Saturday, December 8th
tomorrow in Chicago
They’re performing at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel.
The Tallis Scholars, live, France (Mont Saint-Michel), 2017
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
music clip of the day
jazz/blues/rock/classical/gospel/more
Category: Chicago
2018
Friday, December 7th
This is Jimmy’s brother.
Syl Johnson, “Take Me to the River” (A. Green, M. Hodges), 1974
*****
Another take.
Live (with Howard Grimes [drums], Leroy Hodges [bass], et al.), Memphis
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
2018
Tuesday, December 4th
timeless
This guy, whom I worked with in the 1970s, co-producing this track and a few others for Alligator Records (Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 1), just turned ninety. One of my sons, now older than I was then, heard him the other night at a Chicago club, where, he said, his guitar playing was “robust.” How wonderful to be ninety years old and robust. How wonderful, too, to be able to share music with a son.
“Breaking up Somebody’s Home” (T. Matthews, A. Jackson), 1978
***
Here he is forty years later.
“People Get Ready” (C. Mayfield), “That’s All Right,” Chicago, 2018
2018
Saturday, November 24th
more
Makaya McCraven, trailer for new album Universal Beings, 9/9/18
***
“Young Genius”
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Oak Park, Ill.
2018
Friday, November 23rd
what’s new
Makaya McCraven (drums, compositions), et al., live (studio), 11/19/18
They’re playing tonight in Dublin, tomorrow in London, and Thursday in Chicago (MM’s hometown).
2018
Tuesday, November 20th
more
Right now his music, which, I realize, may be an acquired taste, is giving me as much pleasure as anything.
Enno Poppe (1969-), Stoff (2015); Ensemble Dal Niente (Enno Poppe, guest cond.), live, Chicago, 2016
2018
Wednesday, November 14th
voices I miss
No matter what kind of day you’re having, this will make it better.
Von Freeman (1923-2012, tenor saxophone, MCOTD Hall of Fame), with John Young (1922-2008, piano), et al., live (radio broadcast), late 1970s
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park
2018
Tuesday, November 6th
spellbinding
Tyshawn Sorey Trio (TS, compositions, drums [2017 MacArthur Fellow]), Cory Smythe (piano), Chris Tordini (bass), live, New York, 2015
This I could listen to—I could lose myself in—for a long, long time.
They’re playing Thursday night at the University of Chicago.
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Oak Park, Ill.
2018
Sunday, November 4th
two takes
“When the Gates Swing Open” (T. A. Dorsey)
Otis Clay (1942-2016), live, Chicago, c. 2007
***
Al Green (1946-), live, Memphis, 1983
2018
Saturday, November 3rd
basement jukebox
“The Only Way Is Up” (G. Jackson, J. Henderson)
Otis Clay (1942-2016), 1980
A few years after Otis Clay recorded this song for his small Chicago label, another version was released in England, where it topped the charts for several weeks.
Yazz (1960-), 1988
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lagniappe
reading table
It is Spring in the mountains.
I come alone seeking you.
The sound of chopping wood echoes
Between the silent peaks.
The streams are still icy.
There is snow on the trail.
At sunset I reach your grove
In the stony mountain pass.
You want nothing, although at night
You can see the aura of gold
And silver ore all around you.
You have learned to be gentle
As the mountain deer you have tamed.
The way back forgotten, hidden
Away, I become like you,
An empty boat, floating, adrift.—Tu Fu (aka Du Fu, 712-729), “Written on the Wall of Chang’s Hermitage” (translated from Chinese by Kenneth Rexroth)
