Jazz Brunch Jam - Sugar

Although perhaps not as sexy a name in jazz circles as Blue Note or Verve, CTI Records has put out an outstanding catalog of contemporary jazz work over the years. To celebrate their 40th anniversary (CTI first spread its wings in 1970), the label is re-releasing six of its masterpieces, remastered, for the first time, this month. Also of note are two brand new releases: CTI Records: The Cool Revolution, a deluxe 4-CD multi-artist box set retrospective (39 tracks total, grouped thematically), and California Concert: The Hollywood Palladium (the most complete version of the historic Hollywood Palladium all-star concert recorded July 18, 1971).

In addition, six more remastered selections are slated for shelves come January. Today I'll share a cut from the first of the remasters that I've had a chance to spin, Stanley Turrentine's album Sugar. Behind him are Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, and Ron Carter, all equally skilled musicians. Put together, they lay down some blues-orientated jazz that just grooves, especially under Turrentine's sax work . It features the album's original three tracks, plus two additional ones, including a smokin' live version of the title track. Check it out below, and keep your eyes peeled for other releases in upcoming weeks

 

Stanley Turrentine - Sugar : Sugar (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition)

Visit this release's label CTI Records.

Sunday Soul - Let the Little Girl Dance

 Dance dance

let the little girl through
she wants to dance by you
buddy can't you see
she wants to dance with me

she's been a little wallflower on the shelf
standing by herself
now she's got the nerve to take a chance
so let the little girl dance

Billy Bland - Let the Little Girl Dance : Let the Little Girl Dance 7"


Billy Bland - Sweet Thing : Let the Little Girl Dance 7" B-side

Find them both on Let the Little Girl Dance: The Very Best of Billy Bland.

Graveyard

Silent Scream

Oh, we're nothing but walking spirits

Only shadows, we're only shadows

Screaming out but no one will hear us

Only shadows, we're only shadows

And you know you're not there

When the wind in your hair goes right through you

And you know that you're gone

When the sound of a song cannot soothe you

And it's a difficult burden to bear

When you're not quite there

Lucy Schwartz - Graveyard : Life In Letters

Visit her website and become her friend on MySpace or Facebook.

A Girl, A Boy, and a Graveyard

Lucy takes the long way home

meets me in a field of stone

she says i don't know how i'm supposed to feel

my body's cold, my guts are twisted steel

and i feel like i'm some kind of frankenstein

waiting for a shock to bring me back to life

and i don't want to spend my time

waiting for lightning to strike

Get the song and the rest of the album HERE, by naming your own price.

Visit his website and become his friend on MySpace or on Facebook.

Music Is Awesome(er)

It's been roughly a year since I wrote about Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome and two years since I wrote about the first soundtrack CD. Ever since I spun that first CD for my daughter, she's totally dug the music. What's so strange about that fact though is that she doesn't watch the show. Ever. She hasn't seen an episode in I don't know how long. When asked she'll tell you that she thinks it's strange and weird (which granted, it totally is)! But she'll listen to the music till the cows come home.

That being said, her eyes lit up when I showed her that I had gotten her a copy of Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome Volume 2. Two years later, she finds as much joy in listening to DJ Lance Rock, Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee and Plex sing about hanging out with insects (All My Friends are Insects or I Love Bugs), crazy backyard shenanigans (Pool Party), and mechanical marvals (The Robot Song). While there are a couple of songs here carried over from Volume 1, the vast majority of the twenty one tracks are brand new, although just as quirky and zany. The show is now its third season, and the tunes here come from skits in episodes, but you certainly don't need to have seen the show to enjoy the music. Just ask folks who hit Coachella this year, where the YGG crew hit the stage.and rocked out.

Backing up the YGG cast on Volume 2 are a wide assortment of musicians including Weezer, Hot Hot Heat, Datarock, Solange Knowles, Jimmy Eat World, and others. If you do have a little one's ears to please, this is a great way to introduce them to some real musicians. If you don't, there's still plenty of childish fun to be had listening to these songs.

YO GABBA GABBA! - The Freeze Game : Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome Volume 2

The Aquabats! - Pool Party : Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome Volume 2

Visit the official Yo Gabba Gabba! website.

Sunday Soul - Eleanor Rigby

The men of Soulive have put together a funktastic album of Beatles covers titled Rubber Soulive (which in itself calls back to their classic album Rubber Soul). Of course it's got that Soulive jam sound to it, but in its homage it reminds me of a Booker T. & the MG's album, which were invariably chock full of cover songs. The group definitely brings their own musicianship to the table though in bringing this songs to life as some funky instrumentals. They'll be touring over the next few months and playing some of these tunes for sure (as you can see in the video above). Check out the dates below.

Soulive - Eleanor Rigby (Beatles Cover)  : Rubber Soul

Booker T. & the MG's - Eleanor Rigby (Beatles cover) : Soul Limbo

Visit their website, their label Royal Family Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Some other cover versions:

Aretha Franklin - Eleanor Rigby (Beatles cover) : This Girl's in Love with You

Ray Charles - Eleanor Rigby (Beatles cover) : Anthology

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Upcoming Tour Dates

October 29 | Higher Ground | Burlington, VT
October 30 | Higher Ground | Burlington, VT
November 4 | The Rex | Pittsburgh, PA
November 5 | The State Theater | Falls Church, VA
November 6 | World Cafe Live | Philadelphia, PA
November 7 | Capital Ale House | Richmond, VA
November 8 | Pisgah | Asheville, NC
November 9 | The Poor House | Charleston, SC
November 10 | Neighborhood Theater | Charlotte, NC
November 11 | Masquerade | Atlanta, GA
November 13 | Bear Creek Music & Art Festival | Live Oak, FL
November 19 | Double Door | Chicago, IL
November 20 | Orpheum Theater | Madison, WI
December 10 | The Independent | San Francisco, CA *w/ special guest Karl Denson
December 11 | The Independent | San Francisco, CA *w/ special guest Karl Denson
December 12 | Humbolt Brews | Arcata, CA *w/ special guest Karl Denson
December 14 | Harlow's | Sacramento, CA
December 15 | Moe's Alley | Santa Cruz, CA
December 16 | The Roxy | Los Angeles, CA
December 17 | Cervante's Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO
December 18 | Cervante's Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO
December 30 | Paradise | Boston, MA
December 31 | Paradise | Boston, MA

Let's Do the Time Warp AGAIN!

'Glee' Does The 'Time Warp' @ Yahoo! Video

Glee is simply becoming unstoppable. In my opinion, Glee is appropriating pop music culture like The Simpsons did for culture in general. And they've done it again with the this cult classic. It's featured in the upcoming episode airing next week.

Get the song on Glee: The Music - The Rocky Horror Glee Show.

Visit the Glee website.

Funk You

This little instrumental, closed-captioned ditty (a cover of Cee-Lo's song) comes from Dennis Coffey, an original member of the quasi-legendary/mostly-undeservedly-unknown Funk Brothers (Have no clue what I'm talking about? Watch Standing in the Shadows of Motown). He's putting together an album that's due out on Strut Records sometime next year, and with his roots, it's bound to be funky.


Dennis Coffey - Scorpio : Evolution

Visit his website, the Strut Records website, and become his friend on MySpace.

Jazz Brunch Jam - Alligator Bogaloo

Watch and learn how:





Read:

boogaloo: the quintessence of american popular music

Listen:

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo : Alligator Bogaloo 7"

Lou Donaldson - Rev. Moses : Alligator Bogaloo 7" B-side

Find them both on Alligator Bogaloo.

Sunday Soul - Me and Mrs. Jones

 Hands

We meet every day at the same cafe

Six-thirty and no one knows she'll be there

Holding hands, making all kinds of plans

While the juke box plays our favorite songs

Me and Mrs.Jones

We got a thing goin'on

We both know that it's wrong

But it's much too strong

To let it go now

Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones : Me and Mrs. Jones 7"

Billy Paul - Your Song (Elton John cover) : Me and Mrs. Jones 7" B-side

Find them both on Me and Mrs. Jones: The Best of Billy Paul.

the Cabana Code

After having largly disappeared from the music scene for over twenty years, Andy Hernandez, A.K.A. Coati Mundi, has returned. His name probably doesn't strike any immediate chords, and although he's gone Bermuda Triangle for a while, he's actually appeared in this very blog, somewhat indirectly, in the past. Along side August Darnell (i.e. Kid Creole), Coati Mundi created genre smashing music in Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band and its later incarnation, Kid Creole and the Coconuts . (For an excellent primer and retrospective of the two groups' work, as well as the rest of Darnell's work, check out the compilation Going Places: The August Darnell Years).

Fast forward to late last year when Coati Mundi let loose a few new tracks he's been working on titled the No More Blues EP, and more to the point, his brand new full length Dancing For the Cabana Code In the Land of Boo-Hoo. On it, Hernandez re-explores many of the same flavors that he and Darnell let loose on the world in the 70's and 80's while creating something connected to the present as well. This isn't just re-hashing of old favorites, mind you; still here is that explorative feeling free of genre defintions, the exuberant entertainment factor unafraid to cut loose, and the connection to the dance floor that the music builds pushing your body to move.

As with his past work, there is a strong undercurrent of Latin influences mixed with disco beats. Also as with past projects, Coati Mundi doesn't take himself too seriously, such as with the album's second track, Do Not Brown Your Nose. Yes, it's about what you think it is. Or as in No More Blues, which sings about replacing the blues with pink. Unlike his older work, these new songs don't feel like they were pulled from tape dug up from the 80's. NOT to say there is anything wrong with that music, but it's nice to see that he's kept up with the times and grown with them. Simply put, his music is fun.

The album isn't out until next month, but check a track from the No More Blues EP below that also appears on the full length.

Coati Mundi - No More Blues : No More Blues EP (also appears on the upcoming Dancing For the Cabana Code In the Land of Boo-Hoo)

Kid Creole and the Coconuts - Something Wrong In Paradise (Larry Levan Mix) : Ze Records Story 1979-2009

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Cher Chez le Femme; Se Si Bon : Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

Visit his website, his label Rong Music, and become his friend on MySpace.

Innerviews

I've been writing MISB for about four and a half years now. In blog years, that means I should be at least several months (if not years) extinct. In comparison, Innerviews, the site that carries on "conversations with music's most vital and original voices," has been around since 1994, is still going strong, and Anil Prasad, the man behind the site, will be publishing his first book, a collection of interviews from it, on October 19th. Now that's some staying power.

If you visit the Innerviews' website, you won't be struck by flashy graphics or elaborate lay-outs. There are no roll-over ads for the latest big name release. Everything is in a dull gray. What you will find though are countless interviews with musicians from around the world that leave out the hokey "if you were a fruit, which would you be" or "which were more explorative artists: the Beatles or the Monkees" questions and cut to the quintessential essence of what makes these musicians tick.

Innerviews: Music WIthout Borders the book culls twenty-four of Prasad's interview essays Prasad has conducted exclusively for the book and collects them together to be taken with you or read by the fire. Alphabetically arranged, the artists represented here range from Joe Zawinul (co-founder of the genre shaking jazz fusion group Weather Report) to Noa (Israeli singer and superstar) to Bela Fleck (who can make the banjo sound better?) to Chuck D (ummm, do I really have to comment on who he is?) to twenty other equally diverse musicians

While I can almost guarantee that you won't recognize all of their names (or even a third for that matter) or have heard their work, the truth of that matter is that is almost immaterial. Prasad does an incredible job of probing into each artist's musical core in such a way as to reveal the inner workings of music as each of them interprets it, revealing artistry that in itself carries wonderment. Although not specifically called such by all included, one gets the sense of a musical spirituality here. And even if you don't want to learn who Bill Laswell is and why he turned down working with Miles Davis, you can simply skip to the next artist and continue on your merry way, returning some day when you finally check out Tabla Beat Science.

Buy the book

Weather Report - Birdland : Heavy Weather

Tabla Beat Science - Tala Matrix : Live in San Francisco at Stern Grove

Visit the Innerviews website and become its friend on MySpace.

Felabration!

Celebrate the Felabration all across the country

starting tomorrow!

10.13.10 - The Shrine - Chicago, IL

10.13.10 - Recess at Somar Bar & Lounge - Oakland, CA

10.14.10 - (Le) Poisson Rouge - New York, NY

10.14.10 - Yoruba Dance Sessions - Oakland, CA

10.14.10 - Afro Funke @ Zanzibar - Los Angeles, CA

10.16.10 - 595 North Event Venue - Atlanta, GA

10.21.10 - Shrine World Music Venue - New York, NY

10.23.10 - Worldbeat Cultural Center - San Diego, CA

10.23.10 - Malverde - Austin, TX

10.25.10 - The Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY

10.28.10 - Bossa Lounge - Washington, D.C.

10.28.10 - MilkyWay at the Brewery - Boston, MA

(more details at www.fela.net/files/felabration)

Over the course of the last year I've shared the Knitting Factory's reissues of Fela Kuti's catalog. Well, the third batch is here! In it are included:

Zombie (1976)
Upside Down (1976) / Music of Many Colours (1980)
Stalemate (1977) / Fear Not For Man (1977)
Opposite People (1977) / Sorrow, Tears and Blood (1977)
Shuffering & Shmiling (1978) / No Agreement (1977)
V.I.P. (1979) / Authority Stealing (1980)

These albums really represent Fela's most vitriolic and cutting work. As with previous batches, they are available as various bundles through the Knitting Factory website at killer prices.

Fela Kuti - Zombie : Zombie

Visit his Facebook page and Knitting Factory Records.

Sunday Soul - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

Everybody needs somebody

Everybody wants somebody to love (honey to love)

Sugar to kiss, baby to miss now

Baby to tease, sometime to please

and I need (you you you you)

and I need (you you you you)

in the morning baby (you you you you)

When the sun goes down (you you you you)

The very unappreciated Solomon Burke just passed away yesterday. May he rest in peace.

Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love : Everybody Needs Somebody To Love 7"

Solomon Burke - Looking For My Baby : Everybody Needs Somebody To Love 7"

Find them both on The Platinum Collection.

Visit his website and become his friend on MySpace.

I Cannot Be Saved

There are some things that I know

and some I would not choose

You come at me from the side

where I couldn’t see you move

but I cannot be saved

in spite of my resilience

I can’t help but be your slave

Soon enough I know that I

will not be sleeping well again

I’ll be wondering how I was so easily overtaken

I cannot be saved in spite of my resilience

I cannot be saved in spite of my persistence

I can’t help but feel ashamed

Tara Simmons - I Cannot Be Saved : I Cannot Be Saved Single

Visit her website and become her friend on MySpace.

Soon On a Snowflake

 Snowflake

hey hey

just wait till your eyes close

ohhhhhh ohhh ohh oh

and look at your window

i'm coming to find you

i'll be there soon

i'm coming to find you

just look out your window

drifting on a snowflake

fall asleep in the snow bed

drifting on a snowflake

let the snow take away your cold

Chloe Charles - Soon On a Snowflake : Little Green Bud EP

Visit her website and become her friend on MySpace.

Madlib's Advanced Jazz

“Imagine an 80-minute music history course talking place in a dusty, hazy studio with wall-to-wall jazz vinyl - records from the past 40 years – jazz, fusion, funky, obscure. This course will not be graded. There will be no lecture. Madlib’s at the turntable. Class is now in session.”

It's just silly how many pots Madlib has his hands in. His latest release, Madlib Medicine Show #8: Advanced Jazz, just reiterates what listeners in the know have known for a while, he knows his jazz better than most listeners know, well, anything, and he's not even a jazz artist. While I have previous Medicine Show releases, I just ordered my copy of #8 and am waiting to get it, and wanted to share this since I haven't shared much lately. It looks (and sounds) crazy good from what I've laid my ears on so far. Order your own copy HERE, and then we can compare notes.

Poysner, Riggins & Jackson - Funky Butt, Part 1 : Madlib Medicine Show #7: High Jazz

Madlib - Please Set Me At Ease - Hip Hop Mix : Shades of Blue

Visit his label Stones Throw Records and become his friend on MySpace.