Vieux Farka Toure rocks the Iron Horse

Last night was something special. We arrived early and caught the sound check, which produced one of the coolest and most original guitar jam of the evening…and there were many. We met up with other journalists and discussed Vieux and his father but mostly the home country to them, Mali. The green room was the spot for our conversation. We shared laughter and languages, handshakes and with some heritage, it was as real as the very earth we stand on. The guys at Modiba Productions are doing this tour right. They are a team of people, treating each other and us as family and it really hits you when they are on stage. The crowd was to the back walls and as you looked around they were smiling from thirsty earhole to thirsty earhole, most containing the urge for dancing until the end of the show…oh, this music makes you dance like no one is watching. Vieux was filled with energy and enthusiasm as always on stage and off. Many tracks of his new self titled release are featured during the show, and there are some surprises also. Many of the people in attendance walked away with their copy, I suggest you find yours. O.K….LET’S GO!!

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Also, check out the first music video in Vieux’s career.

produced by Andrea Wozny

Desiree Bassett: Keepin’ R-n-R Alive!

Desi was hanging out in studio A once again….We discussed her recent trip to L.A. at NAMM, a timetable on heading into the studio and as usual, she rocked the station to its knees. Check out the link to her in studio session with me and give the video from the WIMBASH a look-see as well. You will thank me. It is good to know rock and roll is safe.

Listen to our in STUDIO A time here.

Watch the VIDEO here.

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Desi And Joe Satriani NAMM 2007

G. Love at Lupo’s in Providence

The place was packed with a group ready to hip, hop and bounce around to the good time feelings and sound of G. Love & the Special Sauce. There was a nice blend here of new album material both with the Special Sauce and acoustic G. As with the majority of the crowd, Garret doesn’t stay still very long on stage, slapping five with the folks in the front and movin’ and shakin’ it the entire show. The energy and fervor really spill over onto the crowd like a guitar pick being tossed into the front rows. The band rocked and rolled into the early hours and made us all feel cooler than we felt before we walked into the Heartbreak Hotel, and I for one, still feel like the FONZ to this moment after sharing some time being a part of this event. Ayyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeee!!

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G during ‘Shootin Hoops’

the newest of dwarf..SleepyG.

Don’t lie to me, the Rolling Stones
Around & Around, the Rolling Stones
2120 S. Michigan Ave., the Rolling Stones
Tore up Over you, Jerry Garcia Band (live 5/21/76)
Gone Daddy Gone, Gnarls Barkley
Polkarama, Weird Al
Hot’Lanta, The NRG Band
Wosoubour, Vieux Farka Toure w/Eccodek remix
Power & Force, Desiree Bassett
Another Day, Desiree Bassett (in-studio A)
Circles, Desiree Bassett (in-studio A)
Don’t Want you no More, Desiree Bassett (in-studio A)
Aurora, Desiree Bassett
I Like Birds, Eels (live w/Strings)
Hey Man, Eels (live w/Strings)
Porchswing, Bourbon Princess
My Girl, Melvin Sparks
Holla!, G.Love & Special Sauce
Beautiful, G. Love/Tristian Prettyman
Honeybee, Papa Mali
Nobody’s Fault but Mine, NO blues
Tibidi Waka, Vusi Mahlasela w/Derek Trucks
Wine & Women, Pedro Arevalo
Celebrate your Youth, Keller Williams
***CONVERSATION WITH KELLER WILLIAMS***
Cadillac, Keller Williams/Bob Weir
Ninja of Love, Keller Williams/Michael Franti
Restraint, Keller Williams
Girlwatcher, Yellowman (live in S.F.)
distractions 2, the rh factor
Can’t Stop, the rh factor
Wise Man Say, Dubconscious
Tabara, Vieux Farka Toure w/Ali Farka Toure
Ma Hine Cocore, Vieux Farka Toure

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Remembering DJ.

A tough year indeed for us Celtics at heart.

One of the greatest teammates and team players to ever play this game.

Full Name: Dennis Wayne Johnson
Born: 9/18/54 in Compton, Calif.
Died: 2/22/07
High School: Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)Junior College: Los Angeles Harbor (Calif.)
College: Pepperdine University
Drafted: Seattle SuperSonics, 1976 (29th overall)
Transactions: Traded to Phoenix Suns, 6/4/80; Traded to Boston Celtics, 6/27/83 Nickname: DJ
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200 lbs.
Honors: NBA champion (1979, ’84, ’86); NBA Finals MVP (1979); All-NBA First Team (1981); All-NBA Second Team (1980); All-Defensive First Team (1979-83, ’87); All-Defensive Second Team (1984-86); Five-time NBA All-Star 1979-82, ’85).

FOR DJ’s Career stats click here.

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Remembering that steal.

A Keller Williams Conversation

Check out my conversation with Keller Williams. The usual one man band has some rather impressive friends on his new album DREAM. We talk about the album, the dog and so much more that you won’t want to miss out. A little background: Singer, songwriter, & guitarist Keller Williams is literally a one-man jam band. His fascinating live shows feature him solo on-stage with a Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro looping unit, and he creates his backing loops in the moment, building and improvising as he goes on his custom-made ten-string guitar, and thanks to his equally as quirky, upbeat, & semi-surreal songs (which he frequently weaves into extended, half-improvised medleys) and his warm, friendly tenor singing voice, Williams is an utterly unique performer whose musical eccentricities don’t keep him from being immediately accessible. This is easy to tell from our chat.

Enjoy our conversation here.

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Stanton Moore, a musician’s drummer.

Born and raised in New Orleans (and living there still, when he’s not on the road), Stanton Moore is very much a product of geography, culture and creative networking. He grew up in the thriving music scene of his hometown that included Professor Longhair, Dr John, the Meters and countless other Big Easy mainstays. In the early ‘90s, Moore hooked up with guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio and keyboardist Rich Vogel and saxophonist Ben Ellman to form the New Orleans-based “steam-roller” funk band known as Galactic. There is so much to one of the hardest working guys in music, be it educating kids, being involved in multiple side projects (His Trio and Garage a Trois), Moore is credited on so many great diverse albums out there, it was just a matter of time before I got a hold of him as a new found friend of greenarrowradio.

Check out our conversation here.

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Add some spices and let ‘er rip.

Push Comes to Shove, John Hammond
I’m Tore Down, John Hammond/G. Love
You Know that’s Cold, John Hammond
Mustang Sally, Buddy Guy/Jeff Beck
Nobody’s Fault but Mine, NO blues
Dead Shrimp Blues, Peter Green
Come on in my Kitchen, Peter Green
Jungle Tango, Jazz Mandolin Project
Ain’t Gonna Work, Leftover Salmon
Bayou Country, Dread Clampitt
Arachnid Stomp, Sam Bush/David Grisman
Struttin’, Tommy Emmanuel
That’s all Right, James Cotton
Boot Knockin’ Blues, James Cotton
Play w/Your Poodle, James Cotton
***Conversation with James Cotton***
Don’t Start me Talkin’, Cotton w/Kenny Neal
That’s What Love will Make you do, Gov’t Mule (live)
Everybody’s up to Something, Brian Setzer
Why You Wanna Bring Me Down, Honeytribe
Harper & the Midget, Twinemen
Breakfast in Bed, Alton/Hortense Ellis
Waiting in Vain, Rolla
Dub the Right Way, King Tubby
There’s Dub, King Tubby
Khaleegi Stomp, Trans-global Underground
Debbie’s Jungle Boogie, Skeebo Knight
Credits, the Aquarium
Channel 9, the Aquarium
Your Mama’s got a Complex, Dr. Lonnie Smith
Fallin’ off the Floor, Stanton Moore
***Conversation with Stanton Moore***
Everybody Wants Some Parts 1-3, Galactic
Bear no Hair, Garage a Trois
Bread & Water, Robert Walter
Will Run, Raq
If it Don’t fit Don’t Force it, Melvin Sparks/Nikki Armstrong
the Hop, Radio Citizen w/Bajka
Beautiful, G.Love w.Tristan Prettyman
Leap of Faith, Sara Wasserman/DJ Logic/Alan Evans

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James Cotton…SUPERHARP

2007 is James Cotton’s 63rd year in the entertainment business. What an amazing adventure this man is experiencing with his little harmonica. Congratulations SUPERHARP! Cotton will be playing the Hungry Tiger in Manchester, Connecticut on February 22nd along with another blues legend James Montgomery. Make sure you bring your boogie shoes for this one! Cotton has always been known for having one of the best bands in the business. The line-up for the past several years has been: Slam Allen, guitar, vocals; Tom Holland, guitar; Charles Mack, bass; Mark Mack, drums; and, of course, Superharp, James Cotton. His eyes light up when he talks about his band, “My audience always tells me how I’m doing. If I look out there and don’t like what I see, I work harder.” His audiences are still on their feet, they enjoy themselves as much as he does, and there are still standing ovations night after night. You will have a memorable evening with an international treasure and a true Living Legend of the Blues.

Check out our quick talk here.

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John Hammond jr–Push Comes to Shove

The collaboration of veteran bluesman John Hammond and contemporary Philly hip-hop/soulman G Love could make some blues purists run for the hills, the duo’s work here shows there is nothing to be running from. G. produces the 64 year old Hammond’s newest release, which John actually tackles some songwriting of his own. If you recall my conversations with Garrett and John last year, we touched on that aspect. This is a release destined for good things, with that ‘lets find some trouble‘ guitar moan and the bar-b-q sizzler of harmonica, blues enthusiasts will be thrilled to the bone. For those of you looking for a cross-over track, try #5 I’m Tore Down, which features a dash of hip hop and rap colliding with the fusion of a well produced album, not an over produced mess.

MisterG Rating *****

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Re-MIXED up and down.

Don’t Worry about Tomorrow, Van Morrison
Naked in the Jungle, Van Morrison
it’s alright with me, N.R.P.S
A Certain Girl, Warren Zevon
Detox Mansion, Warren Zevon
Raspberry Beret, Warren Zevon
Electric Goat, the Cubby Creatures
Biskie, Tommy Emmanuel
What’s he Building, Tom Waits
Here comes President Kill Again, XTC
Things don’t seem as Bad, Amity Front
Ultra-Funk, Los Amigos Invisibles (live)
Papa was a Rolling Stone, Los Lobos (live)
Planet of the Super Kids, Greyboy Allstars (live)
Gotta Clean up the World II, Funky Music Machine
Daytripper, Bad Brains
Potion, Morphine
Wishing Well, Morphine
French Fries & Pepper, Morphine
Supergirl’s Complaint, Bourbon Princess
the Car Song, the Cat Empire
Pack of Wild Dogs, George Clinton & P-Funk
Sexy Side of You, George Clinton & Parliament
Gapu (the tidal mix), Youth Yindi
Silaami Jama, Mama Sissoko
Tibidi Waka, Vusi Mahlasela w/Derek Trucks
Bahamut, Hazmat Modine
Beauty, Wax Poetic
Music, the Beautiful Girls
Shoes, George Soule
***Conversation with Eccodek’s Andrew McPherson***
Calling the Rain, Eccodek
Peace Time, Eccodek
Courage, Vieux Farka Toure/Banako remix
Wosoubour, Vieux Farka Toure w/Eccodek remix
Dread Clampitt, Dread Clampitt
Riding High, Dread Clampitt
American Way, the Charms
I’m Tore Down, John Hammond/G.Love
Social Aid & Pleasure Club, the Subdudes

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go see VIEUX FARKA TOURE

Let me just tell you this, if you are in search of something to take your mind away from the everyday sounds and styles you are used to, go see Vieux play live anywhere. He and his band mates, combine the tradition Malian sound associated with Vieux’s father Ali, mix in its cousin the North American blues and now there are dashes and hints of Reggae and even rock and roll. I swear on the last song played, Chuck Berry jumped on stage at one point. Vieux is exciting to watch, whether it is playing his or his father’s guitar, dancing or flashing a brite smile into the crowd. At Wesleyan we were quite lucky as Mama Sissoko and Seckou Toure joined in on the magic making. Wesleyan was packed with a crowd of smiles, foot stomping and a deep puddle of self expression splashing in beat with Vieux triumphant sound of mother earth, and his motherland Mali.
This was a show were connection were made, I came away feeling more in synch with the very soil I walk on and the water I drink seems to trickle down from those very strings Ali Farka Toure once strummed, and now I am pleased to have Vieux pouring that water into our thirsty earholes.

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Stay tuned for an upcoming conversation with Vieux and his team at Modiba Productions.

This is a FIVE STAR ***** Show. Not to be Missed!

Eccodek’s Andrew McPherson

Rising from the underground of Toronto’s multicultural music melting pot, Eccodek’s visionary blend of downtempo grooves, tribal electronica and world dub is quickly capturing the attention of the international music scene. Andrew McPherson, the mastermind behind the ECCODEK sound, collaborated for several years with musicians from around the world before the 2004 Canadian indie release of his much-anticipated debut recording, More Africa In Us. A chance meeting with Rwandan expatriate Ignace Ntirushwamaboko and Malian vocal powerhouse Samba Diallo resulted in a fusion that none of them saw coming. Anchored by their soulful voices, their passionate performances sit on a mountain of dubby bass, ethnic and urban grooves, spaced out synths and a quilt work of eastern melodies. Andrew and I share a laugh or two, discuss some new projects accomplished and in the works and discuss his new album coming out this April.

Check out our conversation here.

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WOMEN in MUSIC part II

Beautiful Soldier, Nadine Zahr
Jackknifes, Red Heart the Tickler
End of the Line, Emily Grogan
Psychedelia in A, Emily Grogan
Movin’ Room for a New Day, Emily Grogan
Share the Ride, Lisa Lawrence
Compass Rose, Chris Pureka
Big Lovin’ Woman, Shemekia Copeland (live)
Them Changes, Nikki Armstrong
What’s Wrong with Me, Skye (Nouvelle Vague Remix)

*Chat w/Terry Reeves of MusicMattersEntertainment*

Mood Swing, luscious Jackson
Fly Away, Sara Wasserman & Aaron Neville
**Conversation with Sara Wasserman**
Fresh out of Tears, Sara Wasserman
Sara Smile, Sara Wasserman/Vernon Reid
Beautiful, Tristan Prettyman/G.Love
Centre of nowhere, LadyBUG Mecca
Gembi, Ramatou Dikite
Bassa Kele, Mamou Sidibe
Enter Sandman, Harptallica
Children of the Grave, Desiree Bassett

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Who’s That with the talking Hat?

Take this Hammer, Taj/Toumani
Sangare, Vieux Farka Toure
Ana, Vieux Farka Toure
Ma Hire Cocore, Vieux Farka Toure
High up on the Hook, Alice Russell
L.I.N.N., Linn & Freddie
Until the Morning, Thievery Corporation/Kid Loco
Johnny Come Lately, the Microscopic Septet
Urban Mbalax, Brewed by Noon
Almost Gone, Hazmat Modine
Savane, Ali Farka Toure
Fantastic Plastic People, Jimmy Cliff
Over the Border, Jimmy Cliff/Joe Strummer
Radio Unfree Europe, Transglobal Underground (remix)
Gotta Have Rain, Sol
The Turning Point, Uakti
Patricia, Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban
Caballo Viejo, Manuel Galban/Ry Cooder
Sunday Afternoon, Herbal Nation
Mas y Mas, Los Lobos
Jin-go-la-ba, Babatunde Olatunji
Kiyakiya, Babatunde Olatunji
Zillionaire, Brickell/Garcia/Wasserman
Godfather Waltz, Gambetta/Aonza/Grisman

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the Jamie McLean band LIVE

It was a snowy evening, but as expected the Jamie McLean band brought Rock and Roll to the Main Pub in Manchester. From the moment the first note struck, people knew they were in store for something different, but in my opinion, they weren’t ready for songs and style reflecting an early Black Crowes with more intelligent lyrics. This is a rock and roll band my friends, a rock and roll band with backbone and style. This is not a jam band or Louisiana Swamp Boogie, this is not a fusion of anything but 2 parts ROCK and 2 Parts ROLL. Jamie’s electrifying guitar work as well as his soulful vocals and his unique songwriting will make the JMB a group to keep your eyes and watch out for in your neck of the woods.

By the Way. Did I mention anything about the Jamie McLean band being a kick ass rock -N- roll band??

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Brought 2 U by the letter, G

A quote from a song comes to mind for this show…”with no direction known…..a complete unknown…”

I’m not talking, the Yardbirds
I Wish You Would, the Yardbirds
Love me Like I love you, the Yardbirds
I’m a Man, the Yardbirds
Smokestack Lightnin’, the Yardbirds
All Over Now, the Rolling Stones
Bi-Polar, Ike Turner
Old Black Magic, Dr. John
Save the Bones for Henry Jones, Dr. John
Money Won’t Change You, Aretha Franklin
Since you’ve Been Gone, Aretha Franklin
From the Bottom up, Dayna Kurtz
Hot’Lanta, NRG w/ Nicole Hart
She Makes me Want to Sing, Jerry Douglas/Derek Trucks
Swiing Blues #1, Jerry Douglas/John Fogerty
Two Trains Runnin’, James Cotton
Creeper Returns, Mark Hummel
I only Have One Love, Phantom Blues Band w/Taj
Watch Me Fly, Reuben Wilson
Butter for Yo’ Popcorn, the New Mastersounds
Tarzan, Cadillac Jones
All Good Children, John Popper Project/DJ Logic
Soul Kissing, DJ Logic
Musicology, Prince
Message in a Bottle, Matisyahu
Lively up Yourself, Charlie Hunter Quartet
the good, the bad, the ugly, the Dillingers
theme to the Magnificent Seven, the Dillengers
Do your Thing, Papa Mali
Ain’t that Right, G-Love
Missing my Baby, G-Love

***CONVERSATION WITH G–LOVE***

I’m Tore Down, John Hammond/G-Love
Eyes Behind Your Head, John Hammond
Celebrate Your Youth, Keller Williams & Friends
Cadillac, Keller Williams/Bob Weir
Black Water, JJ Grey & Mofro
Soulshine, Gov’t Mule (live)
Happy Hour, Whiskey & Co.
A Drink for you, Whiskey & Co.
All Cause of you, the 88
Tabara, Vieux Farka Toure/Ali Farka Toure

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Putumayo: A New Groove

…This album carries a universal appeal, sound space that allows you/invites you to join in. The flavor is ripe togetherness, a club where open minds do meet. For a moment, you find yourself enriched deeply in the soul of a cosmopolitan scene that transcends fame and fortune into sounds and rhythms all people relate to. This collection of innovative listeners turned creators provides a robust an technologically superior super record needle that is secure in A NEW GROOVE….

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(review submitted to Putumayo by: MISTERG)

You all Remember Skeebo Knight…

friend of the greenarrowradio program and one heck of a drummer, Mr. Skeebo Knight is featured in todays set. Check out our conversation and listen to his grooves.

Rock me Amadeus, Mariposa
Stuyane/Male-Le, Transglobal Underground w/Trio Bulgarko
Kara Kum, Banco de Gaia
Connection, Brewed by Noon
Sangare, Vieux Farka Toure
Ernie, Fat Freddys Drop
Rainbow, G-Love
Food in the Belly, Xavier Rudd
Mana, Xavier Rudd
I’m Tore Down, John Hammond/G-Love
Vishnu Dub, Club d’Elf
Straight Healing Song, Gerald Primeaux Sr.
Beauty, Wax Poetic
La Temperatura, Ozomatli
Unrock, Gabriel Rios
Crabbuckit, K-Os
the Chamber, Neil Schon
Neighbor Neighbor, Gregg Allman

***CONVERSATION WITH SKEEBO KNIGHT***

I like’s That< Skeebo Knight
Richard’s Amazing Riding Mower, Skeebo Knight
Dana’s Lick, Ripplegroove
Interplanetary Love Song, Chris Spies
42, Krita Yuga
Black Flames, Chick Corea
Innocence Lost, the Jamie McLean Band

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