“We are proud to announce that American music icons Simon & Garfunkel will be making their first-ever appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell,” Jazz Fest organizers said today. The Saturday, April 24, performance by Simon & Garfunkel will be the only chance to see the legendary duo in the U.S. this year. The Festival is scheduled for April 23 – May 2, 2010.
“Over the years I’ve always enjoyed performing at Jazz Fest,” said Paul Simon. “Everyone connected with the Festival, and in particular Quint Davis, has created an atmosphere that is both musical and enjoyable. I am looking forward to the opportunity to perform with my old friend Art Garfunkel at this year’s Festival.”
Simon & Garfunkel join previously announced artists Pearl Jam, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Neville Brothers, Lionel Richie, Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, My Morning Jacket, Widespread Panic, Imagination Movers, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Darius Rucker, Irma Thomas, Gipsy Kings, The Dead Weather, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, The Black Crowes, Drake, Teena Marie, Keely Smith, Jonny Lang, Band of Horses, Allen Toussaint and hundreds more at the 41st edition of the beloved Festival. (A complete weekend-by-weekend schedule is available at www.nojazzfest.com. Jazz Fest’s day-by-day schedule will be announced Wednesday, January 27.)
Tickets for the Festival, which takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
By almost any metric, 2009 was a bumper crop for great new music. With bands increasingly bypassing the record industry entirely and releasing albums, singles, live sets, and more themselves via download, there was almost too much fascinating, worthwhile music on offer this year. Still, better an embarrassment of riches than a thin harvest, eh? While the mainstream continued its seemingly inexorable tide towards machine-like homogenization – notwithstanding a Lady Gaga or Lil’ Wayne adding somewhat unorthodox wrinkles – musicians got down to making a lot of very personal, very beautifully constructed, downright fabulous music. And while the general belief that most artists will earn the bulk of their monies in concert from here on out is probably true, that doesn’t diminish the rise in quality we’re hearing in recent studio work.
Advances and price cuts in software and hardware are bringing expensive studio technology into bedrooms, garages and tiny private studios in ways totally impossible to imagine only a few years ago. Nothing will ever replace the warm hum of analog tape for some folks, but the tools and, perhaps more importantly, the means of distribution are becoming increasingly democratized. Brian Wilson’s “teenage symphonies to God” are being composed and sent into the world outside the parameters and red tape of an increasingly confused industry. And these same artists are hitting the road to present their unique, non-commercial wares (as “commercial” is defined by modern tastemakers like MTV, Rolling Stone, et al.) to anyone who will listen, building fan bases through social networking, word of mouth and an engaged blogosphere anxious to discover honest, unfamiliar music. There’s a healthy sense of creative boil that happily recalls rock ‘n’ roll’s initial 1950s boom, where hit singles were forged in record shop recording booths and local sensations found national and even international acclaim on the wings of a single release.
It’s too early to say where music making is going in the near future, but it’s clear that there’s a massive shakeup underway. Musicians need to figure out how to make this new freedom pay, and audiences that genuinely care about the people making the music they love will need to stop stealing it and pony up enough to ensure the continued bloom of this musical renaissance. Now is the time to support local talent and independent neighborhood venues, and drop a few coins into your fave band’s PayPal account. As the massively successful tours of still-vital giants like Bruce Springsteen, U2 and AC/DC, or the smaller scale rises of original new voices like Fleet Foxes, The Low Anthem and Of Montreal, indicate, people are listening now more than ever, ready for music that will enlighten and delight them.
1. Bloodkin – Baby They Told Us We Would Rise Again
On the surface, no frills, meat and potatoes rock (and damn proud of it) but a closer listen reveals the finest songwriting all year as this 24-year-old band sings the horrifying tale of their trip back from the abyss and sees it through to a joyous life-affirming conclusion. It’s like that Leaving Las Vegas movie with a happy ending – unbelievable if weren’t true. Such well-treaded territory would suck if not for the magnificence of its execution. “Wild Rhododendrons” is the finest songwriting I’ve seen all year, and “The Viper” and “Heavy With Child” are just as good. Meanwhile “Easter Eggs” is the best song of man love I’ve ever heard (including “Bobby Jean” and “Angie”).
2. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
3. Iron And Wine – Around The Well
4. PJ Harvey and John Parish – A Woman A Man Walked By
5. Girls – Album
6. M. Ward – Hold Time
7. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
8. The Dexateens – Singlewide
9. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
10. The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
I just recently caught up with 9 and 10 and they could well move up in coming months. I’m sure there’s several albums lurking out there that I will love just as much that I haven’t found yet. I’m always looking and listening so I’m sure the list will change up until next year’s.
-Best Reissue(s): The Jesus Lizard Reissues
-Favorite Song: “Wild Rhododendrons” (Bloodkin)
-Favorite Tracks: “Black Hearted Love” (PJ Harvey and John Parish) / “Belated Promise Ring” (Iron and Wine)
-Favorite Live Performance: Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings / Iron and Wine at No Depression Festival in Seattle this summer
-Movies I’ve Loved: Fantastic Mr. Fox, Up, A Serious Man, Where The Wild Things Are, Let The Right One In, Inglourious Basterds
4. Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
5. The Beatles – White Album (remastered) – I know this is cheating, but the job they did on all the remasters is stunningly beautiful and breathes new air especially through this classic.
Shows
1. Neil Young at Hyde Park, London
2. Blur at Hyde Park, London
3. Bonnaroo – especially Wilco’s set… truly inspiring.
Anything Joker put out in 2009. He’s making really awesome dubstep. He had a lot of remixes in 2009, as well as official releases, so I guess he gets all of my top spots for the year.
Shows
I played 100 concerts. Starkey at Camp Bisco (the namesake festival we founded and curate) was really cool. When Phish did the dedication at Hampton to Fishman’s dad and Marc (Brownstein, Disco Biscuits bassist) was sitting next to him that was pretty funny. Charlie P & M80 Dubstation (my dubstep project) jamming samples together in ATL was sickness! Benga on the world beat tip in Philly was ragin’.
Electronic music has mostly in the past been about the party or setting the mood. As technology has improved there are many artists redefining the changing landscape of electronic genres.
There’s a new movement of young artists with equal parts musician, DJ, sound sculpture and producer that are re-shaping electronic music and how it is performed. I was blown away last week when I saw Alex B whack down the house for an official Disco Biscuits after party. This young lion has masterful control of his software that enable all of his original and banging tracks constant manipulation for live, almost improvised, computer performance.
Aron Magner
Also out of Colorado is the young Derek Smith (aka Pretty Lights). Derek took the changing climate of the music industry and used it to his direct advantage. In an new era where music fans feel more entitled to receive their music without paying for it, Derek said, ‘That’s cool, then here it is,” and released Filling Up The City Skies for free on his website, instantly catapulting his career to a new level and gaining multitudes of fans around the country almost overnight. The music speaks for itself. Deep electronic grooves with attention grabbing glitch and ear candy all with a type of soul not normally conveyed in dance music.
Eliot Lipp frequently runs in this same circle and performs with Alex B in the project Lipp Service. His 2009 release, Peace Love Weed 3D, almost feels retro-electro yet still pushed the boundaries of computer manipulation. His use of analog synth melodies lends a warm and engaging quality to his tunes. His songs evolve and have a story to tell from beginning to end.
Daedelus is more of an experimental musician frequently on bills with the artists above. He is unique as his main “instrument” is a rather insidious device know as a Monome. He is one of the pioneers of the Monome, which is nothing more than a matrix grid of unlabeled small buttons. They are all exclusively user programmable through very esoteric software enabling the end user to manipulate the parts of the tracks in a very unique way. He is the Clara Rockmore of this almost cryptic device.
And then there is Simon Posford, a revered producer and artist and pioneer in the electronic music world. He is also a very highly respected mentor of mine that I finally got to work with for the five tracks that he produced on our forthcoming album, Planet Anthem. Simon has a special ability to take an organic sound, be it a vocal or an acoustic guitar, and tweak it in such a loving way that it maintains the original feel that emanated from a human yet somehow still evolves into digital code. A delicate balance of real and surreal all masterfully placed over global beats with soundscapes that percolate your ears as if they were brain candy, all while providing for an incredible melodic and harmonic song structure. Check out one his projects, Shpongle‘s Tales of the Inexpressible and you’ll see what I mean.
Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Sparklehorse and Danger Mouse – Dark Night of the Soul
3. Wilco – Wilco The Album
4. Nathan Moore – Folk Singer
5. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Shows
1. Medeski, Martin & Wood | December 2009 | Lupo’s | Providence, RI (Dec)
Billy, Billy, Billy – what an amazing drum solo
2. Marco Benevento Trio | June 2009 | Carnegie Hall | New York, NY
3. The Slip | August 2009 | Bowery Ballroom | New York, NY
Albums
1. Jay Z – Blueprint 3
2. Gramatik – Street Bangers (Vol. 2)
3. Passion Pit – Manners
4. Blockhead – The Music Scene
5. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Albums
1. JFJO – Winterwood
My last record with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is also my favorite. Brian, Raymer and I did basic tracks in March 2008, and I finished the mixes in January 2009. It was put up as a free download on www.JFJO.com, but I’m still hoping to press physical copies with awesome artwork and stuff. We’ll see. A gorgeous album, 15 years in the making!
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
I definitely gave this one repeated listens. Amazing production. I like the song “Foreground.”
Mathis by Miller
3. Dorian Small – Newlyweds
Possibly my favorite musician out there.
4. Surprise Me Mr. Davis – ?????
Not sure if they even titled or released this, but it’s streaming on their website, and it’s absolutely crushing! Nathan Moore with the Slip – it truly just does not get any better. Thank the lord for Mr. Davis.
5. Medeski Martin & Wood – Radiolarian III
These guys played everything there was to be played, all before the year 2000, and they’ve been through the looking-glass ever since. The Radiolarian Series is their freakiest and most human stuff in a long time, much to my liking. They continue to sum up what I love about improvising.
Shows
1. Phish | 08.02.09 | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO
My first Phish show, and my first Red Rocks show – quite an eye-opener. Watched the second set from side-stage, looking out at the sea of delighted humans. Kept thinking, “Hmmm…. not a bad band!”
2. Ornette Coleman | 11.08.09 | San Francisco Opera House | S.F., CA
My first Ornette show, one of my all-time heroes. Went with a very old friend. Ornette’s band was him, plus drums, and TWO basses. Yes, please!
3. Medeski Martin & Wood | 12.04.09 | Lupo’s | Providence, RI
My 20th MMW show. Watched from side-stage, then from the rigging up above the stage. I love getting music lessons! What benevolent musicians they are. Freaking cosmic virtuosos.
Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
3. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Slaraffenland – We’re On Your Side
Shows
1. Andrew Bird | Radio City Hall | New York, NY
2. Frightened Rabbit | Whitehaven, U.K.
3. Fink | Belfast, Northern Ireland
Albums
1. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
2. Passion Pit – Manners
3. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
4. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
5. Pretty Lights – Passing by Behind Your Eyes
Shows
1. Taj Mahal and Bonnie Raitt | Ravinia | Chicago, IL
2. Andrew Bird | Schubas | Chicago, IL
3. Passion Pit | Treasure Island Festival | San Francisco, CA
Albums
1. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Zach Deputy – Sunshine
4. Power up the Planet
Keller Williams
A compilation of cool music with the proceeds going to providing solar power for folks with nothing. Great cause and the mix of songs is bitchin’.
5. The Pimps of Joytime – Funk Fixes and Remixes
Shows
1.Umphrey’s McGee | Summer Camp – Felix Pastorius and Les Claypool sit-ins. Massive fire works customized to the music.
2. Girl Talk | Rothbury – Late night show mentality
3. String Cheese Incident | Rothbury – Epic production.
Albums
1. BlakRoc – BlakRoc
2. Dr. John – City That Care Forgot
3. Cyril Neville – Brand New Blues
4. Mos Def – The Ecstatic
5. Paramore – Brand New Eyes
Shows
1. Dumpstaphunk | Tipitina’s | Jazzfest | New Orleans, LA
2. The Neville Brothers | Mawazine Jazzfest | Rabat, Morocco
3. Funky METERS | Fuji Rock Festival
Albums
1. The Beatles – Remasters (Duh!)
2. Them Crooked Vultures – self-titled
3. Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies
4. The Ting Tings – We Started Nothing
5. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Shows
1. Wilco | Sloss Furnace | Birmingham, AL
2. Earl Greyhound | Turf Club | St. Paul, MN (with us)
3. The Mother Hips | The Doug Fir | Portland, OR (with us)
Albums
1. John Scofield – Piety Street
2. Water Seed – Early for The Future
3. Diane Birch – Bible Belt
4. Alec Ounsworth – Mo Beauty
5. Jack Brass Band – self-titled
Shows Played
1. The Meter Men | New Orleans Jazz Fest
2. The Funky Meters | Tokyo
3. Runnin’ Pardners | 08.08.09 | Red Rocks Amphitheatre
4. Porter Batiste Stoltz | 10.30.09 | Tipitina’s French Quarter | New Orleans, LA (the band’s last gig as a band)
I’ve been so busy this year I haven’t really gotten a chance to peep out anything outside of what I’ve been involved with. Here are my top picks for albums I appeared on in 2009.
1. Stanton Moore – Take It To The Streets (digital download)
2. Street Sweeper Social Club – self-titled
3. Diane Birch – Bible Belt
4. Alec Ounsworth – Mo Beauty
5. Garage A Trois – Power Patriot
Top Picks For Shows I Played in 2009
1. Galactic | The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA (with special guest Zigaboo Modeliste, drummer for The Meters)
2. Anders Osborne | Jazz Fest | New Orleans, LA
Introduced new band with myself, Robert Walter and Anders. We rehearsed all week at my house before the gig and are now finishing up a record with that new lineup.
3. Garage A Trois | DBA | New Orleans, LA Power Patriot record release and Skerik’s birthday.
1. Sunn O))) – Monoliths and Dimensions
2. Future of the Left – (most of) Travels with myself and another
3. Lightning Bolt – Earthly Delights
4. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Honorable Mention: McTuff – Volume 1, Dead Kenny Gs – Bewildered Herd, Garage A Trois – Power Patriot
Shows
1. Wayne Shorter Quartet | Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley, CA
Incredible, life making, spiritual event
2. Sunn O))) | Neumo’s | Seattle, WA
Attila incantations: unparalleled.
3. Sunn O))) Duo | Vienna and Prague
Simply the heaviest thing on earth.
1. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
3. Aceyalone – The Lonely Ones
4. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
5. Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics – Inspiration Information 3
Shows
1. Wayne Shorter Quartet | October 2009 | Zellerbach Hall | Berkeley, CA
2. The Secret Chiefs 3 | They killed everyone the Oddity Faire Tour
3. Aloke Dutta (solo tabla) | July 2009 | Blue Nile | New Orleans, LA
My Best Shows
1. Mike Dillon’s Go-Go Jungle | May 2009 | Dragons Den (late night) – Jazz Fest | New Orleans
2. Garage a Trois | December 2009 | The Independent | San Francisco, CA
3. Dead Kenny Gs | Jazz Fest ’09 | Megalmaniacs Ball | New Orleans, LA
4. Illuminasti Trio with Brian Coogan | Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro | New Orleans, LA
5. Sam Baker – Cotton
6. Tom Waits – Glitter and Doom
7. PJ Harvey and John Parish – A Woman A Man Walked By
Shows
1. Paul McCartney, Mastodon, Leonard Cohen, The Cure, X, Public Enemy – Coachella – April 2009
I was really impressed and amazed at all of these performances. Rarely have I seen so many sets of such high caliber at one festival… and this wasn’t even the extent of it. I should really just list this as “Coachella 2009.”
2. The Melvins – Grand Regency – San Francisco
3. Nels Cline Singers – Cafe DuNord, San Francisco, CA – September 3, 2009
4. Them Crooked Vultures – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA – November 2009
How can you go wrong with this lineup? Well, I guess they could if they tried… but they didn’t. Rock is alive.
5. Gov’t Mule – Apollo Theater – Barcelona, Spain – November 15, 2009
Best Mule show I’ve seen in a while, possibly ever. I even got to join them for a couple numbers.
6. The Pogues – Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
1. Rotary Downs | Halloween – October 31 | DBA, New Orleans, LA
Cmon, it was the best show of the year… glow in the dark, smoke machines n shit…cmon!
2. BROOKLYNOLA – Generationals, w/ the BKLNOLA All Stars | May 8 | Public Assembly, Brooklyn, NY
Simon Lott, Mike Gamble, Marc Friedman, Tony Barba, Bryce Wymer, Mitch Paone
3. Not So Super Super Hero Party 7 | February 21 | Hi Ho Lounge, New Orleans, LA Featuring Brian Coogan/Simon Lott/Mike Gamble/Anthony Cuccia/Justin Peak
1. Robert Earl Keen – Rose Hotel
2. Phish – Joy
3. Robyn Hitchcock – Good Night Oslo
4. Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ – Great American Bubble Factory
5. Tim Carrol – All Kinds of Pain
Shows (no particular order)
1. Les Claypool | All Good Festival
2. Robert Earl Keen | Bonnaroo Music Festival
3. Great American Taxi | Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Albums
1. Omar Souleyman – Highway to Hassake
2. White Denim – Fits
3. Master Musicians of Bukkake – Totem One
4. Extra Golden – Thank you very Quickly
5. Pissed Jeans – King of Jeans
Albums (no particular order)
1. Greg Giraldo – Midlife Vices
2. Paul F. Tompkins – Freak Wharf
3. Patton Oswalt – My Weakness Is Strong
4. Doug Stanhope – From Across The Street
5. Flight Of The Conchords – I Told You I Was Freaky
Shows
1. Jamie Cullum | 07.17.09 | Juan Les Pin | Antibes, France
2. Playing For Change with Special Guests Ziggy Marley & Toots Hibbert | 11.13.09 | Nokia Live | Los Angeles, CA
3. David Byrne | 06.12.09 | Bonnaroo Music Festival | Manchester, TN
Albums
1. Floating Action – self-titled
2. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
McMicken by Grayson
3. Elvis Perkins In Dearland – self-titled
4. M. Ward – Hold Time
5. Pepi Ginsberg – East Is East
6. Alec Ounsworth – Mo’ Beauty
Shows
The Zombies | Azkena Festival | Spain
Man, as I start thinkin’ about it, I realize that the quality of any given show I see has so much to do with my willingness to experience the beauty of that particular moment. I’ve seen great shows I missed and I’ve missed great shows I’ve seen. My nephew jammed the toy room to tears!
1. El Perro Del Mar – Love Is Not Pop
2. Papercuts – You Can Have What You Want
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Existensminimum – OK Boys
5. Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – self-titled
6. Girls – Album
7. Brothers Of End – The End
8. Anna Järvinen – Man Var Bland Molnen
9. Where The Action Is – LA Nuggets
10. Cass McCombs – Catacombs
Shows
1. Dinosaur Jr. | SXSW
2. Neil Young | Stockholm
3. El Perro Del Mar opening for us every night this fall tour
1. BLK JKS at SXSW – March 18 – The Paradise – Austin, TX
On par with South by Southwest chaos we lugged all our equipment from one block to another to make a show in haste and when we got there the BLK JKS were playing before us and it was absolutely captivating. It stopped us in our tracks and made us forget where we were – which is hard to do in those few fragmented days in March in Austin, TX.
2. Opening for Morrissey at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburg, PA – Saint Patrick’s Day 2009 The first Carnegie Hall ever built I believe and when we peeked inside it was like playing an old Opera Vaudeville place that was just majestic. Made us feel like we were teleported into another time. During soundcheck you see Morrissey on side stage watching us sing our songs of change and revolt, out of key and dissonant. Saint Patrick’s Day opening for Morrissey in that building was quite surreal.
3. Tallest Man on Earth – April 1 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
I went through a rough time this year, a lot of personal and family sadness that eventually released the inner hibernating beast whilst simultaneously tricking the spirit inside the confines of my detuned heart. We did a lot of tour hopping in the spring all around the country – once we started traveling with Kristian (TMOE) I felt it serendipitous that I could watch him every night and vicariously live in each song. When he performs it is one of the most genuine things I’ve seen. I needed that right then and there.
1. Skeletonwitch – Breathe The Fire
2. Baroness – Blue Album
3. Kylesa – Static Tensions
4. Black Tusk/ASG split CD
5. Coliseum – “True Quiet/Last Wave” 7-inch
Shows
1. Southern Discomfort Tour with Black Tusk, Kylesa and Skeletonwitch
2. Bison when they toured with Tombes and Kylesa
3. Backstage at Mastodon in Detroit!
1. Isis – Wavering Radiant
2. The Life and Times – Tragic Boogie
3. Satyricon – The Age of Nero
4. Converge – Axe to Fall
5. Jawbox – For Your Own Special Sweetheart reissue
Shows
1. Nine Inch Nails | Henry Fonda | Los Angeles, CA
2. Jesus Lizard | Metro | Chicago, IL
3. Sunny Day Real Estate | House of Blues | Anaheim, CA
For me, 2009 was not so much about new music as it was about hearing some legends at a new peak of their career, with that in mind I submit to you my picks.
Albums
1. The Beatles – Abbey Road (remastered)
U-Melt
2. The Beatles – Revolver (remastered)
3. The Beatles – Rubber Soul (remastered)
4. The Beatles – White Album (remastered)
5. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (remastered)
It’s hard to compete with the best. The remasters sound absolutely amazing, and I for one was very happy to have a little bit of Beatlemania in my life in 2009.
Shows
1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | 09.30.09 | Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ
For night one of his five-night run to close the old stadium, Bruce opened with a brand new, never before played song appropriately titled “Wrecking Ball.” Over the course of the 3+ hour show they went through the Born To Run album in its entirety, which was one of the best things I’ve ever seen on a stage.
2. David Byrne | 06.08.09 | Prospect Park | Brooklyn, NY
David has a unique brand of genius, and when he teams up with Brian Eno, the results are unbeatable. The show focused on the many musical collaborations the two men have had over the years, and featured a lot of great old school Talking Heads songs. With the entire band (and three dancers) dressed all in white, Mr. Byrne’s artistic mind shone through in a wonderful way.
3. Steve Winwood | 01.16.09 | United Palace Theater | New York, NY
Every time I see Steve play he blows my mind. The amount of soul that he exudes when he sings, not to mention the fact that he doesn’t need a bass player as he is one of the greatest organists around. This night in January had Steve in top form.
Albums
1. Conor Oberst – Outer South
2. Mason Jennings – Blood Of Man
3. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
4. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
5. Pearl Jam – Ten (remixed)
6. Them Crooked Vultures – self-titled
Continue reading for more Best of 2009 Artist List…
One day I was really craving some new music so asked one of my friends for an artist to type into Pandora. He said Phoenix. I loved the track that came up. Instead of listening to the Pandora station, I bought their new album and have been listening to it since. Fresh music found.
2. Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
As Barack Obama said… “I may be the President, but this guy’s the Boss.” Sometimes the production can be thick, but these songs are genuine. The last song on the album entitled “The Wrestler” is one of my favorite songs of his whole career.
3. Brandi Carlile – Give Up the Ghost
One of my favorite new artists and in my opinion, one of the best female singers around today. Great songs, great tones, and a great band.
4. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
I’m thankful for every album these guys have released and this new album is no exception. These guys never cease to amaze me.
5. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
I caught the last couple of songs of their set at the Outside Lands Festival in SF. The next day I got their CD and it’s great. I like to listen to it when I’m building things.
Shows (in no particular order)
1. Brandi Carlile – 10/21/09 – Fillmore, San Francisco
Brandi is a gifted artist and in a live setting you really notice it. They started the show with an a capella song and they sounded like angels. I was hooked from the first notes.
2. These United States – 7/5/09 – High Sierra Music Festival
I was on my way to meet a friend, and as I was walking by the Vaudeville tent I was drawn in by some great music. I loved it and ended up staying until the end of the set. I love surprises like this. Great energy.
3 ALO – 2/15/09 – The Mystic Theater, Petaluma, CA
To me, this show represents ALO at its finest. We were well warmed up and everything just seemed to flow in an effortless way. A great blend of songs and improvisations. After the show I remember thinking to myself… “This is why I play music!”
2. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
3. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
4. Hiss Golden Messenger – Country Hai East Cotton
5. Chris Velan – Solidago
Shows Watched
1. Phish | 03.06.08 – 03.08.09 | Hampton Coliseum | Hampton, VA
2. Dr. Dog | 10.05.09 | Brookdale Lodge | Boulder Creek, CA
3. The Black Crowes | 12.06.09 | The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA
Shows Played
1. ALO | 02.15.09 | Mystic Theater | Petaluma, CA
2. Big Light, Skinny Singers | 02.28.09 | Gramble On Big Sur | Big Sur, CA
3. Dun Four, Newfangled Wasteland, Nicki Bluhm | 10.30.09-11.01.09 | Las Tortugas IV | Groveland, CA
Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
The best music in the country is still coming out of Brooklyn.
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
This album proves that if a song has a strong melody you can do whatever you want underneath it.
3. Portugal The Man – Censored Colors
One of the best engineered and mixed albums I’ve heard in years.
Jeremy Korpas
4. The Antlers – Hospice
It’s a concept album about a man watching his lover die of cancer in the hospital. It’s heart wrenching to say the least.
5. U2 – No Line On The Horizon
I would expect no less from the biggest bad in the world.
Shows Attended
1. All six of the Dr. Dog shows that I’ve seen this year. From The Fillmore to the side of the stage at High Sierra, all the way out in Santa Cruz mountains, every show turned me into a clapper, a singer, a dancer, a fist-pumper, and all those things I wouldn’t normally do at a rock show.
2. The Mars Volta | Outside Lands Music Festival | San Francisco, CA
It was an all out musical assault. Cedric’s stage moves alone were enough to make the list. They proved they have the biggest dicks in the business
3. The Mother Hips | Las Tortugas IV | Groveland, CA
They just killed it that night! Plus they let me sing “Del Mar Station” onstage with them. First time I had stage fright in 10 years.
Shows Played
1. Big Light’s Late Night Camp Harry Set | High Sierra Music Festival
“I moved to California looking for something. I found it at Camp Harry.” Swordfish
2. Green Tag Sale | Phanphest Music Festival
We played a late night indoors set that was just off the hook. 120 degrees and a packed house is exactly what the TRON calls for. But on Sunday we played the tiny solar tent at 4 p.m. and played our best show to date!
3. Paperback Radio | The Saint | Asbury Park, NJ
It felt great to play my favorite songs with my favorite band again!
Albums
1. Riceboy Sleeps – Jonsi and Alex
2. Baaba Maal – Television
3. Bela Fleck – Throw Down Your Heart
4. Vieux Farka Toure – Fondo
5. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
Shows
1. Rashied Ali | Zinc Bar | New York, NY
2. Panda Resistance | Soundpony | Tulsa, OK
3. Of Montreal | Williamsburg Theater | Brooklyn, NY
Albums
1. The Doldrums – Mirth & Songs
2. Dead Sea Choir – Thin One The Red One
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Bullion – Pet Sounds in the Key of Dee
5. Panda Resistance – self-titled
Shows
1. NYC Winter Jazz Fest
2. Nola Jazz Fest/Skerik’s saucefest!
3. Tractor Tavern with Bill Frisell
Albums
1. Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
4. The Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
5. MF Doom – Born Into This
Shows
1. Of Montreal | Williamsburg Music Hall | Brooklyn, NY
2. Private party in New Orleans during Jazz Fest where JFJO played with Kirk Joseph, Zigaboo Modeliste, John Speice and several other NOLA badasses.
3. Moodswing Orchestra and JFJO at Le Poisson Rouge, and then late night with Steven Bernstein sitting in with Bonerama at Sullivan Hall, New York, NY
Albums
1. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
4. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
5. The Flaming Lips – Christmas On Mars soundtrack
Shows
1. Punch Brothers | Fayetteville Performing Arts Center | Fayetteville, AR
2. Of Montreal | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY
3. Wilco/Tortoise | UIC Pavilion | Chicago, IL
Albums (no particular order)
1. Built To Spill – There Is No Enemy
2. Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker
3. Wooden Shjips – Dos
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
5. Wu-Tang Clan – Chamber Music
Shows (no particular order)
1. Black Dub | 10.15.09 | Troubadour | Los Angeles, CA
2. Monsters Of Folk | 10.18.09 | Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA
3. Neil Young w/ Everest | 04.21.09 | Kelowna, BC (had to do it)
Albums
1. Steve Earle – Townes
2. Bill Frisell – Disfarmer
3. Levon Helm – Electric Dirt
4. Smooth Kentucky – A Few More Miles
5. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
Shows
1. Kelly Joe Phelps | Nightcat | Easton, MD
2. Anders Osborne | Rams Head Live | Baltimore, MD
3. The Dead | The Spectrum | Philadelphia, PA
Albums
1. Charlie Parr – Roustabout
2. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
3. The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank – Traveling Show
4. Now, Now Every Children – Cars
5. Pert Near Sandstone – On a Spree
Shows
1. Homegrown Music Festival | Duluth, MN
2. Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion | Bristol, TN
3. 10,000 Lakes Festival
Albums
1. Thievery Corporation – Radio Retaliation
2. Matisyahu – Light
3. Breakestra – Dusk til Dawn
4. Sly and Robbie – Movin On
5. Karl Denson – Brother’s Keeper
Shows
1.Thievery Corp
2.Pretty Lights
3.Sly and Robbie
4.Pnuma Trio
Albums
1. Florence and the Machine – Lungs
2. Kasabian – West Pauper Lunatic Asylum
3. Muse – The Resistance
4. U2 – No Line On The Horizon
5. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Shows
1. Supporting U2 at Croke Park, Dublin in July
2. Kasabian | The SECC | Glasgow, Scotland
3. Florence and the Machine | Brixton Academy | London
Albums (no particular order)
1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
2. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3
3. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon
4. Muse – The Resistance
5. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
Shows (no particular order)
1. U2
2. Muse (opening for U2)
3. Nas and Damian Marley | Camp Bisco
Albums
1. Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
2. Ryan Montbleau Band – Stages Vol. 2
3. Bela Fleck – Throw Down Your Heart
4. The Motet – Dig Deep
5. The Derek Trucks Band – Already Free
Shows
1. Wormtown | Greenfield, MA
2. Bear Creek Festival | Live Oak, FL
3. Bonnaroo | Manchester, TN
The usual dizzying assortment of musical talent will descend on New Orleans for the 41st New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The first weekend takes place April 23-25, 2010, and the second week is April 29-May 2, 2010. The lineups thus far are clustered below.
APRIL 23 – 25 (1st WEEKEND)
Lionel Richie, Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket, Anita Baker, Dr. John, Darius Rucker, The Black Crowes, Steel Pulse, Jonny Lang, Band of Horses, The Levon Helm Band, Drake, Keely Smith, Baaba Maal, George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Imagination Movers, Ledisi, King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, Better Than Ezra, Blind Boys of Alabama, Elvin Bishop, funky Meters, Sax for Stax featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, and Jeff Lorber, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin, Pastor Smokie Norful, Terence Blanchard, Cowboy Mouth, The Campbell Brothers, Chocolate Milk, Sam Bush, The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, Joe Lovano Us Five, Donald Harrison, Lena Prima, Tab Benoit, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Bonerama, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Deacon John, Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters, Davell Crawford and One Foot in the Blues with special guests Dr. John and Jon Cleary, The Bounce Extravaganza feat. Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, Katie Redd, Magnolia Shorty, and DJ Poppa, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band 100 Year Anniversary Celebration, Jon Cleary: Piano, Bass & Drums, Irma Thomas’ Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong feat. Wycliffe Gordon, James Andrews, and Victor Goines, Papa Grows Funk, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, Theresa Andersson, Jewel Brown with the Heritage Hall Jazz Band, Joe Krown Trio feat. Walter Washington & Russell Batiste, New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, The Radiators–Pre-War Blues, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Grayson Capps, Kenny Neal, Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clark, Jeremy Davenport, Maurice Brown Effect, James Andrews & the Crescent City Allstars, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Glen David Andrews, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars, Honey Island Swamp Band, OTRA, Leah Chase, Bill Summers & Jazalsa, Savoy Center of Eunice Saturday Cajun Jam, Mia X, Cheeky Blakk, and Ms. Tee, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Rotary Downs, The New Orleans Bingo! Show, Little Freddie King Blues Band, Andrew Duhon & the Lonesome Crows, Rumba Buena, Spencer Bohren, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Louisiana LeRoux with Tab Benoit, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Red Stick Ramblers, Guitar Slim, Jr., Kipori Woods, Kim Carson Band, Ivoire Spectacle feat. Seguenon Kone, The Revealers, Shades of Praise, Lionel Ferbos & the Palm Court Jazz Band, Sammy Rimington, The Electrifying Crownseekers, Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Betty Shirley, Germaine Bazzle, and Leah Chase, The James Rivers Movement, Leo Jackson & the Melody Clouds, Susan Cowsill, David Egan, Panorama Jazz Band, George French & the Storyville Jazz Band, New Orleans Night Crawlers, Midnite Disturbers, Ninth Ward Navajo Mardi Gras Indians, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers’ Tribute to Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., Frankie Ford, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Reggie Hall & the Twilighters, Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue, Mas Mamones, Lil’ Buck Sinegal Blues Band, Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Septet, Michael Ward, Bleu Orleans, Mahogany Brass Band, Untouchables, Furious Five, and Big Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Creole Wild West and Golden Star Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants, Gospel Soul Children, Blessed, Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries, Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders feat. Butch Thompson, N.O.C.C.A. Jazz Ensemble, Judy Spellman, Leroy Jones, Olympia Aid, New Look, and The First Division Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Golden Comanche, Golden Blade, and Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians, Free Agents Brass Band, The Wiseguys, Jambalaya Cajun Band, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces, The Revivalists, Rockie Charles, Robert “1 String” Gibson, Beth Patterson, Patrice Fisher & the Honduran Connection, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Tommy Sancton Quintet, UNO Jazz Allstars, Smitty Dee’s Brass Band, Comanche Hunters, Semolian Warriors, and Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians, Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Marc Stone Band, Betsy McGovern & the Poor Clares, Alexis Marceaux, Julio y Cesar, Sonny Bourg & the Bayou Blues Band, Chris Clifton, Miss Sophie Lee, June Gardner, The Guitar Woodshed feat. Steve Masakowski, Todd Duke, and Jake Eckert, Mount Hermon BC Mass Choir, Tonia Scott & Anointed Voices, Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir of Schertz, TX, Brass Bass Ensemble, Jai Reed, Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, Real Untouchables Brass Band, Divine Ladies, Dumaine Gang, and Ladies of Unity Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Young Pinstripe Brass Band, Johnette Downing, Kat Walker Jazz Combo, Guardians of the Flame, Single Ladies, Keep N it Real, and Nine Times Men Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Voices of Distinction, Nineveh BC Mass Choir, Kevin Thompson & the Sensational Six, Red Hot Brass Band, Lindsay Mendez, God’s House Westbank Cathedral Choir, The Gospel Stars, Da Souljas Brass Band, Single Men, Family Ties, and Big Nine Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Delgado Community College Jazz Ensemble, Natasha Richard of Canada, Culu Children’s Traditional African Dance Ensemble, Jacquelyn Mayfield, Golden Voices Community Choir, John Lee & the Heralds of Christ, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Mass Choir, Black Mohawks, Seminoles, and Red, White & Blue Mardi Gras Indians, Archdiocese of New Orleans Mass Gospel Choir, The Bester Singers and the Dynamic Smooth Family Gospel Singers, New Orleans Young Traditional Brass Band with the Heel to Toe Steppers, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Mass Choir, Carrollton Hunters Mardi Gras IndiansÂ…
APRIL 29 – May 2 (2nd WEEKEND)
Pearl Jam, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Widespread Panic, The Neville Brothers, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Irma Thomas, Gipsy Kings, The Dead Weather, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, Teena Marie, Allen Toussaint, Gov’t Mule, Average White Band, Jose Feliciano, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, Kirk Franklin, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Gil Scott Heron, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Clarence Carter, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Tye Tribbett, Juvenile & DJ Mannie Fresh, Take Six, Sugarfoot’s Ohio Players, Galactic, Stanley Clarke Band feat. Hiromi, Old Crow Medicine Show, Richie Havens, Marcus Miller, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Pete Fountain, The Radiators, Blues Traveler, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Rebirth Brass Band, Sonny Landreth, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Martin Sexton, Bernard Allison, Ruthie Foster, Jimmy Johnson Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cyril Neville & Tribe 13, Dee Dee Bridgewater – A Celebration of Lady Day, Ellis Marsalis, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Louis Prima, Jr., Henry Butler, The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders, Selvy Singers of Arkansas, Aaron Neville, Chris Thomas King, Dala, Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, The Davell Crawford Singers, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Inspirational Souls of Chicago, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, John Mooney & Bluesiana, subdudes, Iguanas, DJ Captain Charles, The Dixie Cups, Sherman Washington & the Zion Harmonizers, The Jon Batiste Band, Nicholas Payton, The Four Freshman, Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys, Russell Batiste & Friends feat. Jason Neville, Pine Leaf Boys, Eric Lindell, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Shamarr Allen & the Underdawgs, Banu Gibson with Swing Out & Tap!, Tribute to Juanita Brooks feat. Wanda Rouzan, Barbara Shorts, and Topsy Chapman, John Boutte, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Luther Kent, Astral Project, Germaine Bazzle, Soul Rebels, New Birth Brass Band, Big Chief Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, PJ Morton, New Orleans Spiritualettes, The Johnson Extension, Orange Kellin’s New Orleans Deluxe Orchestra, Bobby Lonero’s Tribute to Louis Prima, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, The Allen Toussaint Jazzity Project, Charmaine Neville, MyNamesIsJohnMichael, Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove, Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show, Bobby Lounge, Big Al Carson, Lynn Drury, Vivaz!, Nova NOLA feat. Sasha Masakowski, Topsy Chapman & Solid Harmony, Coco Robicheaux & the Swamp Monsters, Fredy Omar con su Banda, Loose Marbles, Heavenly Melodies, Betty Winn & One A-Chord, Kent Jordan, Shannon Powell’s Organ Combo feat. David Torkanowsky and Charlie Gabriel, Forgotten Souls, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, TBC Brass Band, Westbank Steppers, Valley of Silent Men, and Pigeon Town Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Apache Hunters, Wild Red Flame, and Mohawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Jockimo’s Groove feat. War Chief Juan and Billy Iuso, Elysian Fieldz, Feufollet, Creole Zydeco Farmers, The Hadley J. Castille Family & the Sharecroppers Band, GROUPA – Nordic Folk Fusion, Tin Men, R. Scully Rough 7, Creole String Beans, Ernie Vincent & the Top Notes, Margie Perez, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone & the XL Band, Kristin Diable, Jimmy Robinson, Kenny Bill Stinson & the ARK-LA-Mystics, Mem Shannon & the Membership, Bamboula 2000, Kora Konnection feat. Morikeba Kouyate of Senegal and Thierno Dioubate of Guinea, Papa Blue Viking Jazz Band of Sweden, Onward Brass Band, Dukes of Dixieland, Tim Laughlin, Val & the Love Alive Fellowship Choir, Jo “Cool” Davis, Zulu Male Ensemble, Phillip Manuel, Roderick Paulin, SUBR Jazzy Jags, Pinstripe Brass Band, Original Prince of Wales and Original Lady Buckjumpers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, New Orleans Indian Rhythm Section, Fi Yi Yi & the Mandingo Warriors, 101 Runners, Evan Christopher & Tom McDermott, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Pfister Sisters, Walter Payton with Snapbeans and File Gumbo, Brother Tyrone, Driskill Mountain Boys, Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots, Thomas “Big Hat” Fields, Mark Adam Miller, Benny Grunch & the Bunch, J. Monque’D Blues Band, Mia Borders, Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Classie Ballou & the Family Band, John Rankin, Jonny Frishberg & Bayou DeVille, DJ Soul Sister, Zion Trinity, AsheSon, Los Po-Boy-Citos, Kumbuka African Drum & Dance Collective, Donnie Bolden, Jr. & the Spirit of Elijah, Ebenezer Mass Choir, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Voices of Peter Claver, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band, Mario Abney Quintet, Lady Rollers, Original C.T.C. Steppers, and Nine Times Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Baby Boyz Brass Band, Geronimo Hunters, 7th Ward Creole Hunters, and Young Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Joe Hall & the Cane Cutters, Eddie “ChopChops” Paris, Hot Club of New Orleans, Connie Jones & the Crescent City Jazz Band, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Lady Jetsetters Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Ladies Sing the Blues feat. Gina Brown, Angela H. Bell, and Tereasa B., Julliard Jazz Ensemble, Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise, McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir, O. Perry Walker Charter High School Gospel Choir, Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress, McMain High School Gospel Choir, Blodie’s Jazz Jam, Xavier University Jazz Band, Tulane University Jazz Ensemble, Pinettes Brass Band, Scene Boosters, Ole & Nu Style Fellas, and Secondline Jammers Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, New Wave Brass Band, Red Hawk, Black Seminoles, and Black Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, Dwight & Connie Fitch with the St. Raymond/St. Leo the Great Choir, N’Fungola Sibo West African Dance Company, Marisa y Mariachi Agave, Grupo Sensacion, Dee-1, Lucky 7, Franklin IV, Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra, Ray Abshire, Bonsoir, Catin, Dillard University Jazz Ensemble, Jamil Sharif & the Jazz Professors, Rocks of Harmony, Some Like it Hot, Kid Simmons’ Local International Allstars, The Wright Brothers, Tyronne Foster & the Arc Singers, St. Joseph the Worker Music Ministry, Heritage School of Music Band, New Generation, Undefeated Divas, and VIP Ladies Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Highsteppers Brass Band, Trouble Nation and Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, David & Roselyn, Paulin Brothers Brass Band, Morning Star BC Mass Choir, Arthur Clayton & Purposely Anointed, Gloria Bell & the Revelation Gospel Singers, First Emmanuel Baptist Church Choir, White Cloud Hunters and Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians, Tornado Brass Band, Lyle Henderson & Emmanuel, Pastor Terry Gullage & the Greater Mount Calvary Voices of Redemption Choir, Gospel Inspirations of Boutte, Ayla Miller, Original Four, Original Big 7, and Bon Temps Roulez Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Golden Sioux and Cherokee Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Nashville Children’s Choir, Claudia Baumgartner, Saltimbanqui Puppet Theater of Mexico, Stephen Foster’s Foster Family Program, Hazel & the Delta Ramblers, N’Kafu African Dance presented by Young Audiences, O. Perry Walker Kuumba Players, Jazz Fest Residency Showcase feat. Seva Venet and KIDSmARTÂ…
Very Special Guest Roger Daltrey To Kick Off The Show
Eric Clapton
On the heels of two major U.S. Grammy nominations for his CD release with Steve Winwood last year, Eric Clapton has announced a series of North American solo shows. The tour will begin on February 25 in Pittsburgh, PA and will travel to 11 U.S. cities and feature a very special guest, The Who‘s Roger Daltrey to kick off the show.
In recent years, Clapton has done some of his most innovative and collaborative work, pairing with iconic artists such as Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck and JJ Cale for concert and CD projects. Recent concert setlists have seen a variety of Clapton music featuring some of his biggest solo hits alongside classic Derek and The Dominos and Blind Faith songs. The band will consist of Steve Gadd on drums, Willie Weeks on bass, Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond on keyboards, and Michelle John and Sharon White as backing vocalists.
Earlier this month Clapton announced a set of dates with Jeff Beck. Complete Clapton tour dates available here:
02/13/10 Sat O2 Arena London, GB (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/14/10 Sun O2 Arena London, GB (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/18/10 Thu Madison Square Garden New York, NY (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/19/10 Fri Madison Square Garden New York, NY (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/21/10 Sun Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/22/10 Mon Bell Centre Montreal, QC (w/ Jeff Beck)
02/25/10 Thu Mellon Arena Pittsburgh, PA (w/ Roger Daltrey)
02/27/10 Sat Sommet Center Nashville, TN (w/ Roger Daltrey)
02/28/10 Sun Birmingham Jefferson Arena Birmingham, AL (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/02/10 Tue BOK Center Tulsa, OK (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/03/10 Wed Sprint Center Kansas City, MO (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/05/10 Fri FedEx Forum Memphis, TN (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/06/10 Sat New Orleans Arena New Orleans, LA (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/08/10 Mon RBC Center Raleigh, NC (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/09/10 Tue Gwinnett Civic & Cultural Center Duluth, GA (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/11/10 Thu BankAtlantic Center Sunrise, FL (w/ Roger Daltrey)
03/13/10 Sat Amway Arena Orlando, FL (w/ Roger Daltrey)
05/18/10 Tue LG Arena (NEC Arena) Birmingham, GB (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/20/10 Thu Wembley Arena London, GB (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/23/10 Sun Sportpaleis Antwerpen Antwerp, BEL (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/25/10 Tue Bercy Paris, FRA (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/28/10 Fri Phillipshalle Dusseldorf, GER (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/29/10 Sat Gelredome Arnhem, NL (w/ Steve Winwood)
05/31/10 Mon Malmo Arena Malmo, SE (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/02/10 Wed O2 World Berlin, GER (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/03/10 Thu Color Line Arena Hamburg, GER (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/05/10 Sat Konigsplatz Munich, GER (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/07/10 Mon Stadthalle Vienna, AUS (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/09/10 Wed Belgrade Arena Belgrade, RS (w/ Steve Winwood)
06/13/10 Sun Santral Istanbul Istanbul, TR (w/ Steve Winwood)
ERIC CLAPTON AND JEFF BECK COMBINE FORCES FOR THREE NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS THIS FEBRUARY
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck have confirmed three North American co-headlining shows for February, 2010. The announcement comes on the heels of the tandem’s previously confirmed shows at London’s O2 February 13-14, 2010.
Clapton and Beck will kick things off in the states on February 18 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, then head north for a February 21 show at Toronto’s Air Canada Center, and wrap things up February 22 at the Bell Center in Montreal. Ticket info is scarce at the moment, but Toronto onsale begins December 4, 10 a.m. local time. For more information you can head to Clapton or Beck’s web sites here and here.
Earlier this year Clapton and Beck co-headlined for the first time ever at Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena.
Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck Tour Dates
02/13/10 Sat O2 Arena London, GB
Hiromi’s Sonicbloom :: 11.14.09 :: Hangar 11 :: Tel Aviv, Israel
Hiromi Uehara
by Muga Miyahara
As if there aren’t enough things being exported out of Japan these days. It’s no surprise, of course, given that the
Japanese have a habit of taking things invented by Americans and making them smaller, better, and more efficient.
First it was cars, then electronics, and now jazz. Hiromi Uehara certainly is small (standing at no more than five feet), certainly is
efficient, and certainly is better than just about any contemporary American jazz pianist. In a genre increasingly
dominated by aging titans, the youthful Hiromi, with her ingenious compositions and astounding virtuosity, is at the
outer limits of what jazz fusion is capable of. Leave it to the Japanese to take the only true American art form and
bring it to a whole other level.
Japanese exports, of course, can be found all over the world, and Hiromi is no exception. Currently in the midst of a
world tour, Hiromi made her lone stop in the Middle East en route to her homeland. Putting all political and
ideological persuasions aside, Israel can actually be quite a fun place. In only a few short decades Israel has become
a bustling economic and cultural center, with Tel Aviv at its heart. The perilous war-zone that the media often
makes it out to be is hardly the reality for most Israelis, especially in Tel Aviv, the city with the country’s most
exciting nightlife. It’s no wonder then that this would make for Hiromi’s third trip here.
Inside Hangar 11, one of the few
venues that regularly draws international artists, they had just finished wiping the blood off the floor from the
previous week’s Opeth concert to
replace the mosh pit with rows of chairs for the more ‘formal’ jazz exhibition that was about to take place. A futile
gesture given that most of the show found the audience incapable of staying seated. When this cute little morsel of
a human being first took the stage, dressed like a doll in her brightly colored dress with a black flower obscured in
her hair, smile unremittingly plastered to her face, it was hard to imagine the onslaught of notes and sheer energy
that we were about to be drenched in.
A humorous Gershwin-esque improvisation from the solitary Hiromi started off the show before the rest of the band
joined in on the fusion-y goodness. Englishman Tony Grey (bass) was quick to steal the spotlight,
plucking out a lush solo on his five-string while his bandleader buttressed him with colorful chords. Hiromi’s
current group, Sonicbloom,
proved a perfect compliment for the pianist, with her set largely comprised of songs from their latest release, Beyond Standard. As a single unit the quartet moved with effortless rapidity from old-school swinging jazz
beats to raucous rock beats to Latin grooves to spacey drifting to intricate melodic lines played in unison. Hiromi’s
Sonicbloom can really bloom into just about anything it wants to at any given moment. Much like her mentor Chick Corea, her compositions are a
fusion of not just straight ahead jazz, but also of rock, electronic, progressive, and even classical music. At times
the quartet sounded an awful lot like Corea’s Return to Forever (which is familiar ground for Hiromi, fresh off a brief stint playing with that
band’s rhythm section in the Stanley Clarke
Trio). It’s not just her compositions but also her playing that Corea has palpably influenced. Both Corea’s
fusion of acoustic piano and synthesizer (an instrument he practically introduced to the jazz world) and his highly
virtuosic style of flying through a flash of improvised notes at remarkable speeds have been absorbed in Hiromi’s
playing.
It’s more than just her speed though that makes Hiromi such an amazing musician, it’s her expressive abilities that
really make her unique. Her deranged, dissonant improvisations still maintained a high degree of melodic form,
giving her playing a kind of thematic aura. In her own arrangement of the Rogers & Hammerstein classic “My
Favorite Things,” she filled in the silent abysses that buffered torrents of notes with just one or two delicately placed
notes that seem to convey as much if not more than the innumerable notes surrounding them. “My Favorite Things”
was also a display of Hiromi’s arrangement skills, as the song evolved from its show tune roots to an upbeat fusion
piece with an impetuous drum solo from Brazilian Mauricio Zottarelli.
Hiromi’s take on Jeff Beck‘s “Led
Boots” might very well have been the highlight of the evening. Taking Beck’s funked-up ditty and re-harmonizing
the melody to give it a much jazzier feel built on top of a much faster tempo, this arrangement was hardly
reminiscent of the original, particularly during the extended jams. Hiromi’s cybertronic synthetic madness shrouded
the familiar melody taken by John Shannon‘s guitar. In unison her hands dashed across two different
keyboards. While Hiromi made minced-meat of the original keyboard solo by Max Middleton (who actually
composed the song) Shannon’s guitar work hardly touched that of Beck’s. Not that that’s any insult to Shannon;
that’s kind of like scoring 40 points in a basketball game and then saying Michael Jordan could have done better.
Hiromi continued shredding across all three of her synths at impossible speeds over all different types of time
signature and chord changes until the song erupted into a virtually exact replica of Beck’s version. With a look of
complete elation from the song’s momentous finish, she shyly said, “Sababa,” into the mic, which is Hebrew slang
for awesome, eliciting a round of laughter.
With her limited English skills, Hiromi addressed the crowd before dropping into the encore. “I’ve traveled a lot over
the years, so I often ask myself where is my place in the world? But when I come here that question disappears from
my head. I’ve only been to Israel three times, but when I come here I really feel at home (cue requisite chorus of
awwww’s from the audience). This one is dedicated to you. It’s called ‘A Place to Be’.” “A Place to Be” was an
uncharacteristically somber, deeply introspective piece that seemed to unveil the very being of Hiromi, as she sat
lonely by her piano, though still sporting that great big smile that simply could not be wiped from her face. Soon
Sonicbloom dropped right back into a scrumptious groove, inciting everyone to their feet to end the show with a
bang.
Often musical-lay people tend to get lost in the complexity of jazz, but even those who are not quite aficionados
could enjoy this blend of energetic jazz fusion. With an uncanny mastery of innumerable genres, ghostly, nimble
fingers, and a touch of youthful energy, Hiromi is single-handedly taking jazz into the future. With this gal at the
helm, Sonicbloom has become one of the most enjoyable and talented jazz acts out there.
Rod Stewart wants to reunite with former bandmate Jeff Beck, after teaming up with him for a Los Angeles show in April (09).
The singer has confessed that he is more likely to record something with his former Jeff Beck Group bandmate than he is with former supergroup The Faces.
His reunion with The Faces fell apart [...]
Music occupies an important place in our life. We can’t live without it. Actually people have different musical tastes depending on their age, education and even mood. Some people like classical music, others prefer rock, pop or jazz, but nobody is indifferent to it. Popular Music refers to the kind of music that appeals to [...]
1909: Clarence “Leo” Fender is born.
The designer, engineer and inventor would found the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, the banner under which he created and produced the first wave of commercially successful electric guitars, basses and amplifiers. Fender’s panache for instrument design reached its pinnacle with his work on the Telecaster guitar, the Fender Precision [...]
The reunion of former Blind Faith bandmates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood marks the latest gold brick in Clapton’s path down memory lane that has seen the legendary British rock guitarist rekindle some of his most legendary collaborative partnerships in recent years ranging from his old Cream mates Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker to 461 Ocean Boulevard songwriting partner JJ Cale to fellow Yardbirds alumni Jeff Beck, not to mention his 2000 duet album with boyhood hero B.B. King, the worthwhile Riding With The King (which is long overdue for a revisit, at least in my own rotation).
However, in working together again with Winwood, EC seems more alive (sonically speaking) than he has in years. Well, at least from the sound of the reconvened duo’s immaculate concert recording from their trio of dates at the fabled Manhattan arena in February of 2008. Maybe it’s the sense of extra added love for the material performed at those shows or the genuine impenetrable chemistry these two old mates share together, but Live From Madison Square Garden (released May 19 on WEA/Reprise) arguably stands as Clapton’s finest official live release since the 1974 Rainbow Concert album, or at least since his stint as the lead guitarist in George Harrison’s band for the late Beatle’s long, lost Live in Japan from 1992. It certainly blows away the rather wooden performance he gave on that very MSG stage in 2005 when he got back together with Cream (a reunion commemorated on the CD/DVD release of the trio’s stiff performance at the Royal Albert Hall). At least from where I was sitting in the audience on the night I went, those gigs saw Jack Bruce carry the majority of those reunion shows with his fiery vocal delivery and impeccable bass playing while an unhealthy-looking Ginger struggled to keep up the pace on his drum set and Clapton essentially phoned in the riffs for “Spoonful” and “White Room” with a bored look on his face.
Such is not the case between Winwood and Clapton. Live From Madison Square Garden, released as a two-CD set and a DVD, shows both men sharing equal time on stage and hitting their marks with the enthusiasm and energy of men half their age. Ably supported by a stellar back-up group rounded out by session bassist extraordinaire Willie Weeks, Ian Thomas on drums and Chris Stainton on keyboards, the old friends ramble through the entirety of Side One of the Blind Faith album, highlighted by stellar renditions “Presence of the Lord” on disc one and a phenomenally soulful version of “Can’t Find My Way Home” on the second disc, not to mention BF’s cover of Sam Myers’ “Sleeping in the Ground,” a rarity that made its official debut on the 2001 deluxe edition of the super group’s 1969 masterpiece.
Clapton and Winwood round out the show with an apt sampling of their back catalogs, markedly Derek and the Dominoes’ “Tell The Truth”, Clapton’s own pair of smash hits in “After Midnight” (the original fast version, mind you, not the beer commercial edition) and “Cocaine,” and Winwood’s Traffic anthem “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (a big thanks to both Steve and Eric for avoiding their equally dreadful ’80s material). They also performed a slew of covers that make up almost a third of this collection, including a buoyant tribute to the late Buddy Miles with a brassy spin through “Them Changes,” a solo Winwood crooning his way through Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” and an ace pair of Jimi Hendrix covers, “Little Wing,” which Clapton originally took a stab at on Derek and the Dominoes’ Layla and other Assorted Love Songs, and a sprawling 16-plus minute jam through Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” (the Side One version) that features some of the most impassioned blues guitar this writer has heard EC burn through in years. In fact, to get the full effect, you might actually want to pick up the DVD, just so you can watch the master at work for yourself.
Any fan of the classic rock staples that both Clapton and Winwood have provided for three generations will certainly benefit from owning this most exceptional concert album.
Simon & Garfunkel
Patterson Hood
Dave Schools
David Murphy
Kyle Hollingsworth
Petter Ericson Stakee
Jon Gutwillig
Aron Magner
Marco Benevento
Derek Vincent Smith/PL
Deerhunter
Mathis by Miller
Gomez
Jake Cinninger
Ryan Stasik by Vann
Brendan Bayliss
Cummins by Gordon
Farag by Gordon
Keller Williams
Art Neville by Smith
Jason Isbell
Jerry Joseph
Andrew Barr
George Porter Jr.
Joe Russo
Stanton Moore
Skerik
Mike Dillon
Eric McFadden Trio
Zack Smith
Cody Dickinson
Todd Snider
Ethan Miller
Steve Molitz
Gorman by Weiand
McMicken by Grayson
Peter Bjorn and John
Harley Prechtel-Cortez by Law
Lucero
Pelican
Metric
Jeff Miller
U-Melt
Ben Kweller
Dan Lebowitz
Steve Adams
Fred Torphy
Jeremy Korpas
Bifulco by Smith
Brian Haas
Josh Raymer
Chris Combs
Matt Hayes
Pollard by Krolick
The Bridge
Trampled By Turtles
Pete Shand by Martinez
The New Mastersounds
Glasvegas
Chairlift
Telepath
Zach Deputy
Jazz Fest ’09 by Adam McCullough
Eric Clapton
Hiromi Uehara
Hiromi’s
Hiromi’s