Apr
06
2005
1

Dewey Redman: Sound Explorer

Dewey Redman Trio – QOW
Dewey Redman Trio – Joie de Vivre
From Coincide (Impulse! ASD-9300), rereleased on The Ear of the Behearer: IMP 12712 [Buy Here]

Dewey Redman is one of my favourite saxophonists, who I first heard in his role as a member of one of the most extraordinary bands ever to walk this Earth, Keith Jarrett’s “American Quartet” with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1931, Dewey Redman was a high school friend of Ornette Coleman, with whom he would play in later years in San Francisco and New York. After a spell on the west coast, Redman moved to New York around the time Coltrane died in 1967, and soon became known as a regular performer in exploratory ensembles such as Coleman’s own groups and Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra.

Although one of the legends of the late 60s East Coast free scene, Dewey Redman’s distinctive sound has never quite lost the blues and gospel roots of his Texas childhood, something that comes through on these two tunes, both recorded in September 1974 for Redman’s Impulse! album Coincide, a trio date featuring Redman with Eddie Moore on drums and bassist Sirone (aka Norris Jones).

These are typical Redman performances, weaving in and out of tonality, enhanced by the implied harmonic freedom of the horn-bass-drums format. Joie de Vivre is close to being a ballad, while the mysteriously named QOW is a bluesy, funky romp defined by sing-song bass vamps from Sirone.

Dewey Redman is still active playing, recording and touring, and it is somewhat unfortunate that these days he stands somewhat in the shadow of his son, tenorman Joshua Redman.

Also worth Hearing…

Today, (Wednesday 6th April), (((NOMUSIC))) is streaming a 24 hour worldwide “audio diffusion” event today called Royal Battle. Performers include David Fenech (Paris), Fugu and the Cosmic Mumu (Tokyo), Scott Smallwood (Princeton) and the Alsace based (((NOMUSIC))) founders Carl Y and laboiteblanche. Turn the lights down low and turn it up!

Written by Richard in: jazz,Music,USA | Tags: , , , ,
Apr
04
2005
0

Lord Nelson: Convertible Calypso

Lord Nelson – Don’t Let the Party End
Lord Nelson – Human Convertibles
From 45 rpm single – National NSP 089 A/B

Continuing the Calypso theme from last week… I could find very little on the web about Robert Nelson, aka “Lord Nelson”, except that he was placed at number 29 on a list of the 20th Century’s greatest Calypsonians. If anyone can supply any more information on him, I would be grateful !

Again, the music pretty much speaks for itself, with Human Convertibles standing out as a particularly unusual (for a Western listener at least) and humorous description of transvestitism and “alternative lifestyles”. No holds barred here. Are calypsonians the ultimate musical social realists?

For those interested in the history of calypso, the Proudflesh journal has a particularly interesting analysis of the origins and characteristics of this Carribean artform, tracing its roots through the griot tradition of West Africa through slave songs in French patois to the subversive popular form of 20th Century Trinidad.

Written by Richard in: Music | Tags: , ,
Apr
02
2005
0

P-Funk Afterglow

Parliament – Tear the Roof off the Sucker Medley
From Parliament Live: P-Funk Earth Tour: Casablanca 834 941-2 [Buy Here]

Dancing one row back from the front at a P-Funk gig is like running a marathon. George Clinton and his hundreds of on-stage friends funked us up last night for three hours. The show was a noisy mess of barely controlled chaos, incomprehensible stage chants and shared joy.

Not a picture from the Auckland gig, but it looked similar

A series of impressions:
  • Yeah, Blackbyrd McKnight sure can play guitar some… but what was with the 40 minute guitar solos?
  • Waaaaah? They’re STILL playing Flashlight? That song started half an hour ago
  • Guys, you’re in New Zealand… when you call for some chronic on stage, you should know you’re going to get bombarded with spliff.
  • James Brown’s The Big Payback. Yeah. And did anyone else notice the horns quoting the Soul Power riff?
  • Ah, Atomic Dog….I think. At least those guitar solos have finished
  • Roller-skating cuties, we need more of those
  • Tom, you’ll never get your lighter back now. It’s in George Clinton’s pocket.
  • Violin? Camouflage miniskirt? Somehow, Lili Haydn carries the show
  • P-Funk’s playing Eddie Harris’ Freedom Jazz Dance. And those horn solos!
  • Dudes, enough with throwing spliff at the band. Someone’s just passed George their entire stash…!
  • Man, Bernie Worrell has had waaaay too much of some substance or other. Probably Barrossa Valley Shiraz 1998
  • Only George Clinton would have a rapping granddaughter called Sativa
  • We….want….the Funk!

Righto, that’s all for today. Do not attempt to adjust your radio. Normality will resume tomorrow.

Written by Richard in: Music,New Zealand,USA | Tags: , , , , ,
Apr
01
2005
0

The Mothership is Coming

Parliament – Gamin’ On Ya!
From Parliament Live: P-Funk Earth Tour: Casablanca 834 941-2 [Buy Here]

Funkadelic – Elektro-Cuties
From The Electric Spanking of War Babies: Warner Brothers WBK 56 874 [Buy Here]

I am very excited. Tomorrow night the George Clinton P-Funk roadshow hits town. As far as I am aware, this will be the first time that his band has played in New Zealand, and if it’s even half as good as James Brown last year, I will be a very happy camper.

The Good Doctor, Treatin’ Sum Maggots

What can I say? George Clinton is The Funk. Sure, there are plenty bands that live with the funk, eat with the funk, die with the funk. But only George Clinton is Doctor Funkenstein, and he has been delivering his P-skription for more than three decades.

Even Lego Man Wants to Get Funked Up

My first band after I left high school could play six songs – the entire 4-song length of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Kool and the Gang’s Jungle Boogie, and our own version of P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up). Parliament/Funkadelic is an important part of my musical education, and on Saturday night in Auckland city, we will get to Turn That Mother Out – for real this time. Yeah.

Written by Richard in: Music,New Zealand | Tags: , , , , ,
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