Looking Through The Lights

The middle portion of this week’s proGram saw into and through, but maybe not completely around:

I Need To Get Loving- The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood
Bring It On- Boogie Beasts
Malady- BARK
Guarantee- Joshua Henry

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In Conversation- PM Warson
Swordfish- Radon
Sacrificium Crudelis- Tetrao Urogallus
Right Place, Right Time- Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
The Return of Beaumont Jenkins- Whatitdo Archive Group Ft. Alessandro Alessandroni Jr.

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Naba Aferda- Florence Adooni
Mam Pe’ela Su’ure- Florence Adooni
Set Your Minds and Souls Free- Femi Kuti

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Give Me Love- Jayl Funk & Quincy Jointz Ft. George Perlin
Horizons- Takahiro Izumikawa Ft. Daru Jones

That’s The Look

The first portion of this week’s proGram had a look unseen or unheard:

Blood In The Halls- Charles Ellsworth
Always Alone- Joe Wong
Instrumental- Black Country, New Road
Burning and Burning- Black River Delta

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3D Binch- Heather The Jerk
There’s Nothing You Can’t Do- SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

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To Lash Around- Steady Sun
Now And Then- Triptides
She’s Obsessed With Herself- The Ar-Kaics
What Happens When You Turn the Devil Down- The Mystery Lights
I’ll Be There- Michael Rault

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Easter Island- Ron Gallo
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greenarrowradio promo- Joe Lewis
Can I get With You- Joe Lewis Band
Twang A Doodle Boom Boom- Joe Lewis Band
Outside Cat- Rose Hudson w/Barrelhouse

FREQUENCY EQUILIBRIUM KOAN by MGJ

One of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing, genre-hopping musicians. Michael Gregory Jackson has tread a winding musical path over his 40+ year career, embracing everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich & lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex arrangements & subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction as “Musical Mercury.” He was barely of his teens when he served as co-creator in the Oliver Lake Quartet, one of the most critically acclaimed & far-traveling ensembles working jazz’s outer fringes. Michael’s brilliant technique on electric & acoustic, flavored with quicksilver runs, volume pedal swells and sudden shifts from crystalline melodic to fuzzy dissonance, has been name-checked as a critical-influence, and can be heard deep in the musical DNA of six-string legends like Bill Frisell, Vernon Reid, Pat Metheny, Marc Ribot, Mary Halvorson & others. His journey from the avant-garde to what the industry regarded as a more commercial, song-based sound was thankfully and intriguingly gradual. It gave fans with inquiring taste a ringside seat to an evolution that unfolded subtly over a series of superb albums, ones that continue to be favorites of critics and his fellow musicians. Jackson’s newest release, Frequency Equilibrium Koan, will come out on Golden Records in February 2021. Frequency Equilibrium Koan is a 1977 recording of an extraordinary concert of Michael’s music at Joe Lee Wilson’s New York City venue, The Ladies’ Fort, performed by an extraordinary quartet: Michael Gregory Jackson (guitars & percussion), Julius Hemphill (alto saxophone), Abdul Wadud (cello), Pheeroan aKLaff (drums). Featuring 40 minutes of music and liner notes by Michael and guitarist Bill Frisell, Frequency Equilibrium Koan offers listeners a priceless opportunity to experience a key moment in NYC’s long lost Loft Jazz Scene of the 1970s, with Michael at that scene’s heart.

I had the honor of connecting with Michael Gregory Jackson primarily about this particular release to get deeper into the who and what, the now and then and the journeys between. We talk the scene, the people and the magic of not missing moments. I have been listening to and sharing his music for many years now, and this release makes me feel as close to that NYC Jazz Loft scene as I have ever felt, I believe some of those notes are still ringing thru the streets of the city. Head over to his bandcamp page to get your own taste and see what I mean.

Track and Yield

The final portion of this week’s proGram had the test results we were waiting on:

On The Road- Futari
Human- Shai Maestro Ft. Ofri Nehemya, Jorge Roeder & Phillip Dizack

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Early Rites- Jane Ira Bloom & Mark Helias
**pre-recorded conversation with Jane Ira Bloom**
Traveling Deep- Jane Ira Bloom & Mark Helias
Roughing It- Jane Ira Bloom & Mark Helias

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Just Wrong- Pino Palladino & Blake Mills
Family Trees- Benoît Delbecq
Never Can Say Goodbye- Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger

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Village Blues- The Generations Quartet
Dream On That- Joe Lovano
Sacred Chant- Joe Lovano

The Flipped Tracks

The sandwiched between set of this week’s proGram got the ecclectic tread applied:

The Clock Won’t Tick- Quantic & Eddie Roberts
Ride On Time- The Bamboos
Hole In One- Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

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Meinfajria- Omar Sosa Ft. Dafaala Elhag Ali
Tsiaro Tsara- Omar Sosa Ft. Rajery
Freedom- Yoko Miwa Trio

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Pro Carnaval Voltar- Oran Etkin Ft. The Benjamin Taubkin Quartet
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You Taught My Heart How To Sing- Franco Ambrosetti w/Scofield, Rosnes, Colley
Silli In the Sky- Franco Ambrosetti w/Scofield, Rosnes, Colley

Tracked In

The first part of this week’s proGram had the tracks filled in some there’s no true evidence:

Across America- Todd Mosby
Revival- The Imaginaries
Reno- Janet Simpson

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634-5789- The Wildroots Ft. Victor Wainwright & Patricia Ann Dees
Something in the Water 2020- The Wildroots Ft. Billy Livesay
Where I Am- The Wildroots Ft. Anthony “Packrat” Thompson
My One and Only- Misty Blues
Days Gone By- Misty Blues
Come on Baby (Take Me Dancing)- Joyann Parker

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Tribute To SRV- Ally Venable
Reap What You Sow- Ghalia Volt
Last Minute Packer- Ghalia Volt
I’d Climb Mountains- Selwyn Birchwood

Some Kind Of Tomorrow With Jane Ira Bloom

Soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom and bassist Mark Helias come together to create duets discovered in the moment in a way that is rarely heard today with “Some Kind of Tomorrow”. The long time bandmates, separated by space and time find a way to play in real time with one another and the results are magical. Two master improvisers and composers bring listeners up-close and personal to the first spark of their imaginations at work, recording eleven duet improvisations over the spring, summer, and fall of 2020. The music is raw, authentic, intimate, alive, and unapologetic in its passion. Their sound is deep wood and polished brass recorded with a depth that is hard to describe. They played the music, recorded it, mastered it firsthand and are now making it available to listeners for the first time as a digital download on Bandcamp. Don’t miss these fearless jazz explorers as they face the future.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Jane Ira Bloom about this project. We got into the creation of songs in a way, that up until now had probably not been considered as a way to go about one’s music…but…here we are. We talked about some challenges and the need to do this playing. Versatilityis one of those things I appreciate about Jane, so we touched briefly on the most recnt release she did with M’Lumbo on Ropeadope Records, released back at the end of October, 2020. And of course, as a true sound architect, Jane was able to point to the future a tad with what felt like assurance that there would be a volume 2 AND a new project on the winGs of exploration with a group of female improvisers called “Picturing The Invisible”…ahhh the future looks and sounds good…Listen in above to find out more.

New Strain Blue Strain

The final portion of this week’s proGram had the flow filtering around the globe:

Dupont- WÖR
D’Afnemen- WÖR
Climate March- WÖR

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Shrovetide-Vedan Kolod
Arrow- Vedan Kolod
Takhetle Konem- Juna
Yashel Kuzle- Juna

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Leil- Aziza Brahim
Hamala- The Garifuna Collective
Festa Do Tubarão- Dona Onete
Sam Cook Di- David Walters Ft. Vincent Ségal, Ballaké Sissoko & Roger Raspail

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We Are Strong-Made Kuti
As We Struggle Everyday-Femi Kuti
Hercules- Ghetto Priest

Kept For More

The middle portion of this week’s proGram had a way to escape but decided to go into your ears:

Running from Love (Version 2 With Strings)- Marvin Gaye
Of Things To Come- Tommy Guerrero
By The Sea At The End of the World- Tommy Guerrero
Evolution Revolution- Tommy Guerrero

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Where We Began- Har Mar Superstar
The Senate- Tombajazz Ft. Kokayi
Grandfather Clock- Mike Dillon

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Agua- Bomba Estéreo
You Sold Me a Dream- Jupiter & Okwess Ft. Ana Tijoux
Foxglove- TOR
No Further Than You- Izy
Good At Gettin’ By (Acoustic)- Kash’d Out

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Capuchin- Martin Gore
Sons Of Creation- Cameron Graves
Quantum Blues- Menagerie

Keeping The Goods In

The first portion of this week’s proGram knew how to strain the good stuff in:

The Delicate Balance of All Things (Rapid Reiteration Mix)- Beauty in Chaos Ft. Cinthya Hussey/Wayne Hussey
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The Kids- Palm Ghosts
Social Debris- Alice Cooper
Jericho- Jane Lee Hooker
Moonlight Reflection- Triptides

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Crash, Boom Bang- Sara Petite
Dirty Rotten Guy- Joyann Parker
It Ain’t Bad- Ghalia Volt
Hateful Blues- Ally Venable
Down In Lenox Town- Misty Blues

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Put A Little Love In Your Heart- Hurricane Ruth
I Grew up (Kate’s Place)- Allan Harris Ft. Grégoire Maret
Girly Face- Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
How Much A Dollar Cost- R+R=NOW (live)

Okaidja Afroso Storytelling Plus

Okaidja Afroso is an Afropop singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist from Ghana, West Africa. His unique artistic vision has led him to combine his native rhythms with unforeseen pairings of musical flavors. His sound is a spicy fusion of Ghanaian music with diverse cross-cultural influences. Although most of Okaidja’s hypnotic arrangements are sung in his native language, the meaning shines through. His calling and life purpose is to bring us all together so that we can laugh and grieve and dance and forge forward together, in community. His uncle was the town’s notorious composer who spared no one with the songs he wrote about life in their small fishing village. Okaidja’s mother was a colorful lead singer in her spiritual church. Her powerful songs of praise earned her the name “the spiritual singer.” As a young boy Okaidja sang while he worked on fishing boats. The fishermen would sing a cappella songs as they worked, and Okaidja passed the long days learning the songs of the great sea. Born into a family of musicians and storytellers in the village of Kokrobite on the west coast of Ghana, at the age of 19, he was accepted as a professional dancer for the prestigious Ghana Dance Ensemble at the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies. He became well known for his energetic stage presence and excelled in his performances of the Ga fetish dances. The Ghana Dance Ensemble gave Okaidja the opportunity to study with the best teachers in the country. As he toured internationally, Okaidja expanded his artistic reach becoming a master multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and arranger.

I had the chance to checkout the virtual event put on by the Wisconsin Union Theater featuring the beautiful works of Mr. Okaidja Afroso. The stories around the musical tales where as informative as they were an easy way to slide into another person’s culture (and shoes). The different instruments used present the page turning of the book for the evening, with not only a new image and sound, but feeling. While it sure is strange not to be able to soak in those feelings in person, the virtual experience offered is still a great way to support the scene, the artist and the arts. If you get a chance to see Okaidja Afroso virtually or soon enough in a live setting, go get your spirits lifted, your minds enriched and your hearts filled.

Star Fire Travel

The final portion of the proGram this week took a h=journey thru and beyond to:

Thuon Mok Loga- Omar Sosa Ft. Olith Ratego
**pre-recorded conversation with Mr. Omar Sosa**
Elrababa- Omar Sosa Ft. Dafaalla Elhag Ali
Kwa Nyogokuru Revisited- Omar Sosa Ft. Steve Sogo

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Mutwashi- Kiazi Malonga
Can’t Control Me- Fimber Bravo
Tilman Baa Lagu Socdaa (Follow the Rules)- 4 Mars

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Manman Lavi- Lakou Mizik Ft. The Soul Rebels
Waydelel- Bab L’ Bluz
Pele- IKOQWE Ft. Batida & Ikonoklasta
Honey- Gentleman’s Dub Club Ft. Hollie Cook

Prayers Up

The middle portion of the proGram took the thoughts and prayers towards the universe:

What’s Going On (Original Unreleased Single Mix)- Marvin Gaye
Right On ( Detroit Mix)- Marvin Gaye

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So It Begins- DiCosimo & Pagán
Magic Carpet Ride- DiCosimo & Pagán
Cisco Kid- DiCosimo & Pagán

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Steady- Olivier St.Louis
Funky New Dorp- Santi Debriano

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The Creator Has a Master Plan- Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger
Gospel Trane- Dezron Douglas & Brandee Younger
Danza de los Inocentes- Yamilé Cruz Montero
African Spirits- Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella

Winter Moos

The First part of this week’s proGram will help you with those deep Winter Moos:

Time Wounds All Heals- Royal Horses
Streets Of Calcutta- Kikagaku Moyo (live)
Tree Smoke- Kikagaku Moyo (live)
Face of the Screaming Werewolf- The Fleshtones
The Show Is Over- The Fleshtones

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Woman- Trevor B. Power
Gone So Long- Joyann Parker
Will I See You Again?- Thee Sacred Souls

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I Need You- Jon Batiste
Aces- Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Mysterious Frequencies- Tommy Guerrero
Rise Of The Earth People- Tommy Guerrero
Queens Highway- Menahan Street Band

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Suitcase Man- Mike Dillon & The Bad Decisions
Psilocybin Donut- Mike Dillon And Punkadelic
Super Spreader- Mike Dillon

An East African Journey with Omar Sosa

Omar Sosa has been passionately interested in exploring African musical cultures and their connections with his Afro-Cuban roots since early in his career – subtly blending traditional and contemporary sounds on many of his recordings. He has forged collaborations with Gnawa musicians in Morocco, and with musicians from Senegal, Mozambique, Mali, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, and South Africa, et al. Highlights include his 2002 GRAMMY-nominated recording ‘Sentir’ featuring Moroccan singer and Guimbre player El Houssaine Kily, and his 2008 CD release ‘Afreecanos’, which served as a point of departure for his East Africa project. This new exquisite set of music featuring the 7-time GRAMMY-nominated Cuban composer and pianist Mr. Sosa showcases collaborations with 8 East African artists, fusing traditional sounds with jazz in a subtle, contemporary production. The folkloric music forming the basis of this project was recorded by Mr. Sosa while on tour in East Africa, including material from Madagascar (Rajery), Kenya (Olith Ratego), Sudan, Ethiopia (Seleshe Damessae), Burundi (Steven Sogo), Zambia and Mauritius (Menwar). With Mr. Sosa on pana and Paris-based producer, Steve Argüelles on drums and percussion and multi-instrumentalist Christophe ‘Disco’ Minck on double bass, synths and effects. These recordings will help expose some of the rich musical traditions of East Africa to new and wider audiences. Included in these recordings are some possibly unknown instruments that are the very keys to unlock the newness of sounds.

I had the honor of talking with Mr. Sosa about not only his personal journey on the creation of this magical album, but the journey of the music. We got into the times between the recording and the ability for me to be able to share and enrich others with the final product. We dive into the people, the cultures and the special instruments for the regions unfamiliar to many of us, but easily uniting those who open their ears and minds. I have to admit that Omar Sosa has long been one of those artists I have admired from a far, and I am so pleased we got a chance to talk abut this project…as it has taken me back while moving me forward. Hope you get that sense! An East African Journey will be released everywhere on March 5th. Check out more here.

Thin Place Up Sky

The final part of the proGram opened different doors that the ears were originally heading into and through:

A Hero’s Death (Soulwax Remix)- Fontaines D.C.
Tebamanyi- Ancient Astronauts
Wan Aken- Ancient Astronauts Ft. Brazen Rule
Social Distancing- Ancient Astronauts Ft. Ife Piankhi

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Yuce Dag Basinda- Altın Gün
Blue Monday (Gaudi Dub Mix)- Dub Pistols v Dubmatix
Good Love- WheelUP Ft. Afronaut, Brint Story & Destiny Will
Medium- Logic1000

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Sundial- Bicep
Fear Of A Blind Planet- Wax Tailor
On The Air- Wax Tailor
Breeze- Vanilla

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Mar Pretu- Caravela
Na m’bita- Dobet Gnahore
It’s Our Love- Thee Sacred Souls