Steven Sapp of “Universes”

Heading to the stage of the Capitol Theater in the Overture Center for the Arts on Friday, May 2nd at 8pmCST is “Universes: Live from the Edge”. I had the opportunity to kick back with one of the founding members of Universes, artist Steven Sapp. Universes is an ensemble Company of multi-disciplined writers and performers who fuse Poetry, Theater, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Politics, Down Home Blues and Spanish Boleros to create moving, challenging and entertaining theatrical works. The group breaks the bounds of traditional theater to create their own brand, inviting old and new generations of theater crafters as well as the theater goers and new comers to reshape the face of American Theater. Take a moment and check out what Steven has to say about this show, a cool moment in Chile and Justin Timberlake(?)!!

Listen to our conversation here.

universes.jpg

Who is Bobby Ricketts?

Well, as you will learn in this conversation, Bobby Ricketts found himself while working on his latest release, Skin to Skin for Third Wave Entertainment. Phoning in from Copenhagen, the beginning of our talk is a little technologically off, but that goes away in no time. We discuss Skin to Skin in slight depth, making sure to leave a lot of room for the potential listeners to explore it on their own, Bobby plans for tours and travels, and I had to find out just how he produced such a sexy album! If you have skin, I am thinking this album is for you and for you to share with that someone you love who has the skin for you.

Check out my conversation with Bobby Ricketts here.

skintoskin.jpg

Victor Wooten takes a moment

The day after his newest solo album, Palmystery was released on Heads Up and his book, The Music Lesson was released by Berkley Publishing Group/ A Division of The Penguin Group USA — I had the chance to discuss the new album/book and the tour which makes its way to Madison at the Barrymore on April 11 with Victor Wooten. We know VICTAH as an innovator and a Flecktone but this album is an eye opener and keeps it so real that you might just have to check with yourself after listening. During our conversation, we discuss the report that Marcus Miller gave us earlier that he, Victor and Stanley Clarke are working on somethings together and I think you’ll be surprised by the response.

Check out my time w/Victah here.
victah.jpg

palmystery.jpg

Bonerama’s Craig Klein

Just when you think it can’t get any funkier around here….Bonerama (pronounced Bone-a-Rama) will bring it home at the Overture Center for the Arts on Friday March 28th. I had the pleasure of talking with Co-founder of the group, Craig Klein about what to expect from a live show, the new album as well as a few other interesting pieces of Bonerama info. When they struts on-stage with their four-trombone frontline…it’s not quite like any rock ‘n’ roll band you’ve seen. When they tear into some vintage New Orleans funk, there’s no questioning from which city these guys hail. And when those ’bones start ripping into Hendrix and Led Zeppelin licks, all stylistic bets are off. Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They’re not a traditional brass band, but they’ve got brass to spare-even with no trumpets or saxes in sight. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song…just the reason I will be having myself a Bonerama of a Friday night.

Check out my conversation with Craig here.

bonerama.jpg
thanks to Amy & Abi & Craig for their time.

Cee Know the Doodlebug

Check out my on air conversation with Cee Know the Doodlebug of Digable Planets name and fame. We have been working on setting something up for a bit and now was the present, no time like it. We discuss a few upcoming and recent projects, things I have been spinning for sometime now as well as what’s in the works possibly with Digable. Also, check in on what Doodlebug thinks about Sun Ra.

Listen to MisterG and Doodlebug’s conversation here.

Hit up the Cosmic Funk All Stars here.

Check out Deviants of Reality here.

Check out DJ Alex here.

ceedd.jpg

Talkin’ bout “Marcus”

It is an honor for me to be able to bring to you a conversation with Mr. Marcus Miller, as he just released a special album entitled “Marcus“. Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album of 2001, spent a few years as a top call New York studio musician, working with Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Grover Washington Jr., Bob James and David Sanborn, among others. He has appeared as a bassist on over 400 records including recordings by artists as diverse as Joe Sample, McCoy Tyner, Mariah Carey, Bill Withers, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, Frank Sinatra, and LL Cool J. In 1981, he joined his boyhood idol Miles Davis and spent two years on the road with the fabled jazzman, in 1986, he collaborated again with Miles Davis, producing the landmark Tutu album, the first of three Davis albums he would produce. He has also produced Al Jarreau, the Crusaders, Wayne Shorter, Take 6, Chaka Khan, and Kenny Garrett among others, and Luther Vandross. The list of credits goes on for miles (couldn’t resist), but the man behind the music is as bona-fide as the music itself. Please take a moment a listen to us discuss the new album, some moments with Mr. Miles Davis as well as some information on a rare track I happened to find myself in possession of.

Check out my conversation with Mr. Marcus Miller here.

marcusalbum.jpg

the Optimist Stan Harrison

I had a chance to speak with Stan Harrison about his new album, the Optimist as well as where he has been able to draw his inspirations, and even a quick word about his work with They Might be Giants. Stan has performed with and/or appeared on albums by some of music’s most respected bands/singers (including David Bowie, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Duran Duran, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and many more…) But it’s with ‘The Optimist‘ that we get more of a sense of who Stan Harrison has become. I am glad to bring this conversation to some of you not familiar with the man and his music and invite you to kick back and enjoy.

Click to listen to my conversation w/Stan Here.

stanharrison2.jpg

Let us get LOGIC!

So I was just sitting there minding my own business….yeah right!!! We had a special guest phone in live on the program this week….DJ LOGIC. He was in town playing a nearby festival and greenarrowradio was the beneficiary of a moment of his free time. We make time to talk about several new projects including the John Popper Project feat. Logic, as well as the new work being accomplished with Kyle Hollindsworth of String Cheese and Speech from Arrested Development being called Soleside. We even get a moment to discuss the new Billie Holiday remix he had the honor of working on. So, like I said….I was just sitting there minding my mind, making thirsty ear holes fill up and Waaa-BAM!!…I was LOGIC-I-FIED…and now it’s your turn too.

Here the LOGIC right here.

DJLogic.jpg
thanks to Diane at DP public relations for all her work!

Genius Hurts: Ask Dan Hicks.

Throughout his decades-long career, Mister Dan Hicks stood as one of contemporary music’s true eccentrics. While steeped in folk, his acoustic sound knew few musical boundaries, drawing on country, call-and-response vocals, jazz phrasing, and no small amount of humor to create a distinctive, albeit sporadic, body of work which earned him a devoted cult following. He attended college in San Francisco, where he switched to guitar and began playing folk music. He returned to the drums, however, when he joined the Charlatans, one of the Bay City’s first psychedelic bands. Although the Charlatans were short-lived — they issued only one single during their existence — they proved influential throughout the San Francisco musical community and were one of the first acts to play the legendary Family Dog. formed the acoustic group Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks in 1968 as an opener for the Charlatans, but soon the new band became his primary project. After adding a pair of female backing vocalists — “the Lickettes” — the group issued its debut LP, Original Recordings, in 1969. After a pair of 1971 records, Where’s the Money? and Striking It Rich, they issued 1973’s Last Train to Hicksville, which proved to be a very successful album for the Hot Licks. This is a re-visit conversation for Mr. Hicks and I as I welcome him into New England for a July 26th show in Fairfield, a July 28th show in Northampton, and on July 29th at the Barn in Brooklyn CT. We have a few laughs and there is some talk of new material and the potential arrival of a potential new album.

Check out my time shared with Mr. Dan Hicks herehickslicks.jpg.

A.K.A.C.O.D. get to know ’em here.

Monique Ortiz and I have been going back and forth trying to get a time together to discuss so many things. Finally, it all started to jive and we got a phoner in live on the show (7/14). The newest project A.K.A.C.O.D, is true mysterious wisdom put on top of some low, experimental and otherworldly sounds laced with Dana Colley on Saxophone(S), Larry Dersch on percussion, and Monique plays the fretless bass, the 2-string slide bass and takes care of the vocals that if allowed, takes you to places you only thought about. In this conversation we discuss the path followed leading up to the beginnings of A.K.A.C.O.D. and its development through the past workings/teachings of Mr. Mark Sandman, and other projects Monique has been involved in including Bourbon Princess.

Please join me in enjoying this music & check out my conversation with Monique Ortiz here.

akacod.jpg

It’s in the words–Desdamona

While she surrounds her lyrics most of the time with hip beats and soul enriched moments in the musical now, somehow I still get focused back on the words. Up to the top in rhyme and meaning, however you are looking at it, Desdamona has put herself on the map with her new release The Source. While there are so many exciting features about this album, Desdamona’s ability to tell a true story as seen through her eyes and relate it as an easily formed connection in open minded people, is a blessing. In this live conversation recorded on 07/14/07, we discuss the creation of this innovative album, her upcoming tour with collaborators, Sly & Robbie and we even discuss the possibilities of me doing a video as Elaine from Seinfeld dancing to the tune Infinity which features Ill Chemistry…..no kidding……

Check out our conversation HERE.

msdemona.gif

NICE ONE: Pato Banton

Positive Vibrations abound with a beat to keep you on your dancing feet, while Pato Baton delivers a message that is food for the mind and soul. Many have considered his charismatic performance as live theatre where no show is alike and the audience members become participants in the experience. Pato communicates with the crowd on a range of topics including current day events and spiritual freedom while keeping the vibes upbeat and fun! The direction of the concert is totally based on the feedback he receives from the audience as there is no fixed set list. Many have said that the positivity generated from the stage has changed their lives forever. I had the opportunity to welcome Pato to New England as he heads up this way. We have a chat about his latest release titled “Positive Vibrations” (Jan 07), also a couple of interesting bits about what is in store for the near future….new record/collaborations….when I called, he was just finishing the last 20 seconds or so of a brand new tune….and it wouldn’t be right not to ask the opinion of something current to our one world, one love.

Enjoy the conversation with Pato Banton here.

patopic.jpg

on the side of the road w/David Gans.

Its always fun to meet up with people for conversations while they are on the road. This is no exception. I had the pleasure of grabbing a few moments of the well documented Grateful Dead historian’s time. David will be coming to Bridgeport Connecticut two times in the near future and I would venture to say it will be two ‘not to be missed ‘ shows. With a brand new album out (TWISTED LOVE SONGS), his Grateful Dead hour, and a passion for the southwest, David and I chat about so much in such a short time and I invite you all to check out our conversation here.

For all the info on David, his tour and his history CLICK HERE for the David Gans website.

dgans.jpg

Andy Timmons–

As guitarist for pop-metal band Danger Danger, Andy Timmons toured the world opening for Kiss and Alice Cooper, sold over a million records worldwide, and had two #1 videos on MTV, plus amassing a discography that includes 7 solo releases that range from blazing guitar instrumentals, to blues, and even a Beatles/Elvis Costello-inspired collection of pop tunes. As a session player, he’s been highly featured on CDs by drumming legend Simon Phillips, a live CD with Olivia Newton-John (Andy has been her music director/guitarist for several U.S. tours), two internationally acclaimed CDs by Kip Winger, recording sessions for Paula Abdul, Paul Stanley, and countless radio and television jingles. He has also played alongside many of his heroes such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (as a regular guest on their G3 tours in Dallas), Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Ace Frehley, Ted Nugent, and Pierre Bensusan, as well as some of his fave ’60’s singing stars such as the Beach Boys, Lesley Gore, and Gordon Waller…..But perhaps the best story is in his work with BARNEY. SAY WHAT????

Listen here for some great music talk and shared laughter.

andytimmonstop.jpg

and comin’ round the mountain…….
barney.jpg
click me gang.

Buddy Wakefield: listens by talking

Buddy Wakefield is the two-time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion featured on NPR, the BBC, HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and most recently a moment with MisterG & greenarrowradio. In 2004 he won the Individual World Poetry Slam Finals thanks to the support of anthropologist and producer Norman Lear then successfully defended that title at the International Poetry Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands against the national champions of seven European countries with works translated into Dutch. n the spring of 2001 Buddy left his position as the executive assistant at a biomedical firm in Gig Harbor, WA, sold or gave away everything he owned, moved to the small town of Honda Civic and set out to live for a living, touring North American poetry venues through 2003. He still tours full time while co-managing The Bullhorn Collective (a talent agency founded by Wakefield, made up of 30+ of the most accomplished performance poets alive), and considers his recent tours with Ani DiFranco the highlight of his career thus far.

Buddy is known for delivering raw, rounded, high vibration performances of humor and heart.

I invite you to listen here as Buddy & I share words.

BuddyWakefield.jpg

Burnt Sugar-Streams of Sound Painting

BURNT SUGAR is a territory band, a neo-tribal thang, a community hang, a society music guild aspiring to the condition of all that is molten, glacial, racial, spacial, oceanic, mythic, antiphonal and telepathic. BURNT SUGAR, THE ARKESTRA CHAMBER is the creation of writer/guitarist/producer GregTate. Employing Conduction, an interpretative system for improvisers developed by Lawrence“ Butch” Morris, Tate guides the band through improvisations on each of its song forms. As a result, each performance is an original mutation in tune with the collective personality of the audience as well as the individual character and talents of the players. In addition to founding and conducting Burnt Sugar, Greg Tate is writer whos work has appeared in publications including The Village Voice, The NewYork Times, Rolling Stone, and Vibe and is the author of the books; Flyboy In The Buttermilk (Simon and Shuster), Everything But The Burden: What White People Are Taking From Black Culture (Broadway/Random House) and Midnight Lightning: Jimi Hendrix and the Black Experience (Acapella). Burnt Sugar performs regularly at the usual hotbed venues in New York, including; Joe’s Pub, Tonic, Symphony Space, The Blue Note, Makor, The Knitting Factory, Galapagos, CBGBs, BAM Café, Aaron Davis Hall, Lotus and The Cutting Room. On July 21st here in Hartford CT at REAL ART WAYS, Greg will bring this electric eclectic groove arkestra into our neighborhood for open minds, dancing souls and thirsty earholes can collaborate in a good listen.

LISTEN HERE TO GREG AND I DISCUSSING THE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS SOUND PAINTING.

Burnt Sugar from NYC.jpg

Mauro Refosco of Forro in the Dark

Forro in the Dark is not quite that type of traditional forro band, instead they are bringing an updated style of the music to the hipsters and club-goers of NYC, but the sweaty, excitable vibe is still undeniable.
Supplementing the traditional instrumentation with electric guitars, an array of flutes, modern percussion and other contemporary instruments, along with the help of David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto and Miho Hatori, Forro in the Dark capture the immediate, pleasure-craving core of forro for modern audiences to relieve their stress on the dance floor just like the Brazilian workers of the early 1900s. I reached out to Mauro like so many people do these days and was received openly and before I knew it I was spinning my own copy of bonfires of sao joao, Forro’s latest release. Like the album, Mauro was a delight to speak with and we entertained each others opinions and ideas and really openly talk about this album, the people behind it and hopefully shared an organically cosmic moment via the phone waves.
I invite you to listen to our conversation here.

forro.jpg

a 2 piece named Sirsy…let’s discuss.

Looking around the room for that big sound that appears to be coming from that two piece on stage….look no further, it is them. This super-duo is called Sirsy. Fronted by the charismatic Melanie Krahmer who has a stunning voice capable of a lion’s roar & a sultry good morning whisper, with the lungs of a young swimmer & the grrrr-owl of a sixty something blues singer. She “plays Ian Anderson-esque flute solos and can bang those drums while doing so, all while standing up! Sharing the stage is cowriter, Rich Libutti, a dynamo on BOTH bass & guitar who even plays a snare with his feet (during Melanie’s flute solos) so the drums
don’t stop! WHAT??? I had the pleasure of talking with Melanie about the band, the live show and well having some laughs along the way. Sirsy is a fine addition to the friends of greenarrowradio. You can check them out at the Main Pub in Manchester CT on June 22nd. See you there.

Listen to our talk about Sirsy here.
sirsy.gif

Bill Frisell takes a moment with MisterG

Over the years, Bill Frisell has contributed to the work of such collaborators as Paul Motian, John Zorn, Elvis Costello, Ginger Baker, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright III, Vic Chesnutt, Rickie, Lee Jones, Ron Sexsmith, Vinicius Cantuaria, Marc Johnson (in “Bass Desires”), Ronald Shannon Jackson and Melvin Gibbs (in “Power Tools”), Marianne Faithful, John Scofield, Jan Garbarek, Lyle Mays, Vernon Reid, Paul Bley, Wayne Horvitz, Rinde Eckert, The Frankfurt Ballet, film director Gus Van Sant, David Sanborn, David Sylvian, Petra Haden and numerous others, including Bono, Brian Eno, Jon Hassell and Daniel Lanois on the soundtrack for Wim Wenders’ film Million Dollar Hotel. Certainly this work has established him as one of the most sought-after guitar voices in music. The breadth of such performing and recording opportunities is a testament not only to his singular guitar conception, but his musical versatility as well. This, however, is old news by now. In recent years, it is his role as a composer and band leader which has generated increasing notoriety. For over ten years, Bill Frisell has quietly been the most brilliant and unique voice to come along in jazz guitar since Wes Montgomery. I happen to find the diverse nature of Mr. Frisell’s bodies of work to be just as touching and timeless as individual colors that a painter chooses to reflect their thought.

Take a moment to listen to Mr. Frisell with MisterG here.frisell.jpg

Gathering of the Vibes 2007 Bridgeport CT

From August 9th – August 12 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport Connecticut, the 12th annual Gathering of the Vibes will take form and fill your souls with good feelings. The list of bands for this years event is killer to say the least….just to name a few: Bob Weir & Ratdog, Mickey Hart Band, Mr. Buddy Guy, George Clinton & P Funk, Keller Williams, the Wailers, John Brown’s Body, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern and many more. I recently had the chance to talk with Ken Hays, the organizer and founder of this colorful sound scape of music and events. We learn how this event got started, some solid information about the Seaside Park area and Ken gives us a tasty nugget of unannounced news.

Listen to Ken and I gather our vibes here.

gathering.gif