Latest Project By Jay Blakesberg

“Eyes of the World: Grateful Dead Photography 1965 – 1995” is a fine art, hardcover coffee table photography book that brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive collection of photographs from a wide range of photographers whose work has captured the Grateful Dead at different times throughout their career. Co-Edited by former Relix editor-in-chief Josh Baron and famed rock photographer Jay Blakesberg, “Eyes of the World” was released on October 23, 2017 via Rock Out Books. Photographers featured in Eyes of the World include such legendary names as Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, David Gahr, Mark Seliger, Herb Greene, William Coupon, Michael O’Neill, Adrian Boot, Michael Putland, Peter Simon, Baron Wolman and, of course, Jay Blakesberg. Included in the collection are iconic images, lesser known photos, and never-seen before seen images – each of them a singular perspective of a poignant moment that together help tell the Grateful Dead’s epic tale through large, bold imagery.

Jay and I played a little catch up since last time we spoke. We got into how this book came to be, the process of picking and choosing moments that represent each time time period/era of the band as well as a few interesting morsels of coolness discovered while researching and pieces the whole project toGether. Take a listen to find out the why and what the image chosen for the cover represents to Jay and Josh and which image even Phil Lesh said” “I’d Never Seen That Before”.

Reflections of the Colors We’re Made Of

I like all the colors to be represented in my sets:

Betrayed- Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson (live)
It’ Ain’t Gonna be a Good Night- Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
Step By Step- Jim Byrnes
Ninety Nine and a Half (Won’t do)- Jim Byrnes

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Mailbox Money- Downchild Blues Band
Tell The Truth- Lance Lopez (live)
Shake it baby- Uncle Nephew
Big Boat- Mark PORKCHOP Holder

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Momma Sang- Marcus Randolph My Peeples Peeple Ft. Sylvia Randolph
Truth Be Told- Kings & Associates
Cherry Street- The Original Blues Brothers Band
Them Changes- Chris Daniels & The Kings Ft. Freddi Gowdy
Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)- The Isley Brothers & Santana

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School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)- Hard Working Americans
Breathless Pt.1- The Ed Palermo Big Band
Kiddie Boy- The Ed Palermo Big Band
Hey Pockey A Way- Col. Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express (live)

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It Ain’t No Use- Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders (live 8/11/1973, Keystone Berkeley)
***Pre-recorded Interview with Jay Blakesberg***
Mystery Train- Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders (live 8/11/1973, Keystone Berkeley)
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Hound Dog- Dee Dee Bridgewater
Doc- Pigeons Play Ping Pong

Funk Out Cancer

On Saturday, November 4th, The Majestic Theater will be the spot to “FUNK OUT CANCER” with Phat Phunktion and Mama Digdown’s Brass Band. This concert and silent auction is being held in memory of Kate Gates Falaschi, to help raise awareness and assistance to end the battle for all with this monster. Each year the event happens, I get toGether with Kate’s husband and local Madison musician Al Falaschi (saxophones & vocals in Phat Phunktion) to help spread the word. This year we got another chance to remind folks of the importance of the research that’s ongoing, including a real wild story about one of Kate’s doctors….this is one of these stories you just couldn’t make up. Al also opened up a little about what, after 8 years, is something he really misses about Kate. We discussed the wild times the music will provide and the uniqueness of the shared moments for those in attendance. He rolled off a few names of special guests, including Mr. Jimmy Voegeli of The Jimmys hammering the funk out of it on the B3, as well as special tributes that will be complete one offs specifically for this event.

Al also shared with us some musical endeavors and happening that have been going on in his wide world of playing out. From the Phat Phunktion’s horns section knocking out the National Anthem at the sold out UW Women’s Volleyball match versus Nebraska, to the what’s ups of Steely Dane, it is always good to catch up with local family. Check out the above conversation and the website to see how you can become involved in this event and while this disease touches us all, that just might mean there’s more of us to help end the battles.

One World Radio Tribute

Into the space…fill the place…..thank you, brother.

Song of Beginnings- Chandrika Tandon
Song of the Worldly Dance- Chandrika Tandon
Spring- Ravi Shankar
Sweet Caroline- Katayoun Goudarzi, Shujaat Khan, Kevin Hays, & Tim Ries
Tu Kaun Hai- Subhi
Hum Hain Kahan- Subhi
Ranaji- Barmer Boys
Bole to (Awaara Remix)- Barmer Boys
Tampani- Noaccordian
Upa Neguino- Astrid Kuljanic Transatlantic Exploration Company
Aganyu Suite (Igbodu)- Michael Spiro & Joe Galvin
Oya Suite (Garabato)- Michael Spiro & Joe Galvin
Aganyu Suite (Bata Seco)- Michael Spiro & Joe Galvin
Haddii Hoobalki Gabay- Hibo Nuura
Ninkaan Ogayn – Gacaltooyo Band Ft. Faduumina Hilowle
Qays iyo Layla- Sharero Band Ft. Faadumo Qaasim
Kene Bo- Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet
Garaba Mama- Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet

Backyard Blues

The second portion of the proGram was left out too long:

All That’s Good- Kings & Associates
63 Hog Drive- Marcus Randolph My Peeples Peeple
Blues in my Feet- The Original Blues Brothers Band
Soothe Me Baby- Chris Daniels & The Kings Ft. Freddi Gowdy

~
I Just Want to Make Love to You- The Isley Brothers & Santana
I Can See- Blind Boys of Alabama
Stay- Boys II Men
Don’t be Cruel- Dee Dee Bridgewater

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Dad, Turn It Up Interlude- Kermit Ruffins & Irvin Mayfield Ft. Irvin Mayfield III
Don’t Worry Be Happy Ft. Jason Marsalis/Cyril Neville/Haley Reinhart/Glen David Andrews- Kermit Ruffins & Irvin Mayfield
Trumpet Bounce- Kermit Ruffins & Irvin Mayfield
Paper in My Shoe- Boozoo Chavis
Boss Cajun- Shorty LeBlanc
Sugar Bee- Cleveland Crochet & Jay Stutes
Happy- Bonerama

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Love Somebody- The Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown Ft. Laura Reed
Intro- The Allergies
Entitled to That- The Allergies
Penny The Snitch- Ikebe Shakedown

Alabama Sue- Roy Gaines
Stainless Steel Shuffle- B3 (live)

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Secrets of the Senzae- Thunder Body
Neon Sign- The Reis Brothers
What a Shame- Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos
Wititj (Lightning Snake), Pt. 1- Nai Palm Ft. Jason Guwanbal Gurruwiwi
Wititj (Lightning Snake), Pt. 2- Nai Palm Ft. Jason Guwanbal Gurruwiwi

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Evolution- Menagerie (feat. Fallon Williams)
Transference- E1sbar

High Knee Pedal

The first portion of today’s proGram had the hiGhknee blues and grOOves:

See What Love Did to me- Yusef
The Shape I’m In- Jim Byrnes
Like a Stone- Mapache
Blue Marble- Mapache

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Out of My League- The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men
greenarrowradio promo- Val Starr
Fear is Like a Forrest- Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
Script- Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
Why Can’t I Be Good- Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson (live)
Tracks of My Tears- Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson (live)

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Alone in Austn- Twin Brother
Zombie- Langhorne Slim
Opus II- Fifty Foot Hose
God Bless The Child- Fifty Foot Hose
This Strange Effect- The Shacks

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Twist it Shake it Rock and Roll- Trudy and the Romance
Glass Teeth- Living Colour
Stomp Holler- Hard Working Americans (live)
Run a Mile- Hard Working Americans (live)
Ain’t Nothing You Can do- Col. Bruce Hampton & the Madrid Express (live)

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Blues is My Business- Little Steven
***excerpt of a 2006 conversation with Little Steven***
I Been Up All Night- Albert Castiglia
Call of The Freaks- Duke Robillard
Was That The Human Thing to do- Duke Robillard w/Maria Muldaur

Inti-Illimani’s Jorge Coulon

Inti-Illimani is the modern face of the Chilean Nueva Canción movement, a modern world music genre that celebrates a renewal of Latin American folk music in response to the dominance of American and European influence in Latin America during the 1970s and 1980s. After over forty albums, the group is celebrating fifty years of exploring human rights, imperialism, democracy and the Latin American identity through traditional Chilean folk music with an edgy twist. Inti-Illimani was formed by students at Universidad Técnica del Estado at Santiago, Chile in 1967 and became popular in Chile for their song “Venceremos (We shall win!)” which became the anthem of the Popular Unity government of Salvador Allende . In 1973 as they were on tour abroad, General Augusto Pinochet launched a coup d’etat and took power. Having heard of the numerous extra-judicial killings of many fellow artists by Chile’s army, they took up residence in Italy, resulting in “the longest tour in history” as they remained in exile while continuing their efforts supporting Chilean democracy. In September 1988, days after they were no longer banned from Chile, they returned and started touring in the country again. They helped organize the voting down of the referendum that would have re-elected Pinochet.

I had the honor to talk with Mr. Jorge Coulon again recently to promote the Sunday, October 22nd event here in Madison at the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Shannon Hall. We talked about what someone new to the group could expect as well as spending time discussing the latest release, “El Cantos de Todos”, a celebration of the musical traditions and songs of Violeta Parra. Mr. Coulon and I talk about the process of taking these historically important songs and giving them a slightly more modern touch/feel. We talked a little about how it feels to land in the USA of today and I would have been remiss not to bring up a least one of the humanitarian efforts this dynamic group has made a difference in the world by getting involved with. Find out what Mr. Coulon has to say about these things by clicking play above.

Tree or For

The second portion of this week’s proGram had the liGhtning strike more than once:

Alap- Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition
Rasikpriya- Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition

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Anywhere and Everywhere People- Matt Wilson
Soup- Matt Wilson

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Ghost Guest 1979- Jared Sims
Take Me With U- Charles Owens Quartet
The Lucifer Rebellion (edit)- Cameron Graves
The Solemn Z-Men Credo- The Ed Palermo Big Band
Yer Fast- The Ed Palermo Big Band
Big Swifty- The Ed Palermo Big Band

~~~
El Cando De Todos- Inti Illimani
***Pre-Recorded Conversation with Mr. Jorge Coulon of Inti-Illimani***
Arriba Quemando el Sol- Inti Illimani
Miren Como Sonrien- Inti Illimani

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Bananeira- Bebel Gilberto (live at The Belly Up)
Matter of Time- Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

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Bang Boogie- Tricky Ft. Smoky Mo
Work My Mind- Cut Chemist Ft. Chali 2na & Hymnal
Intro- Ancient Astronauts & Azeem
Bruce Williz- Ancient Astronauts & Azeem
In Bronze- E1sbar

What’s The Worth

The first portion of this week’s proGram questions the value of the others:

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheeba- Christina Pluhar
Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra: VII. Waltz No. 2 (Arr. M. Haimovitz & C. O’Riley for Cello & Piano)- Matt Haimovitz & Christopher O’Riley
Strange Thought- Adam Rudolph

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Music Box- The Kadinskey Effect
Re Jungle- The Kadinskey Effect
We Make Our Own Holidays- The Kadinskey Effect

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Helitone 2b- The Heliosonic Tone-Tett
Heliotone 5b- The Heliosonic Tone-Tett

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Moe Is On- Joshua Breakstone
Freddie Freeloader- Dick Fregulia Trio
Overture- Dave Kline Band
Rockin’ in the Cape- Dave Kline Band

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Propensity- Rez Annasi Ft. Vijay Iyer/Rudresh Mahanthappa/Johannes Weidenmueller/Dan Weiss & Elizabeth Mikhael
Cantina Band- Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda (live)
You’ve Got To Have Freedomm- Bob Ferrel’s Jazztopian Dream Ft. Dwight West
Epistrophy- Mark Zaleski Band

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Sophisticated Lady- Bill Charlap Trio
Having an Average Weekend (Theme From “Kids in the Hall)- Joe Policastro Trio
Nardis- Dave Askren & Jeff Benedict
New Orleanian Love Song II (X. aTunde Adjuah Remix)- Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

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Papiosco’s Match- Hilario Duran Ft.Jorge Luis “Papiosco” Torres
***Pre-Recorded Conversation with Mr. Hilario Duran***
Segundo Encuentro- Hilario Duran
Contumbao- Hilario Duran

Contumbao by Hilario Duran

Hilario Duran makes a triumphant musical homecoming on his new album, “Contumbao” (released on ALMA Records on September 23, 2017). Internationally recognized as a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader of the highest order, the Cuban-Canadian Duran has been based in Toronto for the past two decades, but his musical heart and soul have remained closely connected to the land of his birth. With “Contumbao”, Mr. Duran has created another compelling entry in a rich and rewarding discography. His earlier albums have earned him three Juno Awards (Canadian music’s most prestigious award) and a Grammy nomination (for 2006’s From the Heart, by Hilario Duran’s Latin Big Band, featuring Paquito D’Rivera and Horacio Hernandez). His playing has also been featured on many other award-winning albums.

I spoke with Mr. Duran about how he was able to take the idea of going back to Cuba to create not only a record, but a family album or sorts. How he walked down the same streets in the now of his life and how that inspired the stories and memories of his Life. We talked about working with the master, Mr. Chucho Valdés on portions of this new record and how as a young man, Mr. Duran used to copy many of Mr. Valdés’ solos with an unmatched respect and a source of inspiration. We discussed the track entitled “Parque 527”, the address from which Mr. Duran spent many years growing up, and the significance of the time spent there on him as a player, but also as a man. We both agreed that the goal of this album was to try and reach out to a wider base of listener-ship, this album has many layers that leave the sophistication of jazz music at home sometimes and goes off into a more dance-able groove, so not only can this record captivate the mind, but also the dancing feet of its listeners. Towards the end of the chat, I found it very interesting to hear Mr. Duran’s response to my question about having a “special place” to go and either create, seek inspiration or just be with yourself.

Water Spiral String Along

The second portion of the proGram had Warren spice it up a little as well as the thread that spins…gets spun:

Birds Without a Feather- North Mississippi Allstars
Mad at The World- Marcus Randolph My Peeples Peeple

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Basically Frightened- Col. Brice Hampton & The Madrid Express (live)
Love Like Kerosene- Gregg Allman
Stone Cold Rage- Gov’t Mule

***Pre-recorded Conversation with Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule***
Revolution Come, Revolution Go- Gov’t Mule
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Itch & Scratch- The Original Blues Brothers Band
greenarrowradio promo- Chris Daniels & The Kings
Baby’s in Love With the Radio- Chris Daniels & The Kings with Freddi Gowdy
WMFP- Gridline

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Can’t Stand the Rain- Dee Dee Bridgewater
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Live on- The Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY
My God has a Telephone- The Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY
Brian Wilson- Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos
Allergic Interlude- The Allergies
Get Down on You- The Allergies
Blue Giant- Ikebe Shakedown

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Puerto Ricans in America- Rene Lopez
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No I Won’t- Andrew Hung
Pigs in The River- ReTROS

Valuables And More

The first portion of the proGram wants to unlock the room of all these goodies:

Blackness of The Night- Yusef
Hit and Run Love- Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
Was I Ever There?- Jason Crosby

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Legendary Hearts- Lou Reed & Kris Kristofferson (live)
Is This What You Wanted- Elvis Perkins (live)
Memories- Ian O’Neil (live)

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Rockaway Beach- Motörhead
Dispatch from Mar A Lago- L7
I Wanna Dance- EERA
Who’s That?- Living Colour

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Stay Ready- Gizmodrome
Three Friends- Gentle Giant (Steven Wilson Remix)
Mister Class and Quality- Gentle Giant (Steven Wilson Remix)

American Girl- The Dollyrots
Good For You- The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men
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Charlie B- Kings & Associates
Knocking at Your Door- The Goddess Lakshmi (live at the Harlem Flophouse)
Wrong Question- Lara & The Bluz Dawgz
Knocked DOwn Loaded- Albert Castiglia
Touch- Al Corte’

Warren & The Mule in Madison

On Friday October 13th at 8pm, we in Madison will once again be treated to the sounds of Gov’t Mule as they head to The Orpheum Theater in support of their latest release “Revolution Come…Revolution Go”. For me it is hard to imagine people not knowing of this powerhouse of a group, they have been a staple in my ears and on my shows for years, and I am proud to be a part of the family circle. But just in case, for those who may not be aware, I got together with Warren Haynes to discuss what to expect from the show.

Not only did we take a brief walk through the history of the band, but we painted a quick picture of what new blood to the scene can expect to be a part of. We dove into the new release and discussed the process behind their 10th studio album after 20 years as an evolving entity. We dissected a couple of tracks, the title tune “Revolution Come…Revolution Go” and how it grew and transformed into its final state and how it was almost divided into separate tunes. We got into “Stone Cold Rage” and how if this song does its job, people will understand d the message of the lyrics and the pace and intentness of the music as it fits into the climate of a country poised to become divided. Both Derek Trucks and Yonrico Scott talked to me of the influences of specific “Sages” in their lives, such as Col. Bruce Hampton, and Warren and I got into the importance of remembering where the music originated from with those who played before, and how surrounding one’s self with the right people can inspire the inspiration.
Now, I have been listening to this band since the very first show, which I still have the stub from and Warren and I actually shared in a unique remembrance of the venue and it’s potential wrong way doors. Take a listen, have a laugh and if it fits your space, check them out when they are in town near you.

Watch Out For That

The second portion of the proGram had a bunch of things I think you’d need to watch for:

Further Out- Gridline
Blak Out- Living Colour
Jumpin’ Jack Flash- Motörhead
The Counteroffensive- Prophets of Rage
Fired a Shot- Prophets of Rage
You Know Who We Are (Uprooted Funk)- Gogol Bordello

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A Little Taste of Soul- Martha High
Break Free (Shake a Tailfeather)- Nicole Willis & UMO Jazz Orchestra
Five For Five- Ikebe Shakedown
Funky Feeling- The Allergies
Hot Like Fire- Bonerama
World Gone Crazy (Smoove Remix)- The Haggis Horns ft. Lucinda Slim

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Rambeau- Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band
Beehive- Chicago Afrobeat Project with Tony Allen Ft. Akenya Seymour & Isaiah Oby
Mankuntu- Baraka Moon
Wind Horse- Baraka Moon

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Sahara- Songhoy Blues (feat. Iggy Pop)
***Pre-recorded Conversation with Aliou Touré of Songhoy Blues***
Bamako- Songhoy Blues
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Perfect Harmony- The Simpkin Project
Supernatural Hotline- Dub Gabriel ft. Addis Pablo
Momentary Light- The Ellameno Beat
Grow On- The Ellameno Beat
Everybody Knows- The Black Seeds