It is Saturday morning. It is a good morning for me because I have found some new music to love. You see, and as you may have noticed, I am more of a jazz guy than a blues guy. Why? Well, I fell in love with jazz first because of the time I spent at a college radio station that played jazz. I have tried to get into the blues, but something never quite clicke with me. It was OK, I appreciated it, I liked songs and parts of it, but something about it never quite grabbed me.
One thing is for sure, the jazz people seem to have things together a bit more than the blues people. For example, there are several websites that I can go to in order to get the latest news on jazz, jazz musicians, new releases, CD reviews and whatever. There is AllAboutJazz.com and the JazzReview.com, for example. There is also WDCB and other radio stations around the country that are dedicated almost exclusively to jazz music. That is just not the case with the Blues.
I have looked in order to make, or attempt to make, this blog balanced, for a Blues News website. I have continually come up empty. There are many radio stations, including WDCB, that play Blues in addition to some other format, but there aren’t radio stations dedicated solely to the blues. I have no idea why, but that’s just a fact of life.
So, I haven’t been able to keep up on the blues as much as I would have liked. So, I recently had dinner with a friend of mine. She mentioned she had always wanted to get more into jazz and I mentioned I had always wanted to get more into the blues. She is a big fan of the blues. As you know, I am a big fan of jazz. Before you could say “burn” we were exchanging CDs and making copies for each other.
So, I finally had a chance to sit down and listen to a Buddy Guy CD she gave me last night. It is not a new one. It is from 2001 and called “Sweet Tea.” Now, I love Buddy. I have since I saw him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and saw him perform live. He blew me away. He may be the greatest modern, living blues guitar player out there. Maybe about as close as Hendrix as you can get and considering Jimi cited Buddy as a major inspiration to him, that gives you some idea.
One song in particular blew me through the back of the chair. It is the second song on the album. It is called “Baby Please Don’t Leave Me.” Buckle up and enjoy.
Well, the weekend has arrived yet again and that is a good thing. That means it is once again time to take a look around the Chicago area and see what is going on in the various blues and jazz clubs. As usual, I am also making an attempt to show you what shows are going on in the suburbs.
I have been walking on air since I found out radio station WDCB has read and maybe even regularly reads my blog. I have no idea who there does, but I think of them collectively. This is because I think WDCB is the greatest most wonderful radio station in the area. You should listen to them. No, really, you should listen to them. Don’t question, just click on the damn link and listen. Go ahead, I’ll wait….
…
…
See? They are great, aren’t they? They help me find the concerts and shows going on around town and they also play great tunes and I couldn’t do this blog without them.
JAZZ
May 8, 2008
Vocalist Petra van Nuis and Guitarist Andy Brown
Angelina Ristorante, Chicago
May 8, 2008
Chambers Jazz Jam
Chambers, Niles
May 8, 2008
Alan Gresik’s Swing Shift Orchestra
Green Mill, Chicago
May 8, 2008
Kelly Brand Trio
Andy’s, Chicago
May 8, 2008
Matt Ulery’s Loom
Katerina’s, Chicago
May 8, 2008
Jeff Parker Trio
Velvet Lounge (new location), Chicago
May 9, 2008
JIC’s JazzCity Series:
Jazz Cabaret
Foster Park, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Jeff Newell’s New-Trad Octet
Green Mill, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Happy Hour with Chris Foreman on Hammond B-3 Organ and Vocals
Green Mill, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Joey DeFrancesco
MAC - McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn
May 9, 2008
Bruce Oscar/Nick Schneider Duo
Wildwood Steakhouse and Lounge, Geneva
May 9, 2008
Brookfield Jazz Society Presents: Illumina 66
Cottage @ Irish Times, Brookfield
May 9, 2008
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger
Andy’s, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Von Freeman Quintet
Andy’s, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Vocalist Petra van Nuis with the Andy Brown Trio
Andy’s, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Brian Pardo’s Balkano
Velvet Lounge (new location), Chicago
May 9, 2008
Green Mill Quartet Jam Session
Green Mill, Chicago
May 9, 2008
Sidemen Big Band Jazz
Bill’s Blues Bar, Evanston
May 10, 2008
The Elaine Dame Quartet
Philander’s, Oak Park
May 10, 2008
Jeff Newell’s New-Trad Octet
Green Mill, Chicago
BLUES
May 9, 2008
Mr. Blotto
FitzGerald’s, Berwyn
May 10, 2008
Eric Davis Blues Band
Bill’s Blues Bar, Evanston
May 13, 2008
Devil In a Woodpile
The Hideout, Chicago
May 13, 2008
Blues Jam
Bill’s Blues Bar, Evanston
May 17, 2008
Pom Pom’s singing the Blues!
Pom Pom’s , Plainfield
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is on of those events that has just kind of surpassed its original intent. It may have started out as a kind of small local festival to feature the jazz music associated with New Orleans, but since hurricane Katrina, it has taken on new symbolism. Each year since that storm, the festival has grown and grown and grown, as has the population. In other words, the festival has become a kind of symbol of the growth, rebuilding and regeneration of the city itself.
I am not going to sit here and convince you that the Neville Brothers are exactly within the jazz category. Hell, I am not even going to sit here and tell you I know a single Neville Brothers song or what their music sounds like. What I do know is that they are all originally from New Orleans and that it had become a tradition for those hometown boys to close out the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Then came Katrina, and all of that changed.
The brothers scattered to the winds and across the country. Every year, the fans would attend the festival in hopes the brothers would make a return. That hadn’t happened. Aaron Neville had personal issues and his wife died last year and that sort of sidetracked him. All of that changed with the ‘08 festival.
As written about in this article at CNN.com, the Neville Brothers returned triumphantly to the city where they were born and closed out the festival. By all accounts, it was worth the wait and just the celebratory event the citizens of New Orleans were hoping for.
The festival, as I mentioned, is a symbol and the residents who have scattered since the storm often make the trek back just to see the performers. According to many of them, the return of the Neville Brothers marked a remarkable thing and was a significant event a least in the hearts of New Orleans residents everywhere.
The population of New Orleans was around 455,000 people before Katrina. Since then, some 320,000 have returned. It is a city that is far from being complete and there are still vast areas that show damage, not to mention those who worry about the possibility of the next storm.
Still, when things like this can happen and elighten and brighten the hearts of those who have experienced so much, well, you just can’t deny the healing power of music, can you?
For me, having only visited New Orleans once, and then as a teenager, I felt this was a story that crossed music genres. I hope it is a sign that maybe the city will come back and, perhaps, stronger than ever. I hope to be able to attend the Jazz and Heritage Festival some day and I am glad it has grown and continues to be a symbol of hope.
The spring season has kicked into high gear and things are getting busy in the music world. Things are also getting busy amongst us here at b5media. So, I missed the normal release date when it came to the new releases and the reissues. Actually, this month so far the new releases are not as extensive as in previous weeks. It’s interesting to note that and I am not sure what that means.
Since I have found out that my use of the WDCB website has yielded some results, I want to point out I rely on AllAboutJazz.com for the new releases and reissues. Now, this is not an endorsement of any of these, but just a list of new CDs and some older albums being reissued.
New Releases
Alfred Hause - Best Of (Pid )
Aquiles Baez - Patilla (Cacao Music )
Armen Donelian - Oasis (Sunny Side )
Armen Donelian Trio - Oasis (Sunny Side )
Atlas - Atlas (Sonorama )
Berardi Jazz Connection - Do It! (Family Affair Distribution SRL )
Bill McHenry / John McNeil - Rediscovery (Sunny Side )
Brian Blade - Seasons Of Change (Verve )
British Core Lovers - British Core Lovers (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Cafres - Barrilete/Hombre Simple (Machete Music )
Carlo Veri - Jazz From A To Z (Mediane )
Carlo Verri - Jazz From A To Z / With Book (Mediane Multimedia )
Carlo Verri - Jazz From A To Z (Mediane Multimedia )
Carter / Person - Just Between Friends (Highnote )
Chase - Chase/Ennea/Pure Music (Wounded Bird )
Chase - Chase / Ennea / Pure Music (Wounded Bird )
Citadel - Pluies Acides (Musea Records France )
Claudine Longet - Best Of (Pid )
Dans Les Arbres - Dans Les Arbres (Pid )
Dark Chocolate - Island Gypsy (Megawave Records )
Enrico Pieranunzi - As Never Before (Cam Jazz )
Evan Parker - Boustrophedon (Pid )
Evan Parker - Boustrophedon / Ocrd (Ecm Records )
Francy Boland - Orchestra (Pid )
Gadjologie - Gadjologie (Pid )
Harold Rayford - Always There (Tyscot Records )
Houston Person - Just Between Friends (Highnote Records, Inc. )
Houston Person & Ron Carter - Just Between Friends (Highnote )
Jamie Craig - Lost Dream (Morada Music )
Jason Carter - Helsinki Project (Pid )
Joey Baron / Marc Johnson / Enrico Pieranunzi - As Never Before (Pid )
John McNeil - Rediscovery (Sunny Side )
Johnson / Pieranunzi - As Never Before (Camjazz )
Juliette Greco - Best Of (Pid )
Kari Bremnes - Manestein (Pid )
Ken Peplowski - Happy Together (Pid )
Los Cafres - Barrilete/Hombre Simple (Machete Music )
Malando - Best Of (Pid )
Marcin Wasilewski - January / Ocrd (Ecm Records )
Marcin Wasilewski Trio - January (Pid )
Mchenry / Mcneil - Rediscovery (Sunny Side )
Mindi Abair - Stars (Concord Records (USA) )
Modern Sound Quintet - Otinku (Pid )
Myriam Alter - Where Is There (Tokuma Japan Comm. )
Nara Leao - Best Of (Pid )
Negroni’s Trio - Father & Son (Cacao Musica)
Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark (Sony )
Paco De Lucia - Best Of (Pid )
Patrick Cooper - Vibin (Depth In Sound )
Patrick Cooper - Vibin’ (Depth In Sound )
Patrick Noland - Passage To Thought (Naim Records/Premiere )
Paul Singerman - New Songs From The Big Band Era (SPV )
Peter Hertmans Quartet - Cadences (Pid )
Quasimode - Straight To The Land Of Freedo (Pid )
Rob Schneiderman - Radio Waves (Reservoir (City Hall) )
Saul - Garajazz (Musea Records France )
Steve Evans Quartet - 2 Sets (Family Affair Distribution SRL )
Steve Turre - Rainbow People (Highnote )
Stevens Trio, Tim - Mickets (Pid )
Taylor Eigsti - Let It Come To You (Concord Jazz )
Various Artists - Arawak Label Showcase (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Various Artists - Bossa Nova Jazz (Verve )
Vicky - Best Of (Pid )
Vincent Scarito - It’s Heaven (Pid )
Walker Brothers - Best Of (Pid )
Wanderlust - When In Rome (Pid )
Reissues
B.B Cooper - Saracubana - Stewart Curtis Trio Plays BB Cooper (Pid )
B.B Cooper - Uneasy Street Revisited (Pid )
Baden Powell - Tristez-Poema-Canto-Images On Guita (Pid )
Buddy Rich - Speak No Evil (Wounded Bird )
Cab Calloway - Hi De Ho Man (Revola)
Charlie Parker - At The Final Club & More (Pid )
Chick Corea - Return To Forever: Where Have I Known You / No (Bgo - Beat Goes On )
Django Reinhardt - Platinum Collection (EMI France )
Frank Siantra - Crooner Goes To Jazz (Pid )
George Duke - My Soul-Complete (Pid) - Boxed Set
Jeff Lorber - Soft Space (Wounded Bird )
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Jeff Lorber Fusion (Wounded Bird )
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Soft Space (Wounded Bird )
Johnny Mathis - Night To Remember (Sony )
Leon Thomas - Blues & The Soulful Truth (JDC )
Leon Thomas - In Berlin (JDC )
Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions (JDC )
Lonnie Liston Smith - Astral Traveling (JDC )
Return To Forever - Where Have I Known You Before/No Mystery (BGO - Beat Goes On )
Scott Hamilton - Across The Tracks (Concord Jazz )
Sergio Mendes - Best Of (Pid )
I just had a conversation with a friend of mine who said she was looking to explore more jazz music. She also asked to see my blog. I hope she starts noting some of these new albums, plus the reissues. Expand your listening, expand your CD collection.
I love writing this blog. When I started, I just hoped a few folks who were devoted to, primarily, jazz would stop by and read a few things and I would have been happy. However, I have been surprised by how much this site and this blog has grown. I was delighted when Scooter Pietsch approached me, via e-mail, asking if I would like to review the new album for the Sad Salamanders entitled “Cigarettes and Fishnets.”
Now, I write movie, DVD and television reviews for another website. I get approached there all the time by filmmakers and such who want me to review their films. You never know what you are going to get. It’s always a delight to find a gem amongst the piles and piles of crap. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect when “Cigarettes and Fishnets” arrived.
To my delight, it blew me away. I know I tease on here about just sending me something is enough for me to rave about it. It’s really not entirely true. I try very hard to be honest here and in life. I am far from perfect, but I try very hard to be as honest as possible. If the CD wasn’t good, I wouldn’t have gone on and on and on about it. The fact is, the music is great. In my car I have Pink Floyd, Webb Wilder, Peter Gabriel, Oasis (OK, they can’t ALL be good), and the Sad Salamanders.
So, it was with tremendous delight that this past weekend I got an e-mail from Scooter telling me two of my favorite things had collided. You also know I could NOT do this blog without Chicago-area radio station WDCB. I really do love this station. Again, going to my car, if you look at my car radio pre-sets you will see the very first one is set to WDCB.
It is a truly excellent station and they play a great mix of classic jazz all day long. If I had only one complaint about the station it would be that it should be 24-hours, 7-days a week jazz rather than some of the other programming, but I know they kind of have to do the other stuff too. They also have a great events calendar and I couldn’t do what I do here without it.
I wouldn’t rave about that station if I didn’t actually listen and didn’t actually enjoy it. I have always hoped that maybe someone there read this blog and appreciated the links and credit I give them for being able to do this blog every day and every week. Quite simply, there would be no Jazz and Blues Lounge without WDCB to help.
Well, Scooter e-mailed me to say that the music director at WDCB contacted him to add “Cigarettes and Fishnets” to their playlist all thanks to reading about them so much in this blog. Right there, that makes everything I have done here at this spot on the interntet worthwhile. All I had to do was rant and rave about two things I love anyway and it has panned out both for me and for the artists I enjoy.
So, I hope you visit WDCB’s website. I hope you buy “Cigarettes and Fishnets.” I hope you keep reading this blog and I thank all of you for making me feel cooler than I probably really am.
The modern world is rather amazing. You can carry an entire music store in your pocket these days. You can switch from rock to blues to jazz to country and then over the rap as fast as it takes you to thumb through your lists and songs on your iPod. Considering that, we here at b5media and those of us who write for the Music Channel wanted to provide you with a list of songs that we think you need to add to your iPod playlist and that we think you should add TODAY.
As far as I am concerned, and as far as jazz goes, there are two songs that leap to mind. The first is from the notorious Concert of 1964 and is a classic live version from his album “Kind of Blue.” The tune is called “So What” and the way it is played live here will blow you away (and if the player won’t play, you can visit this link).
As for the second song you MUST have, well, there just isn’t any jazz collection that can be complete without Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.” This comes from one of the greatest jazz albums of all-time “Time Out.” It was the tune that Dave and the rest of the band wasn’t even sure they wanted to put on the album, and then decided to do so at the last minute so their drummer would have a piece that featured him. So, of course, it became the biggest hit.
As for the others in the world of b5media, you should check out their suggestions for tunes you need to add. I am putting their links below:
It is a Saturday morning here in Chicago and the weather is vintage Chicago. In short, it was sunny and bright when I woke up, but now it’s cloudly and threatening rain less than an hour later. It is also that weird mid-ranged temperature when you really should wear a jacket, but it may just be warm enough to get away without wearing on at the same time. No wonder every Chicagoan about this time of year is sick or has a constant headache.
So, I was noodling around on my computer and started playing “Cigarettes and Fishnets” the Sad Salamanders CD. Before too long, any feelings of melancholy or sadness vanished. I love that opening tune and I feel a bit like I have been ignoring them in the past few weeks.
I was in the mood to share my good mood listening to the Sad Salamanders (the Emotional Lizards of the headline…get it? Yeah, I amuse myself…). So, wondered I thought I would share their, currently, only video fr a song off of their new album.
So, I thought I would go ahead and post one of their tunes. In fact, it is the first song off of their album and, like I have mentioned before, I think it swings. I almost said “it rocks” and I believe I have said that before in my reviews of the album, but someone that doesn’t seem writer for a jazz blog.
So, enjoy the tune “My Parents Are Swingers” from the group the Sad Salamanders. Their CD, “Cigarettes and Fishnets,” is available at places like CD Baby right now and I strongly suggest you add it to your playlist right now.
Well, the weekend is here again and if you don’t mind dodging hail, lightning bolts and funnel clouds, you may want to head out and check out a live performance. There are a lot of great musicans out there in the jazz and blues genres that don’t necessarily have record contracts and such. This weekend, though, the weather dude is predicting storms. The same system that brought exciting tornado footage from Oklahoma is now crossing the Chicago area. So, that just adds a little extra spice to the whole going to the show thing.
I have to give credit, because I must and because I love promoting them, the radio station WDCB here in Chicago for the show information below. They are a really great radio station and, for the Chicago area, one of the only places to listen to jazz (classic jazz, I don’t count the smooth jazz station) around here.
JAZZ
May 2, 2008
Bruce Oscar/Nick Schneider Duo
Wildwood Steakhouse and Lounge, Geneva
May 2, 2008
Green Mill Quartet Jam Session
Green Mill, Chicago
May 2, 2008
Happy Hour with Chris Foreman on Hammond B-3 Organ and vocals
Green Mill, Chicago
May 2, 2008
Barry Winograd Trio at C.J. Arthur’s in Wilmette
C.J. Arthur’s, Wilmette
May 2, 2008
Frank Catalano Band
Andy’s, Chicago
May 2, 2008
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger
Andy’s, Chicago
May 3, 2008
Petra Van Nuis Quartet
Andy’s, Chicago
May 3, 2008
After Hours Jazz Party with Sabertooth
Green Mill, Chicago
May 3, 2008
Frank Catalano Band
Andy’s, Chicago
May 4, 2008
Checker Jazz
Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago
May 4, 2008
Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliners Big Band
FitzGerald’s, Berwyn
May 4, 2008
Andy’s Jam Session
Andy’s, Chicago
May 4, 2008
Alison Ruble Quartet
Andy’s, Chicago
May 4, 2008
Andy’s Jazz Brunch
Andy’s, Chicago
May 4, 2008
Kimberly Gordon Organ Trio
Green Mill, Chicago
May 5, 2008
Monday Night Jazz Jam Session
Psistaria Greek Restaurant, Lincolnwood
May 5, 2008
Monday Night Jazz at Morseland
Morseland, Chicago
May 5, 2008
Yoko Noge Jazz Me Blues Band
Andy’s, Chicago
May 5, 2008
Paul Abella Trio
Andy’s, Chicago
May 6, 2008
Jose Valdes Latin Jazz Trio
Green Dolphin Street, Chicago
BLUES
May 2, 2008
Lynne Jordan & The Shivers
Green Dolphin Street, Chicago
May 2, 2008
Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater Blues Band
Bill’s Blues Bar, Evanston
May 3, 2008
Dave Specter Quartet
SoTish Cafe and Gallery, La Grange
May 3, 2008
LV Banks Blues Band
Bill’s Blues Bar, Evanston
Well, it is finally the month of May and with that new month, lots of exciting new things will be found right here at your friendly neighborhood Jazz and Blues Lounge. Actually, some very cool things are coming up in the next few days that affect all you fans of the b5media Music Channels. Yes, we are all ganging up on you…so to speak.
In the next few days, and actually live by Monday, May 5, you will see all of us posting what we consider to be two key and important tunes that you should download to your iPod right then and there. If you do that and follow our advice, you will have about 120 new tunes to add to your iPod and get on a regular rotation. Yes, I have my two picked up and, no, I will not tell you what they are until Monday.
I will tell you I went classic jazz, with all apologies to my favorite modern jazz band, the Sad Salamanders. I just felt that if there were key tunes that everyone should add in the jazz genre, you had to go with some classic jazz tunes. Don’t worry, I am sure we will all be doing more of these list posts in the near future and I will be sure to get a few Salamanders tunes there.
Since it is May that means it is really the start of the outside concert/festival season. I have been trying to keep an eye on that already, as you have seen. I also try to stay focused, as much as possible, on the Chicago and Chicago suburbs area, but if you happen to know of a great jazz or blues festival in your area and would like to talk about it, please let me know. You can e-mail me through the site or leave a comment. I love promoting music festivals and music in general, so just get in touch with me.
The first big one here in Chicago is the Chicago Blues Festival. This is a great music festival that has become one of the largest in the entire country. Truly, if you want to visit Chicago, you cannot do much better than visiting during the Chicago Blues Festival. I plan on being there this year and reporting the goings-on right here.
So, I hope you come back and enjoy some of the nicer weather. It is actually warm here today in Chicago after it actually snowed here last week! You gotta love the Spring weather in Chicago. I thank you for your continued support and, always remember, be sure to tell your friends about the “Jazz and Blues Lounge.”
The cool thing about writing this blog for the folks at b5media is that you are never really and truly alone. There are a lot of great writers writing about a lot of cool things, and this is particularly true of the music channel. There are some writers so dedicated to writing about their field of music that they post two, three or four times a day. This is something I am just not capable of doing.
It’s been a great experience writing for them and the music channel has grown by leaps and bounds. I am looking forward to a lot more growth and exciting things to come. Below are some links to those other channels and some key articles and blog entries for each of them. Click them, read them, and enjoy them.
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