Cpt. Z
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 87
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| TICKET TO EVERYWHERE - Late Night Free Flight - [AUGUST] |
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7 AUGUST
I was thinking about WCNI and its listening audience. 20+ years ago, WCNI was a pretty big player in the head space of southeastern Connecticut. Today the options for music have increased beyond one's record collection or what is being played on the radio, so I assume that our audience (and influence) has shrunk to some extent, although we continue to do quite well during our fund raising marathon (THANK YOU!). Whether it's the 80's, 90's or 00's, it doesn't matter after midnight as at that time of the day relatively few people are awake and a DJ gets very little feedback from the listeners. It's always quiet up in the control tower deep in the night. I like to imagine what is going on at the other end of the music. People traveling home on the roads, working a late shift with no one to pester them, staying up late to read, think or create, insomniacs looking to chill out, folks getting an early start to the weekend. I can only imagine how the music is being perceived. I've gotten some interesting phone calls over the years which leads me to believe that there are 1001 situations out there with a radio playing in it. I always assume that someone is digging the music on some level and I never find myself feeling that what I play doesn't matter because nobody is listening or caring. The folks who don't care for company at the other end of the music have their internet downloads to turn to nowadays.
Garrison Keillor wrote a nice essay about the magic of radio, back in 2005. I like his jabs at and acceptance of the right wing ranters of talk radio. There's something for everybody on the radio dial.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050523/keillor
I played a loose smorgasbord of tunes this week, ending on an introspective note with vibist, Walt Dickerson. He's from Philly and passed away last year at 80 years of age. I wish there was more info about him on the intertubes that I could lay on you, but he is an undeservedly unknown commodity.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll
His concept is avant and soulful. His playing style is beautiful, usually playing in either solo, duo or trio settings. He released a clutch of highly regarded albums in the mid sixties and then disappeared until the mid seventies when he came back with another batch of slightly more 'out' recordings. I played a cut from his album "Peace", from 1975. The tune morphs from jazz to contemporary composition to soundscapes, all the while radiating 'peace'.
I found some of his music available at rhapsody.com. Give it a listen ... but don't be impatient.
http://www.rhapsody.com/walt-dickerson
Here's da good stuff;
Malombo -- Ugh! -- Ugh!
Oliver Lake -- Don't Go Crazy -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- Sun People -- Jump Up
Oliver Lake -- Hey Lady -- Jump Up
Josh Roseman -- Theme Constellations -- New Constellations Live In Vienna
Oliver Lake -- Bury the Bone -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- Superman -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- The Burbs -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- Fax Machine -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- Consumerfusion -- Matador of 1st & 1st
Oliver Lake -- Consume -- Jump Up
Oliver Lake -- Lef' Sided -- Impala
Christian McBride -- Technicolor Nightmare -- Live at Tonic
DJ Spooky -- Reactive Switching Strategies - Optomotry
DJ Spooky -- Variation Cybernetique -- Optomotry
DJ Spooky -- Asphalt -- Optomotry
EL-P -- Get Modal -- High Water
Miles Davis -- Star People -- Star People
Nels Cline Trio -- Las Vegas Tango -- Silencer
Sonny Sharrock -- Peaceful -- Paradise
Alice Coltrane -- Stop Over Bombay -- Journey In Satchindananda
Claudia Quintet -- Rug Boy -- For
Claudia Quintet -- For You -- For
Toshiko Akiyoshi -- Memory -- Kogun
New Air -- Apricots on Their Wing -- Air Show No.1
Scot Ray Quintet -- Trouble With Sugar -- Active Vapor Recovery
Jackie Mittoo -- Some Kind of Memphis -- Tribute to Jackie Mittoo (comp)
David Murray -- Herbie Miller -- The Hill
Wayne Horvitz -- 3 places in Suburban California -- Nine Below Zero
Wayne Horvitz -- Nine Below Zero -- Nine Below Zero
Herbie Hancock -- Hidden Shadows -- Sextant
Ponga -- Liberache in Space -- Ponga
Pat Metheny -- As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls -- Travels
Harry Nilsson -- Jump Into the Fire -- Nilsson Schmilsson
Morcheeba -- Shoulder Holster -- Big Calm
Walt Dickerson -- Universal Peace -- Peace |
Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:42 am |
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Cpt. Z
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 87
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14 August
This week we went mucking about in the Asian subcontinent. The hot, sticky weather and the loud, chirping night insects have me in the mood for tamburas, tabla drums and a six pack of Kingfisher Strong. All the tunes were fusions - east meeting west, in one form or another, some just tangentially in that orbit. It's all good.
Through no preplanning on my part, I realized that three of the songs played this week came from three different albums titled "Sangam" (a meeting place). All three are good listens and come to the east/west fusion from different places:
http://www.parisdjs.com/index.php/post/Don-Cherry-Latif-Khan-Music-Sangam
This is a little known, one off project from Don Cherry and Latif Khan from 1978. It took until this year for someone (Heavenly Sweetness, from France) to release this wonderful music in a digital format. Highly recommended.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hpfixqwdldje
A trio recorded live in concert in 2004 featuring the interaction of a tabla drum (Zakir Hussain) and a standard western drum set. Charles Lloyd leads the date.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dzfixqyaldje
Composer Michael Nyman (well known for his film scores) travels to India, connects with a few Indian musicians and comes up with a fascinating minimalist new music Indian fusion.
Beyond these "Sangam" albums, I thought I would highlight two more albums played on the show, both featuring Don Cherry:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gzftxqtgldae
Killer-spacey-jazz. Period.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fxfoxq8gldae
There are three Codona albums. This is the one to have if you're only having one. Beautiful.
This Saturday we've got some Indo-jazz fusion rolling into New London!
Check it out: http://www.hygienic.org/events/rudresh-mahanthappas-indopak
Rudresh Mahanthappa is bringing his trio (sax, guitar, tabla) to the Hygenic Art Park for a
free outdoor show
from around 7PM to 11PM. Rudresh Mahanthappa is an American of Indian descent who plays in a progressive style of jazz. This won't be lame 'lite jazz'. I hope that the outdoor bar, next door to the Hygenic Art Park, isn't blasting 80s hits over their sound system.
Check his trio out here - http://www.amazon.com/Apti-Indo-Pak-Coalition/dp/B001EJXRVA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250577481&sr=1-1
Here's a little more backround on Rudresh - http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2009/03/02/090302crmu_music_giddins
What need have I for this, what need have I for that. I am dancing at the feet of my Lord ... all is bliss ... all is bliss (John McLaughlin)
Malombo -- Ugh! -- Ugh!
A. R. Rahman -- Alyaiyo Kanavaa -- Mondo India (comp)
Diga Rhythm Band -- Magnificent Sevens -- Diga
Trilock Gurtu -- Shobarock -- Usfret
Suphala -- Transport -- The Now
Shakti -- Mind Ecology -- Natural Elements
Ravi Shankar -- West Eats Meat -- Tana Mana
Don Cherry -- Degi Degi -- Brown Rice
Don Cherry -- Rhythm 58 1/4 -- Sangam
Don Cherry -- Sangam -- Sangam
Charles Lloyd -- Tales of Rumi -- Sangam
Alice Coltrane -- Shiva-Loki -- Journey In Satchidananda
Alice Coltrane -- Blue Nile -- Ptah, The El Daoud
Ray Spiegel -- I Remember Autumn -- Raga Jazz
Robbie Basho -- A North American Raga -- Bashovia (comp)
Sheila Chandra -- Quiet #3 -- Quiet
Remember Shakti -- Lotus Feet -- The Believer
Shankar -- Astral Projection -- Vision
Don Cherry -- Malkauns -- Brown Rice
Codona -- Trayra Boia -- Codona 3
Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Malcolm Cecil) -- Riversong -- Zero Time
Sheila Chandra -- Quiet #10 -- Quiet
Sheila Chandra -- Mien -- This Sentence Is True
Sheila Chandra -- Not A Word In The Sky -- This Sentence Is True
Philip Glass / Ravi Shankar -- Offering -- Passages
Michael Nyman -- Three Ways Of Describing Rain / Color Of Nature -- Sangam
Steve Hillage -- Aftaglid -- Fish Rising |
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Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:25 am |
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Cpt. Z
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 87
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21 AUGUST
I'm a bit of a stereo equipment nerd. Not too nutz, but always wanting to to get myself as close to the source of the music as possible without going broke or getting too fussy over little things. Live music is the ultimate musical experience, but when one can't hear the music live, it's important to have the music available, sounding as authentic as possible.
There was a time when I worked part time in a stereo shop on Bank St. called The Stereo Lab. This was a shop that was owned and operated by music junkies. The owner, 'Crash' was a great guy who's passion for music and good times usually overruled the business man in him ;o) The staff had wide ranging tastes in music and a lust for life (sidebar - some of these folks are still around the area in different guises. The repair technician, Remy, is still at work for Roberts Audio Video. He was, and still is, a top shelf repair man who is an asset to the local music loving community). The sample music for test driving the components was all over the map. Our default setting for backround music was WCNI. It wasn't unusual to find oneself enjoying a frosty brew while one auditioned the components. It was the music that was being served, not the tech behind the music. It's too bad that that kind of business plan doesn't cut it in the long run.
I've gone from being a middling stereo-phile with high-ish end gear to someone who just wants good sound without any botheration. I've gone from separate components with tubes, etc. to a solid state integrated amp (Onkyo) and inexpensive automatic turntable etc. What I find exciting (?) is that my current system sounds great ... it wasn't cheap, but it didn't cost an arm and a leg either. I'm enjoying listening to my music today as much as I did when I had a larger portion of my money invested into the equipment.
One good source for information regarding musical reproduction is Stereophile Magazine. http://stereophile.com/
Like the late, great Stereo Lab, the music is what is ultimately important in the Stereophile philosophy. The equipment is there to serve the music. There is plenty of tech info for the biggest of gear heads but there are also articles covering all aspects of music and sound. Check out their forums and blogs. Jump into any article and you might find yourself someplace you didn't expect to be.
During this week's show I ended up playing two wonderful singer /pianists off each other, both of them working over the blues.
Amina Claudine Myers is the lesser known of the two but is deserving of wider recognition. Her album, 'Amina Claudine Myers Salutes Bessie Smith' is a must have!
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0xfexqegldae
Here are a couple of tunes from that album;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6T9nXYL0vg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us_s0FyaaCo
The other artist is Nina Simone. 'Nuff said. Read it and weep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZm0jYXZ_2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klyea0oYYrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAYVaHEMK0I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4VhicbVH0&feature=related
Ugh! -- Malombo -- Ugh!
Haitian Fight Song -- The Pentangle -- Sweet Child
Turn You 'Round -- The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers -- The Old Ship Of Zion
Hear My Call -- The Pentangle -- Sweet Child
I Can't Sit Down -- The Steep Canyon Rangers -- Feel Like My Time Ain't Long (comp)
If You Don't Mind -- The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers -- The Old Ship Of Zion
Neon Tetra -- David Grisman -- Hot Dawg
Spare Change -- Michael Hedges -- Aerial Boundries
Hoedown -- Modern Mandolin Quartet -- Intermezzo
Black Crow -- Cassandra Wilson -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn
Steamboat Gwine 'Round de Bend -- John Fahey -- Live In Tasmania
Devlin' -- David Grisman -- Hot Dawg
Nashville Cats -- Lovin' Spoonful -- Greatest Hits (comp)
Pentangling -- The Pentangle -- The Pentangle
Wasted Life Blues -- Amina Claudine Myers -- ... Salutes Bessie Smith
Backlash Blues -- Nina Simone -- The Blues (comp)
Dirty No-Gooder Blues -- Amina Claudine Myers -- ... Salutes Bessie Smith
My Man Is Gone Now -- Nina Simone -- The Blues
Jailhouse Blues -- Amina Claudine Myers -- ... Salutes Bessie Smith
Blues For Mama -- Nina Simone -- The Blues
Crying Blues -- Charles Mingus -- Blues & Roots
Judgment -- Andrew Hill -- Judgment
Infogee's Cakewalk -- Vijay Iyer -- Reimagining
The Shape Of Things -- Vijay Iyer/Rudresh Mahanthappa -- Raw Materials
All The Names -- Vijay Iyers/Rudresh Mahanthappa -- Raw Materials
Extensions -- Ahmad Jamal -- Outertimeinnerspace
Cliche' Heaven -- Ken Nordine -- A Transparant Mask
Aquarian Sound -- David S Ware -- Flight Of I
Akond Of Swat -- Ken Nordine -- A Transparent Mask
Processional -- Keith Jarrett -- Nude Ants
African Blues -- Amina Claudine Myers -- ... Salutes Bessie Smith
Sound Play For Sabine -- Eric Leonardson -- Radio Reverie In The Waiting Place
Since you've read this far, here's a dessert treat for you. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBdaYKqMUs |
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Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:14 am |
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Cpt. Z
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 87
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28 August
This week I heard an interesting announcement from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) on one of our local commercial FM stations tipping us to pending congressional legislation that would allow radio stations to be 'taxed' in order to play music over the air. It seems that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is pushing to have radio stations be required to pay a fee in order to ensure that the song writers and musicians get compensated for their creations. I'm just giving you the rough gist of the matter. Here's the NAB's take:
http://www.noperformancetax.org/
Click on "Get the Real Story" and scroll down to the links to the pending congressional bills. In one of the bills it states that radio stations with incomes below $1,250,000 ( ) will have to pay a $5000 fee. That would kill stations like WCNI. But, then it says that if a radio station is a legitimate non-profit station, it would have to pay (only) $1000. 
Either way, it's a kick in the crotch to radio. Let's face it, radio is where music is exposed to listeners. Radio is probably the best promotional outlet for music that exists. How much money have artists made because stations like WCNI have given them air play? Hell, it seems like yesterday when REM and U2 where college radio darlings.
My mama taught me that there are two sides to every story, so maybe the RIAA has a point. But not only does WCNI expose music to the masses (!), it also pays $$ to ASCAP & BMI for royalty payments for the artists and composers. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
This week I had my buddy, Big U, up in the control tower with me. He's a 60s & 70s rock & roll nut. We tried to cover music that you could have heard on commercial FM back in the 70s. Nothing too odd or esoteric, just solid stuff that pleases the ears.
Commercial FM was pretty damn cool at one time. There was local, home brew-ish advertising, uninterrupted album sides, the midnight DJ on WHCN who had is voice processed through a reverb pedal to give one the impression of him being in a cave, Stone Man on WPKN who ended his shows with John Prine's 'Illegal Smile'. Oh yeah.
I remember a night in 1977 or 78 when I tuned into WPKN, the last cool Connecticut station standing amid the sell out of FM radio programming going down everywhere in those days. That night I, surprisingly, found myself listening to slickly produced advertising for national chains and narrowly selected big hits rock & roll. The DJ sounded like a tool, disconnected from the music. In one day, the last island of cool Connecticut commercial FM had given up on the music and was now using the music to lure advertisers, just like everyone else. Thank goodness for the vibrant non-commercial FM scene in Connecticut.
Big U and I ended the night with a couple post-Beatle tunes from Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey is such a fine bit of trippy whimsy. The kettle's on the boil - and we're so easily called awaaaaay...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c2b8IcrQu4
Isn't it a Pity captures a reflective vibe that strips away all the crap that we carry around with us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuStBNkvwhE
Ugh! -- Malombo -- Ugh!
Witchi-Tai-To -- Brewer & Shipley - Tarkio Road
Rosewood Bitters -- Michael Stanley -- Michael Stanley
Tarkio Road -- Brewer & Shipley -- Tarkio Road
Luxury Liner -- Emmylou Harris -- Luxury Liner
Let Me Pass -- (Long) John Baldry -- Good To Be Alive
Fire On The Mountain -- Marshall Tucker Band -- Searchin' For A Rainbow
You're Between Me -- Pure Prairie League -- Pure Prairie League
Bob Away My Blues -- Marshall Tucker Band -- Searchin' For A Rainbow
Anyway Bye Bye -- Poco -- Poco
Cravin' Your Love -- Commander Cody -- Hot Licks & Cold Steel...
It Should've Been Me -- Commander Cody -- Hot Licks & Cold Steel
Watch My .38 -- Commander Cody -- Hot Licks & Cold Steel
Tobacco Road -- Rare Earth -- Get Ready
Soul Kitchen -- Doors -- The Doors
The Last Time -- Rolling Stones -- High Tide & Green Grass (comp)
Smoke Stack Lightning -- Animals -- Animalisim
I Put A Spell On You -- Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Creedence Clearwater Revival
Train To Nowhere -- Savoy Brown -- Blue Matter
Lost And Lonely Child -- Savoy Brown -- Hellbound Train
Evil Woman -- Spooky Tooth -- Spooky Two
Termination -- Iron Butterfly -- Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida
Are You Happy -- Iron Butterfly -- Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida
Hand Me Down World -- Guess Who -- Live At The Paramount
Heart Full Of Soul -- Yardbirds -- Yardbirds (Roger The Engineer)
Evil Hearted You -- Yardbirds -- ? (comp)
Deserted Cities Of The Heart -- Cream -- Wheels Of Fire
Heaven Is In Your mind -- Three Dog Night --Three Dog Night (One)
Crimson & Clover -- Tommy James & the Shondells -- ? (comp)
Eli's Coming -- Three Dog Night -- Suitable For Framing
Gimme Shelter -- Grand Funk Railroad -- Live - The 1971 Tour
Batuka -- Santana -- Santana III
No One To Depend On -- Santana -- Santana III
Purple Haze / Improv -- Jimi Hendrix -- Woodstock Soundtrack
All Along The Watchtower -- Dave Mason -- Dave Mason
Danny's Chant -- Fleetwood Mac -- Bare Trees
Spare me A Little Of Your Love -- Fleetwood Mac -- Bare Trees
Pride Of Man -- Quick Silver Messenger Service -- Quick Silver Messenger Service
Blues Pt. 2 -- Blood Sweat & Tears -- Blood Sweat & Tears
Poem 58 -- Chicago -- Chicago Transit Authority
Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey -- Paul McCartney -- Ram
Isn't It A Pity -- George Harrison -- All Things Must Pass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z1wNrPHGlQ |
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Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:54 am |
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