back to church
Choir Rehearsal, “Walk Through the Streets,” White Hill AME Zion Church, Rock Hill, S.C., 2007
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lagniappe
reading table
Picasso would be incomprehensible to Rembrandt, but Nijinsky would understand Michael Jackson.
—Zadie Smith, Swing Time
sounds of Lake City*
Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites, “Use Me,” live, 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
*South Carolina.
back to church
“Who Will Be a Witness,” live, St. Paul Baptist Church, Lowrys, S.C., 2002
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago (Columbus Park)
back to church
No wonder the place is packed.
St. James Adult Choir , “O Give Thanks,” live, St. James Baptist Church, Detroit
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
back to church
Post-inaugural blues?
Try this.
First Church of Deliverance Choir, “Afterwhile It’ll All Be Over,” live, Chicago
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, New York (High Line)
*****
my back pages
On a cold, snowy night forty years ago, at a church outside Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Tenor saxophonist Von Freeman (MCOTD Hall of Fame) and pianist John Young, both now gone, performed at the ceremony. All of what they played that night—”Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More” (before); “In a Sentimental Mood” (unaccompanied saxophone, as the bride walked down the aisle); “My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father” (after)—can be heard here (0:15-).
more
Rev. Charles Nicks (1941-1988; organ) & the St. James Adult Choir (feat. Hermon Frederick), “I Can Depend on God,” live, St. James Baptist Church, Detroit
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Whitney Museum of American Art (New York)
Kerry James Marshall (1955-), Souvenir IV (1998)
back to church
Career plans for the next life? If none of those other things pan out (tap dancer, rubboard player in a zydeco band, bass player in a reggae band, guitar player in a Malian band, cellist in a string quartet, bird, accordionist), I might give gospel drummer a try.
Rev. Charles Nicks (1941-1988; organ) & the St. James Adult Choir, “How I Got Over,” live, St. James Baptist Church, Detroit
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lagniappe
art beat: yesterday, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art (Post Black Folk Art in America, 1930-1980-2016, through today)
Thornton Dial (1928-2016), Royal Flag, 1997-1998
old school
Son of Daniel, “You Sure Been Good to Me,” “God Is Able,” live, TV show (Amazing Grace), Miami
(Unfortunately the audio drops out toward the end [3:48].)
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
New Year’s Day—
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
more
Joe Ligon (September 11, 1942-December 11, 2016) with the Mighty Clouds of Joy, “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” (J. Cleveland), live, Charleston, S.C., 1996
passings
Joe Ligon [AKA Willie Joe Ligon], singer, September 11, 1942-December 11, 2016
Today, remembering him, we revisit a few favorites.
*****
October 18, 2010
“I’ve Been in the Storm Too Long,” live, Albertina Walker Memorial Service, Chicago, 10/14/10
Like a lot of impromptu performances, this starts a little shakily; but then it builds, builds, builds.
*****
May 27, 2012
two takes
“Steal Away To Jesus” (with the Mighty Clouds of Joy)
TV show (TV Gospel Time), early 1960s
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Live, South Carolina (Charleston), 1996
*****
December 20, 2015
old school
“I’m Glad About It” (with the Mighty Clouds of Joy), live, Houston, 1967
*****
Gospel singers don’t retire, you know, they just die doing what they do.
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
music clip of the day 