The Foot

The first past f this week’s proGram took this biG step..

Pacific Ave- Pearl & The Oysters
End Talk- Nheap XP
Badman Lighter- Seun Kuti & Black Thought


Simmer Down- Phillip Lassiter
Butcher Block- Hot Mustard


Ease Up The Pressure- Maxiroots & Dubmatix Ft. Prince Jazzbo
Liberation- Maxiroots & Dubmatix Ft. Longfingah


WSUM/greenarrowradio elf off the shelf promo- Big Lou
Tu Sonrisa- Locos por Juana
Mis Hermanos Latinoamericanos- Telmo Fernandez & The Latin Soul Beat
La Palma- Telmo Fernandez & The Latin Soul Beat
Nereida, La Facultosa- Telmo Fernandez & The Latin Soul Beat

Alphonso Johnson With Jazz Is Dead

Alphonso Johnson is an iconic musician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whose contributions with the electric bass set the landscape of music to come. As Weather Report’s bassist, Johnson’s warm tone and fluent chops contributed to the band’s initial breakout from avant-garde into funk fusion. His playing was featured on the songs “Mysterious Traveler”, “Scarlet Woman”, and “Cucumber Slumber” which he co-wrote. Alphonso played with the group Santana and also toured with saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist James Beard, drummer Rodney Holmes, and guitarist David Gilmore playing S.R.O. shows that stretched across Europe and Japan. Johnson has taught all over the world and in 2004 was appointed Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Southern California and Part-Time Lecturer at The California Institute of The Arts. In early 1982, Johnson joined Grateful Dead member Bob Weir’s side project Bobby and the Midnites. He would reunite with Weir in 2000, playing bass in place of Phil Lesh on tour with The Other Ones. He has also performed fusion versions of Grateful Dead songs alongside Billy Cobham in the band Jazz Is Dead. The acclaimed All-Star instrumental ensemble, famous for interpretations of classic Grateful Dead songs with jazz influences, returns in 2023 to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Co-founder Alphonso Johnson will be joined by Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli & Bobby Lee Rodgers, performing Grateful Dead’s ‘Wake of The Flood’ marking it’s 50th Anniversary, in addition to other beloved selections. Jazz Is Dead XXV ‘reunites’ two greats! Steve Kimock & Alphonso Johnson, who together in heavyweight post-Garcia Grateful Dead offshoot The Other Ones together with Bob Weir, commanded the instrumental prowess of that band.

I had the honor of catching up with Mr. Alphonso Johnson to get into the upcoming concert in Madison on January 19th at The Barrymore Theatre, as Jazz Is Dead comes to keep us company. We get into the idea behind the shows and how the music will guide the way from night to night to night. Mr. Johnson, a natural teacher describes how these 4 cooks bring their individual abilities into the kitchen and we talk a little about the feeling of getting back toGether to find his way through the music with Mr. Steve Kimock. This is one of those events where not only will the music unite, I feel it’s the connection with ALL the people that will be equally as important.

No More Elf On Shelf

Final sets for today’s proGram licked the fingers clean.

One Hundred Dreams PT. I- Satoko Fujii

Wide Sargaso Sea- Valtteri Laurell Nonet
Six Affirmation, Pt. II- Arild Andersen Group
Short Story- Arild Andersen Group
Braidwood- Nadje Noordhuis Ft. Rudy Royston & Fred Hersch
Girl Talk- Fred Hersch & esperanza spalding [Live]

—-
Tatts- BANTR
—-
Cora Jones- Neal Casal

A Little More Shown

Middle part of this week’s proGram exposed a little more to the meal.

Unfold- Myele Manzanza & Rachel Fraser

Bate’s Letter From Mista Chuck- Nabaté Isles Ft. Chuck D
Harlem Shake- Nabaté Isles
Introductions- Donald Byrd [live]
Kwame- Donald Byrd [live]
The East- Donald Byrd [live]
Vaspurakan- The Headhunters


Chemical X- Julius Rodriguez
Kaminari- Natsuki Tamura and Ittetsu Takemura

That Begin It Moment

First part of this week’s proGram was sharp and ready.

Back Door Santa- Judith Owen
Run Rudolph Run- The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)- The Dollyrots Ft. The DollyTOTS


All I Want for Christmas Is a Go-Go Girl- Bey Ireland
X-mas Party- Eddie & The De-Havelons
Christmas Strut- Hot & Sassy
I Won’t Be There For Christmas- Major Handy
Santa Claus- Ray Williams Ft. Space Men
Ain’t No Chimney’s In The Project- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

—-
Brix- The Muffins
Three Days That Won’t Soon Fade- The Muffins
English- The Muffins
At the Fairie Bower- Upupayāma
Màs- Upupayāma
Entering the Time of Wilderness- Upupayāma
Counter-Clock World- Blood Quartet
Blood Grove- Blood Quartet

Black And White Viewing

The final part of the proGram flipped it over and out.

Make House Not War [original mix]- Bubba Brothers
Wild Bounce- Green Lights
Pumpkin Seeds- Aesop Rock & Blockhead Ft Lupe Fiasco


Yerimayo Celebration- Baaba Maal
Arkestra Boogie- Santi Debriano and Arkestra Bembe
Imagined Nation- Santi Debriano and Arkestra Bembe
Comes From The Ground- Cosmic Renaissance
Nomads- Cosmic Renassiance


As It Should Be- Jakob Bro & Joe Lovano
Blind Pig- Dave Liebman
Lover Man- Dave Liebman
Volkov’s Theme- Brian Baggett Trio

Heard It Landing

The middle parts of the proGram had a certain sound and feel when falling into place.

Kongo Square- The Headhunters
Free Ride- The Winston Brothers
Northern Light- The Winston Brothers
Ice & Fire- King Canyon


Hebbina Hebbina- Farid el Atrache

Black Girl Magic- Nabaté Isles Ft. Badia Farha/Mumu Fresh/Nikki Grier
The Jump Off- Nabaté Isles
Septune- Nabaté Isles


Gan [original mix]- Emesh
Addicted To Love [Candy Bomber Mix]- RE-201 & Deadbeat
Johnny & Mary [Dubvisionist Dub]- RE-201 & Deadbeat Ft. Peter Heppner/Doug Wimbish/Mika Bajinsky
Ask Me [dancehall mix]- Dubmatix Ft. Lone Ranger

Thru A Screen

The first part of this week’s proGram saw thing this and that ways.

Early Morning Rising- Kassi Valazza
Doctor Bogenbroom- Jay Tausig
The Mouse Police Never Sleep- Jay Tausig


Feelin’ Good- Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
Brand New Cadillac- Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
greenarrowradio promo- Douglas Avery
Blind Owl Boogie- Douglas Avery


Detuned For Cheap- Gunslingers
Ergobando- Upupayama


Aping Flair- Black Market Karma w/Ruari Meehan
Slingshot- Mark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles
Always There- Lit Society

Elvin Jones Revival: Live At Pookie’s Pub

Attending a livestream panel discussion celebrating the brand new Blue Note Records release, Elvin Jones Revival: Live At Pookie’s Pub. As you can see the list of panelists is perfect. Friend of the proGram, Mr. Zev Feldman once aGain had the distinction of being heavily involved in this coming to life. Stories from times gone by, observations about the creation of the music and the man as well as snippets of the record itself [I have shared it with listenrs already and it is beeter to hear it many times to really ‘SHUT UP AND LISTEN’].

Elvin Tree to find this new record.

Warmth Plus

The final part of this week’s proGram had many of the things needed to go on.

Minorabilia- Rodney Whitaker
Salvo- Ant Law & Alex Hitchcock Ft. Joel Ross & Kendrick Scott
Genesis- Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison w/Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Raunchy Rita- Elvin Jones [Live at Pookie’s Pub]
On a Clear Day- Oscar Peterson [Live in Zurich, 1971]


Irrepressible- Laszlo Gardony
Strong Minds- Laszlo Gardony


Reflector 28- Hamish Balfour
Mongol- Hamish Balfour
Overlapping Attributes- The Supplicants
The Channel- The Supplicants
Natsu- Cosmic Renaissance Ft. DJ Gruff

Flipped The Line

The middle part of the proGram has definitely walked that fine line.

One Thing- The Winston Brothers
Why Must You Fly- STR4TA Ft. Omar
Soothsayer- STR4TA Ft. Theo Croker
Over the Bar- The Headhunters


Cosmic Funk (Glenn Underground’s Lounge Excursion Mix)- Emmaculate
Mambo Rama (Lex Blondin’s Rework)- New Regency Orchestra
Ready for Battle- Marcus Gad & Tribe


Cucu- Gotopo & Don Elektron
Angel (Jean-Marie Salaun Remix)- Zazou Bikaye
When It’s War- People In Control

—-
Cosmic Slop- Parliament/Funkadelic (live Houston 1976)
***pre-recorded conversation with David Libert***
I’m Eighteen- Alice Cooper (Live – 1972)

Sunnyside Down

First parts of today’s proGram flipped us all over.

Express Ride- TOMISLAV GOLUBAN Ft. Tobacco Road Blues Band
Electric Lights- TOMISLAV GOLUBAN Ft. Malaya Blue


Little Bird- The Masterminds
Who Are the Gatekeepers?- The Gatekeepers Ft. Cheer-Accident
Anonymity- The Gatekeepers
I Like the Normal Things- The Gatekeepers
Come On Now (Mono)- Alex Chilton [live]
Hey High School Baby- Alex Chilton [live]
Oowee Baby- Alex Chilton [live]


Cut To The Chase- Malcolm Strachan
Turk’s Cap- Adrian Quesada
Alberto’s Loop- Adrian Quesada


It Is What It Is- The Soul Motivators Ft. Shahi
Red Triangle- The Bamboos [Live At Hamer Hall w/Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]
Nuff Blues- Monzanto Sound

Rock and Roll Warrior David Libert

David Libert had such a long & interesting career in the music business, his friends encouraged him to write a book about it and so he did. The result is an autobiography 50-plus years in the making titled Rock and Roll Warrior, recently released on Sunset Blvd Books. It’s a chronicle of David’s inner circle life in the music industry as a popular international performer, singer/songwriter, tour manager, booking agent, producer, and drug dealer on the Sunset Strip. It’s a story so wild, so crazy, so over-the-top that it can only be true. You can’t make this stuff up! This book is a riotous, humorous, intimate, provocative story of Mr. Libert’s life in music. From his tenure as co-lead singer of 60s pop hitmakers, The Happenings, to his role as tour manager for Alice Cooper’s most legendary 70s tours, to managing funk/R&B legend George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic to…yes, there’s more even. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey, he co-founded The Happenings w/3 high school pals shortly after graduation. The Happenings went on to have several hit records including “See You in September” and “I Got Rhythm.” Those 2 tunes were on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 14 weeks in 1966 and 13 weeks in 1967, respectively, and both songs peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #3. Sales for both exceeded one million copies, resulting in R.I.A.A. gold record awards by 1969. David left the group to become a booking agent and eventually a tour manager. After a brief stint as road manager for Rare Earth, he became tour manager for Alice Cooper during Alice’s most formidable years (1971–1975). David figured prominently in Bob Greene’s book about accompanying Cooper’s band on 1973’s Billion Dollar Babies tour. He remains friendly with Alice to this day. In 1975, Libert migrated from New York to Los Angeles and in 1976, opened the David Libert Management Agency which represented George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy’s Rubber Band and The Runaways (Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford). In the early 80s, he met Prince through Sheila E, who was one of his management clients at the time. Sheila E opened for Prince on the legendary Purple Rain tour and he spent a lot of time hanging with Prince, many times assisting with his shows. In the late 90s, Libert formed Available Entertainment with entertainment attorney Alan Oken. Mr. Libert has promoted many concerts throughout his career including sold out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York (George Clinton) and the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Kansas City (Kool and the Gang). After some personal happenings that took some time to handle – these too are in the book, he regrouped and made a successful return to the music industry as a manager, working with acts including Living Colour and Vanilla Fudge, who were respectful of his knowledge and skills and were happy to work with him. These days, soon to be 80 years young, David is enjoying a much more relaxed and less hectic life. He lives in Southern California and is a devoted animal rights activist, helping to find homes for animals that desperately need one. There’s talk about the book being made into a feature length film as well, which excites David to no end.

I had the joy of discussing the man behind the Rock And Roll Warrior himself, Mr. Liebert to get a little more insight into the tales, the people and the journey. We learn the about the beGinning of a rock and roll life and how it ld up to so many just jaw-dropping experiences. I looked over David’s extensive résumé and had to get a sense of how he was able to fit in with the variety of people and artists and worked with, or formed relationships with. The answer while I suppose is not shocking, it is interesting how much translates from one artist to the other as far as logistics and that stuff, but it’s the knowing when and knowing when not to and the being yourself that got me. We compare/contrast times with Alice Cooper versus the Funkadelic Mothership and there is some very intriguing insight into the man we know as Prince. This guy lived aspects of a life many people have wished upon, dreamt about or cringed towards and lived to tell about it, remarkably. In this book, David shares unvarnished, no-holds-barred, stories of his life in the rock ‘n roll fast lane on the road, backstage, on private jets & inside notorious after-show parties with music legends in the era of free-spirit, hard driving rock ‘n’ roll & R&B. It’s life on the road in technicolor. A roller coaster ride peek behind the curtain at the good, the bad and even yes, the ugly in the music biz of years gone by.

Side Shadowing

The final part of the proGram this week had a new shadow size.

Grateful Winds (Kaya Project Remix)- Spadei

Saraswati- Charles Lloyd Ft. Julian Lage & Zakir Hussain
Gingerbread Boy- Elvin Jones Ft. Larry Young (Live at Pookie’s Pub)
On the Trail- Oscar Peterson Trio
Mr Monk- Santi Debriano and Arkestra Bembe


Screen Time- Hamish Balfour

That’s What-Brian Baggett Trio (Live Green Lady Lounge)

Electric Tower Zap

The middle part of the proGram got a zip zap and zoomin’ feel to it all.

Fireflies- Adrian Quesada Ft. Neal Francis
Hermitage- Hoodna Orchestra
Andromeda- Hoodna Orchestra
Rocking At the Mole House- The Headhunters
Stop Watch- The Headhunters


Tipp Tapp- Los Bitchos
Banga- Sababa 5
Keyf- Sababa 5
Little Black Box- Werkha


Remember 01- The Halluci Nation Ft. John Trudell & Black Bear
**pre-recorded conversation with 2oolman Hill and Bear Witness of The Halluci Nation**
Mother Mother- The Halluci Nation Ft. Lillian Allen, SATE, The Northwest Kid & Chippewa Travellers
Collaboration ≠ Appropriation- The Halluci Nation Ft. Tanya Tagaq

Nice Up- Dub Pistols Ft. Horseman
No Way (Poirier Remix)- K.O.G
Shidaa (Captain Planet Remix)- K.O.G

Tower Power

The beGiining part of the show went to the top light and looked around.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside- Taj Mahal & Maria Muldaur
Hittin’ The Road Again- TOMISLAV GOLUBAN Ft. Kelly Zirbes
Speedin’ Train- TOMISLAV GOLUBAN Ft. Teresa James


Tramp- Alex Chilton
Ignorance- The Gatekeepers Ft. Cheer Accident
The Patrons- The Gatekeepers Ft. The Residents


Soul Thing- The Everettes
Friday Night Groove- Funkboy
St. Paul Second Line- The Mighty Mocambos


Galactic Fanfare- STR4TA
Night Flight- STR4TA
Winston Theme- The Winston Brothers
Boiling Pot- The Winston Brothers
Metering- The Winston Brothers
The Inquisitor- Adrian Quesada Ft. Neal Francis

Light Of The Times

Did a pre-proGram fill-in and it took shape with souls in minds.

Waves For Margie- Surya Botofasina with Radha Botofasina
DNA [The Cinematic Orchestra Remodel]- Ryuichi Sakamoto & The Cinematic Orchestra

Connection- Cosmic Renaissance Ft. Anna Bassy & Vanja Contu
Universal Language- Cosmic Renaissance Ft. Soweto Kinch


Tales Of Rumi- Charles Lloyd Ft. Julian Lage & Zakir Hussain

Keep On Keeping On- Ahmad Jamal (Live at the Penthouse)
Whisper Not- Ahmad Jamal (Live at the Penthouse
)

Delta Sky- The Ostara Project (Live)
Sun- Rebecca Coupe Franks
So Ubuji- Makaya McCraven

The Halluci Nation is Growing

As they enter a new cycle, Bear Witness & Tim “2oolman” Hill of A Tribe Called Red are reintroducing themselves as The Halluci Nation, to reflect the evolution of their music & mission. The Halluci Nation, takes its name from a phrase coined by John Trudell, to describe the vast global community of people who remember at their core what it means to be human. As a visionary artist & activist, Trudell recognized the connection between his accomplishments and what ATCR did intuitively through music & art. Trudell’s voice was the first heard scattered throughout the music. The Halluci Nation’s future revolves around collaboration. From hip-hop star, Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def), to the Indigenous Australian band, OKA, to the Wayuu-Colombian powerhouse, Lido Pimienta, the group has always sought out artists from around the world who would join the Halluci Nation family to form a like minded community as well as an international indigenous alliance. The Halluci Nation maintains focus on what they feel they can impact most: how Indigenous people are seen. Through groundbreaking stage shows & ever-changing visuals, Bear Witness & 2oolman are constantly working to create media that reflects today’s Indigenous identity. They see themselves simply as contributors to a necessary conversation around a subtle and complex representation of the contemporary Indigenous experience.

I am proud to say I had the chance to catch up with Tim “2oolman” Hill (Mohawk, of the Six Nations of the Grand River) and Bear Witness (of the Cayuga First Nation) ahead of the December 13th event at the High Noon Saloon. We get into what someone who may not quite know what they should prepare for will be preparing for. The collaborative spirt of The Halluci Nation is what always drives my ears and mind [and a good body shake] to the music, and the scene so we get into some of the going’s on and going downs when working with artists. The relationships, the family style and the understanding of where each other is coming from unites the people and the sounds as they’re being created. I found it real cool to hear how what they are doing with the music and the culture took on a responsibility – and just how that all clicked in and how they pay homage to those who came before and lend a hand to those on their way. Oh yeah, there’s also a set list built by 2oolman & Bear.

Photo by Jon Riera