American rocker and painter Don Van Vliet, who recorded under the moniker Captain Beefheart, has died at the age of 69. According to a representative for the Michael Werner Gallery in New York, the star passed away on 17th Dec 2010, reports Contactmusic. The exact cause of his death was unknown, although he had long [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Chili’
Captain Beefheart dies aged 69
OFF! | NYC | Review
By: Ron Hart
OFF! :: 10.22.10 :: Generation Records :: New York, NY
OFF!’s debut, The First Four EPs, is out digitally worldwide. iTunes has the exclusive bonus track “Zero Hour” and eMusic has the exclusive bonus track “Sexy Capitalists.” The vinyl box set and cassette versions of The First Four EPs will be released on December 14th.
OFF! by Dan Monick |
For a guy who collects vinyl, having to wait in line for a show in the basement of one of your favorite record shops instead of thumbing through the racks is a practice in restraint no crate digger worth his weight in wax should be required to endure. But when the concert you are waiting to see is an intimate performance from former Black Flag/Circle Jerks frontman Keith Morris’ new California punkcore supergroup OFF!, it is well worth the torture.
Formed by Morris in 2009 and rounded out by guitarist Dimitri Coats of Burning Brides, Rocket from the Crypt drummer Mario Rubalcaba and Steven McDonald of Red Kross fame on bass guitar, the band is a total throwback to the days when punk rock was a bloodsport, a time that Morris fondly recalled several times over the course of OFF!’s half-hour set.
In fact, right when we walked down the steps of Generation Records’ nugget-rich used section that comprises the basement, Morris was in the middle of a yarn about his old bandmate in Black Flag, Robo, making extra money in the old days allegedly digging ditches for a snuff film operation before OFF! tore into an uncompromising mini-set that featured select tunes from the band’s excellently brief 7-inch box set The First Four EPs. As records by Iggy Pop, AC/DC, David Bowie and The Who adorned the wall behind them, the quartet played loud, fast and fearless, tearing through minute-long songs like “Darkness,” “Killing Away” and “Fuck People” with the tenacity of a far younger band, interspersed with Morris musing on everything from the capitalist practices of his former peers on the L.A. scene like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gwen Stefani to meeting guitarist McDonald when he was just an 11-year-old Black Flag fan who used to sneak into shows.
However, the most poignant moment of the evening came when Morris performed a stirring, ferocious tribute to his old pal, the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce of western punk icons The Gun Club, and with whom Keith was in the early stages of working on a musical collaboration before Pierce tragically succumbed to a brain hemorrhage in 1996.
And nothing was cooler than seeing this whole thing go down at Generation, a place where so many NYC punk fans discovered the dreadlocked trail of inspiration, influence and energy Keith Morris has blazed for over 30 years and continues to do so as a 55-year-old creating some of the most incendiary sounds of the 21st century.
JamBase | Pissed Off
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Flogging Molly: 2011 Green 17 Tour Dates
TOUR STARTS FEBRUARY 8 IN DALLAS, TX
![]() Flogging Molly |
Celtic punk ensemble Flogging
Molly have announced dates for their 7th Annual Green 17 Tour, which crosses the U.S. from February 8
through March 19 (see dates below). The Green 17 Tour was born in 2004 as a countdown to St Patrick’s Day with a
performance celebration in each city leading to the holiday.
The band is currently in Asheville, NC recording their new album with producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers,
The Avett Brothers). Songs from the upcoming 2011 release will be performed during the Green 17 Tour. Special
guests for the tour will be announced shortly.
Tickets for the Green 17 Tour go on sale on December 11. For more info on the 2011 Green 17 Tour, visit www.floggingmolly.com.
Flogging Molly 2011 Green 17 Tour Dates:
February 8 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
February 9 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
February 11 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
February 12 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore
February 13 – Tampa, FL – Ritz Ybor
February 14 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
February 15 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore
February 17 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
February 18 – Norfolk, VA – NorVa
February 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues
February 20 – Albany, NY – Northern Lights
February 22 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
February 24 – Rochester, NY – The Armory
February 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
February 26 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
February 27 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
March 2 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
March 3 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
March 4 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
March 5 – Nashville, TN – War Memorial Auditorium
March 7 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
March 8 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant
March 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
March 11 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater
March 12 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater
March 13 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
March 15 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
March 17 – Tempe, AZ – Luckyman’s St Patrick’s Day Bash
March 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Beach at Mandalay Bay
March 19 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
Flogging Molly
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12 Musicians & Bands Snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Controversy has surrounded the Hall of Fame in regards to how the nomination process is run, since only a few individuals are behind it — and they’re not even musicians.
Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace | 04.05 | NYC
Words by: Nick Todaro | Images by: Josh Jarrett
Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace :: 04.05.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY
Yorke & Flea – Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC |
Beneath the digital glitter that the world refers to as Times Square, there’s a hidden layer of contextual meaning that provides an explanation as to why our world has become so hectically distorted. Taking a look around this area, advertising displays dominate the landscape; completely side swiping the architectural marvels that wait at every corner and undermining the gritty sincerity such a metropolis has to offer. For the average tourist, looking up at the Roseland Ballroom‘s marquee displaying “Atoms For Peace: Sold Out” must have meant absolutely nothing amidst the sea of endless billboards. However, if you were one of the people waiting in the line wrapping around the block to get into to the Roseland, it meant nothing less than the world.
Back in October, Thom Yorke assembled an all-star backing band consisting of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, R.E.M. and Beck touring drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco of Forro in the Dark to play Yorke’s solo material. Now performing under the name Atoms For Peace, the group kicked off their first tour in New York.
DJ mastermind Flying Lotus opened the evening by delivering an animated set to an eager audience. For the majority of his performance, FlyLo grooved and lip-synced his way around the material while keeping his beats well knit. Regardless of his skills as a DJ, the Roseland’s speakers were not able to handle the bass frequency of the performance. Cracking thuds kept interrupting the sound quality during the most unfortunate of moments. Ending his set with a remix of Radiohead’s “Idioteque,” FlyLo hyped the crowd right when they needed it most. “It’s almost that time,” he announced as the song came to a halt and the house lights came back up.
Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC |
A half hour later the fervent audience erupted into applause as the room went dark once again. Walking to the left side of the stage, Thom Yorke sat down at his piano to commence a full band recreation of his 2006 solo album The Eraser with the LP’s title track. Along with the addition of a horn player, the band expanded towards a much denser sound than the record displays and instantly threw the crowd into a sonic trance.
Continuing the album in sequence, “Analyse” gave Yorke a chance to demonstrate his arcane falsetto. As the Ballroom attendees continued to fill the room with cheers, Mauro Refosco grabbed hold of a Whamola to add a compelling new element to “The Clock.” After upbeat favorite “Black Swan,” another instrumental surprise occurred with Flea – who happened to be rocking blue hair – swapping out his bass guitar for a melodica to produce a spellbinding version of “Skip Divided.” Together, Yorke and Flea looked like a couple of snake charmers dancing underneath the entrancing arsenal of green pulsating luminosity. Clearly, these guys were having an absolute blast.
Godrich’s stalky silhouette hovered over an assortment of electronics and synthesizers while keeping busy on “Atoms For Peace” and “It Rained All Night.” Both of these songs received a huge crowd response, especially during the latter’s stand out line, “And it rained all night and washed the filth away/ Down New York air condition drains.” Keeping the energy level high, “Harrowdown Hill” gave Flea a rare opportunity to return to his slap bass roots, which attached a new layer of funkiness to the tune. As “Cymbal Rush” concluded the opening set, eyes remained fixated on the whirling figures up on the stage.
Thom Yorke – Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC |
After a brief encore break, Yorke returned to perform a few songs solo. “Boy! There’s a lot of stuff to remember in those songs. Speaking of remembering, here’s one you’ve never heard before,” he said before debuting “Chris Hodge/Let Me Take Control.” The number features a trill vocal performance by Yorke as he supplely finger picks his way around the guitar. Following this was a piano driven “Daily Mail,” which Yorke debuted last summer. Building up to the song’s pinnacle of pouncing chords, Yorke sent the crowd into a frenzy as he finished and went into the Radiohead classic “Everything In Its Right Place.”
After another short break the rest of the guys rejoined Yorke, and the group dove into the Radiohead b-side “Paperbag Writer” before plunging into a new Radiohead track entitled “Judge, Jury, Executioner.” Held together by a bouncy rhythmic core, the song boasts a dimension of gloominess that’s become one of the signature elements of Radiohead’s music. Grinning, Yorke added a sense of foreshadowing to the last songs by stating, “We’re about to get crazy up here.” Soon, the room became immersed in a battle between jumpy bass patterns and frantic percussion rhythms during “Hollow Earth.” Similarly, “Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses” felt completely disorderly with its changing time signature, while maintaining a strict composition that could only have been masterminded by Yorke. Ending the track in a glitchy jam, the band waved their final goodbyes and the crowd pleaded for more.
Walking out of the Roseland and back into the dizzying clutter of lights in Times Square, many seemed to be wondering if these live performances would result in the group collaborating on an album together or further touring. Underneath the tangled assortment of propagated messages, experiencing something with such a consequential vibe to it seemed far too genuine to have a limited number of occurrences. If Atoms For Peace is any indication of Yorke continuing his career outside of Radiohead, we’re in for one hell of a ride.
var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”1″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=20″);}); Thom Yorke / Atoms For Peace | Roseland Ballroom | New York, NY Thom Yorke’s new band Atoms For Peace kick off their tour at New York’s Roseland Ballroom to a sold out crowd… View Photos
Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace:: 04.05.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY
The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms For Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush
E: ChrisHodge/Let Me Take Control (NEW SONG)*, The Daily Mail*, Everything In Its Right Place*
E2: Paperbag Writer, Judge, Jury & Executioner, Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses
* = Yorke Solo
Atoms For Peace Tour Dates :: Atoms For Peace News :: Atoms For Peace Concert Reviews
JamBase | Right Place
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Why Chili is So Important
I was a bit surprised to realize that in the 3 years I have been writing here, I have never written about Chili. Then I thought “Well, that’s not a huge surprise, considering that Chili has absolutely nothing to do with Marketing”. If you are not into cooking or chili, this would be a good [...]
Earl Greyhound: New Album
EARL GREYHOUND TO RELEASE SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE APRIL 13
Earl Greyhound |
Brooklyn trio Earl Greyhound will release their second full length album, Suspicious Package, a blistering rock inferno, on April 13. Suspicious Package was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA under the nimble and keen production auspices of Dave Schiffman (Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down).
The band formed in 2002 with the collaboration of songwriters Matt Whyte and Kamara Thomas, who began performing regularly as a duo in New York City. All the while, they were crafting the unique sound and songs that would form the foundation for a colossal rock band. Their influences swept from the strident English three-and four-pieces of the 70′s, to the dark pop and heavy grunge grooves of the 90′s, to the transcendental, noisy acid sounds of modern rock.
In 2005, Earl Greyhound recorded their first album, Soft Targets, but also hit their first snag when drummer Chris Bear left to pursue his fortunes with the band Grizzly Bear. Reluctant to release the album without a permanent drummer, Matt and Kamara vowed to play relentlessly until their dream drummer found them.
Later, guitar player Kirk Douglass (The Roots) witnessed a show and brought his friend and Gold Crowns band mate Ricc Sheridan to the next few gigs. Says Ricc, “I awoke from a dream one night, and I knew this was my band.” A few weeks later, a rockneck-inducing jam confirmed that the band had found its soul mate, and they hit the ground running. Soft Targets and Earl Greyhound’s wrecking ball of a live show earned them oodles of fans and critical acclaim from The New Yorker, SPIN, Rolling Stone, JamBase, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork, among others.
The next three years were spent touring the U.S., Canada and Japan as well as opening for Gov’t Mule, Chris Cornell and Saul Williams.
Suspicious Package marks a turning point in the band’s maturation since the benefit of Sheridan’s full creative collaboration. Listeners will notice a marked expansion into the higher reaches of the sonic territories.
Suspicious Package Track Listing
1. The Eyes Of Cassandra (Part 1)
2. The Eyes Of Cassandra (Part 2)
3. Oye Vaya
4. Ghost And The Witness
5. Shotgun
6. Holy Immortality
7. Sea Of Japan
8. Black Sea Vacation
9. Bill Evans
10. Out Of Air
11. Misty Morning
Earl Greyhound tour dates available here.
And for more on Earl Greyhound, see our 2007 feature here.
Madonna invests £937K in coconut water manufacturing firm
Queen of pop Madonna has invested 937,000 pounds in a coconut water manufacturing firm after she fell in love with the drink during her Sticky & Sweet world tour.
Madonna, 51, along with her manager Guy Oseary, snapped up shares of New York-based company Vita Coco, which sells the latest trendy beverage across the U.S.
And [...]
Ron Asheton Tribute | 01.13 | L.A.
Words & Images by: L Paul Mann
Ron Asheton Tribute :: 01.13.10 :: The Roxy Theatre :: Los Angeles, CA
Ron Asheton (press photo) |
One year after his death, this special show in L.A. was a fitting tribute to the Stooges‘ Ron Asheton.
Organized by his 18-year-old niece, Leanna Asheton – whose father is the original Stooges drummer, Scott Asheton – the tribute was a chaotic, low-key showcase of some great new bands, as well as a chameleon jam comprised of a bevy of veteran rock stars. Formed in 1967, the innovative Stooges are widely regarded as helping give birth to punk music. Lead singer Iggy Pop, who may have invented stage diving, became an American pop icon largely due to his antics with the Stooges. The proceeds from the door were donated to the Los Angeles Welfare Trust Fund because of Ron Asheton’s fondness for cats and dogs. The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip was perhaps the perfect venue for a tribute to the irreverent Ron Asheton. In the nearly four decades since it opened in 1973, little has changed at the dusty little theatre. The same dingy black curtains open to reveal the well-worn stage. The same dark, dimly lit interior enveloped the crowd, dressed mostly in black garb, an identical scene that has played out over and over since the infamous venue first opened.
The event started out relatively orderly, with great young talent being announced and showcased. Hand picked by Leanna, presumably for their strong edgy sounds akin to the Stooges, there were some great new acts flexing their retro roots. Opening band Billy Boy On Poison played gutsy bluesy rock, belying their youthful appearance. Singer Davis Le Duke led the band in a full rock and roll assault of the Stooges’ classic “Search and Destroy.”
The Entrance Band followed with a more modern but no less intense set of music. Sounding like a cross between The Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine, the newfangled trio created a wall of powerful, jam trance rock. Lead singer and guitarist Guy Blakeslee, who plays his guitar upside down and left handed, said, “This is all for Ron.”
The Entrance Band |
The Southern rock influenced Night Horse played the next set. This Los Angeles-based band sounds a bit like Band of Horses, but with a more traditional Southern blues-rock backbone like The Allman Brothers. The five-piece tore through a short set of hard rocking songs. Lead singer Sam James Velde was joined by Billy Boy’s Davis Le Duke for a blues drenched duet at the end of their set. Velde dedicated the night not only to Asheton, but also to contemporary alt-punk rocker Jay Reatard, who had just died that day.
At this point, in a true punk spirit that Ron Asheton would have probably enjoyed, chaos and confusion prevailed. As the special lineup of rock legends began to congregate onstage, gone were the introductions, leaving the crowd to guess who was actually moving in and out of the ever-changing lineup. Much of the super jam session was led by legendary punk bassist Mike Watt, best known as the founding member of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Watt joined the reformed Stooges in 2003. The other most prolific player of the evening was longtime Stooges collaborator Steve Mackay (sax, keys). A revolving mix of drum superstars included Scott Asheton, Jane’s Addiction‘s Stephen Perkins, and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith.
A parade of singers took the stage to belt out classic Stooges numbers. Mike Jtone of Circus Boy performed in classic Stooges fashion, singing in a trance-like rage. Stage diving, writhing on the floor and kicking instruments about the stage, he raised the ire of Mackay after knocking over his keyboards. Steve Baise, another legendary New York punk bassist, actually played this first barrage of music until he stage dived into the press photographers. Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) also played bass before Mike Watt took over.
Mike Watt |
The guitarists were also mixing it up. Scott Thurston quietly took the stage about the same time as Mike Watt. He replaced another former Stooges guitarist, James Williamson. Thurston, who was the Stooges’ keyboardist from 1973 until their initial break up in 1977, is perhaps best known as the current guitar player for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. As Watt began his portion of the jam, he cheekily asked the crowd, “Does anybody know ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog?’” When an unidentified member of the audience raised his hand, Watt offered him the microphone and the would-be-singer scrambled onstage to perform an impressive rendition of the song with the super group jamming behind him. Then, Watt took over singing duties on other Stooges classics like “1969″ and “I Feel Alright.”
The super jam was followed by the headliner, the Saint Louis-based Living Things. Reminiscent of early Romantics, this hard rocking band has a clean, polished sound that might be destined for the top of the music charts. Led by lead singer Lillian Berlin and his brothers Eve (bass) and Bosh (drums), along with Cory Becker on guitar, this band has been charting music since their 2005 debut, Ahead of the Lions. Looking and sounding every bit like a classic cutting edge rock band, Living Things may be on the brink of mass exposure. The band is slated to appear as the legendary Ramones in the upcoming motion picture The Runaways. The film, scheduled to premiere January 24 at the Sundance Film Festival, is based on the story of the ’70s all-girl band of the same name that launched the careers of Joan Jett and Lita Ford. The band played a frenetic set laced with Stooges songs at the Roxy.
After most of the crowd had departed, there was one final late night set led by an Iggy Pop impersonator, with Scott Asheton back on drums for more Stooges classics.
Continue reading for more pics of the Ron Asheton Tribute…
Mike Jtone
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Mike Jtone, Stephen Perkins, Jesse Hughes
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Billy Boy On Poison
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Davis Le Duke – Billy Boy On Poison
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The Entrance Band
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Steve Mackay
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Night Horse
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Scott Thurston
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Random fan singing “I Wanna Be Your Dog”
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Chad Smith
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Stephen Perkins
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Living Things
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Living Things
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Iggy Pop impersonator
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JamBase | Fun House
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Frusciante No Longer A Red Hot Chili Pepper
John Frusciante No Longer In the Red Hot Chili Peppers
John Frusciante |
Thanks to Pitchfork, we’ve learned that super-shredder John Frusciante is no longer in Red Hot Chili Peppers. Turns out the guitar ace actually quit about a year ago. Here’s the “Clarification” from Frusciante’s MySpace page:
When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.
To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.
I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.
Sending love and gratitude to you all.
:-)
Frusciante has released several solo albums, the most recent was The Empyrean (January 20, 2009).
This departure is the second time Frusciante has quit the Chili Peppers. He joined the band in 1988 following the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak and quit the first time in 1992. He rejoined the band in 1999. No replacement has been announced, but Pitchfork and MusicRadar are reporting that the Peppers have been working with Josh Klinghoffer.
Stanley Clarke Trio | 10.05 | Minneapolis
Words by: Joe Lang | Images by: Woody Wolfe
Stanley Clarke Trio :: 10.05.09 :: Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant :: Minneapolis, MN
Stanley Clarke Trio | 10.05 | MN |
Hiromi is the future of jazz. A personification of youth, sex appeal, charisma, accessibility, femininity, humility and humor, the five-foot-nothing Amazon woman seems to exhibit everything that the connotation of jazz is not. This type of expectation defying excitement is just what jazz is lacking and needs more of. For her second appearance at the Dakota this year, this time with the Return to Forever rhythm section of Stanley Clarke and Lenny White (billed as the Stanley Clarke Trio in support of Clarke’s 2009 Jazz in the Garden – see JamBase review here), Hiromi brought every aspect of her persona and musicianship to put on a master class that simultaneously created a cohesive musical statement and overshadowed her bandmates. In contrast to her primary influence, Chick Corea, who appeared with the rhythm section the previous month (see the review here), Hiromi used her dynamism and chops not as an end in themselves, but as a mean to cultivate a transcendent musical impact that tore the house down.
The trio opened with a piece which made its live premiere at the venue the previous month, Clarke’s “Three Wrong Notes.” On the frantic swinger, Clarke and White allowed Hiromi out of the gate with a stream of machine gun lines and a vocabulary and cohesion of ideas that dwarfs players three times her age. While her solo was unbelievable in and of itself, her comping behind Clarke after her solo concluded was what cemented her maturity as a player. Unlike Corea in his performance the month before, Hiromi played very sparse and supportive lines behind Clarke’s rapid fire solo, exhibiting a willingness and desire to not command the performance but to serve the music as a whole. Clarke set up a groove not unlike James Singleton’s playing on Robert Walter’s “Parts and Holes,” and the group was into the traditional “Sakura Sakura.” Again, the dynamic emotive range of the trio was on full display as Hiromi conjured up the spirit of maestros like McCoy Tyner and Ahmad Jamal in her chordal fragments and light-as-a-feather touch.
Clarke & Hiromi | 10.05 | MN |
The highlight of the night came next as the trio took on Chick Corea’s “No Mystery.” With dazzling unison lines, the piece was a dynamic roller coaster with an endless supply of energy and a sense of melody and counterpoint that transcended the original version. They garnered a standing ovation from many of the club’s patrons (myself included). Hiromi stood with an enormous smile as Clarke took the microphone and facetiously talked about the history of the song. “That was one of our easier pieces of the night. Lenny and I were on the original recording, some time back in the 1800′s,” Clarke said provoking a laugh from the audience. “We still look good though.”
The band then took on two unannounced ballads. The first was a melancholy tone poem that found Clarke drawing his bow while Hiromi conjured up rainy day soundscapes and ethereal colors on her instrument. The second ballad would be hard to chart as it started as a chipper, standard sounding piece and proceeded to deconstruct itself in an improvised excursion into the unexpected. The group then took on White’s “Paradigm Shift,” where the drummer took a solo between Clarke and Hiromi’s playful and quirky melodies and accelerated, unison sixteenth note triplets. After retreating to a standing ovation, the trio returned in triumph to take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” On the reharmonized tune, Clarke picked up his acoustic bass guitar and plunked out the vocal melody as Hiromi repainted the harmonic climate before launching head first (no pun intended) into a head banging, piano pounding thrash solo that had her looking more like a Muppet than a piano virtuoso. After revisiting the melody, the trio bowed and returned to the green room in triumph.
The only drawback of Clarke’s new trio was the same downfall present when Corea occupied the piano bench. Rather than play as a unison machine greater than the sum of its parts, White and Clarke are more content to play sparsely behind Hiromi as she burns up the keys. While Hiromi’s musical maturity and execution in the lineup showed greater acuity than her forefather Corea, it would be refreshing to see the unit function as more of a singular entity. That said, Hiromi’s playing is worth the price of admission all by itself. It is hard to overstate her musicality or importance to the future of jazz. While some might try to dismiss her playing as overbearing in the technique department, ignoring her sensitivity to the musical situation at hand would be to court ignorance, at best. And for any lingering doubts (if there were any to begin with) about her ability to play straight ahead acoustic jazz, her delivery as a side woman (or frontwoman, depending on how you care to look at it) to one of jazz’s most potent rhythm sections quickly dispatches any such ridiculous notion. If the Minneapolis show was any indication, the upcoming dates are sure to be some of the best shows of the year.
Hiromi tour dates available here.
JamBase | Forefront
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Ben’s Chili Bowl Founder Dead At 82
It’s a solemn Thursday in DC for thousands of hot dog-lovin’ Washingtonians. Ben Ali, the founder of Washington’s world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl Restaurant, has died. He was 82.
Mr. Ali died of congestive heart failure at his home on Wednesday night, says restaurant manager Maurice Harcum.
Ben’s Chili Bowl — home of the best half-smoke in Washington, [...]
Thom Yorke’s New Band: Videos
Thom Yorke Debuts New Band In Los Angeles
Over the weekend Thom Yorke debuted his new band featuring Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck/R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker, Forro in the Dark percussionist/multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea. The group performed a “public rehearsal” at L.A.’s tiny Echoplex club on Friday (10/02) and put on their first official show last night (10/04) at L.A.’s Orpheum Theater. They play again tonight at the Orpheum. Tickets to Friday’s “secret” gig sold out in minutes and were reportedly being scalped online for as much as $3,000.
Both shows began with the title track from Yorke’s 2006 solo album The Eraser and went on to include the entire album in order. After almost an hour, both shows also featured Yorke performing a solo encore before bringing the band back for a number of new tunes.
10.02.09 :: Echoplex :: Los Angeles, CA
The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms for Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush
Encore I (Thom solo): Open the Floodgates, Lotus Flower, Skirting on the Surface, Judge, Jury, Executioner
Encore II (full band): Paperbag Writer, The Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses
10.04.09 :: Orpheum Theater :: Los Angeles, CA
The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms For Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush
Encore I (Thom solo): Lotus Flower (Moon Upon A Stick), Open The Floodgates, Super Collider
Encore II (full band): Paperbag Writer, Judge, Jury & Executioner, The Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses
Videos From Echoplex (10/02):
“Open the Floodgates”
“”Lotus Flower”
“Skirting on the Surface”
“Judge, Jury & Executioner”
Video’s From Orpheum Theater Night I (10/04):
“Analyse”
“Lotus Flower (Moon Upon A Stick)”
This video is for “Open the Floodgates” and the unreleased Radiohead song “Super Collider”:
Special thanks to ateaseweb.com for setlists and pointing us in the direction of the videos.
2010 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees
The 12 nominees up for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum next year were revealed on Wednedsday.
According to The New York Times, eclectic group of 12 acts in contention for the 2010 class are: ABBA, Darlene Love, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, KISS, Laura Nyro, LL Cool J, Red Hot [...]
Stanley Clarke Trio:Jazz In the Garden
By: Trevor Pour
If you don’t consider Stanley Clarke one of the top five players in the bass business you don’t know Stanley Clarke. It’s as simple as that. As one of the preeminent global jazz minds of the last four decades, Clarke has contributed his otherworldly abilities to more albums, projects and tours than most artists could ever hope to glean. From his wildly influential 1976 record School Days to his continued work with fusion giants Return to Forever, it appears that Clarke has a true Midas touch. And yet, throughout it all, the man remains as humble and kind as he is talented and creative. But perhaps more surprising than his impeccable history is the fact that throughout his last 40 illustrious and demanding years Clarke has yet to release an acoustic trio record. That is, until now. The long-awaited Jazz in the Garden (Heads Up), features two of the smartest players on today’s scene: Clarke’s long-time friend and collaborator Lenny White on drums and Chick Corea’s protege Hiromi Uehara on piano.
Jazz in the Garden is modeled in large part after traditional jazz albums of the 1970s The tempo isn’t rushed, the character never forced, and the trio never tries to push an overly “modern” spin on their traditional sound. Yet, it remains a fundamentally unique record that rests firmly and confidently against the fringes of both technical ability and emotional intensity. It’s equal parts nostalgia and fresh perspective, shaken to a complex concoction that provides the perfect note for every passing moment. The brilliant chemistry is expected between Clarke and White, whose collaborative history began in their early twenties during their days with Joe Henderson. Their short but lively duet, “Take the Coltrane,” exemplifies their brotherhood on this record.
The real surprise found herein is how well the young Hiromi meshes with her significantly more experienced peers. A few of the compositions on Jazz in the Garden are written by her, and their caliber is remarkable. The first, “Sicilian Blue,” opens with Clarke playing with a bow and evokes strong visuals inspired by Hiromi’s trip to the Mediterranean island in 2008. It is one of the most haunting, beautiful, endlessly deep tracks on the album, and is one of the best examples of the trio’s chemistry. There truly aren’t any ‘highlights’ on this record, since to label anything as such would be to detract from the rest of the album, something I am unwilling to do. But, a few tracks which warrant mention, including the classic Henderson tune “Isotope,” recreated in stunning accuracy and quality, and the deceptively simple “Someday My Prince Will Come,” which displays a powerful yet delicate performance from Clarke and further exemplifies his stunning rapport with the young pianist. The closing track on the disc, arranged by Hiromi, is an adaptation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” At first, the contrast in styles seems far-fetched, but as the composition unfolds with Clarke’s unique slap-bass and White’s precision percussion it becomes a beautifully fitting end to a contemporary album which pays due tribute to history.
JamBase | Prime
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