Here it is, a “Best Of” list for the worst of years. Alright, that’s a bit jokey; the fact is that 2020 produced an extraordinary efflorescence of great music. Lilacs out of the dead land of pandemic-ravaged, polarized America. This list was culled from a larger list of superb recordings, 20 of them in all. […]
Portland-based singer-songwriter/pianist Jarrod Lawson made waves in 2014 with his self-titled debut album, quickly garnering an international fanbase who have been clamoring for a sophomore project ever since. 2019’s VISIONS groove tape quelled those appetites briefly (available on Bandcamp under the pseudonym Orpheus) and demonstrated Jarrod’s range and production skills. In late 2020, he returned […]
We continue our discussion with Michael Wimberly with an emphasis on the concept behind Afrofuturism (Temple Mountain Records, 2021), his influences, and his role as an educator. PG: You had mentioned that the concept for Afrofuturism was at least partly based on your love of the “Ancient to the Future” concept. The title track sounds like […]
Michael Wimberly’s musical career can be seen as focused on minimizing the gaps between different styles and forms of art. A significant amount of his compositions have been to support dance troupes and classes including the Martha Graham School of Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Joffrey II Ballet. He’s also provided music for […]
At the mouth of the mighty Mississippi, New Orleans has always been a cultural melting pot. French, Spanish, Native American, African, and other influences blend to create art, music, food, and more that are unique and diverse. The city’s version of the Blues was not immune. Most Blues forms lacked complex polyrhythmic structures. And the instrument […]
On May 29, 1913, a violent brawl broke out between the audience at Paris’ brand-new venue, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. There was such extreme brutality the police were called to restore order among the furious crowd but ultimately proved ineffective as attendees continued to throw punches mid-performance. The scene was so chaotic that the mastermind […]
Jazz fans can be a disputatious lot, yet if there’s something on which we all can agree it’s this: the four clarion quarter notes that begin Louis Armstrong’s 1928 Okeh recording of “West End Blues” herald the birth of jazz as we know it. The foundational elements of the jazz DNA as we know it–flashing […]
The first song on BRASS (Backwoodz Studioz, 2020), “Furies”, was the beginning of something special. Although Moor Mother and billy woods had connected before on “Ramesses II” by Armand Hammer (woods and ELUCID), “Furies” was the first time they recorded as a duo. The track was originally released as part of the Adult Swim single […]
Far too many of music’s most innovative minds have died at a shockingly young age. Mozart, “Bird,” Dolphy, and Hendrix are just a few of the lights extinguished before age 40. Most of these fallen artists pass suddenly or after a few weeks, not after a long illness. This abruptness often leaves the artist without […]
2020 marks the 25th Anniversary of multi-instrumentalist/composer/ producer John Zorn’s founding of Tzadik Records. An incredibly prolific label, Tzadik Records also has an overtly diverse output. Our site initially planned a month-long celebration of some of the label’s releases. However, the chaos of the past year derailed those plans. Before Tzadik, Zorn released a series […]
