Category Archives: SHOW “G”-Views

Once again I got out for two acts on this beautiful Sunday late afternoon into evening. First up for me were the Cash Box Kings Chicago Revue and this year they brought along with them some of our favorite performers like consummate guitarist/ vocalist Lurrie Bell, silky smooth songstress Katherine Davis and rock solid drummer Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith. Nick Moss and Piano Willie will join us for the first time. A musician of boundless skill, Nick Moss fully understands that he is carrying on the tradition of the bluesmen before his time and folks let me tell you, he Chicago Rips it up. I have listen to and shared his music on the show in the past but live and watching is the way to fully appreciate him.Piano Willie honed his craft with the likes of Jimmy Rogers, James Cotton, and William Clarke and you can see right away way those named would choose him as a colleague. He rocks like Spann, he rolls like nobody’s business but most of all he is just too cool.

Nick Moss

Piano Willie
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Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue totally blew down the treehouse….The funk started and didn’t stop until the night had fallen and the stars took over. I can’t say enough about Troy’s set of music. The whole band is apart of a show that is all out, from shaking their collective booTAYS, to bass players body surfing backwards on the stage while JAMMing, it was the way to end this festival and I would never complain if it ended any event. The outdoors was a wonderful way to watch people connect to this young New Orleans artist sound and spirit, from Marvin Gaye to a 2nd line through the festival goers on their home turf, it was that which you might be thinking and more. It is always incredible when you can match an artist to an area, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are really an extension of the east side of Madison. I and many are looking forward to the next visit and are thankful Troy made it our way to close out the Orton Park Festival.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and horn section

Orleans Avenue Shakin’ it down!

Check out friend of the program Michael Sullivan’s photos of the event here.

This was one time I had too much reality happening to be at this festival all day, however I managed to see everything I wanted to hit up. Brooklyn- based Latin alt-folklorico group Pistolera strutted their stuff in front of a medium sized but ready to “get it going” Orton crowd. They were rained out at the Waterfront Fest last year, but did put on a great rain-delayed show at the Crystal, and this year the weather was not playing a long nicely either but the set was incredible with melodic and danceable songs sung in Spanish and the strong political content of their lyrics which often talk about border issues, the plight of immigrants, and female strength is “perfecto” for the open minds of the east side of Madison.

After that hot set, we were treated to the brilliant and prolific Robbie Fulks and his music. His website states, “Robbie Fulks writes songs that make you think and feel and quite often laugh out loud.” He’s a favorite at our fests and when he takes the stage with his band there will be a throng of people there to cheer him on. His charm and incredible songbook make Fulks an ideal festival performer…Since it was Michael Jackson’s birthday, Mr. Fulks did this rendition on “Billy Jean” that was deep and mysterious, it was truly a mind blowing moment…and I thank him for. he took that right into the Jackson 5 thing know as “Goin’ Back to Indiana”, which was done in a country western twang that had that Robbie Fulks signature all over it.

Two acts I would see anywhere again.

Having members from North America and Brazil, the Caribbean and Africa, Seven Steps To Havana possesses a sound that truly brings the world into the music. Lovely boleros, raucous rumbas, swinging sambas, and haunting horn trios, this band soars far and wide across the musical spectrum. They were firing on all cylinders as the Jazz at five series heading indoors to the Overture Center’s lobby atrium. Viviana Pintado (pianist/vocalist)- from Cuba, 3-time Latin Grammy nominee was absolutely brilliant in her playing and singing, exciting the crowd as she took familiar sounding arrangements and changed them to fit the “no stone unturned” approach to this Latin Jazz outfit. The other percussion setting the rhythms were created by Eliezer Freitas-Santos & Rey Rivera, and the bass playing of Yohannes Tona has blasts of Victor Wooten sounding explosions to the wooing jazz back bass beat that mirror the music’s pulse. The horns of Mark Miller (trombone), Bill Simenson (trumpet) & Douglas Little (saxophone/flute/leader) rounded out one frenzied fest of Latin sounds that spread smiles on the faces of those who let the music take them over.

Check out some of the photos from the event here.

Madison jazz legends Ben Sidran and Richard Davis first played together in 1975. Over the years, they’ve played countless performances, (including an infamous tour of Wisconsin prisons in the 1980’s), and made several records together. This is their first time sharing the stage since the closing concert of the Oscar Mayer theater in 2004. Ben and Leo Sidran have also been performing together since the late 70’s, when Leo was a boy. They continue to record and perform together around the world, and in 2003 they launched the Nardis Music label to showcase their work. Leo relocated to New York in 2005. Joy Dragland, a former Madison mainstay, also moved in 2005 to New York, where she and Leo record and perform under the name “Joy and the Boy”. In Madison, Joy was a protege of both Richard Davis and Ben Sidran. Louka Patenaude is a Madison treasure, an original musician and composer and he joined in on a few selections to add a little guitar to the set.

Photos click here.

This is the first time all five artists will perform together and it was as great as it sounds…..The mixture of styles and family familiarity made the fingers snap, the toes tap and the smiles widen.

For more info click here for the Jazz at 5 website.

Thanks to Ken, of In the Groove Jazz and Beyond for his postings. Some of my former colleagues from WHUS in Storrs Connecticut wer eon hand for the Newport Jazz Festival, which I would have been in full G force over and on top of…..but since I am here and he is there, I went with Ken’s take…Some words and photos to give you a clue to the happenings.

Review click here

Photos click here

Terracing it up with Madison’s own, the Hussy! I simply love this 2 piece rock N roll punk outfit. The are simplistic with their mostly under 2 minute tracks….they are powerful with their riffs rocking razoring righteous rawkkkkkkk!! They are making a name for themselves and why not….What a great band name for what they are slamming down at us….remember this: THE HUSSY.

Just like their music, they are small in size, so click on this pic to get a bigger image and imagine the burst you get seeing them LIVE.

Photo by Michael Sullivan.

the Radiators closing it all up is always the right way to end a summer festival. The set was rockin’ as only the the number one party band on earth would have it….The Radiators jammed out to a crowd that was soulfully deep and numerically nice and deep. Giving us some tracks off the new album, which I discussed with bassist Reggie Scanlan live on the show, the mix of songs had dancing feet smiling and Madison had a big wide grin wrapped around it. I have a pal who has seen the Radiators over 50 times and this was the show he was able to bring his young boys to as their very first..i think they made out just fine. The first show I caught on Sunday was Feufollet and they were followed by Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole. I really got the feeling Cedric Watson enjoys playing and sometimes doesn’t want to stop…he is one of the most noted young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in the past few years, Cedric Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, Texas surrounded by the sounds of blues, old soul, country and zydeco. Wherever he goes he is sure to combine all his musical flay-vas into an incredible gumbo of Creole laced goodness, that you’ll want those seconds and thirds. Feufollet is a steady progressing Cajun band that is surrounding itself in the now of Cajun music and making a name for themselves as one can easily tell by the places they are being invited to play…..

Watcha Clan are a Marseilles-based quartet that fuses together influences as diverse as its members’ heritages. Drawing on North African, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, French, and modern electronic musical styles for inspiration, the Clan claim a nomadic ethic, calling no single style “home.” Since their inception at the turn of the century, their touring schedule and lifestyle have been as nomadic as their philosophy and man did they ever just blow me away, the fusion was monstrous and heavy in the beat department with grooves that would make any vinyl album jealous….I would go to see them at any show that they were a part of. They are a band that I hope my radio show takes lessons from….Direction unknown.

Watcha Clan

Balla Tounkara, a griot and master kora player from Mali, West Africa, is one of the hottest artists on America’s World Music scene. He and his band Groupe Spirit have been bringing a spicy, eclectic blend of danceable music utilizing African, Latin, Funk, Reggae, Jazz and Blues musical styles to enthusiastic audiences across the country. Balla’s playing is skilled and sincere, falling deeply into the Malian allure, I found myself in a state of happiness that only a kora can accompany one in..

Balla Tounkara

Finishing with a great African dance band is a La Fête Saturday night tradition. The fest has had legendary performers Kekele and Samba Mapangala and Senegal’s Fallou Dieng the past three years. In keeping with this pattern the dynamic Lura and her 7-piece band from Cape Verde (an island nation across from Senegal in northwest Africa) had the honor of driving the audience into a dancing frenzy. This band’s music was absolutely transcendent under the stars. Lura is full of energy and passion that speads over a crowd quickly & these things are rewarded greatly on a Saturday night conclusion to a beautifully sounding and picturesquely perfect day.

the Vivacious Lura

Day 2 of the Fete and let me tell you that this night brought what would end up being the musical highlight for me. Boukman Eksperyans, 10-members strong from Port-au-Prince in Haiti. Lolo and crew woke up the zombies and called on them to dance. The sounds and sights of their set resonate still in my spirit. The voodoo laced afro reggae beat groove really took on an identity in what was a beautiful evening, blending the where we were in with the places and experiences being shared on stage made for a time of uniqueness and oneness that is only obtained with a group like Boukman Eksperyans and a community musical festival like that which takes place here each year on Madison’s wonderful east side. I hung out with Lolo for a little bit after the show and will be sure to bring the new album to ears, and perhaps an interview with the man himself down the road.

**Photo Credits to Michael Sullivan**

After that, was Tab Benoit and his Band. They certainly did rock the festival with their “swamp pop” and Louisiana-inspired originals. Tab and band inspired and performed in the documentary film, Voice of the Wetlands. That was screened in the large “Bistro” tent between and after bands on this night. His set was awesome and is always well received here in Madison, and Wisconsin as a whole.

for me, my Fete du Marquette got started with the Duhks. The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Duhks (pronounced Ducks) have always gravitated towards traditional roots-based song structures, but they’ve never stopped evolving since their inception five years ago. Due in part to a collective musical worldview that knows no boundaries and that was very evident in their genre unknown string bending sets, exhibiting sounds from several corners of the musical spectrum, they rocked and twanged and world beated my kick off to a weekend of free music, tasty beer and good people. Half way through their set, a Wisconsin Southern rail train horned slowly by and added its unique sound to an already wild time….

Just like last week for the Chicago Afrobeat Project show, it was yet another perfect night overhead for music on the terrace. On this night, Jackie Greene brought his get down rock and roll Americana sound and he meant it. The set was high energy and had the large crowd feeling the Thursday night before the 4th of July as more than another Thursday night, but this started people’s celebration weekend. Certainly a touch of the Dead’s “U.S. Blues” was thrown in there just to remind us where we were. Jackie’s band was making themselves known with stylist licks and giving people more of what they wanted~those finely crafty Jackie Greene tunes that the ones attached to the ears can seem to relate to. There were perfect moments to dance and other times to reflect, a great combination on a night made for us.

La La Means I Love you on Buddha Records. Picked up this album from the library with a couple of kid friends of mine and it was such a good time snapping to the rhythm with a 6 & 8 year old

Terrace soul took form under a beautiful evening sky with sailboats in the near distance and smiley firework displays overhead….The music was rich in nature and presented to us by the Chicago Afrobeat Project, who tears up the stage breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Afrobeat’s range of influences — funk, rock, jazz, afro-cuban, high life and juju music – settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of CAbP. The group layers a fiery originality around this core through high-energy rock and experimental jazz. Their live act is all together rockin’ and danceable, communicating the opportunity to share experience thru body movements and positive vibrations…The individual players, coming from diverse backgrounds, each hold their own as soloists that ultimately characterize the live shows. Melodic and hard-hitting horn lines create a lyrical flow to the music, delivered by a cutting, driven rhythm section dynamic. Complex call-and-response percussion songs are dispersed throughout the nights gig….making the music as beautiful as the surroundings…..

Before I started my Waterfront Festival adventures, I made the short trip to Middleton to the Club Tavern to see the one and only Mr. Dale Watson. Dale seemed to know just about everyone in town never mind the folks at the show…it was quite warming to see a gentleman of country music being more than that….and then the Honky Tonk began. As we spoke of in our recent on air conversation, true country and western songs were treated kindly and requests were easily achieved…Dale’s good that way for sure. I sure enjoy honky tonk and hard edged country music for before my time really, and this music on this day and any other day finding this band on stage sure did hit the spot. I appreciate the energy put into working to assist the independant truckers develop some kind of health care that doesn’t sink them, if they can get any at all…Oh there is a lot to like about Dale Watson and I hope I point you in the right direction with my honesty. His new album the Truckin’ Session Volume 2, as I mentioned a few posts back is exciting, rebellious and just in its causes…I am proud to have it in my music collection and the ability to share it with others is appreciated. (Thanks Dale/Kevin/Hawk/Moose)

Mon Aime Vieux Farka Toure made things seem like the should for me….The sound of his guitar transcends music and clears a journey out of once was a pathless landscape. And on this journey I was happy to be able to spend some time catching up with Tim and Vieux before and after the show as it is always nice to spend time with people from past moments…..The music that Vieux and his band put out at this festival had the crowd in an amazement whirl~there were new dances being born right before my eyes…the African Jam Blues rock and roll deeply rooted in traditional Malian Blues music has gone in its own direction and it just GOES. The charm and charisma is a part of Vieux that flows off onto the crowd easily and kept a “connection” with the listeners~people became more than festival goers…I run out of words for my experiences with sounds and people that deeply affect me and Vieux and his music keep me pretty quiet at times….I managed to pick up the new cd FONDO to do the talking for me in the upcoming weeks.

Bonsoir, Catin was on before Vieux and featured authentic cajun music that is energetic, passionate and heart-felt, leading the Madison crowd to cut a, well… cut a festival lawn into a dusty dance square filled with couples embraced in a Cajun swing. Bonsoir, Catin is an all-woman Cajun band. Their music is an expression of what it is to be a Cajun woman–feminine, classy, smart, brave, take-charge, and no-nonsense, and has emerged as one of South Louisiana’s most exciting new Cajun bands.

This year for the Marquette Neighborhood Association’s Waterfront Festival brought entertainment from around the globe, local fare and goods and a LOT of people for a real good gathering of spirit and sound. This year was the 20th anniversary of the event and the music was joyous and raucous and sweat-inducing danceable so many people came to bask both days in the seductive lakeshore breeze. The community celebrated in Yahara Place Park on June 13th and 14th at the confluence of the Yahara River and Lake Monona where the cottonwoods provided the ideal canopy for this rite of spring. On Saturday I saw Taj Weekes and Adowa bring the gentle conscious voice of today thru Island sounds delight the audience with vibes and grooves of a folk reggae, words to hear and rhythms to move your body to…this hours after Taj called in to do another phoner on the program where we discuss his music and his beliefs of giving back (see early post here). I always enjoy giving artist who give back time to share on the airwaves.

After the show I chilled with Taj and the band for a bit, keeping it real with hula hoops and kindness…..we watched as Rupa and the April Fishes prepared backstage before an amazing set of eminently eclectic, genre bending and body moving music from this San Francisco based group creating lively, romantic and instantaneously appealing music with influences from many areas of the globe….there is too much going on within this groups on identity to write but I do suggest you check them out.

Had the chance to do a live on air phone interview with Eddie Roberts, guitarist and producer of the soulful entity known as the New Mastersounds. Hailing from Leeds, UK these guys know how to funk the lights out of it from top to bottom and start to finish. This one was special to me as I just absolutely dig the sound they produce, a Meters twist with a splash of dirty moss covered rock and groove~(from bone crushing drum beats to mind melting organ fingertromping bass defying bass flaps and the righteous-NESS of funky git-tar riffs). With a new album out and a Mid-west tour to support it, one of my favorite bands (been spinning them since I first started radio) made their way to a city that appreciates solid soul-felt funk. During the conversation, I asked Eddie to play a track for the ladies , The Minx and not only did the band rip it out and twist it up with a funky-ass know, the MisterG introduction was one for the books. Thanks Eddie. Matter of fact…here is the evenings set list:
Flimsy
102%
Pinky & Perky
M.R.G.
Minx
Six Under
In the Middle
All I Want
33 (Pete Start)
Colorado Sun
San Frantico
Bus Stop
One Note
Encore:IDRIS/BB/Can’t Hold Me

Opening the night was Moon Taxi, a jammin’ rock outfit from Nashville, Tennessee with some funky riffs that warmed it up just right.

the New Mastersounds

David Sanchez weaves the multi-cultural threads of North and Latin American cultures into a colorful musical tapestry, the common ground being the spirit of the drum. Sanchez’ robust sound, taut melodic focus and stirring rhythmic articulation reflect a talent wise beyond his years. His sense of originality transcends mere technical concerns. Sanchez is searching for fresh ways to enrich the jazz vocabulary. “I wanted to be in touch with my roots,” says Sanchez, “which come from Latin America. I believe that Latin jazz was born in the U.S., but I also believe that we are really one: North America, South America, the Caribbean. There are native people in these places who are related to each other. I’m trying to put that together in my music, trying to get in touch with the unity of it all while I integrate the stylistic elements from the different regions.” In late 1991, Dizzy Gillespie spoke glowingly of his latest protege, “There’s a young tenor player from Puerto Rico – the youngest member of the United Nation Orchestra – … David Sanchez, good, very reserved mind, very old mind, knows his changes, knows where he’s going and knows where he’s coming from.” Unarguably one of the most important and exciting young artists to emerge on the jazz scene in recent years, Sanchez’ uncommon talent, dedication and personal charisma will assuredly place him among the giants of jazz in the coming years….oh and by the way, he has since been awarded a Grammy….and on this night the room felt what mentor and student work so hard to achieve–oneness. This was the headline event for the Isthmus Jazz Fest and spirits were uplifted thrrough Mr. Sanchez’ saxophone and tight tight band…man were they tight.
Before the David Sanchez show I caught a set from the Tim Whalen Nonet, which totally made Coltrane’s Alabama come out to play while dazzling a filled up room at der Rathskeller at the UW with improvised spirit and soul.