May 2009

Prestige 7357Finding a new record store is akin to discovering a long lost relative. And if the clerk (aka record geek) behind the counter is a helpful and interesting individual, all the better. Upon arriving at Mod Lang in El Cerrito, California, the first thing I noticed was that there was as much vinyl as anything else. That's always a good sign. I struck up a conversation with the clerk, who had just tossed on the new Iron and Wine compilation as I arrived. As per usual, I was necessitated to leave my bag at the front of the store, but that only allowed my scrawny arms more freedom as I traipsed through the jazz and rock sections of the store. Read more

New DayThere is and always will be some allure around the myth of James Brown. His wild side obviously sparked some stories - real or not. Over time, as he slowly devolved into a troubled man, his talent didn't dissipate and neither did his ability to pick out talent and mold individuals into something incredible. The stories involving Brown's strict policies regarding his band - which probably match any trumped up Zappa tale - culminated in fines and the like. But to his credit, it worked. There aren't too many other musical bodies of work that are universally revered in the way that the Brown catalog is - Bob Marley, maybe. But that's about it Read more

GrooveAs a drummer in not just Galactic, but Garae-a-Trois amongst countless other well known funky, groove based outfits, Stanton Moore doesn't get an enormous amount of the attention in any of these ensembles. It's true that his style of drumming - extracted as much from his New Orleans upbringing as from straight funk bangers from the '60s and '70s - isn't the most overtly imbued with flair. But he's still recognized as one of the finest musicians of his epoch sitting on a drum thrown.

First making a name for himself in the early '90s with Galactic, the band quickly endeared themselves to the jam band crowd, playing festivals with sets engorged with instrumentals and all too danceable breaks. But even in this approach to NOLA based musics, there was and remains a pretty enormous debt to jazz in all of its forms. The playing of not just Moore, but everyone that he surrounds himself with - from George Porter, Jr. to Skerik - have a very specific, playful and exploratory bent to their playing. Read more

Duke Ellington is responsible for some of the most well known and memorable melodic figures in jazz, if not in American music. His compositions have been adapted in every land, for every purpose imaginable. And while, he counted an enormous cast of supporting players, Duke sought to work with their individual talents as opposed to forcing each man into some mold that he wasn't fit for.

Perhaps the songs that Duke is most associated with, "Caravan" for example, weren't even his compositions. But because of his inclusive attitude towards creating music, he never begrudged an underling some opportunity to feature a talent, composition or solo. And for that, Duke can have said to have maintained a well endowed big band for almost fifty years, some players remaining in his employ for decades. Read more