music (571)

Rainy Wednesday Morning Vancouver

April 18, 2012 at 5:01 pm

I’m at Blenz Coffee in Yaletown. It wasn’t until I set my latte down that I noticed the barista art. How witty! I went over and gave the barista lady a mini book.

   Last time in Vancouver I stayed at the Best Western Hotel on Drake St. Turned out to be right across street from The Yale Hotel, one of the best blues venues anywhere. New bands every night. A person could — if person wanted to — sit through a set, then at intermission retire to room across street, smoke a joint,and watch out window until band members went back in for the next set.

   Again this year I lucked out in getting a room (out of 4 possible street orientations) facing the Yale. But to no avail, boo-hoo, as the Yale is closed for a year of repairs.

   Here are a few photos. Cute little harbor tour boat, looks like the little boat that thought it could.

   In an hour I’m going out with friends on a vintage tugboat for a harbor tour (in the rain).

 

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The Qunitessential Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grapelli

April 6, 2012 at 1:50 am

There are musical partners made in heaven. Sam and Dave. Otis and Carla. Keith and Mick…

   Django and Grapelli are just — all time. Making this music in Paris over 70 years ago. Doesn’t sound old. Contemporary in its beauty and wit and lightness. Imagine the flappers dancing…

   To tell the, er, truth, I have been dancing all over the office to this record. It’s 6:45 PM, everyone is gone, I’d never do this with anyone around. My feet just seem to know where to go to this music.These songs are from 1934-40. I was born in 1935. Hmmm!

   There are tons of records of these two, but this one gets them at their absolute best,

Check out Sweet Georgia Brown: https://shltr.net/djangogeorgia

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Tango in Colors

April 2, 2012 at 7:30 pm

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“Let’s face it, OK Go have the best music videos around and their new clip for “Skyscrapers” is certainly no exception to that rule, even if it doesn’t actually feature the band themselves.

The video, which comes from their album Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky which came out two years ago, sees dancer Moti Buchboot and director Trish Sie tangoing in front of different colored buildings and their outfits mimic each scene to give the video a chameleon-like feel. Trust us, it’s more impressive than that description makes it sound.

The song is also heavily influenced by Prince both musically and in the fact that it references his classic cuts like ‘1999’ and ‘Purple Rain.’ Oh and if you have a Nintendo 3DS you can also watch the video in 3D on your device, just try to stay out of the way of the dancers.…”

https://shltr.net/tangocolors

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Music & Notes From the Road

March 26, 2012 at 7:32 pm

I have “content” up the kazoo these days. Don’t know what to do with it all. I’m continuously compulsively shooting pics and making notes. I’m way backed up. I’ll just toss bits and pieces out when I can. 2 weeks ago on the road I was listening to the Elvis station on Sirius radio. Are You Lonesome Tonight is a breathtakingly beautiful ballad. Next they played Elvis doing What’d I Say; never heard this version before. Same arrangement, orchestration, vocal backup as the great Ray Charles original.

  Sign at sleazy looking fundamentalist Christian church on the road near Weaverville: “His blood was poured out for your sins.” Yeow! Speak for yourselves, brethren! Patti Smith said it elegantly: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine…” in the intro to Gloria on Wild Horses, brilliant song, brilliant album.

  Last week in Santa Cruz I visited a friend who, like me, is, um, bald on top. When I left he said, “Keep the shiny side up.”

  A comedian on Raw Dog said, “…so I took it old school.”

  The Stanley Brothers: “I’ll hush up my mug if you’ll fill up my jug with that good ole mountain dew.”

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