I wasn’t prepared the first time I attended a performance by Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. Fountain and his sightless bandmates repeatedly rushed to the lip of the stage during the gospel ensemble’s outing at the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival at Penn Valley Park in 1991. I was certain the frenzied men would topple, but they seemed to know exactly where to stop to avert disaster. The gasp-inducing stunt was intended as testimony to God’s grace. It worked. If I hadn’t already been a believer, I would likely have found Jesus that day. Fountain died on June 3.
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I surveyed Rockfest for The Kansas City Star. As my analysis implies, my three favorite performances were by Ghost, Underoath and Sevendust.
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I took a fresh look at last year’s infamous Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival at Plastic Sax.
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I write weekly music previews for The Kansas City Star.
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Stewart Lipton of Jonathan Fireeater has died.
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Thunderpussy’s self-titled album goes like gangbusters before fizzling out in its second half. RIYL: Sheer Mag, that old time rock and roll, Thee Oh Sees.
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The Esbjörn Svensson Trio's Live in London was recorded in 2005 when the pianist was 39. He died in a scuba diving accident three years later. Alternately thrilling and rhapsodic, not a single one of the 105 minutes on the piano trio album is mundane.
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Not-so-hot take: Black Thought’s Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 is superior to Ye. 9th Wonder’s production is typically outstanding.
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African Scream Contest Vol.2 - Benin 1963-1980 may have prevented me from going to jail on a particularly difficult Monday morning. It may not be quite as mind-blowing as other recent African compilations, but it’s a blast. (Tip via Big Steve.)
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
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