Archive for May, 2009
Goodbye to All That (For Now)
Author: Anthony Medici
I’ve been writing for this blog since its inception, more than a year ago. I’ve decided it’s time for a rest, or maybe a change. Sometimes a rest is a change. I hope you have enjoyed what I have written. Or, if not enjoyed, at least found yourself thinking about the subject at hand. Thank you for reading, and thank you to Princeton Record Exchange for providing this forum. I have tried when and where I could to argue for the necessity of keeping the art known as jazz fresh, vibrant, indeed revolutionary, as it has always been at its best, but now seems in danger of ossifying under commercial pressure. There is no point to jazz’s survival, if that survival is one of only dreary “repertory” renditions, tired variations on tired themes, and endless reissues of many-times-reissued before albums. I have directed criticism at public radio and TV for its timid cowering to commercial and organizational pressure, its abysmal failure to offer content with “the shock of the new,” its dereliction of cultural duties that are its real reason for existence. Endless Yanni offerings, or pallid cocktail jazz, are not valid exercises of their public trust. Instead, public programming should stop acting like an also-ran commercial network, and start being a cultural change-maker. They do it much better in Europe. Read the rest of this entry »
read comments (1)Brothers of the Southland “Brothers of the Southland” (ZOHO Music 200906)
Author: Beverly Paterson
Are you ready for a new supergroup? If so, cordially cock your ears towards the Brothers of the Southland. Composed of Bo Bice from “American Idol,” along with members of Wet Willie, The Outlaws, The Allman Brothers and The Black Crowes, here’s a band highly educated in the fine art of southern rock, and plays the music in the manner it was intended to be played. Read the rest of this entry »
The Jazz Festival is Dead. I’m Not Crying.
Author: Anthony Medici
Once upon a time, dinosaurs roamed the land. These behemoths had it their way. They consumed vast amounts of food. They trampled and trod upon whatever came before them. They did not have to adapt, and so they did not. When a planetary disaster struck, they were helpless and quickly headed towards oblivion.
So too the way of the behemoth jazz festival, most notably that espoused and produced by George Wein and a host of follow-the-leader wannabes. I refer you to the New York Times report of May 19, 2009, “New York Loses Its Jazz Festival.” According to the article, “[...] for the first time in 37 years, there will be no major summer jazz festival in New York. Nor will there be related series in Miami or Chicago, as the concert company behind them is suffering a financial crisis.” Apparently, Festival Productions, the company once owned by impresario Wein, which he sold to a group led by Chris Shields, is out of money and out of steam. Last year, Festival Productions produced 17 jazz festivals around the world; this year none. Read the rest of this entry »
“Rocking Horse – A Personal Biography of Betty Hutton” by Gene Arceri
Author: Beverly Paterson
Conceived of several excellent interviews author Gene Arceri conducted with Betty Hutton, “Rocking Horse” covers the famed actress and singer’s life from beginning to end. Well written, interesting, informative and laced with a nice personal touch, the book stages a fantastic job of drawing the reader into Betty’s colorful, creative and often complex world. Determined to make her mark in show business, Betty was a hard worker and truly loved her craft. In spite of encountering some hardships, she persevered and became one of the most popular performers of the forties and fifties.
Eventually abandoning show business altogether, and the reasons why are effectively documented in “Rocking Horse,“ Betty went to work for a church, where she found the peace and compassion she was seeking. As is the case with anyone’s life, whether they’re a public figure or an ordinary citizen, Betty had her highs and lows. That said, there are moments of sadness to be had in “Rocking Horse,” but for the most part, the book celebrates her tremendous talents and portrays her as a genuine human being. Not only is “Rocking Horse” a must have for admirers of Betty Hutton, but for movie buffs in general.
Meeting People Is Easy
Author: Andrew Overton
For the last four years without question Radiohead has been my favorite band. Never has a band held my heavyweight title for that long. I’ve never been big on watching videos or movies about bands, but I make an exception for Thom Yorke & Co. I’m lying down to watch the documentary
Meeting People Is Easy , which follows the and during their infamous 1997 OK Computer tour. I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts and ramblings throughout the film.
The mere mention of U.S.A. and Destination Records causes obsessive collectors of sixties music, such as myself, to go weak in the knees and turn to mush. Run by Jim Golden, both these Chicago, Illinois based labels (located at 2131 South Michigan Avenue) produced some of the coolest singles of its genre. A generous sampling of these tunes can be heard right here, on this double disc set, which also entails a lengthy history of the operations, an interview with Jim Golden, swarms of photos and profiles on the featured bands. Read the rest of this entry »
92 in the Shade
Author: Anthony Medici
92 in the shade. An emblem of heat. The title of Tom McGuane’s modern classic novel. Phoenix was not quite that cool. It might have been all of a balmy 98 in the shade on my last trip there. 102 in the sun. Carless, and on foot, I was in search of LPs. Vinyl. Jazz vinyl. I scored my first vinyl at Grandiose, on East Pierce, a hip boutique with records, clothing and art. There I picked up a sealed copy of Stuff Smith’s Black Violin on MPS. I also picked up a double-LP on Arista Freedom (a short-lived but great label), Ornette Coleman’s The Great London Concert, recorded 1965, with David Izenzon, Charles Moffett and a small classical ensemble. I hadn’t seen this one before, and was glad to get it. There was also a nice copy of Jimmy Lyons’ “Some Other Afternoon” on BYG, but I already had that, so left it for the next vinyl hunter. In search or more vinyl, I was directed to Wax ‘n Trax, further along on Central Avenue, at Camelback; too far to walk. I would need to take the light rail train that runs along Central. As I attempted to finagle a ticket from the station dispenser, as the sun beat mercilessly down, and my hot sweaty hand clutched my bag of vinyl treasures, the question occurred to me: what is the melting point of vinyl? Read the rest of this entry »
Jude the Unobscure
Author: Lydia Pudzianowski
After a long hiatus (and one blog), your favorite post-grad is back for some guaranteed Sunday blogging. Now that I have a BA in writing from the University of Pittsburgh, I’m qualified to do this (apparently that’s it though, as no one wants to hire me). Read the rest of this entry »
“Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles”
Author: Beverly Paterson
Pinching its name from the third Doors album, “Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles” was originally published in 1996, then reissued in the United Kingdom in 2003 with a profile on Beck. Now available in paperback, bolstered by an introduction from the author, penned this year, “Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles” lives up to its lofty title and then some. Read the rest of this entry »
Utopia’s Last Of The New Wave Riders Hurtles Towards Oblivion
Author: Jeff Boule
Photo By Jeff Boule
Once again, we revisit, review and revise a blog lost to zeros and ones…
As we recover from the last two back-to-back weeks of the Deface Tour, we need to take it easy. With this in mind, we will be doing an abbreviated review (read: not a two-parter this week). We are continuing with our examination of the Utopia box set, Last Of The New Wave Riders. A set of live performance CDs spanning from early in Utopia’s career up to almost the end. This particular show, the Oblivion Tour, is a single disc. The only one in the box set that isn’t a two CD set. VALUE!
Greetings from Princeton Record Exchange,
As our avid jazz customers know, it’s been way too long since we have had a large selection of Blue Note’s in stock. Despite our best efforts, these records are getting harder and harder to find every year. So it is with pleasure that we announce this beautiful collection is now available for sale. Read the rest of this entry »
Various Artists “Do You Wanna Be In The Show?”
Author: Beverly Paterson
BACH BEETHOVEN BROTZMANN
Author: Anthony Medici
It was the second day of a business trip to Phoenix, in the never-more-aptly named “Valley of the Sun,” where the temperature hovered around 100* and the sun and heat felt like a hair dryer blowing in your face. I had used my post-business “happy hour” scouting some local record stores (a story for another post). Heat-struck and foot-worn, I was consoling myself with a pizza and beer, when my cell phone signaled a text message. It was a ten second clip of German free jazz avatar Peter Brotzmann performing that night at D.C club Velvet Lounge, sent by a friend to offer a small degree of consolation for having missed the performance. Opening that little video clip in the desert night was like a visitation from another world, as if an old Norse god, perhaps Wotan himself, decided to offer a glimpse of an unseen world for just a fleeting moment; unlike the place I inhabited at the moment, this one was dark, mysterious, loud, seemingly violent and stormy , yet compelling. It lifted my spirit and increased my expectation for Brotzmann’s next performance at Wind Up Space in Baltimore, this past Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
Utopia’s Last Of The New Wave Riders Deface The Beatles Music (Part Two)
Author: Jeff Boule
Photo By Jeff Boule
Picking up from where we (mercifully) left off last week, we are smack-dab in the middle of what is part of the box set from Todd Rundgren and Utopia chronicling their Deface The Music tour. To recap, Deface The Music was Utopia’s tribute to the Beatles. Rundgren and Sulton have frequently stated that the Beatles were tremendous influences on them both. Powell and Wilcox are more comfortable in the jazz realm, but also have Beatle-influence (come on, everybody has Beatle influence, even if you didn’t like them, odds are, many of the artists you DO like were influenced by the Beatles so vicariously, you are influenced).
But this isn’t about the Beatles, it’s about Utopia, maybe for this tour we should call them Beatleopia.
The Dead Tear Down the Spectrum
Author: Andrew Overton
I never had the chance to see the Grateful Dead. Jerry Garcia died when I was 7, but since high school I’ve been a student of jam–the Dead, Phish, Allman Brothers, etc. I not only have admired the musicianship of these bands, but envied their fans for the epics concerts they were able to attend.
My parents, both well aware of this envy, gave me an early birthday present this week: tickets to see the remaining Dead at the Spectrum. Warren Haynes (lead guitar) and Jeff Chimenti (keyboard/organ) were asked to join the original members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann for an American tour. For most of the tour the setlists have been packed full of hits and Saturday night was no exception. It became almost immediately apparent to me that these old fellas could still play.
Various Artists – “Staring At The Sun Volume 7″
Author: Beverly Paterson
San Diego, California is one of my very favorite cities. Beautiful beaches, mild temperatures, an awesome zoo, an excellent public transportation system, Mexican food to die for, Sea World, Old Town, a slew of cool museums, haunted houses and hotels galore, and last but definitely not least, there’s the music. For several years now, “Staring At The Sun” has treated audiences throughout the globe to recordings by San Diego artists. I’ve heard every installment of the long running series, and it’s safe to state “Volume 7” is the best of the bunch. No one trick pony, “Staring At The Sun” has always championed diversity, but this time around ringing guitar pop seems to take center stage. Read the rest of this entry »
A Classic Album
Author: Anthony Medici
Although I grew up on rock, in what many believe was the “classic” era of rock (the 60s), I am now far more immersed in the jazz scene than I am in rock. Don’t get me wrong: I still can be engaged and moved and excited by rock music, especially if it pushes the boundaries: boundaries of “good taste,” boundaries of commercial expectations; boundaries that bug the status quo. But very little of what I hear on what remains these days of commercial rock radio meets these criteria. The market now is all for and about “tweens,” the kiddies to teen market that just adores “Hannah Montana,” Justin Timberlake, and a host of other lip-synched, drum-synthed, generic popsters, who come and go with amazing rapidity. Yes, there is a market for alt- and prog-rock, but it, like jazz, has been pushed to the margins, and its audience forced to hunt for the music. Maybe just as well. As has been proven time and again, the commercial process, like the ancient gods, destroys what it first makes great. So what does my little screed have to do with today’s blog? Not much, I’ll admit, except that my post today deals with a rock album, and what I think is a great modern rock album, a classic really, that can stand, if not quite with “Sgt. Peppers,” at least with the Rolling Stones’ “Their Satanic Majesties Request.” (OK, I realize I’m likely in the minority on the latter pick). Read the rest of this entry »
“Growing Up Dead” by Peter Connors
Author: Beverly Paterson