Freedy Johnston- Moving On a Holiday

Not many people appreciate Blue Days Black Nights, a bleak work from sometime Kansan Freedy Johnston. The 1999 album is already out-of-print. While it's not a jazz album, it sounds like Johnston had been listening to a lot of tragic ballads by the likes of Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and Nina Simone. With its mournful strings and pitiful lyrics, "Moving On a Holiday" is a natural fit for one of those "Bummer Christmas" novelty compilations.

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This promises to be the best party ever. I love Mac Lethal's self-deprecating hip hop and can't wait for his Rhymesayers debut in 2007. I just need someone to drive me home.

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I'd like to get my hair cut like Gary U.S. Bonds' in this odd film clip from 1962's "It's Trad, Dad!"

The Monochrome Set- He's Frank (Slight Return)

The Monochrome Set- He's Frank (Slight Return)

The first fifteen seconds of "He's Frank (Slight Return)" will make you wonder why The Monochrome Set weren't as big as XTC or Wire. It's just as nervous, dark and catchy as anything in the first round of "New Wave." The song is available on this excellent survey of the band's career.

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There's a lot of terrific stuff on this free Christmas compilation at Pure Volume. I especially like the contributions of Jesse Malin, Paper Route and Liam & Me.

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The criminal element lined up to buy the new Young Jeezy CD early Tuesday morning. I could scarcely keep it on the shelves at my job.

Rachel Ries- 3am

In yet another example of a music blog instigating music sales, I finally bought the most recent Rachel Ries CD after Songs:Illinois (link to the right) has repeatedly touted her merits this year. Ries manages to tap into a sweet and lovely vein of folk that avoids treacly cliches. She's more straightforward than Gillian Welch and Jolie Holland, but no less enchanting.

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I have nothing against Taylor Hicks, the gray-haired American Idol. But I was horrified when I examined his new CD today. The embarrassing photographs on the front and back cover are extraordinarily unflattering. It's like his image consultants couldn't decide if he should resemble Clay Aiken or Chris Daughtry.

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The fine jazz blog Words and Music (linked to the right) uncovered this breathtaking Miles Davis video from 1970. It's disturbing even now.

The Dixon Brothers- The Intoxicated Rat

Sobered up.

Songs: Illinois recently posted a song from Charlie Louvin's forthcoming release. Although Elvis Costello is a poor substitute for Charlie's late brother Ira, it made me recall the joy of first discovering classic brother band music. I was completely floored when I bought Are You From Dixie?: Great Country Brother Teams of the 1930s as a new release in 1988. The lively old songs by the likes of The Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers and The Delmore Brothers made me realize that music recorded even before my parents were born could still speak directly to me. The compilation is out-of-print, but this Dixon Brothers collection is still available.

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I was bitterly disappointed in the production values of last night's T.I., Jim Jones, Young Buck and T-Pain concert. My review is here.

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Good news for any publication needing a gifted and universally respected music and business writer- my old friend Chris Morris is available.

Jay McShann, 1906-2006

Farewell, Hootie.

Jay McShann died yesterday. The Kansas City blues and jazz legend was 90. The Kansas City Star has a nice survey of his career.

Although we lived in the same city, I never knew McShann beyond shaking his hand a couple times. It always frustrated me that I only saw him perform in concert halls and at festivals. I would have given anything to see him play in a small nightclub. I'll nod in approval if you want to call it art, but his good-time party music is meant to be heard in a smoky room with a drink in your hand. For the last twenty years I kept hoping that I'd stumble into him at a jam session or that a jazz bar would book him for an extended run. It never happened.

I collected McShann's recordings to compensate for that absence. Given the general level of disinterest in the history of seminal jazz, it's not surprising that large swaths of McShann's catalog are unavailable today. I can recommend his recent recordings for the fine Stony Plain label, but I'll highlight three of my favorites from McShann's youth.

Blues From Kansas City: The Original Decca Recordings contains terrific remastered versions of his essential material. Alas, it's out-of-print. Yes, that's Charlie Parker on the alto solo at the beginning of "Hootie Blues." My favorite McShann session is contained on the out-of-print Roll 'Em CD. It's a low-down 1969 French recording with guitarist T-Bone Walker. McShann reprises one of his classics, "Say Forward, I'll March," on 1972's Going To Kansas City. It's a friendly saxophone battle between Buddy Tate and Julian Dash, but McShann puts them both to shame with his jaunty solo at the 1:45 mark.

Farewell, Hootie.

Peter Wolf- Can't Get Started

Too late now.

Looking for proof that not everything in the '80s was golden? This out-of-print CD from the former J. Geils Band frontman is highly coveted by collectors. I'm still quite fond of its big hit, "Come As You Are." But the production of the album's opening track is hopelessly dated. Wolf is a gifted soul singer, yet this song sounds like it belongs in a 1987 aerobics class.

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My official review of last night's epic show by The Hold Steady is here. A very brief but apt review is here.

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As traditional markets for record labels and artists continue to diminish, many are exploring creative ways to forge direct ties to new and existing fans. A great example is Tennessee band Paper Route. They're offering a free downloadable Christmas EP, complete with art, at their MySpace page. The best part? It's really good. They list Emmylou Harris and The Flaming Lips as influences, and that musical intersection is where Paper Route resides.

Husker Du- It's Not Peculiar

It's just odd.

I've been so giddy with anticipation for tonight's Hold Steady show that I was tempted to drive halfway across Missouri to see them Tuesday night in Columbia. When I try to explain the band's appeal to my straight (i.e. non-music obsessive) friends, I explain that they combine the traditional rock'n'roll evangelism of Bruce Springsteen with the punk ethos of American punk bands like Husker Du. It's not hard to imagine The Hold Steady covering this song from Warehouse: Songs and Stories, especially if you picture Craig Finn replacing Bob Mould's stutter at the end of "It's Not Peculiar" with the words "down on the banks of the Mississippi River."

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NPR's Day To Day program ran this compelling feature on Israeli group The Idan Raichel Project today.

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The New York Times details the blogging shenanigans of jazz enthusiasts today. The excellent Destination Out, which I link to on the right, is name-checked in the story. Maybe those guys would stop hating on me if I quit posting snarky comments on their site.

Conjunto de lose Hermanos Molina- El Pajarillo Jilguero

Adios.

I know embarrassingly little about traditional and contemporary Mexican music. I listen to Spanish-language radio in my car and watch Univision regularly. But most significantly, I interact with passionate music fans from Mexico at one of my jobs. Even so, I never quite grasped what all the narcocorridas discs were about until I read this Los Angeles Times story today. The compilations' cover art typically picture guns and trucks. This gorgeous son is a lament about men who mistreat their wives and daughters. It has absolutely nothing to do with contemporary drug wars, but it'll do until I become a narcocorridas expert. The song is available on this fantastic box set.

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Colorado alt-country act Drag the River is on a treacherous cross-country tour. The song "Beautiful and Damned" sounds perfect on these dark winter days.

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I was pleasantly surprised to hear an instantly recognizable contribution from Jon Langford on the weekly radio show This American Life. The sublime "Babysitting"-themed episode has various acts cover "The Perfect Nanny" from the Mary Poppins soundtrack. Download it at iTunes and hear the onetime Mekon and sometime Waco Brother at the twenty minute mark.

Jimmie Wood- Too Many Drivers

Out of gas.

Few independent record labels have made a more valuable musical contribution over the past quarter-century than Hightone Records. They provided a home to the likes of Robert Cray, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, Dave Alvin and Gary Stewart when some of these artists were completely out of favor. The recordings of these and lesser known artists quickly made the Hightone imprint a stamp of quality among roots music fans. The label recently issued American Music: The Hightone Records Story, a box set documenting their history. This fine little raveup by The Imperial Crowns is from a humble Hightone survey of the Los Angeles blues scene in 1990.

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The only good thing about finding myself home alone without a female companion last Saturday night was the freedom to watch a tribute to Pantera on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. The onslaught gave me deeper appreciation for Dimebag and a new distaste for the band's vocalist.

The Manhattans- Summertime In the City

Summer's over.

An overt homage to the socially conscious work of Bobby Womack and The Temptations, "Summertime In the City" is an uncharacteristically funky song from 1974 by soul vocal group The Manhattans. The song is not included on any of the readily available Manhattans compilations, such as this otherwise impeccable set of their late-period hits. One vendor is selling this CD for crazy money.

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I had planned to catch The Republic Tigers and two other first-tier local bands last night, but I was snowed in. I've heard unflattering things about the Tiger's ability to present these incredible psychedelic pop songs on stage, but I can't imagine how songs this beautiful could ever be rendered as anything less than staggeringly brilliant.

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My reviews of the new Damien Rice and Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood releases are here.

The Mekons- Coal Hole

The mine is closed.

Fear and Whiskey is without a doubt one of the greatest rock'n'roll albums ever. No other band sounded remotely like The Mekons in their prime, but for you kids I'll suggest that the reference points are The Clash, The Pogues, New Order and Hank Williams. Amazon is selling a straight reissue of the classic for $9.99. Don't worry about tracking down this out-of-print version with extra bonus tracks. "Coal Hole" is the best song that didn't make the album, and it's not nearly as good as any of the 1985 album's ten tracks.

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A song from the forthcoming Caetano Veloso album is streaming here. Brace yourself- the 64-year-old is now an indie rocker.

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Although I don't intend to purchase it, I'm fascinated by this Garth Brooks package exclusive to Wal-Mart. It includes 43 songs for $9.72. I realize that Garth may have lost much of his luster, but it's still an incredible deal. Any country music fan shopping Wal-Mart's music department has to seriously weigh whether they're going to buy the new twelve-song release by an Eric Church-type or 43 songs by a country superstar.

H-Bomb Ferguson, 1929-2006

Goodbye, H-Bomb.

H-Bomb Ferguson died earlier this week in Ohio. The blues shouter was 77. Remarkably, there's a new documentary about the wig-wearing man. His late-career Wiggin' Out is very good. Today's blues scene is sorely lacking in characters like Ferguson. He will be missed.

Natalie Walker- No One Else

No more.

I was pretty rough in my assessment of Natalie Walker's new release Urban Angel in my review at Back To Rockville. I wrote, "If the world is clamoring for a mall-rat update of Kate Bush, Natalie Walker is going to be a massive star. Walker’s pretty voice muses about romantic travails over lush, piano-based production. Urban Angel is lovely, even for people who aren’t 17-year-old girls." While songs like "No One Else" aren't exactly revolutionary, they showcase a likeable artist with real promise.

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I am not the least bit surprised that Chris Daughtry sold over 300,000 units last week. I've had dozens of people tell me that they love him, both during the American Idol season and as they snatched the CD out of retail new release racks this past week.

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In acknowledgement of the fifth anniversary of his passing, here's a video for a great George Harrison song from an unjustly overlooked period of his career.

Maria Rita- Agora So Falta Voce

No more beauty.

Maria Rita looks and sounds a lot like her mother, the late Elis Regina. And that's a very good thing. Her debut is every bit as fresh and lively as this sample indicates. If you're not yet initiated in Brazilian MPB, you might get started with this simple video. Like Maria Rita's music, it's both adorable and sexy.

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NPR ran a nice feature on Vince Guaraldi's contribution to the wonderful of A Charlie Brown Christmas television special this morning.

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When I purchased Ornette Coleman's new Sound Grammar CD online, I figured that the super-high list price meant that it was a double CD, had extra digital content or consisted of elaborate packaging. I was wrong on all counts. Well, at least the music's great.

Tanya Tucker- Danger Ahead

Danger averted.

Excuse me while I play A&R man. Often overshadowed by her status as one of the most sexually provocative artists in country music is the fact that Tanya Tucker has a fantastic voice. It's become even more distinctive with age. I propose that a savvy producer- someone like Joe Henry, Jack White or Pete Lubin- place Tucker in a rootsy, blues-based setting. A new sound along the lines of early Lucinda Williams or the latest Bettye Lavette album could turn her career around, especially if it was released on a label with the right cachet, say Anti or Rounder. This song from Can't Run From Yourself is absurdly overproduced but it still hints at what might be possible. Of course, Tucker would have to be convinced of the project's worthiness. But it's been almost ten years since she's had a hit record. Something tells me she'd be game.

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Need a little cross-cultural beauty? This clip by Seu Jorge and Ana Carolina covering Damien Rice is pretty spectacular.

Robert Jr. Lockwood, 1915-2006

Funtime is over.

Robert Jr. Lockwood died Tuesday. He was 91. I last saw Lockwood at the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival a few years ago. Lockwood was scheduled to perform inside an "acoustic blues" tent that was positioned just a couple hundred yards from the main stage. The blare from the nearby electric blues-rock band rattled Lockwood. Initially, he refused to play. Only at the urging of a couple hundred eager fans did he begin his set. But he'd stop playing every couple minutes to angrily shake his head at the situation. It was very painful and awkward for everyone. As heard here on an early '80s date, Lockwood was a powerful performer late into his career.

Anita O'Day- When Sunny Gets Blue

Goodbye, Anita.

Jazz singer Anita O'Day has died. She was 87. I'll always associate her with the film Jazz On a Summer's Day. The concert document floored me when I first encountered it on PBS. I didn't know that such a rarified world existed. I've never attended a musical event as swanky as this. I Get a Kick Out of You, recorded in1975, features pianist Ronnell Bright, a gracious man who spent several years in Kansas City in the '80s and '90s. O'Day sounds quite relaxed here.

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Beloved Kansas City jazz man Art Jackson has also died.

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Minutes after I reported on the Hold Steady's current opening act in my previous post, I received an email from the Secretly Canadian label relaying the news that primitive pop band Catfish Haven are also on the bill. While it's very good news, a three-band bill significantly increases the length of the potentially massive night.

Beny More- Soy Del Monte

No mas.

I don't think I could name an artist who better explemplifies zestful exuberance through his music than Beny More. We could all use a little more of this brilliant Cuban's sound in our lives. This compilation seems to be out of print, but I'm sure most of these are great.

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Mogwai hurt my ears. Permanently. I was "working" one of their concerts a few years ago and couldn't leave the auditorium. Caught without earplugs, the Scots caused severe damage from which I never fully recovered. Listen to their new collaboration with the Kronos Quartet here.

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The Hold Steady get another chance to kill me two weeks from tonight. Sybris is the opening band, and luckily, they sound nothing like my favorite rock band. Here's a video for the Cure- influenced band.

Jodie Christian- All the Things You Are

Those things are no more.

Bassist Larry Gray was one of the reasons Ramsey Lewis' show last Saturday was so impressive. His tone is gorgeous. You get a sense of that on this early '90s date. The following little tale doesn't really have much to do with music, but I'll share it anyway. A friend and I once took dates to a Jodie Christian performance at Pops For Champagne in Chicago. My pal was a regular at the upscale jazz bistro, so he ordered the first bottle of champagne. He and his woman left after the second bottle of the same wine was drained. Feeling giddy and in the thrall of Christian, I said I'd take care of the bill. My date and I ordered one last bottle. Only when the check arrived did I discover we'd been drinking $75 bottles of booze! That still hurts.

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In acknowledgement of the passing of film director Robert Altman, here's a nice clip related to the jazz aspect of Kansas City.

Ta-Shma- Voice of My Beloved

The voice is silenced.

The key to enjoying Ta-Shma is to eliminate any thoughts of Matisyahu. Yeah, he's a guest on the new release Come Listen, and there are indeed plenty of similarities between the new acts. But Ta-Shma calls itself "Hasidic Hip-Hop"- not "Hasidic reggae"- at their MySpace account. The intriguing work by eclectic clarinetist Andy Statman on this song of faith makes Ta-Shma wholly unique.

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I saw Ramsey Lewis Saturday night; my review is here. I've also rediscovered his funk album Sun Goddess. Even at this late date, it sounds amazing.

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I wonder if I'm the only person on the planet who will buy the new releases from Tupac Shakur and the Beatles tomorrow?