Star Birth

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The final portion of this week’s proGram knew when the moments were its first firsts:

Believe In This- The Expert
Ravensdale- The Expert
Final Steps- The Expert
~~
Ti-Petard Allard- Mélisande [électrotrad]
Smoke In C Minor- Claudio Scolari Project
~
Ice Age- Don Karate
~~~
De La Kufi- Brother Ali Ft. Talib Kweli
**pre-recorded conversation with Brother Ali**
Red- Brother Ali Ft. Evidence
Greatest That Never Lived- Brother Ali
~~
In In In- Zebra Katz
~~
Black Moon- Calibro 35 Ft. MEI
Fake It Till You Make It- Calibro 35
1937- Bossacucanova & Roberto Menescal
Vou Nessa- Bossacucanova & Roberto Menescal

These Colors Are There

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he middle portion of the proGram sees what is not always seen. Just keep on looking…keep yourself cooking and take a a moment to observe:

Fight Am Finish- Antibalas
All You Need Is Air- London Afrobeat Collective
Walk Alone- London Afrobeat Collective
~
The Hills- Shamarr Allen
~
Go Crazy- G. Love & Special Sauce Ft. Keb’ Mo’
***pre-recorded conversation with G. Love***
SoulBQue- G. Love & Special Sauce Ft. Roosevelt Collier
~~
Did Mark Murphy Believe In UFOs- Tony Adamo
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Ma’at (Each Man)- Jah9
greenarrowradio/Just Give Dem The Light (World Premiere Promo)– MC ZULU
Just Give Dem The Light- MC ZULU
Blaze- IllBilly Hitec Ft. Kinetical & Parly B)
State of Emergency (RSD Dub)- IllBilly Hitec Ft. Longfingah/Lady N
~~
Generation X- Werkha
C.O.N.F.O.R.M.- DJ Shadow Ft. The Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker & Infamous Taz
Been Used Ta- DJ Shadow Ft. Pusha T

Still In Use

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The first portion of today’s proGram reminded us that even if it look done, there’s plenty who still can find a reason for it:

Roll On Blues- Sideline
Twister’s Devil Dance- Sideline
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Mother Lover- Angel Forrest
Looking Glass- Angel Forrest
Strange Train- Robert Randolph (live PASTE studio 12/4/2019)
Joy Bells Ringing- Robert Randolph (live PASTE studio 12/4/2019)
Soul Drop- Dave Specter Ft. Liquid Soul Horns
~
We’ve Got The Music- Southern Avenue
Keep On- Southern Avenue
***pre-recorded conversation with Ori Naftaly of Southern Avenue**
Switchup- Southern Avenue
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Playafool- Shakewell
Sex Machine- Jack Mack & The Heart Attack (live Centennial Park ATL 1996)
~
Loumandja- Lakou Mizik Ft. Jon Cleary
Lakou Mizik Grann- Lakou Mizik Ft. Lost Bayou Ramblers
~~~
Elf On The Shelf (2019 Rent-A-car remix)- Elf On The Shelf

Sharing That Juice With G Love

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G. Love & Special Sauce is a three member alternative, blues, hip hop band originally from Philadelphia. G. Love proudly describes himself as a road dog who “will be touring until I fall off the earth” and plans to keep on pushing with Special Sauce from stage to stage. Whether Love Saves The Day makes one dollar or a million isn’t a big concern to him. It stands as a huge success because he made the gritty, honest album that he intended by “keeping it raw, keeping it immediate, keeping it real.” It’s an approach that he has honed over the years: “be original and be true to what you do.”

A longtime friend of the proGram, Garrett A.K.A. G. Love will be heading back to Madison on January 9th at the Majestic Theater with Shamarr Allen. Over the years, Garrett and I have talked many times, about many albums and upcoming shows (and defintely some hoops). This time we get into his soon to be released album “The Juice” produced by Keb’ Mo’ and put out there by his very own “Philadelphonic Records” imprint. We dive into that relationship and how the tweaks of working differently on a new project can take off in n upward direction. It was exciting to hear (and sounded exciting for Garrett to say) how this project changed him as a songwriter and after a few listens, I can easily hear that extra “juice” on these new tracks. We talk about collaborating and collaborators, recent nuptials and no plans on retiring now. Find out what three tracks off the new release Garrett would pack into a set-list for you and just what is “The Juice” anyways……here’s a hint….we all have it.

Photo: Kaelan Barowsky via G. Love

Southern Avenue Brings Many Shades of Blue

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On their self-titled 2017 Stax Records debut album, the boundary-breaking Memphis group Southern Avenue sparked a one-band musical revolution, embodying an effortlessly organic soul/blues/R&B fusion that reflects the band members’ diverse roots as well as their deep commitment to their own style. On their second album Keep On, set for released inn May via Concord Records, the dynamic outfit expands its gritty musical vision to embrace new musical challenges and a more expansive creative vision and includes guest appearances by Stax legend William Bell and renowned bass player Marc Franklin, to help flesh things out.. Combining the talents of a set of young musicians who bring their individual backgrounds and skill sets to create music that carries the Southern soul legacy into the 21st century, Southern Avenue showcases the powerful chemistry and electrifying live show that they’ve honed through extensive stage and studio experience. Since the release of their debut, Southern Avenue has played in over a dozen countries and wowed audiences at such festivals as Bonnaroo, Firefly, Electric Forest and Lockn’.

I had an opportunity to speak with the bad’s guitarist Ori Naftaly ahead of their January 17th event at the Majestic Theater toGether with North Mississippi Allstars. Ori and I paint the picture of who will be giving what on that evening. We do a compare and contrast between the 2017 self titled album and the hot new release and how they both took shape and form. It is easy to talk about making unique music with many artists but I found it really interesting to hear how Ori finds the band’s sound influences the listeners around the globe versus when it is shared around the Mississippi River areas. Ori and the band are super excited to be out on the road officially with NMAS for a few dates and he opens the door to the information that they are working on a couple of new tracks with Luther and Cody. Stay tuned in!!!!

Photo by: David_McClister

Feel The Real With Brother Ali

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Over the past 20 years, Brother Ali has earned wide critical acclaim for his deeply personal, socially conscious, and inspiring brand of hip-hop. Under Rhymesayers Entertainment, he’s unleashed a series of lauded projects, establishing himself as one of the most respected independent voices in music. His latest and surprise release ‘Secrets & Escapes’ is a compendium of his time with Evidence over the course of three trips to California, recording in a Venice garage with no regard for pleasing the internet or competing with the music industry. Ev chopped up records on old-school samplers and ran them through a compressor (2 track) so they couldn’t be re-arranged or mixed. Brother Ali sat with the mic and spit rhymes as they came to him, without writing or organizing them into songs. Ev smoked a lot of weed, Ali prayed a lot, and their influences on each other can be heard in the recordings. Every time they made something that reminded them of what they’ve become known for, they threw it away and started something new. Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and CS Armstrong all came through to bless the project with contributions too. This album is two friends making rap music for no other reason than because it’s what they love to do

I had the pleasure of chatting with Brother Ali ahead of his 12/18 stop back “home” in Madison at the Majestic Theater. We get into what someone unfamiliar with him can expect from that evening, the range of emotion and celebration that one feels at his shows is vast. We get into the seed to flower of his latest release and how it all of a sudden was there…..contrary to the process of creating it. I think the one thing that rings true when you listen to Brother Ali in this conversation, is the reality of the real and the feelings we feel can be done in your way, this is his.

Blink Of The Eye

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The final portion of the proGram held the lens still until the moment when the eyes did their own thing:

Badger Parade- The Expert
Suede Shoulders- The Expert
Profiteroles- The Expert
~~
Louisiana Sky- The John Popper Project Ft. DJ Logic
Who Am I?- DJ Logic
***pre-recorded conversation with DJ Logic***
Tih Gnob- DJ Logic
French Quartet- DJ Logic
Glad to Be Unhappy (DJ Logic Remix)- Billie Holiday
~~~
Dark Side of the Heart- DJ Shadow Ft. Fantastic Negrito & Jumbo Is Dr.Ama
Rain On Snow- DJ Shadow Ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
H2o- Leaf Erikson Ft. Blue Raspberry
~~
Eleven Toes- Masok
Maybe Not- Masok
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I’ll Put Pants On- Horne Electric band
He Fixes The Cable- Horne Electric band
~~
Invasion- Death By Dub

Is This Your Moon?

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The second portion of the proGram looked to the starts for all the questions:

Big Easy Dreams- The Eminent Stars
Let’s Stay Together- The Eminent Stars
Just One Taste- The Eminent Stars
~
Something About Ya- Jack Mack And The Heart Attack (live Centennial Park ATL 1996)
Shades Of McSoul- Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
Sunny- Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
~~
George Washington- Joe Marcinek Band Ft. George Porter Jr. & Melvin Seals (live at the Fox)
***pre-recorded conversation with Joe Marcinek***
Lovelight- Joe Marcinek Band Ft. Melvin Seals & George Porter Jr. (live at the Fox)
~~
Here We Go-The Mighty Mocambos Ft. Mocambo Kidz
Stronger- The Mighty Mocambos Ft. Jswiss
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Holiday Breakdown ’09- Binky Griptite
8 Days of Hannukah- Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Every Day Is Christmas (When I’m Lovin’ You)- Charles Bradley Ft. Menahan Street Band
Santa’s Got a Bag of Soul- The Poets of Rhythm
You’re a Mean One Mister Grinch- Cliff Beach & the MB’s

Where The Ice Drips

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The first portion of the regularly scheduled proGram met the water to it’s solid form:

Anywhere Is Everywhere- Hello Forever
The Dreidel Song- Five Star Iris
Forgot Mrs Claus- Ben Levin
Feliz Navidad- Los Lobos
~~
You’ll See- Cass Clayton Band
Homesick Sunnyland Special- Homesick James
Special Agent- Andrew “Blueblood” McMahon
Just In Case That You Git A Case- Clyde Lasley
Somebody Changed The Lock- Willie Williams
~
Ponchatoula Way- Dave Specter
The Noisiest Toy- Michele D’amour and the Love Dealers
You Can’t Fight Love- Mike Mattison
That Makes Two of Us- Mike Mattison
~
The Reverend- The Funkstamatics
24th/7- Re:Funk
If You Want Me To Stay- Trulio Disgracias

The Ceiling Of Art

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Had a pre-show “G” show airing out some music that needed to be on in the moment it found. We looked up and heard these:

Stratification (Carmen Rizzo Remix)- Naneum
Driving- Polica
This Feeling- Gabriel Mervine
~~
Roots Of K (Martin Meissonnier Reconstruction)- Konono Nº1
Il ne faut pas intervenir (Martin Meissonnier Reconstruction)- Sankayi
~
Tenere Maloulat- Tinariwen Ft. Warren Ellis
Amalouna- Tinariwen Ft. Noura Mint Seymali & Stephen O’Malley
~~
Tunnel Drive- Sonar Ft. David Torn
Do It Again- The Janitors
~~~
Between Wars- Cro Mags
Pelo Suelto- Fea
Mother- Courtney Love

Getting A Sample With DJ Logic

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The theorem of turntablist as musician has been long proven in the capable hands of DJ Logic, whom with jazz as his foundation has become a wax innovator by crossing genres and mixing his sound across the map. As one of the world’s most accomplished turntablists, Logic is widely credited for introducing jazz into the hip–hop realms and is considered by most as a highly-respected session musician and an innovative bandleader. Since his emergence in the early nineties amidst the Bronx hip-hop scene, the New York City based deejay has been amassing a veritable mountain of collaborations, including a full-fledged band with members of Blues Traveler (The John Popper Project ft. DJ Logic), a trio with Steve Molitz & Freekbass (Headtronics), a jazz project with Georgian prodigy Beka Gochiasvili, and as a member of Grammy-winning Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s The Offense of the Drum album. He also has a long list of other collaborations with artists ranging from the likes of Bob Weir, John Mayer, Medeski Martin and Wood, Christian McBride, Carly Simon, Marcus Miller, Vernon Reid, Warren Haynes, Charlie Hunter, Jack DeJohnette, Ben Harper, Mos Def, The Roots, Bernie Worrell, Bill Laswell, Melvin Gibbs, Fred Wesley, Sean Kuti and many more. Logic and his role as an electronic-music ambassador keeps him at the top of his game. Whether the scratch artist instructs tablas to flirt with drum ‘n’ bass (such as on his Nina Simone and Billy Holiday remixes found on Sony Legacy’s Remixed and Reimagined volumes), meshes free styling MC’s with Afro-Cuban rhythms (such as on ‘Share Worldwide Funk’ – a remix produced for Jack DeJohnette and Golden Beams Collected, Volume 1), or remixes tracks for rock bands such as Moon Taxi, DJ Logic can always be found paying homage to his predecessors while contributing his vision to the deejay genre.

I had the chance to catch up with Logic before he heads to Madison on January 9th to mix it up at the High Noon Saloon. We get into what newcomers can expect, how he chooses both his samples and his collaborators as well what he thinks they see in him as a musical partner. If you are wondering if there is new music coming at you from Logic in 2020, we will have an answer for you!!

In This Moment With Joe Marcinek

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Joe Marcinek Band is an experience you will never forget. That is because each show features a different lineup of musicians creating a different set of music every night you see the band on the billing. The music is equal parts Chicago Blues, New Orleans Funk, Grateful Dead Psychedelia, and Jazz Fusion! Joe tours nationally from New York to LA and everywhere in between. Most of the lineups will only happen one time making every night a can’t miss show.

The group has featured many prominent special guests including Bernie Worrell (P-Funk, Talking Heads), Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), George Porter JR (The Meters), Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Alan Evans (Soulive), Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk, Dave Mathews & Friends), Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy, Kirk Franklin), Allen Aucoin (the Disco Biscuits), Marty Sammon (Buddy Guy), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident / EOTO), Erik “Jesus” Coomes (Lettuce), Borahm Lee (Break Science), Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Mike Greenfield (Lotus), Borham Lee (Break Science), Steve Molitz (Phil Lesh & Friends / Particle) Joey Porter (The Motet / Juno What), Fareed Haque, Scott Metzger, Nate Werth (Snarky Puppy) Garrett Sayers (The Motet) Allie Kral (Yonder Mountain String Band), Freekbass, Vinnie Amico and Jim Loughlin (moe.)

I had a chance to catch up with our brother Joe ahead of the 12/28 show here in Madison at The Harmony Bar & Grill. We get into what someone who has yet to see what he’s doing can expect from this show and the other shows he is a part of. We find out who will be in the rotating line-up here in Madison and we dive deep into the reasons for the limited time releasing of his live show at the Fox with 2 special guests and just why it is dubbed: “Dead Funk Summit”. Don’t miss out, earGrab Joe’s music and scene wherever/however and whenever.

Nice Butternut Squash Soup

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Did a little extra open schedule set after the regularly scheduled proGram. Was tasty like that:

Unstable Memory- Still Moving
Heroes- Becc Sanderson Sextet
~~~
For All Its Fury: X. Press- Third Coast Percussion
Partitions- Sonar Ft. David Torn
~
Mousa Azure- Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive
**pre-recorded conversation with Adam Rudolph**
Glare Of The Tiger- Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive
~
Kachucha- Roberto Fonseca Ft. Ibrahim Maalouf
Britches Brew- Ada Rovatti & Randy Brecker
ORDR- Jon Batiste (Live at the Village Vanguard)
Work- Chick Corea Trio (live)
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Thumpin’ ‘n’ Bumpin’- The Fat Babies
One For The Woofer- Dave Miller Trio
Downtime- Joey Alexander

Lights Action

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The final portion of the regularly scheduled proGram might be a little EARly but if it helps the right path to be seen, maybe there’s only time:

Stan Lee- Calibro 35 Ft. Illa J
Gotta Give It Away (If You’re Gonna Keep It)- Swatkins
Breakin’ Down the Walls- Jack Mack And The Heart Attack (Live:Centennial Park, Atlanta, 1996)
What If You Knew- Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Live at Paste Studio: July 31, 2019)
~~
Renmen- Lakou Mizik Ft. Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Stop Talking- London Afrobeat Collective
Stepping Back In Time- Bassel & the Supernaturals
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Blue Bossa- Bossacucanova & Roberto Menescal
Laudir’s Theme- Bossacucanova & Roberto Menescal
Wake Up (Remix)- Dawn Drake Ft. Chico Mann & Geoff Mann
~~~
Fast And Last- Claudio Scolari Project
Upside Road- Claudio Scolari Project

What’s Behind The Fence

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The second portion of the proGram revealed what was that sound coming from the space the path led to:

Chopping Block- Neal Casal & Kenny Roby
Squirrel Song- Neal Casal & Kenny Roby
Is This Thing Working- Hard Working Americans (live Warren’s Benefit Concert Vol. 16)
~~
Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love- Sylvia Black Ft. Lydia Lunch
Murder By Numbers- Juliana Hatfield
Ya See- Fea
Time To Run- Only Child Tyrant
King Of Kong- Only Child Tyrant
Monkey Box- Only Child Tyrant
~~~
The Time For Peace is Now- Fantastic Shadows
We Got A Race To Run- Staples Jr. Singers
There’s a New Day Coming- Menahan Street Band
Tommy Don’t- Menahan Street Band
~
Movin’ On- Cliff Beach (live)
Angel Of The Morning- Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
Sweet and Salty- The Eminent Stars
Lowdown- Crowd Company

Where Tree Meets Earth

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The first portion of this week’s proGram was the start of a perfect place to meet:

All Babies Must Cry- Rhiannon Giddens & Sxip Shirey
La Murga- Los Lobos
~~
I’m Tore Down- Little Mack Simmons
Hello Baby- Arlean Brown
She Got That Jive- Sunnyland Slim
The Blues Ain’t Nothin’- Dave Specter Ft. Jorma Kaukonen
~
That’s A Pretty Good Love- Diane Blue
Same Old Blues- Diane Blue
Chicago To Memphis- Misty Blues
Flowers At My Feet- Cass Clayton Band
~
Same Old Game- Albert Castiglia
How In The Devil- Steve Marriner
Father- North Mississippi All Stars
~
Too Much Monkey Business- Luther Dickinson
Havana Moon- Sonny Landreth

Rope That Dope

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The final portion of the Thursday fill in proGram wondered what this was doing being left behind:

Turn On Your Lovelight- Jane Lee Hooker
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window- Joe Cocker Ft. The Memphis Horns (live 10/5/89)
Gobble Gobble- Mustapha and the Turkeys (live from the farm)
~~
Gratitude- Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric
Release- Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric
All Apologies- Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric
~
Jungle- Jimi Hendrix (11/14/69) ft. Buddy Miles
Things I Used To Do- Jimi Hendrix
~
You Never Can Tell- Robben Ford
Promise Land- Tinsley Ellis
I’ve Git To Ride- Candye Kane/Laura Chavez

A Plate Of Thanks

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The middle portion of the extra helping Thursday radio proGram had all the sides in order and talk of all people having a full plate and belly:

Gimme Your Love- Mike Mattison
Bastille Day- Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas
On Fire- JJ Grey & Mofro
~
So Fine- Sol
Stank- Sol
Give Me The Night- Melvin Sparks
Honey Burger’s Grill ”New Mix- Skeebo Knight
NY Soul Brew- Gridline
~
Make A Change- Durand Jones & The Indications
Change- Mavis Staples
I Don’t Wanna Wait- Kelly Finnigan
~
Itta Bena Funk- The Memphis Horns
Flame Out- The Memphis Horns
19 20 21- King Johnson
Baby, Get It On- Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers

Kept On Ice

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Did a little Thursday extra helping of radio. Whatever was cookin’ sure was well done and hit the spot:

Democracy- Leonard Cohen (live in London)
~~
You Are My Sunshine- Yusuf Ft. Tinariwen
Rehab- Keller & The Keels
That Ain’t Right (Gibby Phones It In Mix)- Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks Ft. Gibby Haynes
~~
Folsom Prison Blues- Hot Tuna (live)
Coo Coo- Big Brother & The Holding Company Ft. Janis Joplin (live 1968)
Expressway (To Your Heart)- Merl Saunders & Friends
Sunshine Of Your Love- Ginger Baker’s Air Force
~
Can’t You See- Paul Riddle & Friends Ft. Warren Haynes/Jack Pearson/Oteil Burbridge/Danny Louis (live)
Keep On Growing- Tedeschi Trucks Band (live)
~~
Die Alone- Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Ft. Lucius
Blind Bats And Swamp Rats- Gregg Allman
Everything a Good Man Needs- Scott Sharrard Ft. Taj Mahal
The Mystery of Mr. Eads- The Marcus King Band

Feeling Ragmala With Adam Rudolph

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For the past four decades composer, improviser/percussionist/moment creator Adam Rudolph has performed extensively in concert throughout North & South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He has been hailed as “a pioneer in world music” by the NY Times and “a master percussionist” by Musician magazine. He has released over twenty five recordings under his own name, featuring his compositions and percussion work. Adam composes for his ensembles Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures, Hu: Vibrational percussion group, and Go: Organic Orchestra, an eighteen to fifty four piece group for which he has developed an original music notation and conducting system. He has taught and conducted hundreds of musicians worldwide in the Go: Organic Orchestra concept. In 1995 Rudolph premiered his opera The Dreamer, based on the text of Friedreich Nietzsche’s “The Birth of Tragedy”. Adam has performed with Don Cherry, Jon Hassell, Sam Rivers, Pharaoh Sanders, L. Shankar, A.A.C.M co-founders Fred Anderson and Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith, and Omar Sosa. He has toured extensively and recorded 15 albums with Yusef Lateef including duets and their large ensemble compositional collaborations. Between his beginnings of sharing his musical creations to the very moment of reading this word, Adam is combining so many factors of living and life into the living being of sound. He is able to connect many rhythms and grooves together through the relationships with the people, the places and the knowledge he has been able to soak in and forge a path forward with blends of the this and then and the then and now.

Adam is more than a friend of the proGram. The way he does what he does is exactly how I feel themusic I get. When I say get, I man that gets me. This time around we are discussing his latest project: “Ragmala: A Garland Of Ragas” with his Go: Organic Orchestra and Brooklyn Raga Massive. We get into how these two musical energies got together to create this latest release, and how it works. We take a look inside a couple of the latest moments of evolution of tracks familiar to the ear and how intuition, integrity and worldly knowledge help in piecing or is that “PEACE-ing” it all together. We also discuss how such an expansive project of many is able to be performed in a live setting, and an upcoming December 13th concert. I always feel like my mind’s ear has been opened just a little wider after talking with Adam, and this time is no exception. As you listen in, you’ll understand. I also wanted to point out the fantastic and perfectly chosen art that accompanies this double record release (and some other release of Adam’s) by the artist, Nancy Jackson . I am proud to be apart of all that Adam does and the honor of bringing all this art to the listeners keeps me feeling real.