Beautiful Piece of Brass
I first heard this version of In the Still of Night on Vin Scelsas show on Sirius (Sunday Night Idiots Delight). Ive always been a fan of the 1956 original, recorded by the Five Satins and written by leader Fred Parris. But to hear this wacked out, in-your-face brass band version put a whole new spin on the songs greatness and beauty.
This one was recorded by Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy, and released on 1998s The Odyssey of Funk and Popular Music. They give the brass band treatment to such songs as Dont Cry for Me Argentina, Marilyn Mansons Beautiful People, and even the Spice Girls Two Become One.
From the 1970s until his death in 1999, Lester Bowie was the preeminent trumpeter of the jazz avant-garde — one of the few trumpet players of his generation to successfully and completely adopt the techniques of free jazz. Indeed, Bowie was the most successful in translating the expressive demands of the music — so well-suited to the tonally pliant saxophone — to the more difficult-to-manipulate brass instrument. Like a saxophonist such as David Murray or Eric Dolphy, Bowie invested his sound with a variety of timbral effects; his work has a more vocal quality, compared with that of most contemporary trumpeters. In a sense, he was a throwback to the pre-modern jazz of Cootie Williams or Bubber Miley, though Bowie was by no means a revivalist. Though he was certainly not afraid to appropriate the growls, whinnies, slurs, and slides of the early jazzers, it was always in the service of a thoroughly modern sensibility. And Bowie had chops; his style was quirky, to be sure, but grounded in fundamental jazz concepts of melody, harmony, and rhythm. from All Music
Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy:
In the Still of the Night(mp3) – from The Odyssey of Funk & Popular MusicA Study of Plantlife
An old friend of mine, a mutual Prince fan through the years, recommended a few months ago that I sit my ass down and listen to Plantlife. A funky, soulful, laid back group, they’re originally from L.A., but made the move across the pond to London.
Their 2004 debut, The Return of Jack Splash, on the Counterflow label is still only available in the UK. They’re definitely worthy of some love though over here stateside.
“Why’d U Call Me” definitely channels Prince, with a George Clintonesque falsetto and a little old school Cameo vibe thrown in. Very nice. Me like.
“When She Smiles” is a good times – sunny day groove. Enjoy.
Plantlife:
Why’d U Call Me(mp3)
Plantlife:When She Smiles She Lights Up the Sky(mp3)- You can find their CD Used on Amazon, or you can spring for the Import.
- Check out their official site.
I Can’t Get Behind That!
From what I know about his albums, William Shatner’s musical output could be written off as a novelty. But when I heard this Shatner / Henry Rollins spoken duet, if you will, it captured my attention. Not to mention I found myself emphatically nodding my head and agreeing with what they were saying, it speaks to my increasingly easily annoyed & cynical side. I guess I’m getting old(er).
From Has Been (2004).
More Strays
I just received the Strays Don’t Sleep self titled debut CD / DVD today in the mail, all the way from the UK. After one listen, I have one thing to say: Hey Strays! Release this baby in the U.S.!!
My site has been deluged with visitors searching for their single, “For Blue Skies”, due to it being played on One Tree Hill last week. “For Blue Skies” is available on iTunes, so go check that out.
See my previous Strays post to read more about them, or visit them at their Official Web Site or their My Space page.
Here’s one off the CD:
Strays Don’t Sleep:
April’s Smiling at Me(mp3)I found my copy of the CD off of eBay. But you can find some others here at Froogle.
One Year of IckMusic
Today marks exactly one year since my first post to IckMusic. My enthusiasm in maintaining it has stayed pretty strong throughout the year. Sometimes I do get a bit busy (or lazy), but rarely does 3 or 4 days go by without a post. I still get a kick out of checking my web stats on Statcounter.com, and seeing how my posts reach people all over the world. Australians, Belgians, Japanese, Argentinians, the Brits, the Spanish, the French, and the list goes on and on. Pretty cool how something I do out of my loft in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona reaches the far corners of the world. It IS a small world after all.
As for the mp3 downloads, I’m partly suspicious that a lot of people out there are eager to get as much free music as they can, but the idealist in me likes to think that I’m expanding people’s musical horizons. I don’t have my finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest obscure music, like a lot of music bloggers do. I just share what I like at the time, whether old or new, artists well known or not so well known.
I love Comments. Music is the most powerful medium out there, in my opinion, and it’s great to receive feedback from readers around the world, and to read how a particular song or artist affects them. Everyone has a story, so I once again encourage readers / listeners to leave Comments. It’s quick, it’s painless, and it reminds me that there are human beings out there in cyberspace.
So thanks for visiting, especially all you “return visitors”, as Statcounter calls you. Drop a comment or an email to me from time to time.
And so here is a song that exemplifies this and other music blogs. I first heard it courtesy of FluxBlog I believe, right when I discovered this sub culture, this hidden jewel of the internet, this MP3 Blog World AKA Audioblogosphere. I promptly bought their CD. That’s how it works, music industry, that’s how it works Clear Channel (blechh). Where in the hell else would I have heard this quirky, manic, infectiously groove-a-licious song?
So as IckMusic celebrates its first anniversary, I thank the other bloggers out there, and I thank Sirius Satellite Radio, both who have turned me on to some great music in the past year, and who will continue to do so.
Need New Body:
Show Me Your Heart(mp3) – buy the CD, ‘UFO’Christmas at IckMusic
Here’s my first batch of extra special Christmas music selections to carry you through this holiday season.
Hands down my favorite Christmas song and my favorite performance of the song:
- The Temptations:
Silent Night(mp3) – buy
A twisted instant Christmas classic from Grandaddy:
- Grandaddy:
Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland– buy
A cool radio excerpt of Coldplay:
- Coldplay:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas(mp3) – buy
- The Temptations:
Time for Twilight 22
Tonight’s post hearkens back to my WLUM Milwaukee Hot Mix listening days in the mid 80’s. Featured tonight is Twilight 22:
The ’80s electro outfit Twilight 22 was led by computer/synth-wiz Gordon Bahary, but also featured contributions from lead singer and co-songwriter Joseph Saulter. Bahary got his start when he was invited to assist the great Stevie Wonder during the recording of his 1976 classic Songs in the Key of Life (Bahary was only 16 years old at the time). Wonder invited Bahary to help out on his next recording, 1979’s Journey Through the Secret of Plants, for which the teenager produced and programmed synthesizers. It was around this time that Bahary met Saulter through a mutual acquaintance (Herbie Hancock), while Bahary was working on Hancock‘s Feets Don’t Fail Me Now. Although Saulter was originally a drummer (playing in an Los Angeles-based outfit called Rhythm Ignition), it was his vocal skills that drew the most attention, leading to the formation of Twilight 22 in the early ’80s. Their lone single, “Electric Kingdom,” was one of the seminal moments for electro, but their 1984 self-titled full-length for Vanguard was their last label before splitting up shortly thereafter. Both Bahary and Saulter went on to play on other artist’s records, as well as production. (from All Music)
Twilight 22: Electric Kingdom
Twilight 22: Siberian Nights
Buy the LP on Craft Recordings.
Funky Music a la Wild Cherry
Once in a while it’s necessary to indulge my not-so-guilty pleasure appetite. This one took the charts by storm in ol’ 1976 – America’s Bicentennial, and the year I turned the big 6. Led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Rob Parissi, Wild Cherry rose out of Steubenville, Ohio in the early 70’s. They headed to Pittsburgh, PA and played around town for a couple of years before Rob broke up the band to manage a Bonanza steakhouse or two. But the music pulled him back in when he felt the industry going back toward the rootsy side of Rock n Roll. Well, it wasn’t long before the rock clubs began to be replaced by discos, and he got more and more requests to “play something funky.” Rob sat down and wrote this song.
From the One Hit Wonder catalog, I give you… Wild #&@ Cherry!! Sure, you’ve heard it at every wedding you’ve ever been to, but still a great tune almost 30 year later.
Those outside of the U.S., does this song make it into your local wedding play list?
Wild Cherry: Play That Funky Music – buy on Amazon
Sunday Grab Bag 2
Another random sampling of some music I’ve been particularly enjoying of late.
Though a ton of artists have recorded this Boudleaux Bryant classic, I first heard Nazareth’s version as a kid, then the Everly Brothers (who did the original in 1961). It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally heard Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris do things to it that make me quite content to never hear another’s version again.
Gram Parsons w/ Emmylou Harris: Love Hurts from Grievous Angel (1973)
A Cuban friend at work was kind enough to turn me on to legendary conguero Carlos “Patato” Valdes, thought by many to be the greatest Cuban conga player. This one comes from ‘The Legend of Cuban Percussion’, a 2000 release. With a flute, piano, bass, and Patato on the congas, it is most definitely headphone worthy.
Carlos “Patato” Valdes: Luz
Jack Bruce – Waiting on a Word
I watched part of the Cream reunion at the Royal Albert Hall from this past May. It was a treat to sit and watch this legendary trio wail through some of their tunes. Ginger Baker on drums, Clapton on guitar of course, and Jack Bruce on the bass.
I havent followed Jack Bruces solo stuff or other work through the years, but there is one tune of his that I love. It was released on 1993s ’Somethin Els.’ It goes a little something like this .
Jack Bruce: Waiting on a Word
- Buy The Collectors Edition
- Jack Bruce Official Site
