sounds of Mali
Toumani Diabate (kora), live, Switzerland (Geneva), 2013
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lagniappe
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like clouds drifting apart,
a wild goose separates, for now,
from his friend—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Landis Barnhill
Sometimes no word seems more beautiful—quiet.
Jürg Frey (1953-), Paysage pour Gustave Roud; Jürg Frey (clarinet), Dante Boon (piano), Stefan Thut (cello), live, 2011
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lagniappe
reading table
In the middle of the road there was a stone
there was a stone in the middle of the road
there was a stone
in the middle of the road there was a stone.Never should I forget this event
in the life of my fatigued retinas.
Never should I forget that in the middle of the road
there was a stone
there was a stone in the middle of the road
in the middle of the road there was a stone.—Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987), “In the Middle of the Road,” translated from Portuguese by Elizabeth Bishop
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random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
back to church
“He Set Me Free,” Mt. Do-Well Baptist Church, McConnells, S.C., 1991
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And all is always now.
—T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), “Burnt Norton”
what’s new
Banabila & Machinefabriek, “Kaleidoscope,” 2016
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
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Whenever I sleep
with my socks on
I have bad dreams—Yosa Buson (1716-1783), translated from Japanese by W.S. Merwin and Takako Lento
tonight in Chicago
They’ll be playing, together, at Constellation.
Kris Davis & Craig Taborn, “Fox Fire” (Duopoly), 2016
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Is not all music, even the most niggardly, beautiful to the person who loves the very being and existence of music?
—Robert Walser (1878-1956), “The Walk” (translated from German by Christopher Middleton and Susan Bernofsky)
sounds of Mali and South Africa
Twelve strings, two voices—that’s it.
Habib Koite (Mali; lead vocals, guitar), Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa; vocals, guitar), “Africa,” live (studio performance), Seattle, 2016
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Deep autumn—
my neighbor,
how does he live, I wonder?—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
what’s new
Wadada Leo Smith,* “New Orleans: The National Culture Park USA 1718” (W.L. Smith), excerpt (America’s National Parks, out 10/14/16)
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Exultation is the going
Of an inland soul to sea –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 143 (Franklin), excerpt
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*WLS, trumpet; Anthony Davis, piano; Ashley Walters, cello; John Lindberg, bass; Pheeroan akLaff, drums.
alone
Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007), Klavierstück V
Maurizio Pollini (1942-), live, Paris, 2002
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The morning glory!
this too cannot be
my friend.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Robert Aitken
A prediction I made in 2011—she’d be a big star someday—seems to have come true: this has over 8 million views.
Nneka, “Walking,” live, Berlin, 2015
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autumn rain
he’s just like me . . .
the snail—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827; translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue)
sounds of Mali
Salif Keita, live, Switzerland (Winterthur), 2013
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she keeps the nest
nice and neat . . .
widow bird—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827; translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue)
