Congratulations to our friends Fabrizio Poggi and Chicken Mambo. Their "Mercy" CD was voted Buscadero magazine critics' top Italian CD of 2008. Buscadero is the Rolling Stone magazine of Italy, that nation's most important music magazine. Not only was the CD the top in Italy, but it finished 7th in the voting for all international CDs.
The other top international CDs included Mudcrutch (Tom Petty), Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, and John Hiatt ... stellar company! Some unusual video of a rehearsal with Guy Davis after pizza in Piacenza in 2007:
Chicken Mambo Pizza
----
Performance Alert: The Todalo Shakers, one of Grampy's favorite old-timey bands, will be performing on the 19th. I try to catch any band with Eric and Suzy Thompson in it. Here's Suzy's e-mail on it:
Thurs. March 19 at 8 PM
The Todalo Shakers - Eric & Suzy Thompson, Frannie Leopold, WB Reid, Steven Strauss
Freight & Salvage
1111 Addison (near San Pablo), Berkeley
$18.50 in advance, $19.50 at the door
Freight website
Todalo Shakers web page:
Oh boy! It's time for our annual Todalo Shakers get-together. Frannie Leopold will make her way down from Mendocino, WB Bruce Reid will make the long drive from Seattle, Steven Strauss will only have to come from Oakland, and they'll join Eric & Suzy Thompson for a night of vintage jug band, swingy pop songs from the 1920s, ragtime fiddling, and the like.
Todalo is pronounced "TOAD -a - lo" and it is a term closely allied to "diddy wah diddy". Todalo Shaking is mentioned in songs by Mississippi John Hurt and by our heroes, the Memphis Jug Band.
Over the past year, we've worked out a bunch of fun new songs like "Mama Don't Give All the Lard Away", "Beaver Slide Rag", "Handy's Memphis Blues", and of course we'll be singing the perennial favorites like "Sweet Lovin' Old Soul", "Cocaine Habit", "Jake Limber Leg Blues", and the ever-popular "Under the Chicken Tree"! Frannie plays her old Martin guitar, WB fingerpicks the 6-string banjo (affectionately known as "The Enforcer") and doubles on fiddle, Eric plays lead guitar and raggy mandolin, Suzy saws on the fiddle, Steven Strauss gets a good raspy sound with the bowed bass, and everybody sings.
The Todalo Shakers were singled out as one of the "Best Live Music" acts by the Reader's Choice Poll in the Chronicle a few years back, for their stellar performance at the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention. Because we're so spread out geographically, we don't perform as a band very often, but when we do, we sure have a great time doing it. Please come join us at the Freight if you are able!
----
Review of Bela Fleck's new documentary on banjos:
Bela's Flick
----
The SF Jazz 2009 Spring Schedule:
Jazz Jump
----
A bit o' the auld sod, Moving Hearts, their PR blurb:
Moving Hearts was formed in 1981 by Irish luminaries Christy Moore and Donal Lunny (both of Planxty). In 1984 the Irish folk-rock-jazz fusion group released its critically acclaimed genre-defining album, Storm, and established itself as one of Ireland's most influential bands. Soon after, the ever-evolving group of musicians went their separate ways to pursue individual projects that included performing on soundtracks for movies such as Gangs of New York and Michael Collins, winning a GRAMMY for a collaborative New Age album (Davy Spillane), heading a Rock School in Ireland (Matt Kelleghan), performing as principal percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and recording with artists such as U2, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello (Noel Eccles), and touring with artists such as Genesis and The Corrs (Anto Drennan). Although they were only together for four years, Moving Hearts had a profound effect on the development of modern Celtic music.
Here they are:
Moving Hearts
-----
J.J. Cale released his
debut album, Naturally, in 1971. Born and raised in Oklahoma, the singer
wrote songs that became big hits for Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and
others, including "Cocaine" and "After Midnight." an NPR feature:
Fresh Cale
-----
The USGS filmed this bear at a scratching pole:
Pole Dancer
----
A lot of great upcoming world music shows at Berkeley's own Freight & Salvage:
Tue, Mar 17 - the Black Brothers
Sat, Mar 21 - Melanie O'Reilly & Ashling
Wed, Apr 1 - Mike Marshall/Darol Anger/Vasen
Sat, Apr 4 - Bill Tapia & Mihana
Sun, Apr 5 - Moira Smiley & VOCO
Thu, Apr 9 - Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbalom Band
Fri, Apr 10 - Los Cenzontles
Sat, Apr 25 - Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
Thu, May 7 - Piper Link
Sun, May 10 - Cascada de Flores
Fri, May 29 - Youssoupha Sidibe
Check out their calendar here:
The Freight
-----
Read of the Week: Jazz History Treasure:
Treasure Trove
-----
While we're talking history, a fantastic clip from the only film of this all-girl orchestra that performed in the "Melody Land" number in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927. The ladies switch instruments during the course of the song, a very skilled group:
Groovin' Gals
----
That's all for this week, get out and catch (or play) some live music!
Grampy Bob
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Tuneweek, 03-07-2009: Wintergrass Reprise
NOTE: From here on, I'll be posting copies of this weekly digest at my blog site as well as sending out e-mail copies. So if you miss or misplace one you wanted to read closer at a better time, go here:
http://musicmanna.blogspot.com/
You can also read other bits and pieces of my writing there.
----
Our Wintergrass 2009 Trip was a great one, as it is each year. Not only do we get to visit old, best friends, and jam with some musical friends, we get to see/hear some of the best music in the world. And I do mean world. This was exemplified by the presence this year of Brazilian mandolim player Danilo Brito, as guest of the Bay Area's own multi-instrumental genius Mike Marshall. Marshall's group Choro Famoso was there and played both in its own right and accompanying Danilo.
The bandolim is a Brazilian mandolin. Marshall visited Brazil several years ago and became enamored with Brazil's Choro music. An article on what that is is here:
http://saintpaulsunday.publicradio.org/features/0109_choro/
The results of Marshall's explorations in that genre were well displayed at Wintergrass. So herewith some samples:
Danilo Brito:
On YouTube:
http://tinyurl.com/az2aum
Other:
http://vodpod.com/watch/44301-rosa-ricardo-herz-alessandro-penezzi-e-danilo-brito
Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso (they have a new CD due out in April):
http://www.mikemarshall.net/clips/Choro%20Famoso/Noites%20Cariocas.mp3
http://tinyurl.com/d2bfh8
Other samples of Marshall's music with other groups and individuals are at:
http://www.mikemarshall.net/listen.htm
-----
The Alison Brown Quartet & Joe Craven were another highlight for us. Some samples of her music:
http://compassrecords.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4604
Nothing with her with Joe Craven on video yet, but here are some vids with other personnel, including husband on bass and the incredible John Burr on piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OcgJcVFqyg
Joe Craven is the most amazing self-taught musician I've seen. He's great on mandolin, fiddle and any kind of percussion. He presents programs at public schools and is co-leader of the Wintergrass Youth Academy each year. He played with David Grisman's quintet for years. Here's his page:
http://www.joecraven.com/reviews.html
----
Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands sparkled as always. One of the highlights of their appearances was at the newest Wintergrass venue, the old, renovated Rialto Theatre. There, the band stepped out from behind the mics and moved to the lip of the stage to perform totally acoustically. It save a real sense of what live theater music was like in the days before amplification. The amazing part was that the music was perfectly audible throughout the 700-seat venue. Some samples of Laurie and company's music:
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=laurie+lewis+&aq=f
Her Web site:
http://www.laurielewis.com/
Michael Cleveland and the Flamekeepers are a truly amazing and more traditonal bluegrass band with a great singer and awesome instrumentalists, including the phenomenal fiddle of Michael Cleveland:
http://www.flamekeeperband.com/
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvT3O_2QQGI
Some other acts that were wonderful:
The Travelin McCourys on MySpace:
http://tinyurl.com/b2x2hc
Urban Monroes:
http://www.myspace.com/urbanmonroes
The Paperboys:
http://www.myspace.com/thepaperboys
http://www.paperboys.com/press.html
Scythian:
http://www.myspace.com/scythian
http://www.scythianmusic.com/bio.html
----
A Personal Footnote: Hannah McQueen, daughter of a couple of our Boston Harbor, WA, friends, Scot and Annette McQueen, contributed a number of great new tunes to the chili feed and jam session this year. Here are two that I'll be putting in my own rep. Keep up the good work, Hannah and thanks!:
Noah and the Whale doing Five Years Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4
Ingrid Michaelson doing You And I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMVCHhwTPs
----
Of course, my review of Winterland covers only a few of the many groups that played the four-day festival. For more, go here and click on the links:
http://www.acousticsound.org/!wg_lineup.htm
And tickets to the 2010 Wintergrass are already on sale!
------
Sad News: SF Blues Festival canceled:
http://tinyurl.com/82flz2
----
That's all for this week, get out and hear some live music!
Grampy Bob
http://musicmanna.blogspot.com/
You can also read other bits and pieces of my writing there.
----
Our Wintergrass 2009 Trip was a great one, as it is each year. Not only do we get to visit old, best friends, and jam with some musical friends, we get to see/hear some of the best music in the world. And I do mean world. This was exemplified by the presence this year of Brazilian mandolim player Danilo Brito, as guest of the Bay Area's own multi-instrumental genius Mike Marshall. Marshall's group Choro Famoso was there and played both in its own right and accompanying Danilo.
The bandolim is a Brazilian mandolin. Marshall visited Brazil several years ago and became enamored with Brazil's Choro music. An article on what that is is here:
http://saintpaulsunday.publicradio.org/features/0109_choro/
The results of Marshall's explorations in that genre were well displayed at Wintergrass. So herewith some samples:
Danilo Brito:
On YouTube:
http://tinyurl.com/az2aum
Other:
http://vodpod.com/watch/44301-rosa-ricardo-herz-alessandro-penezzi-e-danilo-brito
Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso (they have a new CD due out in April):
http://www.mikemarshall.net/clips/Choro%20Famoso/Noites%20Cariocas.mp3
http://tinyurl.com/d2bfh8
Other samples of Marshall's music with other groups and individuals are at:
http://www.mikemarshall.net/listen.htm
-----
The Alison Brown Quartet & Joe Craven were another highlight for us. Some samples of her music:
http://compassrecords.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4604
Nothing with her with Joe Craven on video yet, but here are some vids with other personnel, including husband on bass and the incredible John Burr on piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OcgJcVFqyg
Joe Craven is the most amazing self-taught musician I've seen. He's great on mandolin, fiddle and any kind of percussion. He presents programs at public schools and is co-leader of the Wintergrass Youth Academy each year. He played with David Grisman's quintet for years. Here's his page:
http://www.joecraven.com/reviews.html
----
Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands sparkled as always. One of the highlights of their appearances was at the newest Wintergrass venue, the old, renovated Rialto Theatre. There, the band stepped out from behind the mics and moved to the lip of the stage to perform totally acoustically. It save a real sense of what live theater music was like in the days before amplification. The amazing part was that the music was perfectly audible throughout the 700-seat venue. Some samples of Laurie and company's music:
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=laurie+lewis+&aq=f
Her Web site:
http://www.laurielewis.com/
Michael Cleveland and the Flamekeepers are a truly amazing and more traditonal bluegrass band with a great singer and awesome instrumentalists, including the phenomenal fiddle of Michael Cleveland:
http://www.flamekeeperband.com/
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvT3O_2QQGI
Some other acts that were wonderful:
The Travelin McCourys on MySpace:
http://tinyurl.com/b2x2hc
Urban Monroes:
http://www.myspace.com/urbanmonroes
The Paperboys:
http://www.myspace.com/thepaperboys
http://www.paperboys.com/press.html
Scythian:
http://www.myspace.com/scythian
http://www.scythianmusic.com/bio.html
----
A Personal Footnote: Hannah McQueen, daughter of a couple of our Boston Harbor, WA, friends, Scot and Annette McQueen, contributed a number of great new tunes to the chili feed and jam session this year. Here are two that I'll be putting in my own rep. Keep up the good work, Hannah and thanks!:
Noah and the Whale doing Five Years Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4
Ingrid Michaelson doing You And I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMVCHhwTPs
----
Of course, my review of Winterland covers only a few of the many groups that played the four-day festival. For more, go here and click on the links:
http://www.acousticsound.org/!wg_lineup.htm
And tickets to the 2010 Wintergrass are already on sale!
------
Sad News: SF Blues Festival canceled:
http://tinyurl.com/82flz2
----
That's all for this week, get out and hear some live music!
Grampy Bob
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