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The Atlanta Jazz Festival is a Memorial Day institution in town and has featured legendary performances over the years.  Some of my favorites include Trombone Shorty, Regina Carter, Herbie Hancock, Ronnie Laws and Diane Schuur.  Then again, there were some lean years when it was tough to bring in any big-name, national or international talent.  Well, all that’s changed as this year’s lineup was just announced and it is STACKED!  I expect to be there start to finish for three days as there’s both local and international talent that I want to see, and that’s just with the acts thatContinue Reading

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Steel pan drums – not an instrument you get to see a lot, unless you live in or visit the Caribbean region a lot.  Jonathan Scales is a maestro on the steel pans and brings a rotating slate of musicians with him on each ‘Fourchestra’ tour.  Last fall, he brought an all-star team with him including Robert ‘Sput’ Searight (Snarky Puppy) on drum, MonoNeon (Prince) on bass, and Weedie Braimah (The Nth Power) on percussion. When they came through Atlanta to Aisle 5, the large group there was treated to one of the best, highest energy shows of the year.Continue Reading

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In: Album of the Week, BLOG POSTS, Voodoo Visionary

Voodoo Visionary just released a striking new sophomore album “Off the Ground”. You can stream it here exclusively for a limited time. Funkadelic Threads provides a nice review of the album and the group’s album release party a week ago at Aisle 5 in Atlanta. Cold Shallow Moon I’ve Got a Feeling Harmony Off the Ground Saving Face Bring It Back Hero on the Horizon Gunk Roscoe Hold tight Jangalang Sip of the Sunshine Tortoise Told Continue Reading

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Next week at this time, I’ll be beginning a magical music journey GroundUP Music Festival… can’t wait to see my favorite band Snarky Puppy and all their label mates and friends. They will also be playing at the Kennedy Center performing the full orchestra, grammy-winning album Sylva. Reminds me of another of my favorites from a bygone era, the Crusaders performing their orchestra song Rhapsody and Blues from the 1980 album of the same name. Enjoy!Continue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Snarky Puppy

Ethos is a Greek word meaning “character” that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence emotions, behaviours, and even morals. Snarky Puppy is a multi-talented musical family for sure but their people, starting with Michael League, show such leadership in the way that they connect with the world.  As I started to get into the band, I saw many videos where the band was recording live in front of students.  I  learned that the group often givesContinue Reading

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In: Aisle 5, BLOG POSTS, Snarky Puppy, Terminal West, The New Mastersounds, Variety Playhouse

Since there’s currently no funk category in the Grammys, it’s time to step up with the ‘Funkys’ – FunkCity’s annual awards for funk in and out of Atlanta. Funkiest Album – Snarky Puppy Culcha Vulcha Culcha Vulcha is a continuation in the evolution of Snarky Puppy and a killer album from end to end. Tarova, opens with a drum role and Big Ugly ends with a crescendo.  Not to mention the bonus track Jefe which doesn’t appear on the physical CD.  The pups meld multiple musical styles, as usual, ranging from South American melodies on Semente to down tempo grooves likeContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Snarky Puppy

More than once I’ve been asked what kind of music Snarky Puppy plays?  A natural response would be jazz-funk-fusion but with recent albums We Like It Here, Family Dinner- Volume 2, Sylva and Culcha Vulcha, you’d have to add ‘world’ into the mix.  And why not classical since Sylva, which I consider a jazz symphony, was recorded with the 52-piece Metropole Orkest from the Netherlands.  Mostly instrumental, yes, but they’ve also cut two Family Dinner albums with vocals.  So ultimately, the band is the most unique, evolving, and growing band I’ve ever seen. Their unpredictability makes each album and eachContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Snarky Puppy, Terminal West

This is the first in a multi-part blog about my favorite band, Snarky Puppy.  I was first encouraged to see the band by a young fan while attending a Lettuce rager at Terminal West (Atlanta). A quick check on the venue website revealed that the Pups were scheduled to hit the same venue three weeks later, which turned out to be my first show. Upon entering Terminal West for that first show, I noticed the crowd was noticeably urban and was buzzing.  I could literally feel the excitement and asked one fan why the group was apparently hip and relevantContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Terminal West, The New Mastersounds

The New Mastersounds are one of my perennial favorites both live and recorded and this year’s The Nashville Session brings the best of both together.  It’s a fresh spin on some old (and new) tunes and that is one that defines their sound which I call retro funk.  The Nashville Session last year and was released on vinyl only in April and then digitally in October 2016. The album was recorded live in studio and mixed down to quarter-inch stereo tape and then cut direct to vinyl lacquers with no overdubs (Jambase). The album is a compilation of 9 retakes onContinue Reading

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Naughty Professor Release Video and First Listen of New Song “Stray” Featuring David Shaw of The Revivalists From Their Album Identity, Coming in 2017 New Orleans will forever hold a special musica… Source: David Shaw of The Revivalists & Naughty Professor Release Video and First Listen of New Song “Stray”Continue Reading