Respect what your guitar could do

When I got home from the Tommy Emmanuel show last night at the beautifully renovated Majestic Theater in Madison, I tucked my guitar away and asked it why, and how Tommy could think of those things he does with his very own guitars. I swear he has a couple of spiders or octopus attached to his own hands at times, my gosh can he make magic happen on the stage. When he starts a song, you can actually see the music form around his body as he presents it to the awe-struck people in attendance. When featuring his rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow, I heard tears falling from the crowd…TEARS! In his storied career, including 16 recordings, Tommy has set sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Hank Marvin, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. Whenever and wherever you might get a chance to see or hear Tommy play or create his music, treat yourself to a feeling of “That’s Incredible” and stay for awhile. By the way, my guitar had no answers for me.

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A true class act:Mr. Tommy Emmanuel C.G.P.

Daze without Time Stand Still

Nao Se Apavore- Luca Mundaca
Wa- Kaissa
No Other- Skye
Bring Back the Love- Bebel Gilberto
Feen- Natacha Atlas
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We Love the Herb- Herbal Nation
Sunday Afternoon- Herbal Nation
Rhythm- Street Gangland Rhythms Band
Take it Slow- Boozoo Bajoo
Below Zero- Boozoo Bajoo
the Buzzard & the Lamb- Super Numeri
Cancer for the Cure- Eels
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Bluesette- Hilario Duran & Perspectiva
Acid- Louis Vega presents Percussion Madness
El Garbanzo- Herb Albert’s Tijuana Brass w/MMW
War is a Crime- Antibalas
Gross- Balkan Beat Box
Toura Toura- DJ Cheb i Sabbah
Jaadu-Nicodemus/Osiris(Usta Sultan Khan Remixes)
Nokta- Rachid Taha (live)
Barra Barra- Rachid Taha (live)
The Car Song- the Cat Empire
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Don’t Let me Go- the Pines
Reno- Bruce Springsteen
Grow Room Punk- Dread Clampitt
Sweet Delilah- Sea Dragons
Whole Lotta Money- the Stone Coyotes (live)
Bee of the Bird of the Moth- They Might be Giants
Crawl- Nikki Armstrong
Gnawin’ Bone- Mojo:Saint (live)
Running Blues- Ron Lasalle
Moonshine- North Mississippi AllStars
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Yeah Yeah- Soulive
Calypso Gentle Giant-Family Junction
Glad to be Unhappy- DJ LOGIC (Billie Holiday Remixes)
Moon Song- I, Synthesist
a Mouth of Fingers- Telephone Jim Jesus
Spectres- Arc Lab
Juju Fruit- Billy Martin/G. Calvin Weston
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Bad Weather- A.K.A.C.O.D.
Hypnotized- A.K.A.C.O.D.
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Lucky Dube remembered

The staff of Gallo Record Company are devastated by the news of the tragic passing of reggae legend Lucky Dube. Lucky was slain in an attempted hijacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg last night, at approximately 8pm, whilst dropping off his children at a family members house. Although Lucky attempted to escape the scene, he had been fatally wounded from the hijacker’s attempt to steal his motor vehicle, and he died almost instantly.
Senseless and random, the death of Lucky Dube leaves a great void in the music industry, as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy. South African born but globally revered, Lucky Dube was one of the country’s most toured and beloved artists ever. His music touched millions around the world, primarily through his 22 recorded albums – in Zulu, English and even Afrikaans – many of which have been record breakers with phenomenal sales from around the globe. As a frontline artist in the reggae genre, Lucky’s creativity and inventiveness kept growing. Compelling in his musicianship and intriguing in his lyrical content, Lucky’s sonic daring to take his genre to new heights never failed to amaze even the most ardent fans, whilst reigning in new devotees to his magic every day. His energetic band toured with him from continent to continent as South African musical ambassadors, and his live performances have earned him fans and accolades the world over. Lucky joined Teal Records (later to become Gallo) as a fresh-faced young Mbaqanga singer in 1982. Five albums later he found a genre that spoke to his soul and changed the way he viewed the world. This genre was Reggae. With his long-time sound engineer and best friend Dave Segal, he created some of the most legendary pieces of reggae music ever recorded, including the tracks Prisoner, Taxman, Slave, Victims, Together As One and Respect – all social anthems that garnered him the adoration of the people of his country – and across the globe.
Lucky was an artist that continued to break international barriers and recently just signed a deal with Warner Music International, securing him album releases across Europe of his latest album Respect. Ivor J. Haarburger, CEO of Gallo Music Group is deeply saddened by the loss. “Lucky was not just an extraordinary artist, he was a personal friend. We go back over twenty years and had both a business and personal relationship. It’s so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically, why?” There are very few words that capture the magnitude of this devastating loss. As a musician, father and colleague, Lucky was one of the most charming, respected, selfless and dedicated people to have lived. He will be sorely missed. Lucky Dube was survived by his new wife Zanele and his 7 children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and his brand new three-month old baby Melokuhle.

Should you wish to send a message of condolence to Lucky’s family, please email Lucky@gallo.co.za or fax on +27 (0) 11 340 9471

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MySpace platform opening up. Finally.

Chris DeWolfe, CEO of MySpace, on stage with his boss of two years, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, finally announced to the world at the Web 2.0 Summit tonight that MySpace will have an open platform “within a couple of months.” After the platform opens to developers, it will open to a subset of users, about two million, to see if the “sandbox” that keeps that platform safe is reliable. Before we all get MySpace apps, we’ll get a catalog of widgets that we can add to your pages. Widgets aren’t apps, though. Of course, there are platforms and there are platforms. It wasn’t clear at all how much of the MySpace social database will be exposed to developers, nor what data MySpace will let developers export to non-MySpace pages. DeWolfe did say, however, that developers will be able to monetize their apps, and that MySpace perhaps will help them sell advertising.

as reported on news.com
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Coming Soon for your EARS…

A.K.A.C.O.D. has created a darkly psychedelic sound that is sensual, cinematic, and otherworldly. They haven’t just said that’s what they will do, THEY WENT OUT AND DID IT! The band features: Bourbon Princess vocalist/bassist Monique Ortiz, Morphine/ Twinemen saxophonist Dana Colley and Binary System/Concussion Ensemble drummer Larry Dersch. The album, which will be officially out in early 2008 is like a walk down city streets in the early early morning hours, the sounds are so damn real and accentuated by the minds still silence that at times the music resonates in places where I have never heard before. The tracks are delightfully low rock in nature with the empty slate factor that allows the listener to attach their own images…far better than any television could produce..EVER. Track one, Happiness is the welcome mat to an adventure at a brand new amusement park, one with dim lights and constant mystery. I believe I have found myself a new favorite song also, Bad Weather, the third track plain and simple does it for me. The permission was granted to do a re-make or in this case, remake the Fleetwood Mac tune from 1970, Hypnotized……if you already dig that tune…just wait until you get a load of this one. Truly Hypnotized!
If you are wondering what the others are looking for, head over to find it first and lead them there.

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thanks to Monique for the early copy of the cd.

Check out my prior conversation with Monique Ortiz here.

Near New Orleans and looking…….

Looking for something to do on the 19th and 20th of October….go check out my friend Sara Wasserman live. On the 19th Sara will be at Blue Nile and on the 20th at Jayne Marie on Cross Lake. Sara is a singer-songwriter whose vocals have captivated audiences everywhere, accompanied by her father, Grammy-winning bassist Rob Wasserman and Los Angeles-based producer/pianist Randy Emata. New Orleans trumpet legend Irvin Mayfield will appear as a special guest. They will perform an evening of Sara’s original songs from her forthcoming debut CD of acoustic soul and blues, as well as classic standards and high moments of musical improvisation. Her upcoming release features collaborations with Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Soulive, and Christian McBride, among others. Sara showcased at SXSW ’07, and her original song “You Got Me” was recently featured on ABC’s hit show “Falcon Beach.” I have a feeling that these are going to be the types of show not to be missed. If you happen to run into Sara or her father, tell them MisterG sent you their way.

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Follow Sara’s voice to feel that smile you needed.

Check out my conversation with Sara a bit ago here.

…and my conversation with her father Rob Wasserman here.

Time to make a Hearty soup.

and to start things off…some music.

Run up Quick- Mama’s Cookin’
Postman- Mama’s Cookin’
Dumb Boy- Telling on Trixie
Tappin’ that Thing- Jas. Mathus & Knockdown South
The Highest Place- Pete Wernick & Flexigrass
I Wish I Knew- Derek Trucks Band (live 10/03)
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Hot One!- A Band of Bees
Gone Faded- Soft
Origins of Man- the Budos Band
Beans for Breakfast- BLKTOP Project
Deck Shoes- the Greyboy Allstars
Heavy Heavy Heavy- Geraldo Pino
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Pressure Drop- Toots & the Maytals
Guvna Dub- Guvna Dub
How Does the Brain Wave?-Baby Elephant w/David Byrne
Supersonic Mind- Minx
Bring Back the Love-Bebel Gilberto w/Brazilian Girls
Music like a Memory- Suphala
KaLuli Groove- Global Drum Project
Under One Groove- Global Drum Project
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We Travel the Spaceways- Sun Ra
Shatt al-Arab- Amir ElSaffar
Mofongo Raincheck- Secertary
Major to Minor- Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (live)
B M F- Skerik
Sun Burns Out- A.K.A.C.O.D.
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Still Love?- Fono
Thrills- Cake
Turn on the Water- the Afghan Whigs
Blank Generation- Richard Hell
Total Destruction to Your Mind- Swamp Dogg
Billy the Kid- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Matchbox- Ike Turner
Do Your Own Little Thing- Issac Hayes
I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl- Nina Simone

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Amir ElSaffar: Two Rivers

The world is my musical oyster for sure. And here is a tasty treat out of Iraq. Two Rivers by Amir ElSaffar is in itself a force created by nature. There is moments of recollection of a region rich in fertile history, and times of sadness and mourning over bloodshed and streams of war pouring into the Tigris and Euphrates after Baghdad ransacked in 1258, ending its Golden Age. This album will perhaps allow you to feel the pain and joys within the Iraqi heart. Armed with a mighty trumpet and a maqam voice, Amir ElSaffar captures moments like a camera and brings them to life, adds a story to attach to that life and with his army of musicians on traditional and non-traditional instrumentation, this release travels over borders into the openness and takes separateness and breathes a sense of unity into its lungs. WE could ALL use a little more unity in our lives??!!

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Pi Recordings 2007

Solo Songs for 6 & 12 string Guitars

Glenn Jones: Against Which the Sea Continually Beats released on the Strange Attractors label is instantly gets across the sounds that are sensitive yet firm, a raw power only found in nature rises off the strings. Beautifully rolling melodies, like a hike through the Maine wilderness, personify the musical trail with the feeling of being there. Since 1989, Glenn Jones has led Boston‘s (go SOX!) “avant-garage” instrumental rock band Cul de Sac, whose musical adventures are documented on nine albums to date. Against Which the Sea Continually Beats, Jones’s second album, is a triumph of acoustic guitar composition, an innovative welding of sound and form. Recorded in Martha’s Vineyard, the peaceful, seafaring setting of this island community inspired these recording sessions, lending an air of tranquility that served as a perfect fit to create such art. The eleven tunes on Against Which the Sea Continually Beats travel from Delta to Appalachia, from classical to a cinematic sort of folk sound in a language that is purely imbued in the artist’s own musical vernacular.

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OFF THE GRID

Twenty Fingers- Louie Zagores
Spanish Castle Magic- Louie Zagores
Intermission Sprinkler- the Influence
Slipping- the Influence
the other Side- Lenny Kravitz w/David Sanborn
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Freedom Raga- Glenn Jones
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Vacation Due- Terry Garland
420 Louis- Leon Stevenson
Pieces- Kito Peters
Stranger- the Subdudes
Street Symphony- the Subdudes
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Mas o Menos- the Budos Band
Mini Kusuto- Colombiafrica
1000 Ways- Zap Mama
Hey Brotha- Zap Mama/Michael Franti
Maa- Debashish Bhattacharya
Nivedan- Anoushka Shankar (Healing the Divide)
Red Sun- Anoushka Shankar
Baros- Jaymz Nylon
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Kinky- Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party
Saturndays- Supermayer
Planet of the Sick- Supermayer
Mushaboom- Feist (Mockey Mix)
Walking on Thin Ice- Ono
Think You Want it- Colette (Fabulous Fab mix)
the Optimist- Stan Harrison
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Deep Six- Oregon
Wizard Sleeve- Charlie Hunter Trio
Chester Bustamante- Cameron Mizell
Electric Worm- Beastie Boys
Off the Grid- Beastie Boys

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Anoushka Shankar in Madison

To experience the Anoushka Shankar Project is to open yourself up to the wonders of mental movement. For this project, Anoushka is joined onstage by: Tanmoy Bose– tabla, Ravichandra Kulur– flute, Leo Dombecki– piano, and Jesse Charnow– drum kit. In 2007 the tour consists of new, acoustic versions of select pieces from Anoushka´s album Rise, new and as yet unrecorded compositions by her, and a showcase of some of her father Ravi Shankar´s finest Raga creations. The fusion of traditional Indian Classical and masterfully arranged audio interpretations featuring a blend of instrumentation, consumes your senses in a timeless moment of rapture. This project is certainly a step into the modern musical times with a strong sense of understanding where people have been drawn in in the past. There is a vision to this music. As with her father Ravi Shankar, the ability to listen and hear have in my humble opinion, placed Anoushka in a position to shape and invent within the structure of music, and create new boundaries for others to gain inspiration from. With a mixing of perspective, reflection and exploration, that magic of the Sitar should aptly be the choice to create these new stories. Sometimes it’s hard to turn the page, but in this case…..who KNOWS what’ll be next….SPEAKING OF…..

I invite you to check out a new project that features Miss Shankar and Karsh Kale.

Also, take a moment and re-visit my conversation with Anoushka about one year ago….ENJOY

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..with Anoushka Shankar 10/5/07

COLOMBIAFRICA THE MYSTIC ORCH.

VOODOO LOVE INNA CHAMPETA LAND is the new release from this riotous Afro-Colombian street sound of Colombia’s Caribbean coast – a powder-keg of rhythms from local slave descendants brewed together with Congolese soukous, Ghanaian highlife, and Nigerian Afro-beat. The Afro-Colombians created their own versions of Congolese soukous, highlife and other modern African rhythms, fusing them with the folklore of the cumbia, bullerengue, chalupa and other Caribbean styles. This fusion, completely unique in its genre, was called Champeta criolla, a movement inspired by popular African music and readapted in Afro-Colombia. This musical project is a dream come true. After many years of hard work, it presents the greatest talents of Afro-Colombian music from the Caribbean coast, alongside their African brothers. This release honours the greatest guitarists of Africa (the Congo in particular), including Diblo Dibala, Caien Madoka, Dally Kimoko and Rigo Star. The famous ‘animateurs’ (popular singers to the soukous rhythm) were also involved. Hadya Koyaute, a member of the group African Divas, took part as a guest from Guinea, and Cameroonian guest drummer Guy Bilong is supremely talented, with a repertoire that spans mandinga to soukous, as well as the makossa of his native land. This production is a journey through the rhythms of Afro-Colombia and Africa, creating a new fusion, building bridges between two traditions, between mother and offspring. From cumbia to soukous, chalupa to Afro-beat, the lumbalú (funerary song) of Palenque to the Sowetan rhythm or South African mbaqanga, the dialogue between drums, guitars and voices could go on for ever. The singers of the Colombiafrica Orchestra — Justo Valdez, Viviano Torres and Luís Towers— have had long careers, creating key pieces in the history of Afro-American music. Throughout their lives they have fought for this new musical genre, Champeta, which is part of the heritage of Africa in Colombia. They are the founders of this rhythm, which we hope one day will spread throughout the world.

Come and enjoy these rhythms for yourself.

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The Battle of Spotsylvania

Today was a beautiful day for a battle…..a civil war reenactment that is. At a local park just outside of Madison city limits, the Union and the Confederate soldiers clashed. In the real event, the fighting started around 4:30 in the morning and lasted after the midnight hour, until the battlefield fell silent. The confederates retreated to a new line of works 800 yards to the rear. Suddenly the silent post midnight air was broken by the sound of a Confederate band playing “The Dead March” from Handel’s Saul, followed by a Union band playing “Nearer My God to Thee“. The Rebel band answered with “The Bonnie Blue Flag” with the South proudly sharing “Dixie Land” and the North ended the concert with “Home, Sweet Home,” which brought a tear to many an eye. The numbers of dead, wounded and captured combined for over 20,000 people for this one evenings battle with the fighting lasting about a weeks or so, with the numbers of those lost upwards to 70,000. The best part for me was that I arrived early and was able to stroll around both camps and pick the brains of the participants, and they were quite convincing in their roles. I learned about the many behind the scene aspects of equipment, artillery and certainly most of interest to me were the people and their facts….

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Almost too heavy to lift…MOCK RAWK!!

Because this is the Mood I am in:

Move Away- the Killers
Pleased to Meet you- Wolfmother
It’s so Easy- Willy DeVille
Beat on the Brat- U2
Do it for the Kids- Velvet Revolver
Sonic Reducer- Dead Boys
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Take it off- the Donnas
Assassins- Whore Du Jour
That Great Love Sound- the Ravenettes
Form a Straight line- Sugar Shack
Summer (in B)- Buck-o-Nine
60 Revolutions- Gogol Bordello
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The Small Hours- Metallica
Hey Joe- Body Count
Testify- Rage Against the Machine
Mic Check- Rage Against the Machine
Horny in a Hearse- Nekromantix
Flowers are Slow- Nekromantix
Flaming Cheese- Red Elvises (live)
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Tummy Tum Tum- the Dollyrots
Sybil Vane was ill- Girl in a Coma
Cold War- the Charms
The Wolf- the Charms
Baby Blue- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
I Drink- Southern Crush

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Who Knew Charlie Shoe?

This is the title of the new release by guitarist Richard Leo Johnson and percussionist Gregg Bendian (known as the leader of The Mahavishnu Project and Interzone. Off the mind bending CUNEIFORM RECORDS label, these artists work with “junk” percussion, cheap guitars purchased off eBay, field recordings and simple tape effects to make a down home, psychedelic good time listen. Not only are the instruments odd and varied, but the genres are explored from jazz, blues, folk and a dab of classical at times are compellingly maneuvered within and around one another. You can here so many of Johnson’s influences in this release, from Ralph Towner, Burt Ives, Robert Fripp, Delta and Piedmont blues, American and Japanese folk and minimalism all get a chance to shine through the notes. This album is filled with eccentric tunings, awesome sound manipulations and the great presence of the guitar have you lifted out of your shoes and flexing your ears to get a complete listen, it is one to listen to over and over. This album could seriously have you pushing your favorite records aside and bring emotional connections to Jimi Hendrix and John McLaughlin back with a simple push on the play button.

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A definite Must Have…IMHO

David Byrne to release Knee Plays on CD

“In the future, there will be so much going on that no one will be able to keep track of it,” David Byrne says during the final song from The Knee Plays, a series of vignettes backed by brass band orchestrations composed in 1985 for Robert Wilson’s opera the CIVIL warS. Perhaps this prediction is best applied to the “Rennaisance Man of Rock” himself, who – in the span of a single week – will soon host an event dedicated to New York Bikers (Oct 6) and contribute to a public discussion with evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller (Oct. 10). And on Oct. 30, the very Knee Plays that doubt us will be available on CD, courtesy of Nonesuch, for the first time. Originally conceived as interludes for a multinational, six-part work inspired by Matthew Brady’s American Civil War photography, intended for use during 1984 Olympic Games, featuring music from Philip Glass and other composers, Music For The Knee Plays was eventually released on vinyl after Wilson’s opus failed to transpire in its entirety. However, Byrne performed the largely instrumental pieces a handful of times, with one London concert recorded by the BBC and — happily yet probably illegally — available almost in full on YouTube. Here’s play four, titled “Social Studies,” in which he considers the effects of stealing other people’s groceries.
According to Talking-Heads.net, the liner notes for Knee Plays states “This music was inspired by the Dirty Dozen Jazz Band of New Orleans” — a claim more apparent on songs like “In the Upper Room.” The upcoming CD will include eight unreleased cuts and a DVD with 400 black & white photographs of the production by JoAnn Verburg.

Music for the Knee Plays track list:

1. “Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)”
2. “In the Upper Room”
3. “The Sound of Business”
4. “Social Studies”
5. “(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down”
6. “Theadora Is Dozing”
7. “Admiral Perry”
8. “I Big You Goodnight”
9. “Things To Do (I’ve Tried)”
10. “Winter”
11. “Jungle Book”
12. “In the Future”
13. “Tree (Reprise)” (previously unreleased)
14. “I’ve Tried (Things To Do)” (previously unreleased)
15. “Tic Toc 2 (In the Future)” (previously unreleased)
16. “Whisper” (previously unreleased)
17. “Misterias” (previously unreleased)
18. “Faust Dance” (previously unreleased)
19. “Ghost” (previously unreleased)
20. “Super Natural” (previously unreleased)

A few more before the real show

Zona Mona- Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Shuba Yatra- Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Ralph’s Banjo Special- D. Grisman/S. Bush
From the Bottom up- Dayna Kurtz
Midnight Man- the Allman Brothers
Christy Leigh- Pedro Arevalo & Friends
Nebula- Intergalactic Transmitter
No Better Way- Donna Jean & the Tricksters (live)
High Guy- David Gans
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Good Luck Chuck- the Dandy Warhols
Bela Lugosi’s Dead- Bauhaus
Crystallize It- Strings of Consciousness
In a Hole- Brazz Tree
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Yako- the Afromotive
Envy no Good- Mercury Dana Band
Sweeper Soul- Super Mambo 69
Baba- Global Drum Project
Bamana Niya- Toubab Krewe (live)
7 Seconds- Youssou N’Dour/Neneh Cherry
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Softly as in a Morning Sunrise- Bring Back Pluto
Golden Isles Groove- Skeebo Knight
Technicolor Nightmare- Christian McBride
NY:Insane Inside the City- Stan Harrison
Baby Elephants n’ Thangs- Baby Elephants w/George Clinton
Ghetto Street- DumpstaPhunk (live)
Don’t Mess With Mr. T- James Taylor Quartet

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re-FLECK-ting on the Flecktones show.

What can be said that hasn’t been….for me, the show usually begins when Victor Wooten gets his bass some “alone time” on stage. Not to disappoint, this bass space was far-reaching, oft-exploratory and bone-a-fide funky at times. Jeff Coffin kept reminding me why sax is so damn good. Just imagine the Flecktones without it. Yeah, I agree. Where o’ Where are you tonight….Futureman is one cool cat (check out my past interview with Roy Wooten) with his unique blending of percussive magic from this world and beyond I found myself happily lost from thoughts other than “the moment” while he worked his art in front of our eyes. Speaking of right in front of our eyes, Bela Fleck can make his fingers appear like they wiggle and jive right in front of you, wherever you sit or stand at a show. He not only uses those banjo strings to play to us, but thankfully has found a way to use those strings to bring us to the music…with so much to take out of a Flecktones show, I really got a kick out of the rendition of the BeatlesCome Together“, just so perfectly true on that night.

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