what’s new
I’ve got some music for you . . .
—my (20-year-old) son Luke, in a hospital room, moments after returning from general anesthesia and foot surgery
“Made In America,” Kanye West & Jay-Z, with Frank Ocean (Watch the Throne), 2011
Vodpod videos no longer available.. . . it might be my favorite song on the whole album.
only rock ’n roll
The Dirtbombs, live, New York (Other Music), 2009
Vodpod videos no longer available.Note: If this doesn’t play properly, make sure the “HD” option is turned on (lower righthand corner).
More? Here.
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reading table
to the west
is Buddha’s paradise . . .
withered fields—Kobayashi Issa (trans. David G. Lanoue), 1819
serendipity
There are a lot of listening experiences I value, such as, for instance, a recent chance encounter with this guy, even if, in describing them, it wouldn’t occur to me to use the word “like.” Limiting yourself to stuff you like just makes your world smaller, doesn’t it?
John Mannion, live, 5/24/11, Austin, Texas
8/7/11, Live Constructions, WKCR-FM, broadcasting from Columbia University (Sunday, 10-11 p.m. [EST])
passings
Jerry Lieber, songwriter, April 25, 1933-August 22, 2011
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, “Hound Dog” (J. Lieber & M. Stoller), live (TV broadcast; Buddy Guy, guitar; Fred Below, drums), Europe, 1965 (originally recorded 1952)
Vodpod videos no longer available.(Originally posted 12/10/10.)
*****
Nick Ashford, songwriter, singer, May 4, 1941-August 22, 2011
Ashford & Simpson, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (N. Ashford & V. Simpson), live
Vodpod videos no longer available.*****
David “Honeyboy” Edwards, singer, guitar player, June 28, 1915-
August 29, 2011
Live, WBEZ-FM (Chicago), 2008
Vodpod videos no longer available.keep on dancing
DJ Funktual, “Top 10 Samples in Hip-Hop History” (Part I)
Vodpod videos no longer available.Happy Birthday, Bird!
Charlie Parker, alto saxophonist, August 29, 1920-March 12, 1955
According to Miles Davis, the history of jazz can be summarized in four words: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker.
Charlier Parker & Dizzy Gillespie, “Hot House,” live (TV broadcast), 1952
(Originally posted 10/17/09.)
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lagniappe
radio
WKCR-FM’s Lester Young/Charlie Parker birthday marathon runs until midnight—today’s all Bird.
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musical thoughts
Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you.
—Charlie Parker
As Hurricane Irene hits New York, let’s head to Harlem.
Harold Robinson, Earl Washington, Paul Williams, “Two Wings,” live, Harlem Church of Christ (338 Lenox Ave.), 27th Northeastern Lectureship, 2008
Vodpod videos no longer available.**********
lagniappe
radio
Speaking of New York, WKCR-FM (broadcasting from Columbia University) continues its Lester Young/Charlie Parker birthday marathon today and tomorrow.
Happy Birthday, Lester!
Lester Young, tenor saxophonist, August 27, 1909-March 15, 1959
Lester Young (ts) with Carl “Tatti” Smith (trumpet), Count Basie (piano), Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums) (10/9/36, Chicago)
“Oh, Lady Be Good”
Vodpod videos no longer available.***
“Shoe Shine Boy”
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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lagniappe
radio: 72 glorious hours
Assuming Irene doesn’t crash the party, the folks at WKCR-FM (broadcasting from Columbia University)* will be playing Lester Young all day today and into tomorrow, when, at some point, they’ll make the transition to Charlie Parker, whose birthday is Monday. As I wrote last year: “Something happens—something delicious—when you surrender your ears and yourself to someone’s music for such a sustained period of time. Little by little, that musician moves in, taking up residence in your brain. Their distinctive voice becomes, for a time, inseparable from everything else you’re hearing and seeing and thinking and feeling.”
*Later note (2:45 p.m. [CST]): When I just checked, their website seemed to be down; you can also get them via iTunes (radio/college).
two takes
“Teach Me Tonight”
Amy Winehouse, TV broadcast (Later with Jools Holland, BBC), 12/31/04
Vodpod videos no longer available.How nervous is she? Just look at those hands (:04-:14).
More? Here.
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Dinah Washington, recording, 1954
Vodpod videos no longer available.**********
langiappe
Tony Bennett on Amy Winehouse (weeks before her death)
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Does anyone have more fun than drummers?
Sonny Rollins/Don Cherry Quartet (SR, tenor saxophone; DC, trumpet; Henry Grimes, bass; Billy Higgins, drums), “52nd Street Theme” (T. Monk), live (TV broadcast), Rome, 1962
Vodpod videos no longer available.More Sonny Rollins? Here. And here. And here. And here. And here.
More Don Cherry? Here. And here.
More Billy Higgins? Here.
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lagniappe
You know the drum was the first instrument besides the human voice.
