alone
György Kurtág (1926-), from Signs, Games and Messages; Ensemble Musikfabrik (Hannah Weirich, violin), live, Cologne (Germany), 2020
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
Another year gone—
hat in my hand,
sandals on my feet.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from the Japanese by Robert Hass
sounds of Chicago
Jessy Dixon (1938-2011) with Vernon Oliver Price and Loretta Oliver, “There Is No Failure in God” (M. Brunson), live, Chicago (Liberty Baptist Church), 2007
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
like nobody else
James Brown (1933-2006), live, Paris, 1968
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
You shout from the other room
You ask me how to spell boogie-woogie
And instantly I think what luck
no war has been declared
no fire has consumed
our city’s monuments
our bodies our dwellings
The river didn’t flood
no friends
have been arrested
It’s only boogie-woogie
I sigh relieved
and say it’s spelled just like it sounds
boogie-woogie
—Adam Zagajewski (1945–2021), “Boogie-Woogie” (translated from the Polish by Clare Cavanagh)
what’s new
Arooj Aftab (vocals) with Darian Donovan Thomas (violin), Shahzad Ismaily (bass, synthesizer), Gyan Riley (guitar), Maeve Gilchrist (harp), live (“Suroor,” “Mohabbat,” “Saans Lo”), New York (Brooklyn), published 12/8/21
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Chicago
spellbinding
Daniil Trifonov (1991-, piano), live, Verbier (Switzerland), 2012: Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849), Eight Études (Op. 10, No. 11; Op. 10, No. 6; Op. 25, No. 1; Op. 25, No. 5; Op. 10, No. 5; Op. 25, No. 6; Op. 25, No. 7; Op. 25, No. 11)
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lagniappe
reading table
Look, look greedily,
when dusk approaches,
look insatiably,
look without fear.—Adam Zagajewski (1945–2021), from “Mountains” (translated from the Polish by Clare Cavanagh)
sounds of New York (and all over)
Jazz Libre, live, New York, 11/12/21
1st set: Willy Rodriguez’s Exploraciones Ponceñas’ (Willy Rodriguez, drums; Dezron Douglas, bass; Santiago Leibson, piano;Yoni Kretzmer, tenor saxophone)
2nd set: William Parker’s Southern Satellites (WP, bass; Francisco Mela, drum set; Isaiah Barr, tenor saxophone; Dario Gomez, voice, percussion; Oscar Pena, tambora; Isaiah Parker, piano)
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
like nothing else
Leroy Jenkins (1932-2007, violin) and Abdul Wadud (1947-, cello), live (“Straight Ahead,” “Free at Last”), Italy (Cremona), 1979
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
basement jukebox
Guitar Slim (aka Eddie Jones, 1926-1959, vocals, guitar), “The Things That I Used to Do” (E. Jones; arranged and produced by Ray Charles), 1953
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
like nobody else
Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972), “I Couldn’t Keep It to Myself,” live
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
sounds of Christmas
Bessie Smith (1894-1937) with Joe Smith (cornet), Charlie Green (trombone), Fletcher Henderson (piano), “At the Christmas Ball,” 1925
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Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929), “Christmas Eve Blues,” 1928
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Victoria Spivey (1906-1976) with Lonnie Johnson (guitar), “Christmas Morning Blues,” 1928
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Leroy Carr (1905-1935), “Christmas in Jail—Ain’t That a Pain,” 1929
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Sonny Boy Williamson I (1914-1948), “Christmas Morning Blues,” 1938
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Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers with Charles Brown (1922-1999, vocals, keyboards), “Merry Christmas, Baby,” 1947
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Lowell Fulson (1921-1999), “Lonesome Christmas (I & II),” 1950
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Sonny Boy Williamson II (AKA Alex or Aleck Miller, 1912-1965), “Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues,” 1951
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John Lee Hooker (1917-2001), “Blues for Christmas,” 1959
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
music clip of the day 