Rope That Dope

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

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

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

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.

Morning Auto Ice

The final portion of the proGram had no problem starting and keeping it’s motor running:

Red- Brother Ali Ft. Evidence
De La Kufi- Brother Ali Ft. Talib Kweli
The Bullpen- Dessa & Minnesota Orchestra (live)

~~
Don’t Let Get You Down- Wajatta
Quema- Sotomayor
Beauty, Power, Motion, Life, Work, Chaos, Law- DJ Shadow
Intersectionality- DJ Shadow

~~
Chonkoboi- HAAi
Earth- Lapalux

~~
Justice- Junior Toots
Careful- Mortimer
Dancehall Vibes- Junior Cat
Style Nuh Touch- Joseph Cotton
Struggle- Dubmatix Ft. Dennis Alcapone

Squashed Squash Garden

The second portion of the proGram saw what once was nothing, grew to something and then off it started to go:

I Wanna Be Your Driver- Ryan Perry
Juke/Right Down- Moses Guest (Live 6.21.07, Johns Alley Moscow, Idaho)

~~
Only Lovers- Sylvia Black
Last Night- STEEZ
Ronssong (Robot)- STEEZ
Ode To Billy Joe- Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate

~
greenarrowradio promo- Bill Bergman of Jack Mack & The Heart Attack
More Soul- Jack Mack And The Heart Attack (live from Centennial Park, Atlanta, 1996)
Sly Medley: Sing a Simple Song/Stand/Thank You (Fallettin Be Mice Elf Again)/Dance to the Music- Jack Mack And The Heart Attack (live from Centennial Park, Atlanta, 1996)

~
Joy- Cliff Beach (live at NAMM)
I’m Your Biggest Fan- Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (live Paste Studio 7/31/2019)
Medley: The Club / Tune In- The Eminent Stars Ft. Steffen Morrison
Concrete Stardust- The Mighty Mocambos

~~
Blur- Ephemerals
Lost Many Lost- Gorden Campbell Ft. Gene Noble

Stuck Cleaning Out

The first portion of this week’s proGram helped along with the daily have-to’s:

Growing Up- Suitcase Sam
Frankie and Me- Suitcase Sam
Changes- Andrew Hibbard

~
Call That Gone- North Mississippi Allstars
How Low Can One Man Go?- Dave Specter Ft. Jorma Kaukonen
Bulletproof (Tangle Eye mix)- Samantha Fish

~
I’m Gonna Make You Love Me- Diane Blue
Knock Knock- Diana Blue
You Thought I Would Fail- Misty Blues
Stoop Stomp- Misty Blues
Leanin’ In- Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene
All Night Long- Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene

~~
Forget About You- Fruition
Desire- Grace Potter Ft. Lucius

greenarrowradio promo- Jimmy Carpenter
I’m Gonna Leave This Burned Out Out Town- Neal Casal
No Half Steppin’- Sonia Leigh

Best Buds

Was able to do an extra set on the back-end of the reGulary program. After a brief pause for some mind opening, it went a little like this:

Love and Death- Nana Adjoa
Pink Lemonade- Nikki Jean

~
5G (Distractions) [Interlude]- Darnell Little
The Glow (Kid Loco Remix)- Del The Funky Homosapien & Amp Live
Bde Maka Ska- Atmosphere
Greatest That Never Lived- Brother Ali
Situated- Brother Ali Ft. Pharoahe Monch

~
Ride- Dessa & The Minnesota Orchestra (live)
Fire Drills- Dessa & The Minnesota Orchestra (live)
Fighting Fish- Dessa & The Minnesota Orchestra (live)

~
I, Cavallo- Leon Vynehall
The Flex- Danvers
The Neptune Freeze- Ursula 1000 Ft. Fred Schneider
Tiger’s Eye- Gold Leader Ft. Zach Jackson/Thomas Jennings/Eric Luba/Will Trask & Alex Cazet

~~
World On Fire- Stick Figure (El Dusty Cumbia Remix) Ft. Common & Slightly Stoopid
Pass the Chalice- Tenor Youthman Ft. King Toppa

Favorite Trees

The final portion of the regularly schedule proGramming was looking for that spot in the middle of there that we all have and seek to find.

Got My Mojo Workin’- Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
~
Lucidity- Atomga
Tolembi- London Afrobeat Collective
Lakou Dogwe- Lakou Mizik Ft. Anders Osborne

~~
Speculate- Flevans
Voyage to Nowhere- Captain Supernova Ft. Mark de Clive-Lowe & Josh Johnson
Find a Way- Captain Supernova Ft. Angela Muhwezi & Mark de Clive-Lowe
Hambela- Amendola vs. Blades

~~
Magnum’s Stash- Horne Electric Band
Same Ole Kings- Ego Mondo Ft. Kokayi
Gone- Robert Glasper Ft. YBN Cordae, Bilal & Herbie Hancock

~~~
Brainwashed- Ada Rovatti & Randy Brecker
***pre-recorded conversation with Ada Rovatti***
Reverence (To Aretha)- Randy Brecker & Ada Rovatti

Let Resting Fish FINish

The middle portion of the proGram caught the usually active….just chillin’:

Shakin’ All Over- Susan Santos
Snake Boogaloo- Lena & The Slide Brothers
Big Mama Told Me- Sugar Queen and the Straight Blues Band (live)

~~
Motion Of The Ocean- Johnny Rawls
609- Biscuit Miller & The Mix Ft. Marcus Randolph
Maybe Maybe- Dr. Bacon

~
Miscommunicate- Allen Stone
Back To The Swing- Allen Stone
The Only Way Out Is Through- Hannah Williams & The Affirmations
End Credits- The Sorcerers Ft. Chip Wickham

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Allergic- STEEZ
***prerecorded conversation with Steve of STEEZ***
Movin’ On (part II)- STEEZ
C Section- STEEZ

All Kinds Of Shrimping

The first portion of the regularly scheduled proGram finally found the shrimp hidden with the water creatures:

greenarrowradio promo- Katy Hobgood Ray
Oh Devil- Katy Hobgood Ray Ft. Dave Ray
Feel Like I Ain’t Got A Home- Oliver Wood & Amy Helm
If I Wake Up In The Morning- Jesper Lindell

~~
Saturday Morning Jam- Neal Casal
Still I Got You- Neal Casal
Raining In The City- Fruition
On My Way- Grace Potter
Rock and Roll Music- Joanna Connor

~
Free- Iggy Pop
James Bond- Iggy Pop
Spazz-Fea

~~
Love Your Lies- Samantha Fish
Dead Man’s Clothes- Sunday Wilde & The 1 Eyed Jacks

The Shadows Out Back

Had the opportunity to do a little pre-show G show once aGain this week. So I let these shadows shine in the light of the morning:

Driftin’- Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
The Cat- Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Something Sweet 2nd Movement- Todd Marcus
Something Sweet 4th Movement- Todd Marcus

~~
The March Of The Women- Karrin Allyson Sextet
Alice Paul (1921)- Karrin Allyson Sextet
Delilah- Wynton Marsalis Ft. Joe Farnsworth/Russell Hall/Isaiah J. Thompson & Jerry Weldon
Blues Walk- Wynton Marsalis Ft. Joe Farnsworth/Russell Hall/Isaiah J. Thompson & Jerry Weldon
Doo Dat Tang- Michael Waldrop
Relativity- Jonathan Kreisberg (live)

~~
Mais Que Nada- Scott Wilkie Ft. Jimmy Haslip & Kleber Jorge
Burning up the Carnival- Scott Wilkie with Joise James Ft. Ronnie Foster
My Favorite Things- Isabelle Olivier & Rez Abbasi
Mambo pa la niña- Roberto Fonseca Ft. Gema 4
Cadenas- Roberto Fonseca Ft. Danay Suárez

A Sacred Bond and Ada Rovatti

After studying at Berklee College of Music, Italian born saxophonist, composer and arranger Ada Rovatti moved to Paris before landing in New York City. She has performed and recorded with artists such as John McLaughlin, Mike Stern, James Moody, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath Patti Austin, Joe Bonamassa, and many more.
Ada was part of the Grammy winner CZD by her husband, Randy Brecker –“34 th N Lex” and on the acclaimed CD of John McLaughlin “Industrial Zen”and also appeared in the movie ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ featuring Julia Roberts
As a band leader she has released 5 Cds: Ada Rovatti & The Elephunk Band – For Rent (2003),Under The Hat (2003) Airbop (2006) Green Factor (2009) and Disguise (2014). Ada has toured with the Brecker Brothers Band Reunion with whom she recorded a live double DVD/CD from the Bluenote Jazz Club in NYC, and she just finished recording her new recording co-leading with Randy Brecker “Brecker Plays Rovatti: Sacred Bond” which was just released at te end of October on Piloo Records.

I had the complete honor of spending a little timechatting with Ada about the fantastic new release, “Brecker Plays Rovatti: Sacred Bond” and how this project went from seed to flower with all her original compositions while working with her husband, Randy Brecker and daughter Stella. We dissect a few of the tunes so when listeners get an earful, they can decide for themselves where it takes them. Ada reflects a little about working with the Queen of it all, Aretha Franklin and we also discuss her friendship with our friend, Lisa Maxwell and what being apart of her “Shiny” project was like. After checking out this chat, I bet you with feel like I do….let’s all go hang out at Ada’s and cook some food and listen to records and discuss what’s in our minds. This one reminds me once aGain that it’s often so much about the artists, not the just the art.

It’s a LITTLE WORLD with STEEZ

Churning out their self-described Creepfunk, a high energy, danceable variety of funk — one uniquely laced with electronic and improvisational sensibilities – STEEZ has garnered a loyal following throughout the Midwest performing at music festivals and to capacity crowds at rapidly growing venues. STEEZ repeatedly receives acclaim for their live performances, which typically include a seamless weaving of thoughtfully composed originals and crowd pleasing covers spanning from Madonna to clever obscurities like Genialistid (Estonia). Well established in the Midwestern jamband community, what really sets STEEZ apart is the camaraderie and endearing sense of humor. The band’s humble beginnings include getting banned for life from a venue after their first ever live performance, maneuvering a moped accident involving a parked car, and cruising the Midwest in the inspired 35 foot band bus, “Big Brown.” (RIP) While it’s the original songs and taut musicianship that initially grab both fans’ and critics’ attention, the band’s personality keeps it. STEEZ continues their musical endeavors by balancing extensive touring with studio time. STEEZ continues to rage major festivals such as Summer Set Music & Camping Festival, Wakarusa, Summer Camp Music Festival, Camp Bisco, Electric Forest, 10KLF and Rootwire, while grinding it out on the road throughout the Midwest and beyond. The band’s 4th studio album, STEREOVISION, was released in 2013 and can be found on bandcamp.com. The band’s 5th album, Little World, will be released November 23, 2019.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Guitarist, Steve Neary about the upcoming album release event on 11/23 at the High Noon Saloon. We got into the creation of the new album, “Little World” and how the sounds have changed, but also kept that same appeal that has been bringing the crowds out for years. We get an idea of how the term “Creepfunk” became a part of the STEEZ thang and we learn which song of the new album Steve has been digging the most (right now) and what other artists he would choose to build a set-list off of with that track being the starting point.

Blanket Wrapped

Did an extra set after the scheduled proGramming was completed. Hopped under the woobie and this is what happened:

Coming Out- Todd Mosby
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Between Dog and Wolf: Reprise- Joshua Redman & Brooklyn Rider w/Scott Colley & Satoshi Takeishi
Flash- Joshua Redman & Brooklyn Rider w/Scott Colley & Satoshi Takeishi
Jump Monk- Wynton Marsalis Ft. Joe Farnsworth, Russell Hall, Isaiah J. Thompson & Jerry Weldon

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Su Mimmi Non Si Spara- Francesco Guerri
Ascent To Now- Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive
For All Its Fury: II. Blur- Third Coast Percussion
For All Its Fury: III. Coil- Third Coast Percussion
For All Its Fury: IV. Wane- Third Coast Percussion
Bakithi- Guy Buttery & Kanada Narahari Ft. Chris Letcher

~~
Flambée Montalbanaise- Baguette Quartette
C’est Magnifique- Lucienne Delyle

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Reluciente Sol- Los Lobos
Las Mañanitas- Los Lobos

Snow Leaf Dog

The final portion of the reGularly scheduled program raked leaves, shoveled snow AND played with the dog all in the same hour.. Strange times indeed:

Ridin’ On The Rhythm- Sylvia Black
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Bar Shift- The Eminent Stars Ft. Bruce James
Summoning the Monkey God- The Sorcerers
End Credits (Alt Version)- The Sorcerers Ft. Chip Wickham
Bandits- Leon Dinero Ft. Screechy Dan
If You Ask Me- Leon Dinero

~
Pistach Griye- Lakou Mizik Ft. Trombone Shorty
Head Charter- Strata Gemma
BLACCK- Jon Batiste (live at the Village Vanguard)
Justice- Ego Mondo Ft. Kokayi

~~
Cyroette- Amendola vs. Blades
And in That Order- Horne Electric Band Ft. Chris Potter
Lifeforce Part II- The Comet Is Coming
The Monks of Oka- TuneTown

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Bernard “Bunny”‘s Jam- Dawn Drake Ft. Zapote

We Will Get There…Together

The middle portion of the proGram will help you close your eyes and travel to that spot you need to be:

Singapore Downbeat- Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene
Sweet Sweet Bourbon- Misty Blues
Eldorado- Lena & The Slide Brothers
In Trouble- Susan Santos

~
Dead Presidents- Sunday Wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks
Evil- Sunday Wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks
Sinner- Hannah Williams & The Affirmations

~~
Farmer Brown- Shawn Lee
Mr. Maestro- Shawn Lee
Don’t Give Up- The Williams Singers
Condition the World is In- Religious Souls

~~
Give Me One Reason- Alicia Olatuja
***pre-recorded conversation with Alicia Olatuja***
No Ordinary Love- Alicia Olatuja

The Bark That Protects

The first portion of the reGularly scheduled program kept the inners safe with less bite and just a little more bark:

Steam Train Salvation- Garland Carr
Songs You’ve Left Unsung- Leftover Salmon
Whatever Happens- Jesper Lindell

~~
Raphaë- Louis Ville
Dandelion Wine- Neal Casal
~~~
School Days- Ally Venable
My Ding A Ling- Kid Andersen
Watch It Die- Samantha Fish
Every Kind Of Blues- Niecie
Hold Your Drank- Sugar Queen and the Straight Blues Band (live)
Wicked Cool- Joanne Broh (live)

~
Real Fat Cat- Donna Hourigan & The Lucky Lips Band
greenarrowradio promo- Breezy Rodio
It Hurts Me Too- Shady Frank
Like BB King- John Verity

Sauté In Black And White

Did a pre-show G show where the fixin’s were from the day before color mattered:

Inspire- Teddy Kane Ft. Positive Impact Choir
Smash My Head- CocoRosie

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Fawkner Hustle- Antiphon
Horns over the Sea- Esbe
Glorious- Sudan Archives
House Of Opening Tuning II- Sudan Archives

~~
Ran In Red- Square Peg Round Hole
~~
The Mining Town of Kakariko- Gaijin Blues
Urgent, Important, Please Read- DJ Shadow Ft. Rockwell Knuckles, Tef Poe & Daemon
Let Me In- Robert Glasper Ft. Mick Jenkins
Bass Rock- Ursula 1000
Campari and Soda- Ursula 1000 Ft. Qypthone
Hello Darling- Ursula 1000

~~
Staifia- Acid Arab Ft. Radia Menel
Enter- MYDY
Gimme More- MYDY
They Won’t Beat Us- MYDY

~~
Regimen- Masok
Lion Mi Lion Vip- Tenor Youthman Ft. King Toppa

Alicia Olatuja Brings Intuition and More To Town

Praised by the New York Times as “a singer with a strong and luscious tone and an amiably regal presence on stage”, Alicia Olatuja has been astounding audiences with her exquisite vocals, artistic versatility and captivating demeanor. She first came into the national spotlight in 2013, whilst performing as the featured soloist with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir at President Barack Obama’s 2nd Inauguration. Shortly thereafter, she assembled her own jazz based ensemble & recorded her first solo album, “Timeless” in 2014. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Alicia grew up immersed in a wide range of musical styles, including gospel, soul, jazz & classical. These influences have informed her artistic journey and she later graduated with a Masters degree in Classical Voice/Opera from the Manhattan School of Music. After appearing in numerous operatic and musical theater productions she started to perform more regularly in gospel and jazz concerts and worked with such esteemed artists as Chaka Khan, BeBe Winans and Christian McBride. Also in 2014, Alicia came to the attention of the acclaimed composer/arranger/pianist & friend of the proGram Mr. Billy Childs, and was brought on to be part of the touring incarnation of “Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro” alongside vocalist Becca Stevens. Her voice has also entranced the another friend of the show, legendary Hammond B3 organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, who has invited her to join his band on multiple concerts, including the Charlie Parker Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival & others. Now focusing on the rich contributions of a diverse selection of female composers, Alicia just released her sophomore album, “Intuition: From the Minds of Women”, on Resilience Music Alliance. The album celebrates the achievements of a long list of esteemed female composers, while offering a musical perspective unique to Alicia. She is joined by Kamau Kenyatta and Ulysses Owens Jr. as producers and the material includes songs of Brenda Russell, Sade, Tracy Chapman, Kate Bush, Angela Bofill & Linda Creed.

I had a chance to catch up with Alicia ahead of her visit to Madison on 11/21 with a show at the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Play Circle. We get into what the lucky people in attendance can expect from that event, how she is able to adapt her craft to different styles of music and we go for a deep dive into the new album, “Intuition: From The Minds Of Women”. We also spend a little time building a set-list with Alicia – which song off the new album would she choose and what other artists/songs will build off it. Listen in and see that the person and personality is as important as the undeniable talent.

Photo by: Harrison Weinstein