Intermedia Arts & Desdamona

As a mid-sized arts organization, Intermedia Arts relies on foundations and funders for their general operating support—foundations and funders who have lost enormous amounts of their assets in our current economic crisis. Intermedia Arts is in crisis. More importantly, small and mid-sized arts organizations all around us are in crisis. But here’s the thing—crisis does not equal failure, and crisis does not mean collapse. It is our response to this crisis that will determine our future. Friend of the show and fellow mid-westerner, Desdamona and I discuss the impact this organization has had in her life and the inspiration and support they lend to so many exploring artists. While this particular art organization is housed in Minneapolis, the story is one that might just be a shared experience for many who care about a valued resource….for more on that check Dez’ blog. We did take a moment to discuss the scene that makes Desdamona such a cool artist, her workshops and tours and collaboration with Carnage as Ill Chemistry, and what new ideas they are putting down in the studio.

Check out my conversation with Desdamona right here.

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RIP…Freddie Hubbard

Freddie Hubbard, the Grammy-winning jazz musician whose style influenced a generation of trumpet players and who collaborated with such greats as Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, died Monday, a month after suffering a heart attack. He was 70. A towering figure in jazz circles, Hubbard played on hundreds of recordings in a career dating to 1958, the year he arrived in New York from his hometown Indianapolis, where he had studied at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music and with the Indianapolis Symphony. In his earliest recordings, which included “Open Sesame” and “Goin’ Up” for Blue Note in 1960, the influence of Miles Davis on Hubbard is obvious. But within a couple years he would develop a style all his own, one that would influence generations of musicians, including Wynton Marsalis. “He influenced all the trumpet players that came after him,” Marsalis told The Associated Press earlier this year. “Certainly I listened to him a lot. … We all listened to him. He has a big sound and a great sense of rhythm and time and really the hallmark of his playing is an exuberance. His playing is exuberant.” Hubbard played on more than 300 recordings, including his own albums and those of scores of other artists. He won his Grammy in 1972 for best jazz performance by a group for the album “First Light.” As a young musician, Hubbard became revered among his peers for a fiery, blazing style that allowed him to hit notes higher and faster than just about anyone else with a horn. As age and infirmity began to slow that style, he switched to a softer, melodic style and played a flugelhorn. His fellow musicians were still impressed….and that never seemed to stop.

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Microscopic Septet:Lobster Leaps In

The Microscopic Septet has put out a new release on Cuneiform Records entitled Lobster Leaps In. The album has eleven previously unrecorded songs that certainly must have put smiles on the faces in the audiences during the Micros’ first dozen year run (1980-1992) on NYC’s club stages. Think about the line up….Four Saxes plus rhythm section ensemble, swinging out some danceable and witty tunes from free form to rumbas and ragtime.

Check out my previous conversation with founding member of the Microscopic Septet, Mr Phillip Johnston here.

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2008 Cuneiform

the moan in the fog

Throwin’ Stones- Bob Weir
An American Family- David Gans
Dock Ellis’ No No- Chuck Brodsky
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Ain’t no Sunshine- Buddy Guy w/Tracy Chapman
She just Wants to Dance- Keb Mo
Dreams- Jimmy Hall/Henry Paul/Bo Bice
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Social Disease- Jaik Miller Band
Crazy- Fort Pastor
Working Sunday- Dorado
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What’s Going On- Los Lobos (live)
I just want to make love to you- Lou Rawls
My Babe- Lou Rawls
Ladies Man- Keith Kilgo
Scratch my Back- Taj Mahal
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Long Way to go- Elliott Sharp’s Terraplane
Coffee- Papa Mali
True Religion- Papa Mali
Going to the River- Robbie Robertson w/Galactic (live)
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2nd Line Medley:- Irma Thomas (live)
>I Done got over
>Iko
>Hey Pockey Way

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Supergirl’s Complaint- Bourbon Princess
Cure for Pain- Morphine
Shake Hands with Beef- Primus
Fool- Andy Levin & Holly Palmer
Video Nasty- Lisa Loeb & Steve Reynolds
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Strange Universe- Moon Boot Posse
One World Not Three- the Wailing Souls
No Compromise-Burning Spear feat. Bernie Worrel
Having a Party- Lee SCRATCH Perry
Revolution- Doug Wimbish
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Scrumpt- Doug Johns
Ready to Ride- the Bomb Squad
Miller Time: Victor Wooten feat. Marcus Miller(live)
>Panther
>Teen Town

Burning down the House- Marcus Miller (live)
Davis (in Memory)- Out to Lunch
Back in the Day- Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom
Move your Body- Dayton Flic
Here is Love- Ralph Myerz & Jack Harren Band
Creation- El Michels Affair
Behind the Blue Curtain- El Michels Affair
Venezula La- Emil Richards
Magic Fever- Magic Circle Express
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Chove Chuva- Ulisses Rocha
the Bender- Tuatara
Haitian Fight Song- David Byrne
Bury me Standing- Mad Juana
What’s he Building- Tom Waits
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Golden Age- TV on the Radio
Gambler- Beyondo
Lazy Eyes- Chow Nasty
Gotta Jibboo- Phish
Home Again- the Disco Biscuits
Sugar Free Jazz (Molasses Dub)- Soul Coughing
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Muchas Gracias- MMW
Bruce Lee- Skeebo Knight
Funky Miracle- the New Mastersounds (live)
You got it all- the New Mastersounds (live)
What’s Happening Brother- Dirty Dozen Brass w/Betty LaVette
Stuck to you- Nikka Costa
Let the Music get Down in your Soul-Marc Broussard
Yes we Can can- Marc Broussard
On Fire- JJ Grey & Mofro
I Like- Greyhounds
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Voice of a Pork Chop- Jas Mathus & Knockdown South
Hell or High Water-Hundred Year Flood w/Taj Mahal
Down in the Flood- the Derek Trucks Band
Troublesome- Rustic Overtones
Cherry Tree- Jamie McLean
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Diamond Dogs- Beck
Among your Pillows- Frogwings feat. John Popper (live)
Corrina- the Other Ones (live)

RIP Dock Ellis-HOW???

Dock Ellis was a fierce ballplayer, you can just read the stories…but this one is just too much: No-hitting the San Diego Padres on June 12, 1970 despite being, as he would claim in 1984, under the influence of LSD throughout the course of the game. Ellis had been visiting friends in Los Angeles under the impression he had the day off and was still high when his girlfriend told him he had to pitch a game against the Padres that night. Ellis boarded a shuttle flight to the ballpark and threw a no-hitter despite not being able to feel the ball or clearly see the batter or catcher. Ellis claims catcher Jerry May wore reflective tape on his fingers which helped Ellis to see his target. Ellis walked eight, struck out six, and was aided by excellent fielding plays by second baseman Bill Mazeroski and center fielder Matty Alou. During the game, Ellis is reported to have commented to his teammates on the bench between innings that he was pitching a no-hitter, despite the superstition that discourages mentioning a no-hitter while it is in progress. Because the no-hitter was the first game of a double header, Ellis was forced to keep track of the pitch count for the night game. There is out there a song about this fantastic event, let me know when you find it.

Tinariwen-Assawt N’chet Tamashek

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Tinariwen’s first live concert dvd will be available on World Village this January 2009. Entitled Live in London, the dvd is of Tinariwen’s performance at Shepherds Bush Empire in Dec 2008, recorded by Phoenix Film and TV Productions. Live in London includes special features such as a documentary on the band, interviews with founder Ibrahim Abaraybone and producer Justin Adams, and even a how-to guide for making “shesh” headgear. Some live tracks in the hour-long concert portion are “Matadjem Yinmixan,” “Amassakoul ‘n’ Tenere” and “Cler Achel”. A sneak-peek video is available here:

Tinariwen – Assawt N’chet Tamashek (from Live DVD)

Bee MP3—-some buzz.

I don’t often use it to play music on my show, but I certainly do use it as a resource to seek and share. Beemp3 has certainly BEEn a useful tool and I thought the time was now to share the honey.

BeeMP3 is a music search engine for locating an mp3-audio files over the Internet. They don’t host any files, their crawler searches through the Net and indexes all the brand new and popular songs for individuals comfortable and fast search. Today Beemp3 has 800 000 mp3 files in their search database and approximately 10,000 files are added daily.

Slick Steering Slide

Reefer Man- Cab Calloway
Killing Jive- Cat’s & the Fiddle
Submit Weed- SNL Chevy Chase
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Rock Candy-the Fabulous T Birds
Rough Justice- the Rolling Stones
Rain Fall Down- the Rolling Stones
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Lay Lady Lay-Guy/Hamilton/Randolph
You met your Match- Marc Broussard
Mambo Jambo- Davis Coen
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Tappin’ that Thing- Jas Mathus & Knockdown South
Mr Coolberg- David Grisman Quintet
Bell Islands- Duane Andrews
A Cowboy in Brazil- Nation Beat
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Your Dough Part 2- Babaloo
First Flight- Panchito
Minha Magia- Panchito
Monte Adentro- Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban
Mambo Sinuendo- Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban
El Fino- Grupo Los Yoyi
the Contender- Menahan Street Band
La La- Liquid Soul
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Tipitina- Dr John (live)
Swamp Gas- Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
I am the Cool- Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Big Chief- Neville Brothers (live)
I get Lifted- Theryl deClovet w/Galactic (live)
Love Worth Having- Andrew Black & the Naturals
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I’m a Worried Man- Willie Nelson & Toots Hibbert
Lively up Yourself- Charlie Hunter Quartet
All Night- Damian & Stephen Marley
Mary Collie Weed-Inner Circle & Slightly Stoopid
Into This- Moon Boot Posse
Shaft- Dread Zeppelin
Jungle Boogie- Dread Zeppelin
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Hikky Burr- Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby
It’s Your Thing- Lou Donaldson
Spinnin’ Wheel- Lonnie Smith
Slick Willie- Reuben Wilson
Hippest March- Clyde Stubblefield
Groovin’ With Miguel- Skeebo Knight
Buttered Popcorn- Boston Horns w/Melvin Sparks
No war for oil- Sam Kininger
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Party- Beyondo
Gettin’ Funky- Dumpstaphunk (live)
Grits- SMV
Joytime Radio- Pimps of Joytime
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Sun of Tut- Dr Didg
Retro Rockets- Dr Didg
Pool of Honey- Global Noize
Spin Cycle- Global Noize
2 Turntables & a Slide Trombone- DJ MAdsen
Spreadin’ Rhythm Around-LadyBUG vs Lady Day RR REMIX
Trav’lin’ all Alone- Nickodemus & Zeb Remix
Refracted Light- Desdamona
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**Conversatioin with Mister Rourke**
Chapter 7- Mister Rourke
>Evil Genius
>Midnight Resurrection
>Universe & Beyond
>Slow Decay of the Mind
Won’t go Away- Bernie Worrell
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the Crunge- Joshus Redman & the Elastic Band
Scarlet Begonias- Jazz is Dead
Airegin- Wes Montgomery
Cold Snap- Soul Summit (live)
Down in the Flood- the Derek trucks Band
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Santa’s Blues- Charles Brown
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-Ray Charles
Santa’s Pissed off-Andy Dick & the Bitches of the Century

One man listens…

As I am setting to prepare for the top albums of 2008 as heard by my ears, I often think about making a more memorable list-one that takes albums that I might not play on the program but still love dearly and encompassing them into a directory of sorts with some explanation on why these might be my choices of things I might share with you before it’s too late. For the last three and a half years, award-winning music journalist Tom Moon has been searching out peak musical experiences from all genres and every corner of the earth. 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die, published by Workman Publishing in August 2008, is the result of his journey. Covering both acknowledged world-culture masterworks (J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations) and recordings that have been unfairly overlooked (Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left), the book is designed to encourage listeners to become explorers. It is alway obvious that when compiling a list like this, things get pushed to the side or overlooked as there is so much to deal with….Check out Tom’s site and look into the list he has developed…there are some albums here I am thankful to be reminded about and some I am happy to have been directed towards in search of exploration.

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I recall so many good times hanging with “laughing Boy” and Taj’s Natch’l Bues

a Jazz & Blues Christmas

Putumayo delivers a package of soulful jazz and blues to liven up the holiday season. “A Jazz & Blues Christmas” offers a memorable array of classic holiday songs by jazz and blues legends known to many and perhaps some lesser-known artists to some. B.B. King opens the album with “Christmas Celebration,” a rollicking, up-tempo tune cheerfully punctuated with bursts of brass from an energetic horn section. Ray Charles tells the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to a soulful beat. Ramsey Lewis plays “Here Comes Santa Claus,” simulating the ring of sleigh bells on the upper registers of his keyboard. And, young Canadian chanteuse Emilie-Claire Barlow offers a new take on the old holiday favorite “Santa Baby.” While I am not known to celebrate such events, this album is certainly worth checking out for the sounds that I would prefer to hear splattered on my radio during this season….’Tis the season for soulful stocking stuffers….
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Sundazed

Ahhh open schedule..a chance to make the most of my (un)free time.

Hey Hey Now- Chris Huff
If you gotta go- the Shams
Natural’s Not in it- Gang of Four
Yalla Yalla- Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
Blue Eyed Devil- Soul Coughing
Happy Together- the Passive Aggressives
Happy Hour- Whiskey & Co
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the Horizon has been Defeated- Jack Johnson
Unified- G Love & Special Sauce
Orange Blossoms- JJ Grey & Mofro
On Fire- JJ Grey & Mofro
VooDoo Cadillac- Lipbone Redding
Baby let me Hold your Hand- Davis Coen
I can Make you Happy-Taj Mahal & N.O. Social Club
Diddy Wah Diddy- Taj Mahal & Phantom Blues Band
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Evolved- Sam Kininger
Crosstown Traffic- Boston Horns (live)
Gemini- the Bomb Squad
Kashmir- the Josh Roseman Unit
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Fubractive C- Burnt Sugar
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the Simpsons-Joe Deninson & Stratospheerius (live)
Hindi Gumbo- Garaj Mahal
Rockin’ Shoes- Doug Wimbish
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Gary’s Song- Alice SMith
Centre of Nowhere- LadyBUG Mecca
Along came Mr Nobody- Ursula 1000
Tres Tres Chic- Mocean Worker
Tito’s Way- the Juan McLean
Gosalo- Pimps of Joytime
Distance- Karsh Kale(Capt Grooves Trinity Plaza Mix)
Medicine- Rara Avis

Ear Nibble

Daddy’s in the Doldrums- the Secret Machines
Long Hair- Little Barrie
All Cause of you- the 88
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San Francisco- Brett Dennen
Down by the River Side-Blind Boys of Alabama/Preservation Hall Jazz/A Toussaint
Check Mr Popeye- Eddie Bo
Barking up the Wrong Tree-Michelle Wilson & Evil Gal Festival Orch
Don’t let Nobody..,Bibb/Block/Muldaur
Smell the Funk- Buddy Guy
VooDoo Chile-A.Kidjo/B Guy/V Reid
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Porchswing- Bourbon Princess
Mambo Banjo- Alison Brown
Samba Caramba- Mattias IA Eklundh
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Lima- Codetalker w/Col Bruce Hampton
Gabe’s New Joint- Antibalas
Tambo lya- Ricardo Eddy Martinez
Make the Road by Walking- Menahan Street Band
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Sweat Leaf- Galactic (live)
Man of Mystery- James Taylor Quartet
Check it out- James Taylor Quartet
Daddys Gonna Tell you no Lie- Josh Roseman Unit
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Liberty- Ben Senterfit
Love Work & Money- Josh Charles
Bounce- Melvin Sparks
All Day All Night- Melvin Sparks
Moses Poses Private Eye- Bad Apple
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She Do- Pimps of Joytime
San Francisco Bound- Pimps of Joytime
I wish I could be Beautiful- Rithma
Music is a Medicine- BLVD
Battle of the Righteous Man-Dub Gabriel w/Dr Isreal
Bred Atay- Kasbah Rocks w/Bill Laswell
Behind the Mask- Eccodek
Koi Bole Ram Ram- Cheb i Sabbah
By Your Side- Sade (Cottonbelly remix)

NPR Layoffs

Confronted by an uncertain economy and a sharp decline in current and projected revenues from corporate underwriting, NPR today announced that it will reduce its workforce by 7 percent and cut expenses. The difficult moves come despite NPR reaching near-record audience levels on-air and online, with 26.4 million people listening to NPR programs each week and 8 million people visiting NPR.org each month. A significant number of the personnel cuts result from the upcoming cancellation of two NPR produced programs — Day to Day and News & Notes. Both programs, broadcast on NPR Member stations nationwide, will remain on the air through March 20, 2009. Staff and expense reductions will be made in reporting, editorial and production areas; station services; digital media; research; communications and administrative support. A total of 64 filled positions have been eliminated against NPR’s current staff of 889, 21 open positions will not be filled and travel and discretionary expenses have been cut across the organization. “It’s crucial to realize that these programming changes are being driven by a loss in revenue, not relevance,” said Ellen Weiss, NPR’s Senior Vice President for News. “With near-record audience levels, now more than ever people are relying on NPR to better understand the extraordinary events occurring in the world.”

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original source: Daily Fishbowl DC

A long week to an end

Been a long week or maybe a few long ones in a row…This is a set of music comprised of not a lot of planning but several well thought mixes of old and some Tops of 2008

Canaries in the Mind-Elliott Murphy/Oliver Durand
Gina- Chuck E Weiss
All She Wrote- Ray Davies
Wannamama- Pop Levi
Spend a Little Time- Barry Adamson
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Little by Little- Twinemen
Bad Weather- AKACOD
Mr Moto/Munster’s Theme- the Dilingers
Abbattack Medley- Audioscam
Decline & Fall- Atomic Rooster
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Body in the Lake-Codetalkers with Col Bruce Hampton
Toe Jam- the BPA w/David Byrne
Y No le conviene- Los Van Van
A Ver Que Sale- Juan Formell & Los Van Van
Budos Rising- the Budos Band
the Contender- Menahan Street Band
Going the Distance- Menahan Street Band
Keep on Looking- Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Yes its good for you- Koko Taylor
Wet Match- Etta James
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Transit- Furley
Mercy Mercy Me-Dirty Dozen Brass w/ G Love
Disciples of Funk- Bootsy Collins
Funky Miracle>
Sing a Simple Song>
Rainy Day Woman-Porter/Batiste/Stoltz/McConnell

Twilight Zone- FrEEkBaSS
I saw god- Victor Wooten
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Bursting- Bassnectar with Buckethead
Shine- Doodlebug feat D.O.R.
Lithuania- Rithma

A Change Gonna Come

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings blew the top off of the Barrymore last night. The place was storming with Sister Sharon’s sweet soul and shaking with the grooves laid down by the one and only DAP KINGS. Before the show Sharon and I and some of the gang hung out and chatting about the sounds and the scene—then when the lights came up and the opening act, Menahan Street Band hit the stage with a rhythm and stellar sound that captured the crowd with a musical net that encompassed the entire room. Made up of many members of Sharon’s band, Menahan Street Band has a new album out and is soul exciting that it’s hard to keep from moving. Then the Dap Kings took the stage and introduced the spirit, vibe and direction the night would be heading, a trip down memory lane for some—-a brand new bag for others but regardless this was about to be a night for many to recall. Sharon was in an audience participation frenzy and even grabbed the hand of this G to be a part of the on-stage excitement. What a thrill to be serenaded by the on and only Sharon Jones. Many highlights, too many to write down but hearing the Sam Cooke R & B classic “a change is gonna come”, a duet performed with Mister Charles Bradley was a top notch reward for recent president elect and the citizens of the United States…Bradley also is doing a few numbers with Menahan Street Band as part of the tour as well. There was more than magic in the air on this night which might just have lead up to the hottest show of the year and I look forward to the return of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings to Madison for now on. Thanks Daptone Records for keeping’ the SOUL Excitement alive and well cared for.

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MisterG on stage w/Sharon & the Dap Kings 12/03 Barrymore Theater.

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Sharon making SOUL EXCITEMENT in MADISON

folk music legend Odetta passes

Odetta, the folk singer with the powerful voice who moved audiences and influenced fellow musicians for a half-century, has died. She was 77. In spite of failing health that caused her to use a wheelchair, Odetta performed 60 concerts in the last two years, singing for 90 minutes at a time. Her singing ability never diminished, said her manager of 12 years, Doug Yeager. With her booming, classically trained voice and spare guitar, Odetta gave life to the songs by workingmen and slaves, farmers and miners, housewives and washerwomen, blacks and whites. First coming to prominence in the 1950s, she influenced Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other singers who had roots in the folk music boom. An Odetta record on the turntable, listeners could close their eyes and imagine themselves hearing the sounds of spirituals and blues as they rang out from a weathered back porch or around a long-vanished campfire a century before. Odetta called on her fellow blacks to “take pride in the history of the American Negro” and was active in the civil rights movement. When she sang at the March on Washington in August 1963, “Odetta’s great, full-throated voice carried almost to Capitol Hill,” The New York Times wrote. “I’m not a real folksinger,” she told The Washington Post in 1983. “I don’t mind people calling me that, but I’m a musical historian. I’m a city kid who has admired an area and who got into it. I’ve been fortunate. With folk music, I can do my teaching and preaching, my propagandizing.” Her 1965 album “Odetta Sings Dylan” included such standards as “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Masters of War” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” In a 1978 Playboy interview, Dylan said, “the first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta.” He said he found “just something vital and personal” when he heard an early album of hers in a record store as a teenager. “Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar,” he said.

RIP Miss Odetta