tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73101236476328592262024-03-20T02:28:52.018-07:00HBPL Music BlogCelebrating the cd collection at the Huntington Beach Public Library.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-46571648840560585552013-11-13T17:06:00.001-08:002013-11-14T11:50:55.456-08:00Canciones de AmorSome music becomes dated in almost no time, sounding passe or quaint within a few years, or even months. Some escapes that fate and continues to delight listeners generations removed from its origins. The music of Mexican (and Puerto Rican) trio <strong>Los Panchos</strong> is certainly in the class of music that remains compelling and appealing decades after its recording. Founded in New York in the 1940s, the group recorded extensively and has performed all over the world. The lineup has changed over the years, but the group, now based in Vera Cruz, continues to tour and many of their classic recordings remain available. The three guitars and the the beautiful harmony singing have always defined the romantic sound of Los Panchos and the collection <em>Canciones de Amor</em> is an excellent showcase for that sound. Featuring songs from great songwriters like Augustin Lara and Jose Alfredo Jimenez, this collection features recordings from the 1940s through the 1970s. Classic, enduring popular music.<br />
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Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-1643275270487158572013-10-08T12:47:00.001-07:002013-10-08T12:47:58.878-07:00Elvis at Stax<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These seventies recordings give listeners a chance to revisit the 70s Elvis with some of his best recordings of that period. This 3-CD box set is a 40th anniversary chronicle of a dozen nights that
Presley spent at Stax Recording Studios in his hometown of Memphis in July and
December 1973. Whatever your feeling about late-period Elvis, these important recordings represent a clear view of what Elvis sang when he was directing his own career. Historically significant and lots of fun.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-66232003512994131022013-09-16T12:42:00.001-07:002013-09-16T12:42:46.247-07:00Pokey LaFarge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pokey LaFarge is one of those players who's steeped in the past, but ready to offer something new and fun. With the vintage clothes and cool old guitars, one might be forgiven for thinking this a revival act, one where classic old material is recycled for a new audience. LaFarge loves the vintage sounds of swing, blues, ragtime and country, but he's writing original songs with a contemporary sensibility. The overwhelming feeling here is fun, though, and this music is meant to make you smile and get your foot tapping. Jazzy guitar chords, an upright bass, cool harmonica and the occasional horns propel this very appealing exploration of traditional styles. Check this one out.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-19390889014088998062013-07-24T15:48:00.001-07:002013-07-24T15:48:19.733-07:00The Soul Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>The Best of Bobby Womack: The Soul Years</em> collects important recordings the great guitarist, vocalist and songwriter made between 1968 and 1974. Any fan of soul or R&B of the period will enjoy this. The tunes bridge the distance between gritty Southern Soul (Wilson Picket) and the later more socially conscious work of artists like Curtis Mayfield. It foresees, at moments, the smoother sound of the later seventies, but remains powerful and emotional music that is distinctly Soul. Earlier songs like "Across 110th St." (featured in Tarrantino's Jackie Brown) may be better than some of the surprising covers (although California Dreamin' isn't bad) but everything here is worth a listen. Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-34574652601167058082013-05-30T17:14:00.001-07:002013-05-30T17:14:33.653-07:00Desfado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fado music is a genre of Portuguese song that traces back at least to the 1820s or 1830s. In common with the blues and other traditional music forms, Fado expresses feelings of sadness and difficulty, but the music itself can feel redemptive and affirming. <strong>Ana Moura</strong> is a contemporary practictioner of Fado and her recent recording <em>Desfado</em>, will help listeners to understand the continuing appeal of this music. Moura's voice is rich and warm and the mostly acoustic (guitar) accompaniment is perfect. For those who enjoy traditional singers from <strong>Dolores Keane</strong> to <strong>Cesaria Evora</strong>, Ana Moura's music will be an exciting discovery. A special treat among the beautiful Portuguese language songs is Joni Mitchell's haunting <em>A Case Of You</em>. Don't miss this.<br />
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Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-28672207623824543402013-04-26T15:45:00.003-07:002013-05-02T16:37:47.301-07:00The One: The Life and Music of James Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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RJ Smith's <strong>The One: The Life and Music of James Brown</strong> is a sensitive and comprehensive look at the complex life and career of one of popular music's most influential performers. The singer enjoyed great success during his life, sold millions of records and had a reputation as an amazing and moving performer. Beginning with Brown's early life, Smith shows the difficulties that led to the songer's troubled childhood and youthful incarceration. He also illustrates how Brown's will and forceful personality kept him focused on success even while often preventing him from enjoying it. The book moves beyond standard music biography when the author contextualizes Brown's dancing and emotionally intense stage shows in shamanic ritual and pentacostal religious experience. Peopled with characters as diverse as Bootsy Collins and Rev. Al Sharpton, he book is a fun, sad and ultimately insightful look at the vicissitudes of race and fame from the chitlin circuit to the world's greatest stages, and a close examination of one of the most troubled and celebratory figures in popular music. A first rate biography.<br />
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<strong>Recordings of interest:</strong><br />
40th Anniversary Collection James Brown<br />
CD of JB II: Cold Sweat and Other Soul Classics James Brown<br />
Live at the Apollo James Brown<br />
Say It Live and Loud: 8/26/1868 James Brown<br />
In the Jungle Groove James Brown<br />
T.A.M.I. Show (DVD) various artists incl. James Brown<br />
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Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-44281996523535552962013-04-26T09:03:00.002-07:002013-04-26T09:03:23.478-07:00Sky Dog<br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Recently added to the library's collection:
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">"Duane Allman was one of the defining musicians of our era, rated second only to Jimi Hendrix in Rolling Stone's list of rock's 100 greatest guitarists. A founding member, with his brother Gregg, of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane was also active as a session musician, and as a member of the all-star Derek and the Dominos. This seven CD set, produced by Duane's daughter Galadrielle Allman and esteemed reissue producer Bill Levenson, shows the full breadth and depth of Duane's work, from early recordings (with Gregg) in bands such as The Escorts, Allman Joys and Hour Glass; to his studio work with Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Boz Scaggs, Delaney & Bonnie, Ronnie Hawkins and many others; to a live jam session with the Grateful Dead. The set includes several unreleased performances, many classic Allman Brothers songs, and a collector's cache of rare singles and long out-of-print album tracks. Also included are a 72 page book with essays by Scott Schindler and Galadrielle Allman, and many rare photographs." - amazon.com</span></em>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-49091398776341374272013-04-15T15:54:00.001-07:002013-04-15T15:54:09.014-07:00Lindi OrtegaCigarettes & Truckstops<br />
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Lindi Ortega<br />
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I'm gonna board this greyhound and ride it all the way down to L.A.<br />You see I'm missin' you like crazy and I can't stand to be so far away<br />Cigarettes and truckstops remind me of you when I pass them by<br />And my mama always told me "hold on to the good things that you find"<br /><!--Cigarettes & Truckstops Lyrics is from http://www.sing365.com--><br />So I guess I gotta tell ya that I'm comin' out to meet you<br />That I really gotta see you one more time,<br />I'd rather have you still beside me<br />Than have you always runnin' through my mind<br />Oh look out California, I'm comin' for my lover's heart tonight<br /><br />In Evanston, Wyoming I kissed you underneath a painted sky<br />We were travellin' like gypsies, singin' to each other in the night<br />From highway to hotel room and every place we stopped at in between<br />Oh I'd hear Dolly singin': you and I were islands in the stream<br /><br />So I guess I gotta tell ya that I'm comin' out to meet you<br />That I really gotta see you one more time<br />I'd rather have you still beside me<br />Than have you always runnin' through my mind<br />Oh look out California, I'm comin' for my lover's heart tonight<br />Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-64456369932110340782013-02-27T15:18:00.000-08:002013-02-27T15:20:03.651-08:00Miles Live in Europe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRktL4Nu0kOxsNfL_UCOFKiRLOW1JYWoq9jHZs8vryBOh8tQDT1hQeH-5Pg3Ab2ZO_cBbyodsuAlipuq1XvDE2fNZb5OJ92v9Q24zAqdOQPmWYIT0nc40Y3d6ipRxSCGzHobTUTx42Rvst/s1600/miles%2520davis%2520hands%2520eyes%2520closed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRktL4Nu0kOxsNfL_UCOFKiRLOW1JYWoq9jHZs8vryBOh8tQDT1hQeH-5Pg3Ab2ZO_cBbyodsuAlipuq1XvDE2fNZb5OJ92v9Q24zAqdOQPmWYIT0nc40Y3d6ipRxSCGzHobTUTx42Rvst/s320/miles%2520davis%2520hands%2520eyes%2520closed.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Volume two of Columbia's Miles Davis Bootleg Series is this <strong>Live in Europe 1969</strong>. Recorded in Paris, Berlin and Stockholm, this set features one of Miles' greatest bands: Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. 1969 was the year of Davis' Bitches Brew, and although that recording features different personnel, listeners familiar with that recording will have an idea what to expect: bold, impovisatory jazz that was thrilling in its freedom and intensity, and that remains challenging and untamed forty years later. This is modern art, anxious to break with the past, frustrate expectations, challenge all assumptions, willing to question what jazz or even music ultimately is. If you're into free jazz, or any of the later Miles stuff, this is wonderful and exhilerating music. If tradition, swing and melody are your thing, proceed with caution. (includes a DVD of a concert in Germany)Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-87275824411487228322013-02-27T14:58:00.000-08:002013-02-27T14:58:32.011-08:00Dwight Yoakum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dwight's newest CD, his first in seven years, is <strong>3 Pears</strong>, and is a fine offering for admirers of his neo- traditional hard country. This record makes more obvious what Yoakum fans have known for awhile, though: Dwight's music owes as much to rock as country, and is ultimately just good music. Dwight's written or co-written everything here except the classic country raveup Dim Lights,Thick Smoke and his songwriting has never been better. This is country, for sure, but not the watered-down pop white bread country many people find so cloying. Dwight's music is fresh and soulful and weaves strands of classic rock, soul and country into a very satisfying blend that anyone who likes good songwriting and electrified Americana should enjoy. Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-28957727927278497722013-01-09T11:24:00.003-08:002013-01-09T11:30:09.664-08:00Garcia/Saunders Box Set<img height="376" id="il_fi" src="http://images.plixid.com/imager/w_500/h_/f526d46ca4ff9b10cefa1c1f9011a8c8.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="425" /><br />
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Keystone Companions, by Jerry Garcia and Merle Saunders, contains a complete two-night stand at Berkeley's Keystone Theater from July 10 and 11, 1973. Over the years the Grateful Dead guitarist embarked on a number of side projects, and this was one of the best. Predating the Jerry Garcia band, and joining Garcia with Saunders, a keyboardist of wide taste and experience, this show features Garcia's guitar in a set list that includes blues, rockabilly, jazz, funk, Broadway and Motown. It's great to hear a younger Garcia at the height of his musical arc playing in such a relaxed and varied context. Even (and perhaps especially) those not steeped in the music of the Grateful Dead will enjoy this pleasant stroll through the duo's favorite songs and styles.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-19505441516533925822012-07-18T10:14:00.003-07:002012-07-18T16:04:47.116-07:00kEEP tHE bEAT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a great new compilation of hits and favorites from former 2 Tone stars <em>The English Beat</em>. The Birmingham band, a punky, second-wave ska powerhouse, was both popular and influential. Along with Madness, The Specials and The Selecter, the English Beat's music, multicultural vibe and even their look shaped a whole scene on both sides of the Atlantic that got people shaking it down to dance-friendly, socially conscious party music. This disc contains some of the best known tunes by the group, including "Mirror In The Bathroom," "Twist and Crawl," "Can't Get Used To Losing You," and "Hands Off...She's Mine." This music, from the late seventies and early eighties, remains fresh and fun. UB40 and other bands took this music farther commercially, but few made it more fun. Of particlular interest to fans of Third Wave Ska like Sublime and No Doubt.<br />
<strong>Keep The Beat: The Very Best Of The English Beat</strong><br />
Also of Interest:<br />
The Singles Collection - The Specials<br />
BBC Sessions - The Specials<br />
One Step Beyond - Madness<br />
The Collection - Bad MannersFesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-24171937830514195932012-07-12T09:29:00.001-07:002012-07-12T09:30:54.584-07:00Playing The Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Blues guitarist <strong>Buddy Guy</strong> looks back on his life in his new memoir, <em>When I Left Home: My Story</em>. I love biographies of musicians and the first thing I noticed about this one was the sound the words made, the rhythm of the spoken voice, in this case the Southern-tinged voice of a working man, a musican, and a survivor. The reader is allowed to feel as if he or she is listening to an interesting older man talk about life and reflect on experiences of joy, loss and endurance. Buddy takes the reader back to his rural childhood, his earliest exposure to music, the ambition that drove him to Chicago, and the ups and downs of a bluesman who spent his nights in front of ecstatic audiences and his days driving a tow truck. Along the way there is much about Chess Records, Buddy's mentors, his successes, his business ventures and his family. Always there is the wise and reflective tone of a man who's lived a life full of music, struggle and triumph. A first rate autobiography.<br />
<strong><em>Related Recordings:</em></strong><br />
Buddy's Blues Buddy Guy<br />
Blues Singer Buddy Guy<br />
Damn Right I've Got The Blues Buddy Guy<br />
The Very Best of Buddy Guy Buddy Guy<br />
Chicago Boss Guitars Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Magic Sam<br />
Bring 'Em In Buddy Guy<br />
Skin Deep Buddy Guy<br />
Living Proof Buddy Guy<br />
Hoodoo Man Blues Junior Wells, Buddy GuyFesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-4276254126528028642012-06-12T14:50:00.000-07:002012-06-12T14:50:17.701-07:00Sure Enough Country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a fun one, a two-CD collection of classic country tunes which includes hits from some of the great country stars of the past. It's called <strong>The Only Classic Country Collection You'll Ever Need</strong>, and disc one achieves the coveted "All Killer, No Filler" status with Ernest Tubb's "Walking The Floor Over You," Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," Lefty Frizell's "If You've got Money, I've Got the Time," and even Ray Charles' classic take of Buck Owens'"Cryin' Time." Filled out with songs by Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, George Jones, Johnny Cash and Hank Snow, you've got a great country playlist right here. Disc two is almost as good: Roger Miller, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings and several other great singers are included. Some listeners might not feel that Crystal Gayle and Kenny Rogers fit in with this company, but that's really in the ear of the beholder. This CD sounds like the jukebox in an old country dive (or a retro-hip dive) and is perfect when the mood calls for real country.</div>
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Black Music Month, now called African American Music Appreciation Month, is announced in a proclamation from the president of the United States. The entire procalmation is available on <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">http://www.whitehouse.gov/</a>, and this year's statement begins with the words: "As a long-cherished piece of American culture, music offer a vibrant soundtrack to the story of our people and our Union. At times when words alone could not bring us together, we have found in melodies and choruses the universal truths of our shared humanity. African-American musicians have left an indelible mark on this tradition, and during African-American Music Appreciation Month, we pay special tribute to their extraordinary contributions." A lot of media outlets have published articles about this special celebration and some have even recommended music to listen to. The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/black-music-history-month-artists-growing-up-in-the-biz_n_1553699.html#s=1043375">Huffington Post</a> ran an article identifying ten black artists they believe are currently redefining the music industry: Rihanna, Drake, Beyonce, Kanye, Jay-Z, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson and Lil Wayne. The library has recordings by all of them, along with hundreds of other innovative and influential African-American musicans. Other resources include books about African American musicians and musical styles including Blues, Soul, Gospel, Hip-Hop, and Jazz. Stop by the library this month to learn about and listen to some great American music.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-81068294124746102142012-06-05T14:36:00.000-07:002012-06-05T14:36:11.028-07:00My Cross To Bear<strong>My Cross To Bear</strong> is the title of Gregg Allman's recent memoir and the story of the musician's lonely childhood, loss of his beloved brother, his string of divorces and the decades lost to drugs and alcohol justify the title's evocation of struggle and pain. The book does include the mandatory sex, drugs and rock & roll anecdotes associated with the rock star memoir, and they're generally amusing. The guys in the Allman Brothers Band took their music as seriously as their excess and definitely had some great times. Fans of the band will read about the rise and fall and rise of the storied group, along with accounts of great shows at the Beacon Theater, the stunning success of the "Fillmore" and "Brothers and Sisters" recordings, as well as the tragic deaths, imprisonments and betrayals that darken their history. Mr. Allman comes across as a lonely, somewhat unsophisticated man whose only true love was the music that sustained him through his difficult life. Whatever wisdom he has achieved is expressed in a few tired affirmations and worn aphorisms. His life may not have been all glamor and success but he did live to tell about it and seems to enjoy sharing the memories he retains. A fine telling of a familiar, but still compelling, tale.<br />
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The library owns many of the recordings discussed in the book.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-49885223444142129992012-05-31T12:44:00.004-07:002012-05-31T15:40:12.763-07:00Different kind of guitar hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot has been written since the passing of Arthel "Doc" Watson about his influence, his amazing guitar playing and his role in popularizing traditional American music. Ash Grove club owner Ed Pearl is quoted in the LA Times as saying, "Doc was by far the best traditional artist I ever met at talking openly about his people, and just having a casual conversation with an audience...he was among the most versatile and un-self-conscious bringers of Southern white culture to the Ash Grove possible, and he did that right from the beginning." If you haven't heard Doc's music, or haven't heard it lately, pick up one of his recordings next time you're in the library. His music will continue to resonate with listeners attuned to the purity and authenticity of great traditional music.<br />
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The <strong>Sweet Soul Music</strong> series has proven a surprising local favorite in the library's cd collection. These cds from the premier reissue label Bear Family Records, based in Germany, collect the original recordings that defined this classic American music style. Mixing the well known (Mary Wells, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye) with the more obscure but equally significant (Don Covay, Slim Harpo, The Elgins) these beautifully annotated and illustrated compilations tell the story of the performers and producers who fused Southern Gospel, R&B, and even Country music into what came to be known as Soul. The library owns volumes from the set that represent each year from 1963 through 1969. Also of interest is the three-cd set <strong>Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story, 1961-1977</strong>. This collection is somewhat parallel in purpose to the Sweet Soul Music series, but sticks to recordings made in the South. It, too, is a mix of the hits and commercial misses that are now judged to have been the most definitive recordings in the history of Soul. In Europe, where American Blues, Country, Jazz, and Soul are still greatly admired, this set won MOJO magazine's Best Compilation Award for 2009. A national treasure.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-17728639821477050462012-04-27T09:50:00.000-07:002012-04-27T10:20:17.891-07:00Mountain Music<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span><br />
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Before Ralph Stanley was featured on the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack, and before he was the grand old man of bluegrass, he was part of an innovative and influential band with his brother Carter. In the 1940s the <strong>Stanley Brothers</strong> began to record the rural music, pioneered by Bill Monroe and others, that would come to be known as bluegrass. From Charles K. Wolfe's liner notes: "Though dozens of young bands were doing their best to emulate the new sound, it would be the Stanley Brothers who would take it to its next stage of development. [It was] a style that at once harkened back to the mountain music of the past, and looked forward with innovative harmonies and haunting new songs." The haunting ballads and gospel songs which make up <em>The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers</em> continue to define this style of music and their echoes are heard in the work of contemporary artists like <strong>Alison Krauss</strong> as well as revivalists like <strong>Old and In The Way</strong>. Old sounds that remain vital - and fun. Stop in the library's Media department for this and an array of other important recordings, both historical and contemporary.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-40251501866133705332012-04-18T14:23:00.003-07:002012-05-04T10:35:52.085-07:00New Orleans Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o28tGauqefIwhmc0i8bxnPbg37z1VhqWTz-LJ9dNnDyaqhiOsHAnzrg1nUra0Q8lH7JKMJF7wzAO-gI5pVid-N1Qn9OS_H9s2SzA1eosZlxxQ_Z_tT9GN2QwfPzkn5NCEXoeQu9xythm/s1600/dr.john.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732855956739711090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o28tGauqefIwhmc0i8bxnPbg37z1VhqWTz-LJ9dNnDyaqhiOsHAnzrg1nUra0Q8lH7JKMJF7wzAO-gI5pVid-N1Qn9OS_H9s2SzA1eosZlxxQ_Z_tT9GN2QwfPzkn5NCEXoeQu9xythm/s320/dr.john.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 252px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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Singer, pianist, arranger, producer and New Orleans voodoo king Dr. John has a new recording (Locked Down) that harkens back to some of his spooky/funky earlier work. Produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach (who has in turn been produced by Danger Mouse), the record sizzles with organ, funky guitar licks, layers of percussion and Dr. John's inimitable vocal style. An ideal antidote to bland, generic, mass-produced pop music, this mashup of blues, rock, New Orleans rhythm and electro grooves will not be found in the frozen aisle of your chain grocery store. A spicy stew indeed.</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-6629904897617898302012-04-10T10:07:00.002-07:002012-04-25T09:01:12.828-07:00Jazz Appreciation Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xr-grXKfaZ-2eFmeTThkdT08LkhT5JirQ8yBu2DbbRHyfsKP5G2Zhq3TImmhKXu7XS-eat4NBpJF9WGhJPRpUJdrCZDn-rmCYNdEs_KxMFPr9-Ep9SW7R0vtUG8AfFnPUggAzuE_fv0t/s1600/imagesCAQ5MJLH.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729824919103434802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xr-grXKfaZ-2eFmeTThkdT08LkhT5JirQ8yBu2DbbRHyfsKP5G2Zhq3TImmhKXu7XS-eat4NBpJF9WGhJPRpUJdrCZDn-rmCYNdEs_KxMFPr9-Ep9SW7R0vtUG8AfFnPUggAzuE_fv0t/s320/imagesCAQ5MJLH.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 231px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 218px;" /></a><br />
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"<span style="color: #330099;">In April 2001, the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution launched the first Jazz Appreciation Month to honor both the legacy of America's original art form and its relevance and importance as a part of modern American culture. Throughout the nation, schools, organizations, and local governments celebrate JAM with diverse events and concerts. This year, JAM highlights the role of jazz and jazz advocates in crossing musical and other cultural borders to support freedom, creativity and unity</span>." - <em>jazzpolice.com</em></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Jazz Appreciation Month is a great time to swing by the library and grab some classic jazz recordings. There's big band, bebop, and West Coast jazz. There is jazz from almost every decade of the 20th century - from Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington through John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck. The are singers: Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Sara Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. There are brilliant pianists from Art Tatum to Bill Evans, guitarists from Wes Montgomery to John McLaughlin, saxophone players from Art Pepper to Sonny Rollins. Stop by the library's Media Center and browse our jazz collection: celebrate our great American art form and get your groove on at the same time!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">For more on jazz appreciation check <a href="http://www.blogger.com/(http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2012/9-best-jazz-soloists-of-all-time/).">here</a></span></div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-90999304706883779192012-03-29T12:01:00.006-07:002012-03-30T09:28:03.697-07:00The Great Earl Scruggs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXInhSa9FX5-8Ydw1fv7oZTKFb55tT_ZNi_uXo87IKEDO3thf5ET-hgNWm30O9OTS8pRLU-zoDOLX-Cra4z0fYmNIfzNS_qCMvRQH06aMUII7Q26U8bLaf5mIaczQooQECBHlvKZL3ptj/s1600/earlscruggs02.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 238px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401749241106322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXInhSa9FX5-8Ydw1fv7oZTKFb55tT_ZNi_uXo87IKEDO3thf5ET-hgNWm30O9OTS8pRLU-zoDOLX-Cra4z0fYmNIfzNS_qCMvRQH06aMUII7Q26U8bLaf5mIaczQooQECBHlvKZL3ptj/s320/earlscruggs02.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;">Banjo innovator, bluegrass star and beloved performer Earl Scruggs died March 28, 2012 and already news sources are filled with obituaries and tributes that track the career of this great American musician. Hired as a young man to play banjo with Bill Monroe, the greatest bluegrass bandleader of the time, Scruggs went on to great success as half of the duo Flatt & Scruggs and continued to grow and evolve as a musician for decades, ultimately playing with everyone from Johnny Cash, Sting, Elton John, and John Fogerty to Vince Gill and Billy Bob Thornton. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;">Anyone wanting to to hear some of Scruggs' music from the peak of his career should listen to the 5 disc collection, <em>Flatt & Scruggs 1959 - 1963</em>. This detailed record of an important time in Scruggs' recording career illustrates the technical virtuosity and the general musical appeal of this legendary performer. As long as bluegrass music is played, there will be a banjo player somewhere working out the Scruggs' part in "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." He'll be missed.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Also of interest:</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The Three Pickers: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Scaggs (CD)<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The Crow by Steve Martin (CD) Scruggs guests on this recording</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-45029806400344611392012-03-28T15:54:00.003-07:002012-04-13T11:39:43.741-07:00After Midnight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKrJwsVv0etLpRu3xaqZwXdysugS8w_7gj8d0AngEDbHJ1CSNV9x2cGlLuRYsp9vXxLls78yf58zjVJkzn8C4eEQd5JKN6wpoK7-yDnLVmLhoxRgkz6rvmjwIVP3MpnQOWRUEM3B8Yvsx/s1600/NAT+K+COLE+-+AFTER+MIDNIGHT.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725088770280899106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKrJwsVv0etLpRu3xaqZwXdysugS8w_7gj8d0AngEDbHJ1CSNV9x2cGlLuRYsp9vXxLls78yf58zjVJkzn8C4eEQd5JKN6wpoK7-yDnLVmLhoxRgkz6rvmjwIVP3MpnQOWRUEM3B8Yvsx/s320/NAT+K+COLE+-+AFTER+MIDNIGHT.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Nat 'King' Cole is one of those musicians whose work seems to connect with generation after generation. Some music is cool for a while, and some is just permanently cool. "After Midnight," one of Cole's most celebrated recordings, is in the latter group, and has that smokey, after-hours feel that's as emotionally resonant today as it ever was. Like Diana Krall, Cole thought he was a jazz musician and was surprised to find himself a pop sensation. The sessions that comprise "After Midnight" feature the sensitive and warm vocal style that was in evidence throughout the singer's career, but the musical setting here is certainly more jazz than pop. Cole's trio, John Collins on guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, Lee Young on drums, is supplemented at times by Jack Costanza, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Willie Smith, Juan Tizol and Stuff Smith, on percission, trumpet, alto saxophone, valve trombone and violin, respectively. Most of the disc though, is Cole's fine piano, supplemented and supported by his sensitive trio. For those who enjoy jazz ballads and swing, particularly, this recording will be a delight: great material, fine vocals and a sophisticated 1950s groove. Some of his finest recordings.</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-87301704966813685642012-03-07T14:38:00.009-08:002012-03-08T11:21:45.698-08:00Gangster Of Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHT54Tw7jd0pSDn62o5ZkOfm5MPB2w3NXC1p6l6SKUoJcQeRaTLRxPCXJvkGCzodwbFddXl-JyZLgtSTOwvVqeMJGjwZuqny7-LlZqbeAlOkb5YjIwspSt4pBnCWPnUCwRxjibKqQXUp6/s1600/original-gangster-of-love-1953-1959.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717296150158007442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHT54Tw7jd0pSDn62o5ZkOfm5MPB2w3NXC1p6l6SKUoJcQeRaTLRxPCXJvkGCzodwbFddXl-JyZLgtSTOwvVqeMJGjwZuqny7-LlZqbeAlOkb5YjIwspSt4pBnCWPnUCwRxjibKqQXUp6/s320/original-gangster-of-love-1953-1959.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The early recordings of Johnny "Guitar" Watson have been reissued yet again under the title "The Original Gangster of Love: 1953-1959." This material is essential to many blues and early rock fans and should interest anyone curious about the evolving role of the electric guitar in popular music. These are great tracks with hot guitar, horns, piano and great singing. This isn't the rural sound of Southern blues or even the stripped down Chicago style. This is blues as it's evolving into rock and R&B - an urban sound played not by older players with delta roots, but a hot-shot eighteen-year-old (in 1953)in Los Angeles. "Space Guitar" is an instrumental that points in a new direction for the time while "Hot Little Mama" is the kind of hard-edged blues swing that evokes the later recordings of Kim Wilson, Roomful of Blues, and Kid Ramos. The playful boasting of "Gangster of Love" fits somewhere between Ray Charles and Snoop Dog. Essential American music.</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310123647632859226.post-54624773708670180222012-02-10T14:54:00.000-08:002012-02-10T15:18:10.204-08:00Long Player Late Bloomer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaDyhjclTP6fCKqFFBvmgXhhryID_LxhsI3XwdMtCaX-LlTECkRA42eyd8k_We_8uNReBT5n6eKKkEMFmZleWngCzubfL2CI4zK56cXRsj3_uFB9gdQ6S9ddEv_1rRJs2OsvLWqV_9lZE/s1600/sexsmith.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 225px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707649959395572082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaDyhjclTP6fCKqFFBvmgXhhryID_LxhsI3XwdMtCaX-LlTECkRA42eyd8k_We_8uNReBT5n6eKKkEMFmZleWngCzubfL2CI4zK56cXRsj3_uFB9gdQ6S9ddEv_1rRJs2OsvLWqV_9lZE/s320/sexsmith.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Through some odd coincidence or convergence the library adds the new recordings of three Canadian songwriters this week. <em>Convergence</em> is the latest from <strong>Kathleen Edwards</strong> a songwriter and singer of singular beauty and sensitivity. Also new is <em>Old Ideas</em>, the newest from <strong>Leonard Cohen</strong> whose career resurgence and successful touring are enjoyed by as many new fans as old, 40 or so years into his creative life. <strong>Ron Sexsmith's</strong> <em>Long Player Late Bloomer</em> is the third new disc from a Canadian songwriter and perhaps the most deserving of your attention. Sexsmith is a great writer whose previous ten cds have earned praise from Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Chris Martin and Lucinda Williams but have yet to earn him the wide popularity he deserves. The songs are beautiful, intelligent, melodic and memorable and the performance is folk-rock and rootsy. Sexsmith's delivery is modest and unassuming but his talent is profound. Great stuff.</div></div></div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com0