer ever.
Tony Allen—three takes.
Recording studio, 2009
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Paris, 2015
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Istanbul, 2015
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3/3/15
what you simply cannot do
Listen to this drummer without feeling lighter, livelier.
Tony Allen (drums, vocals) & Band, live, Luxembourg, 2011
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9/22/12
Questlove (:10-) & Tony Allen (1:25-), live, Paris, 2011
What a contrast. Questlove, focusing on power and momentum, pushes the beat. Tony lies behind it, skips ahead, lies back again, favoring suppleness and elasticity.
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
music clip of the day 