Here is the Is that was

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All tunes from albums of 2009. Thanks for all the support this year, those years and the ones ahead.

Love Stands Time- Cashman
Drinkin’ or Drivin’- pat mAcdonald
Never Going Back to Memphis- Shemekia Copeland
Anna Ann- Davis Coen
Light in your Eyes- Clarence Bucaro
Blew my Top Off- Geoff Achison
Sweet inspiration- the Derek Trucks Band
—————–
Truckin’ Queen- Dale Watson
Woody’s- Skeebo Knight
—————
A Change is Gonna Come-Playing for Change (live)
Not so Simple- Groundation
Year of the Pig- the Black Seeds
Tootie- Larry McDonald
Sun is Shining- Bebel Gilberto
—————-
But now I’m Back- Pink Martini
And then Your Gone- Pink Martini
Galang(Trio Riot Version)- Vijay Iyer Trio
Loft Funk- Mike Clark
An Ba Mango La- Jacques Schwarz-Bart
Congratulation(Happy Birthday)- King Sunny Ade
Sahara- Justin Adams/Juldeh Camara
Ladon- Bassekou Kouyote & Ngoni Ba
—————-
Under the Bridge-Stanley Clark Trio w/Hiromi/Lenny White
No Quarter Dub-DJ Spooky w/the Golden Hornet Project
Milk and honey- JTQ
the Kick- Cadillac Jones
North Eat to Nippon- Breakestra
Che Che Cole Makossa-Antibalas feat. Mayra Vega
Soul Kiss- Ivan FUNKBOY Bodley
—————–
Nobody Ever wins the Giant Panda 4-A new Brain for Arnie
Macumba-Melvin Gibbs Elevated Entity w/Totonho/Cortejo Afro
Set the Children Free-Larry McDonald w/Toots Hibbert
Pa Kite Tan Pase- Boukman Eksperyans
Nora- Neoton
—————–
Abstrata- Zeep
Dancing Girls- Tribecasten
Bhangra Paanch- Fort Knox Five
Sundown- International Velvet
—————
Best Western- Eric Biondo
Pan Ga To- Jacques Schwarz Bart
Mende Chiraj- Jacques Schwarz Bart
the Return of the Jitney Man-Branford Marsalis Quartet
Chan Chan- Kora Jazz trio
—————-
Black Earth Boys- Les Triaboliques
Riddem- Daby Toure & Skip McDonald
**On air Conversation w/Jacques Schwarz-Bart**
Rishte- Najma Akhtar & Gary Lucas
Compassion- Soname
Diaraby Magni- Vieux Farka Toure
Lulla- Tinariwen
Sunrise-Mark Weinstein/Omar Sosa
Invocation- Mark Weinstein/Omar Sosa
——————–
Ninth Ward Calling- Marchforth Marching Band
Getting up From Down Under- M. Nahadr
Feelin’ Yucky-Sen Barth & induce are the Saxual Revolution
——————-
Pachima- Balkan Beat Box (UBK Remix)
Atlas- STS9
No Time- the Juan Maclean
Little by Little- Missy Andersen
Insignificant- Lovespirals
Dry your Eyes- Wax Tailor feat Sara Genn
——————
La Senda Del Abuelo- Granada Doaba
O Careca- Os Mutantes
Pasapeanas- Biella Nuei
Camin Y Ven Pa’ La Loma- Marta Topferova
——————
Vino- Girl in a Coma
Qu’est ce Que C’est Funky- the Veldt
Sweet Chilli- Led Bib
the Griots-Jason Adasiewicz’s Rolldown
the Liberator- Nels Cline

Tops of 2009

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When you play so many types of sounds on a show, it makes compiling a list like this such a challenge…I believe this is a high quality example of my own and the show’s beliefs in what the tops of 2009 look like. I apologize if I left something out, didn’t receive or just don’t agree with what you see as tops…here’s this year’s list:
* indicates a hard fought tie.

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97. These are the Days- Albert Castiglia
96. The Move- Eric Biondo
95. Live in Louisville- Carrie Rodriguez
94. Vol. 2-Truckin’ Sessions- Dale Watson
93. Este Mundo- Rupa & the April Fishes
92. Throw Down Your Heart,Tales from the Acoustic Planet,3:Africa Sessions-Béla Fleck
91. Missy Anderson-Missy Anderson
90. Me not Me- Marco Benevento
89. Solid Ground- Sara Wasserman
88. Coward- Nils Cline
87. Never Going Back- Shemekia Copeland
86. Choices- Terence Blanchard
85. Live- Jake Shimabukuro
84. Quartet Live-Gary Burton,Pat Metheny,Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez
83. My World- Lee Fields & the Expressions
82. Pulse- Jim Weider’s Project Percolator
81. Haih Or Amortecedor- Os Mutantes
80. One Day in Brooklyn- JFJO
79. The Lost Southlake Sessions- The Radiators
78. In the Mood for Life- Wax Tailor
77. En’ A-Free-Ka- Shafiq Husayn
76. Awake- Julian Marley
75. Historicity- Vijay Iyer Trio
74. Rishte- Najma Akhtar and Gary Lucas
73. Burn it Down- the Dynamites
72. Trova- Marta Topferova
*71. Piety Street-John Scofield/Bright Mississippi-Allen Toussaint
70. Blueprints Of Jazz Vol. 1- Mike Clark
69. Spiritual Dimensions- Wadada Leo Smith
68. Us- Brother Ali
67. Tell No Lies-Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara
66. Eagle- Mamer
65. Turned Up Turned On-Michael Bellar As-Is Ensemble
64. For this I Rise- J. Russell
63. To Obscurity & Beyond- Afroskull
62. Abyss- Jacques Schwarz Bart
61. Pot of Gold Remixes I/II- Alice Russell
60. Musically Massive- David Last vs Zulu
59. The Blow Sven Theory-Sven Barth & Induce are Casual Sax & The Saxual Revolution
58. Across the Divide: A Tale of Rhythm/Ancestry-Omar Sosa
57. Light a Candle- Forro in the Dark
56. Call My Name- Daby Touré & Skip McDonald
55. Daptone Gold- Daptone Records
54. Dr. Boondigga & the Big BW-Fat Freddy’s Drop
53. Radiolarians II/III- MMW
52. Strange Cousin- Tribescastan
51. Solid Ground- the Black Seeds
50. Secret Song- DJ Spooky
49. Keep it Hid- Dan Auerbach
48. Well Hung- Various Artists
47. Playing for Change
46. Plateau- Soname
45. Magnolia Land- Davis Coen
44. Here I Am- Groundation
43. Future will Come- the Juan Mclean
42. Pigs Feet & Potted Meat-Ivan FUNKBOY Bodley
41. Making Love to the Dark Ages-Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber
40. Barracuda- Kinky
39. Small World- Tony Bunn
38. A Modest Proposal- Gutbucket
37. Metamorphosen- Branford Marsalis Quartet
36. La Revolte Des Zombies- Boukman Eksperyans
35. Trio B.C.- Girl in a Coma
34. Tangled tales-Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks
33. Future Past- Lovespirals
32. Purgatory Hill- pat mAcdonald
31. New World- JTQ
*30. Power Patriot-Garage a Trois/Melvin’s Rockplie-Out to Lunch
29. Rise Up- Dr. Lonnie Smith
28. Jazz Around the World- Putumayo
27. Songs for the Queen of Bohemia-Eldad Tarmu Chamber Jazz Ensemble
26. Diaspora Remixed- Watcha Clan
25. Fondo- Vieux Farka Toure
24. Rivermudtwilight- Les Triaboliques
*23. Hard Times EP-Bonerama/This That & The Other Thing-Skeebo Knight
22. Making a Statement- the JMC Project
21. Ancients Speak- Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity
20. One Ticket One Ride- Geoff Achison
19. Espana- Putumayo
18. Eclecticism- M. Nahadr
17. Eddy Loves Frank- Ed Palermo Big Bang
16. Tales from the Earth- Mark Weinstein/Omar Sosa
*15. Rhythm Method-Cadillac Jones/Aguilas & Cobras-Brownout
14.Re: Generations- Nat King Cole
13. Prester John Sessions- Tommy T
12. After the Air Raid- Zevious
11. Plug ‘N Play- the New Mastersounds
10. The Great American Soulbook- Tower of Power
9. Exotic on the Speaker- Soulico
8. Imidiwan: Companions- Tinariwen
7. Waxed Oop- Fast ‘N Bulbous
6. Taketron- Slavic Soul Party
5. The New Gold Standard II- Fort Knox Five
4. Chaal Baby- Red Baraat
3. Dusk Til Dawn- Breakestra
2. Already Free- the Derek Trucks Band
1. Drumquestra- Larry McDonald

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Gnu Ears Eve

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All Tracks from albums released in 2009…many will be on the list of top albums of ’09 released tomorrow.

50’s French Music- Carrie Rodriguez w/Lucinda Williams(live)
All that I am Now-Assembly of Dust w/Richie Havens
Honky Tonkin'(in Mississippi)- Webb Wilder
Nightime is the Right Time- Albert Castiglia
Bright Mississippi- Allen Toussaint
But I like the Message- John Scofield
Hurtin’ for it- the Radiators
Already Free- the Derek Trucks Band
Redemption Dance- the Subdudes
These moments- Lee Fields & the Expressions
What Have you done- Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
Crimson & Clover- Prince
King Comforter-the New Mastersounds feat Dionne Charles
Somebody Stop me-the Dynamites feat Charles Walker
Come Together- Dr. Lonnie Smith
Honey Burger’S Grill(new mix)- Skeebo Knight
Mr Pitiful- Tower of Power w/Sam Moore
Hard Times- Bonerama
Skyplane- AfroSkull
Friends- Marco Benevento
Heavyweight Love Match-Michael Bellar As Is Ensemble
Imam- JFJO
Walk Back- MMW
Power Patriot- Garage a Trois
Night School- Ed Palermo Big Band
The Past Sure is Tense- Fast N Bulbous
Glass Tables- Zevious
Head Goes Thud- Gutbucket
Got me a Black Woman- Tony Bunn
Shake it For me- Stefon Harris & Blackout
I’m a Song- Sara Wasserman w/R. Wasserman/C. McBride
Little Bird (reprise)-Sara Wasserman w/Christian McBride
Where have the Poets Gone-J Russell w/Monique Vieras & D.a.v.o
Straighten up & Fly Right-Nat King Cole w/Will.I.AM & Natalie Cole
Get it How you Live- Slavic Soul Party
Punjabi Wedding Song(Balle Balle)- Red Baraat
Come Back- Soulico feat Onili
Those Girls- Kinky
Flying Red- EOTO
Omar’s Chocco- Omar Faruk Tekbilek
World Party- Larry McDonald w/Shaza
Head over Heels- Larry McDonald w/Dollarman
Brotherman-Larry McDonald w/Shaza/Terri Lion

All you hafta do is Listen

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Just messing around today in studio with some albums I just plucked off the collection shelf moments before deciding to make some ray D ohhh….the puzzle fit together this way:

All Good Children-the John Popper Project w/DJ Logic
Pony- Annette Peacock
Someday- Alice Russell
Baby Let’s Dance Together- Kittu
Soul Education- Jamiroquai
What About me- Chic
Rocco- Phat Phunktion
——————–
In the Mix- the JMC Project
Sugartooth(BBR Mix)- Chow Nasty
Gary’s Song- Alice Smith
Tramp- Ottis & Carla
Stubb’s Relentless groove- Clyde Stubblefield
Soul Finger- the Bar Kays
———————
Juicy- the RH Factor
Take the Coltrane- the Stanley Clarke Trio
Pan Ga To- Jacques Schwarz Bart
Kid Rock Deluxe- Sex Mob
Mojuba-Melvin Gibbs Elevated Entity feat. Amayo/J. Medeski
Na Na Not me!- On Ka’a Davis w/Famous original Djuke Music Players
Making Love to the Dark Ages “B”-Burnt Sugar Arkestra Chamber
Full Nelson- Miles Davis
———————
Never the Same- Supreme beings of Leisure
Goodnight Moon- Shivaree
———————-
Saturday- Twinemen
Bartalk- Erik Scott
I get High-Porter/Batiste/Stoltz w/P. McConnell(live)
Foxploration- the Motet (live)
Country Living- Yellowjackets feat Mike Stern
Greet the Mind- Lotus
Birdwave- Green Light (live)
the Conversation- Reeves Gabrels
Confection- the Nels Cline Singers
Brown Sox- Chris Spies
——————–
Beethoven’s 5th- Beethoven/Random Rab Mix
Under the Table- SonicBloom
Breaking Dawn- Brother Ali
Love Still Hurts- Shafiq Husayn
City (Japan Remix)- King Britt

Beats Antique Bassnectar ’08 tour

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A short movie of several performances spliced together from the 2008 east coast Bassnectar Tour, to the original track Dope Crunk, off their newest album, Collide. Video by videolicious, lucination.com, editing by David Satori
www.myspace.com/beatsantique
Note from Zoe: for you bellydancers out there, this video represents many different dances to different songs all put into one piece. So David, who was editing it, essentially was rechoreographing me…putting a shoulder roll from video of me dancing to something else..in fact, this entire video, other than the first 10 seconds..was originally of me dancing to completely different things!!! It goes to show you what you can do with technology these days….

R.I.P. Vic Chesnutt

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In a two-decade career, Vic Chesnutt sang darkly comic and often disarmingly candid songs about death, vulnerability, and life’s simple joys. A car accident when he was 18 left him partly paralyzed, but he has said that the accident focused him as a musician and a poet. “It was only after I broke my neck and even like maybe a year later that I really started realizing that I had something to say,” he said in a recent radio interview with Terry Gross. Discovered in the late 1980s by Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who produced his first two albums, he has been a mainstay in independent music, collaborating with the bands Lambchop and Widespread Panic. In 1996 his songs were performed by Madonna, the Indigo Girls, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M. and others for “Sweet Relief II: The Gravity of the Situation,” an album that benefited the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a nonprofit group that offers medical support for musicians. Recently he had had a burst of creativity, releasing two albums in 2009, “At the Cut” and “Skitter on Take-Off.” In the song, “Flirted With You All My Life,” off “At the Cut,” he sings about suicide, which he had attempted several times….and apparently finally had success if he was ready, or not.

The day after the day

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While so many were celebrating something this week, here is where the celebrations of everyone took me on the day after the day:

Hell of High Water-Hundred Year Flood w/Taj Mahal
I know Where I’m Going-Clarence Fountain & Sam Butler
——————–
Baby what you Want me to do- Lou Rawls
Rock the Blues away-Zakiya Hooker & John Lee Hooker
He’s got all the Whiskey- Albert Castiglia
Railroad Boy- Gov’t Mule
Count to Ten- pat mAcdonald
Down Home Girl- Taj Mahal w/Billy Payne
Riviera Paradise- Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble
———————
Pulse- Desiree Apolonio Bassett
One Wrong Turn- Backyard Tire Fire
Heads are Gonna Roll- Jamie McLean
San Francisco- Brett Dennen
Cigarette- Akiva
——————–
You got Something- Movin’ Melvin Brown
Get up(feel like Being a)Sex Machine-Q Burns Abstract Message
Astralisation- Snowboy
Into You- Eymarel
Glad it’s Night- Ivan FUNKBOY Bodley
On Our Way- Speedy Consuela
Zero Hour- Afroskull
3 X Over- Big Ass truck
Yums- Big Ass Truck
————————–
Dark side of the Cog- IncoGnito
Mende Chiraj- Jacques Schwarz Bart
Walkin’ Uptown- Lionel Hampton
The Invasion Song- Eldad Tarmu Chamber Jazz Ensemble
**Live on Air Chat w/Mr. Eldad Tarmu**
Drink w/the Queen of Bohemia-Eldad Tarmu Chamber Jazz Ensemble
Dancing for the Queen of Bohemia-Eldad Tarmu Chamber Jazz Ensemble
————————–
Kanawha Girl- Imaginary Homeland
Got Lucky- the Microscopic Septet
You Know You’re a Man- Fast N Bulbous
Wet Nap- Marchforth Marching Band
Do Whatcha Wanna III-Rebirth Brass Band (live)
Bury me in New Orleans- Brother Joscephus
Don’t Let your Deal go Down- Davis Coen
Lonely Wasted & Blue-Paul Sanchez & Theresa Andersson
————————–
I Don’t Wanna Play House Anymore-Carrie Rodriguez (live)
Humdinger- Old Crow Medicine Show
She’s About a Mover- Little Willie G
Toe Jam-the BPA w/David Byrne & Dizzie Rascal
————————–
Spade- the BPA w/Martha Wainwright
Calypso Blues-Nat King Cole w/Damian JR GONG Marley/Stephen Marley
Tell Mama- Missy Andersen
I’m not Gonna Cry- Sharon Jones & Dap Kings
Reefer Man-the Harlem Experiment w/Taj Mahal
Think-the Harlem Experiment w/Queen Esther
Ladies- Lee Fields & the Expressions
————————-
BFBF(PANAMA)- Akoya Afrobeat
Saro-Bassekou Kouyote & Ngoni Ba w/Vieux Farka Toure
————————
They gotta quit Kicking my dog Around-Terry Hall & Mushtaq
Stand Together- Terry Hall & Mushtaq
Homecoming- Tuung VS Tarar de Haidouks (live)
Psychoscout- Flat Earth Society
Disciplinador- Think of One
————————–
TigerLilly- La Roux
Love- Lovespirals
Up in Smoke- Third Ear Audio
My Love- Joi
Green Africa- Mysterious Traveler
————————–
Blame- Soul Coughing
Bad Weather-AKACOD
ACDC- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Ring the Bell (premix)- Yacht

R.I.P. James Gurley

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In the summer of 1965, Chet Helms brought James to 1090 Page Street to meet Peter Albin and Sam Andrew. James proved to be the missing component to the embryonic Big Brother and the Holding Company. A charismatic figure, James immediately developed a large and devoted following. Many came to the Big Brother shows simply to experience his loud and passionate guitar playing. James was looked upon by his fans as something of a spiritual leader. His innovative trailblazing style did not go unnoticed by his contemporaries in San Francisco. Mickey Hart first heard James playing in the Matrix in 1966. Hart remembers; “I’d never seen anything like it. It was magnificent, the best solo I’d ever heard. The amplifier was just pulsing on the floor”. Barry Melton said, “James Gurley was the first man in space! He’s the Yury Gagarin of Psychedelic guitar”. James was a fusionist in the truest sense of the word. Along with his “weird” blend of blues, country, western and jazz, James employed a finger picking style that he used all the way through the Cheap Thrills sessions. With his guitar mate Sam Andrew, they produced some of the best Psychedelic guitar solos in history. Guitar Player magazine recently listed James’ and Sam’s work on “Summertime” as one of the top ten Psychedelic solos. Along with his work with Big Brother, James has been involved in a number of independent projects. He has recorded with New Age drummer, Muruga and has also been actively involved in writing and recording some very innovative solo work. In May of 1997 James stopped touring with Big Brother to devote his full attention to these projects. The first offering is entitled “Pipe Dreams” and was released in January of 2000. Now, more than thirty-five years after introducing his pioneering style, James is still a marvel and a mystery to watch. One recent concert goer noted; “I love loud weird guitar a la Hendrix, Santana and so on, and on that night what James was doing completely floored me. I have no idea what he was doing to make those sounds. Incredible!” But what else would one expect from the “Father of Psychedelic Guitar”.

~biography by Todd Bolton

The Hour of Two Lights

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by Terry Hall & Mushtaq, released in 2003 on the Honest Jons Record label. Terry Hall and Mushtaq’s album couldn’t be more in tune with this time period’s headlines, fusing the Jewish and Arabic musical cultures which draws upon the duo’s own lineage — Terry Hall being a Polish refugee with a Jewish background and Mushtaq being a Middle Eastern Muslim. In some ways, the album is a return to Terry Hall’s musical roots (The Specials’ breakthrough hit “Gangsters” was based around a Middle Eastern-influenced melody).But, together with Mushtaq, the album breaks bold new ground by creating a stunning topical tapestry of music. This melting pot of sounds features Jewish Gypsy music (from the group Romani Rad), a Mongolian throat singer, an Egyptian violinist, an Algerian rapper, a Turkish percussionist, a Syrian oud player, an Arabian pianist, and a Jewish Clarinet player whose resume includes being a sessions musician on the original “Pink Panther” theme! Even Blur & Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn provides guest vocals and instrumentation. The Hour Of Two Lights is truly a visionary record of extraordinary boldness in which music, politics and humanity are fused as one. And it always seems that the time is NOW to try to fuse humanity and politics together and if music can make a difference….it might start with music like this.
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Naughty, if you’re checking

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I like to keep balanced, so I am guessing I have been equally naughty as much as I have been anything else this year, just in case there’s a list out there. I want to thank David Levy from Out to Lunch for being a part of the show today, talking about the new album “Melvin’s Rockpile”, Canada’s assistance is getting this project finished, and we both give props to his fantabulous Publicist, thanks Di. Did 5 hours of ray dee ohh today…here’s the run down:

Something to Make you Happy- the Derek Trucks Band
Yes we Can, Can- Marc Broussard
Shooting Hoops- G Love & Special Sauce
Dollar Bill- Pop Levi
the Darkness- the Cat Empire
——————
Red Rat- 4th Ward Afro Klezmer Orchestra
Fat Bottomed Girls- Zydecosis
Turn on your Lovelight- Bonerama (live)
U R Loved- Israel Houghton
—————-
Dolare- Global Lingo
Best Things in Life- Pressure Cooker
Coming over Tonight- Cherine Anderson w/Chuck Fenda
—————-
Independent Bahamas- Biosos Now
You don’t Love me- Gemini Brass
Freedom in Africa- Duke
Speak- Albino!
——————
Hunk o’ Funk- McLemore Ave
Come on Over- Breakestra
Me & Michelle- Breakestra
Shift- Fort Knox Five
Number one Fan- Speedy Consuela
Home- Lovespirals
Good- Supreme Beings of Leisure
Slip Away- Si*Se
——————–
Yellow Submarine- Papa Grows Funk
Jolly Old ST. Nick- Brave Combo (live)
Double 0 Santa- Seks Bomba
Silent Night- the Weisstronauts
——————-
Frenchmen Street Strut- Devin Phillips
Sufur- Rufus Harley
Flute Bag- Rufus Harley (live)
I Pity the Fool- Shemeika Copeland/Robert Cray (live)
Gonna Shoot you Right Down-Jimmy Rogers All Stars w/Plant/Page/Clapton
Diddy Wah Diddy- Corey Harris
Just Among Friends-J Giles/D Robillard/G Beaudoin
——————–
Funky Good Time- Melvin Sparks Band
Spyplane- AfroSkull
Trash Day- the Julien Kasper Band
Song for the Solstice- Out to Lunch
**On air Interview w/David Levy of Out to Lunch**
Dr Dre’s Bar Mitzvah- Out to Lunch
———————
Brooklyn Ole- Nicodemus & Osiris
Jump- Sabo & Zeb
Spoon Song(Lee Davis Remix)-Nicodemus w/Carol C
Mmm Yummy Yummy Yummy- Bunny Holiday
Now we Know (Lovesky Mix)- Hawke
Big & Bouncy- Cakeboy
———————
Jamana Diya-Bassekou Kouyote & Ngoni Ba
Joy- Kaïssa
Lamine’s Tune- Toubab Krewe (live)
——————–
Lucy- Julian Lennon & James Scott Cook
Fire on your Feet- Pop Levi
Small Parts- the Dohlas
March of the Caterpillar- Rx Bandits
——————–
Luminous Things- Club d’Elf
Now I Understand- Club d’Elf
Calabazar de Sagua- Granada Doba
Illumination- Rob Wasserman
South Central L.A. Kulture- Wadada Leo Smith’s Organic
——————–
Ain’t no Chimney’s in the Projects- Sharon Jones & the Dapkings
Eggnog- Rory McBrides
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- Jack Johnson
Mele Kalikimaka- Nick Hexum

Trance Groove

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By The Julien Kasper Band. I have been spinning music mad by Julien Kasper for many years now and I am once again struck with the sounds put forth on his latest release Trance Groove on Toulcat Records. The nine tracks are filled with personality where needed and some rock as desired. There are some extra jams on the Hammond B-3 Organ by Matt Jenson & T Lavitz that add a certain warmth to their respected tracks making me gravitate to “The Reverend” & “Riff 53” (featuring Jenson) as well as “Chupacabra” and the soft spoken “Carolina Rose” (featuring Lavitz). There are two tracks that are the heavier hitters on the album for my radio ear, “Trash Day” & “Milk Truck” have edges that cut a path right into my ear-ways paved and rolled by Julien on guitar, Zac Casher on drums and Jesse Williams on electric/acoustic upright bass. As always, it is a thrill to listen to and even more thrilling is to be able to share the music of Julien Kasper in my little radio world.

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Lovespirals:Future Past

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The latest release from Lovespirals has me softly speaking to myself and smiling. The slow grooves help me feel like I am skating along carelessly over the ice that sometimes makes its way on our clear travels. The trance sensation produced in this release from Anji Bee and Ryan Lum, is stunningly captivating and a welcomed distraction to listening to music. The down tempo music and vocal temptations seduce the parts of my ears that are connected right to the part of my brain that produces happiness. There are highlight on this album for me personally, “Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flees” right into “Insignificant” really make a set more complete, whereas the opening track “Home” is such a great set starter. This is a classy album that at times I think is even too good for me, but that is why I am so happy to share it with others….I think it’ll find many compatible ear-mates out there.

Bluegrass Blues & More.

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What can you say about the line up other than stellar. The cold outside was no match for what was happening inside the Congress Theater in Chicago, as the 2nd Annual Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival was in full effect. Eddy Clearwater gave me what I was looking for in the way of that true original Chicago Blues styling, been waiting a long time to catch his act, well worth it. The Emmitt Nershi Band has my attention since I started slinging tracks off their new album, they left me with a down-home goodness feeling, that strings like theirs tend to do. I stomped my feet and felt a giant Yee Haw brewing up for most of their set…..reminded me of days by the barn as a youngin’. Dr. Dog was the act i had never seen that was tops on my list for getting a taste of, and i was not disappointed. I can certainly appreciate the direction that the music is taking and I must admit, at times it felt like the music was made entirely for the day that it was being played on. From the “I didn’t see that coming” file, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones with Tuvan Throat Singing group, The Alash Ensemble, doing tracks from their latest holiday release and man, this was something else…no really….the experience made me wonder how the decision was made to intersect these two styles into a holiday festival of it’s very own. The hearty earthy richness of Bela’s Banjo mixed with the soul drenching, hold me captive with that sound, Tuvan Throat singing is a match made for, well, my ears for certain. And well, you know the deal with those Flecktones…the unique spirit they conjure up is at times unexplainable and always worth being there for.

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Slip Slide and Here we go

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After the show, I am heading out to the The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival and my sincere thanks to a musical legend for joining the show today, Mr. Henry Butler phoned in from Florida and we chatted about what’s happening these days and what we might be expecting from him in the near future. Check out how it shaped up this go around…I felt like I had and needed more arms then I am blessed with:

The Lefty Singer- Andrew McPherson
You won’t be Satisfied that way- Carrie Rodriguez (live)
Reptile- 7 Worlds Collide w/Lisa Germano
Bodhisattva Blues-7 Worlds Collide w/Ed O’Brien/Neil Finn
Hold my Feet to the Fire- Ha Ha Tonka
In the Pines- Delaney Davidson
————–
Ooh Baby- Fleetwood Mac
Cherokee Dance- Canned Heat
————–
Chicago Jump- Jimmy Lee Robinson
Dealing w/the Devil-James Cotton w/Joe Louis Walker & Charlie Haden
I’m Good- Magic Slim & the Teardrops w/Bonnie Lee (live)
In the Open- Rev Raven feat. Madison Slim
Duck Walk- Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings (live)
Sweet Home Chicago- Jimmy Rogers All Stars w/Stephen Stills
—————
Basehead- Corey Harris
Ice Rose- Alvin Youngblood Hart
Sweet Inspiration- the Derek Trucks Band
Already Free- the Derek Trucks Band
Workin’ Man Blues- Tommy Emmanuel w/Bob Littell (live)
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Revelation in Blacklight- Bernie Worrell
Time was (events in the Elsewhere)- Bernie Worrell
Soundcheck Jam- Boston Horns
Miami Blues- Akashic Record
Briar Patch- the Link Quartet
Sunday is Sausalito- Out to Lunch
Chupacabra- the Julien Kasper Band
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Sho’ Looks Guilty- the Subdudes
**On air Conversation w/Mr. Henry Butler**
Orleans Inspiration- Henry Butler
Riders on the Storm- Henry Butler
A Winter’s Blues- Henry Butler
Meet da Boys on the Battlefront-Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias
24 hrs/day 365days/year- Dr. John (live)
Light in your Eyes- Clarence Bucaro
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The Ember Love- Super Numeri
Ekitundu Ekisooka- Kronos Quartet
Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flees- Lovespirals
Insignificant- Lovespirals
More & More of your Amor- Nat King Cole/Bitter:Sweet
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Duele Le Le- Zuco 103 feat. Dani Macaco
Usti, Usti Baba- Kocani Orchestar vs Senor Coconut
La Nouba- Cirque du Soleil
Rakim- Dead Can Dance (live)
Forever unanswered- Eccodek
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Celebration- Mark Weinstein & Omar Sosa
Kele Kele(No Passport No Visa)-Justin Adams/Juldeh Camara
Diaraby Magni- Vieux Farka Toure(Yossi Fine as Radiks Remix)
Make your Move- John Brown’s Body feat. Mister Rourke
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Santa Claus- the Waistcoats
Santa’s Pissed off-Andy Dick & the Bitches of the Century
Is Zat you Santa Claus?- Big Bad VooDoo Daddy
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus- the Christmas Jug band w/Angela Strehlit & Maria Muldaur
Ain’t no Chimney’s…-Sharon Jones & the Dapkings feat Binkie Griptite

Baaba Maal-Television

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From Palm Pictures comes Baaba Maal‘s newest effort, “Television”. There is also a few remixes of the title track that are set to make the hips shake….The new album Television features Sabina and Didi of New-York based electro-pop sensation Brazilian Girls, who are often featured on the show. With its subtle blending of Electronic Dance elements & West African musical traditions, this record is a groundbreaking successor to his 2001 release “Missing You”.

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Baaba Maal TELEVISION 2009 Palm

Clarence Bucaro’s New Orleans

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New Orleans, the new release from Clarence Bucaro and brought to us by our friends at Hyena Records is a set of ten songs brought to life by the 28-year-old singer/songwriter’s stunning falsetto vocals infused with the flowing spirit of the Big Easy. The album is named after the city where it was written and recorded and was produced by Anders Osborne and features an outstanding class of musicians, including Kirk Joseph (founding member of Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Doug Belote and Mike Burkhart. Like beads of sweat dripping down ones forehead during a summertime swelter, this album is puddled with romance, despair and the feeling of never letting go of ones youth, it highlights an intense love affair with the enchanting Crescent City as a backdrop…and at times the seducer.

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New Orleans by Clarence Bucaro Hyena Records 2009