Found a new favorite band yesterday at the state fair. Tom Mason & the Blue Buccaneers out of Nashville. Check out that phenomenal fiddle in this well-known Irish tune ...
And now for something completely different. I've always liked music from around the world, so.... Abi Sampa, anyone? She sings a fusion of Qawwali, Indian classical, and Western pop. The "production values" on these videos are superb:
Something that's completely different from Hot Tuna--Judy Collins' 1967 album "Wildflowers." Now, everyone's heard of Judy Collins, but if you've never sat and listened to this particular album, you've missed out. Put some decent headphones on and give it a spin. This is her best full album, and I don't think she's ever surpassed it (though other, individual songs do measure up).
It was the first album I got as a kid--I vaguely remember asking my mom to buy it for me. I don't know why I picked this one, either, but my father had been listening to a lot of folk music (Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, etc) at the time. I must have been 8 then, but it has never gotten "old" with me--except for the one "hit song" on it, "Both Sides Now," which now sounds a bit dated. "Both Sides Now" is also, clearly, the only song on the album that, through its arrangement, was made to be a hit, and it suffers as a consequence. But the rest of the album is "eternal" as far as I'm conerned--the small orchestral ensemble arrangements, the Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell covers, the outstanding quality of the recording, the differing styles of each piece (including a medieval Italian piece and a French chanson). For me, the best single piece is "Albatross"--which happened to be written by Judy herself. My 8-year-old self made a good choice!
Listening to Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, I was reminded of the 1971 Hot Tuna album--the one with the psychedelic black-and-white drawings with stars, surrounded by blue-and-yellow wavy stripes. That was rock with a bluegrass/blues fiddle played by Papa John Creach. I managed to get a CD re-release of that album in Japan, at Tower Records (yes, it still exists there).
Here's a favorite track: "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning":
Just shared Eva Cassidy on Clay's comment section, and Davis Bacon is really enjoying her. Since football has started, 100 degrees for months suddenly became 85, with a little rain today ( praise Jebus!), how about a little Autumn Leaves
Found someone new, to me, the other day. Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, recorded when she was 80 years old, she died a few months later. I think she is phenomenal.
The guy who forgot his pirate costume was someone they knew in the audience who they spontaneously called out to join them for a few tunes. The band was big on audience participation and also regularly strolled down to dance with the kids on the dance floor while they played their strings.
That phenomenal fiddle player also provided drumbeat with her Irish dancing. I bought their most recent CD there, which is good but doesn't really compare with their live show. Ya gotta be there.
And now for something completely different. I've always liked music from around the world, so.... Abi Sampa, anyone? She sings a fusion of Qawwali, Indian classical, and Western pop. The "production values" on these videos are superb:
(1) "Rang" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNCQPp0UaHk
(2) "Hold This" (with Rushil) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whQgT66OjAE
(3) "Ghar Aa" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6J8CnBCfXM
(4) "Man Kunto Maula" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZZBpxcLMw
There are a few others. You might also want to check out some of the "Coke Studio" videos from Pakistan--there are dozens of them.
Something that's completely different from Hot Tuna--Judy Collins' 1967 album "Wildflowers." Now, everyone's heard of Judy Collins, but if you've never sat and listened to this particular album, you've missed out. Put some decent headphones on and give it a spin. This is her best full album, and I don't think she's ever surpassed it (though other, individual songs do measure up).
It was the first album I got as a kid--I vaguely remember asking my mom to buy it for me. I don't know why I picked this one, either, but my father had been listening to a lot of folk music (Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, etc) at the time. I must have been 8 then, but it has never gotten "old" with me--except for the one "hit song" on it, "Both Sides Now," which now sounds a bit dated. "Both Sides Now" is also, clearly, the only song on the album that, through its arrangement, was made to be a hit, and it suffers as a consequence. But the rest of the album is "eternal" as far as I'm conerned--the small orchestral ensemble arrangements, the Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell covers, the outstanding quality of the recording, the differing styles of each piece (including a medieval Italian piece and a French chanson). For me, the best single piece is "Albatross"--which happened to be written by Judy herself. My 8-year-old self made a good choice!
Listening to Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, I was reminded of the 1971 Hot Tuna album--the one with the psychedelic black-and-white drawings with stars, surrounded by blue-and-yellow wavy stripes. That was rock with a bluegrass/blues fiddle played by Papa John Creach. I managed to get a CD re-release of that album in Japan, at Tower Records (yes, it still exists there).
Here's a favorite track: "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning":
Just shared Eva Cassidy on Clay's comment section, and Davis Bacon is really enjoying her. Since football has started, 100 degrees for months suddenly became 85, with a little rain today ( praise Jebus!), how about a little Autumn Leaves
This one has followed me for over 50 years and still my favourite with amazing Richard Greene;
Found someone new, to me, the other day. Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, recorded when she was 80 years old, she died a few months later. I think she is phenomenal.
They are good but it looks like one guy forgot his pirate costume! ;) The lady on the fiddle is awesome!
One more ...