Actually there are two free shows tomorrow.
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 5 July 2017 17:27 (six years ago) link
And they are setting up, warming up for the second one now. At the Oval in Stuyvesant Town.
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 6 July 2017 21:47 (six years ago) link
Which is where he lives
― Guidonian Handsworth Revolution (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 July 2017 00:41 (six years ago) link
Did you see either one? How were they? How's his band?
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 July 2017 18:34 (six years ago) link
Saw the later show. Very good. Great songs, performing and storytelling. Band was fine but a little subdued for various reasons-drummer playing with cajón instead of full kit, keyboard player switching off between keys and bass, etc. Guy is a great keyboard player- I used to see him all the time in the 90s- and when he switched out it left a little hole. Would definitely recommend to you if they go to D.C. I bought a t-shirt for the new album from his wife. She had to go back up to their apartment to get my size since a little kid bought the one I wanted that was on the table for his dad.
― Under Heaviside Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 July 2017 18:41 (six years ago) link
Looks like that already happened
― Under Heaviside Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 July 2017 18:43 (six years ago) link
Hopefully he'll come back down my way, and my schedule will work for seeing him
― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 July 2017 18:48 (six years ago) link
Maybe this is a reach, but in a way seeing him was like seeing Jonathan Richman or Alex Chilton-although he is not as ornery as those two, in fact seems super well-adjusted- because it's not necessarily a big loud rock show that's being put on, but the guy has such a strong personality and approach that you end up getting what you came for, whether he plays all your favorite hits or not.
― Under Heaviside Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 July 2017 22:17 (six years ago) link
Contemporaneous college kid review of Escape Artist seems to hold up pretty well: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1981/4/10/the-great-escape-pbabmerica-has-always/
― Under Heaviside Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 8 July 2017 02:31 (six years ago) link
Or does it?
― Under Heaviside Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 8 July 2017 02:32 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PJF46u8tho
― Harper Valley CTA-102 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 20 September 2018 14:31 (five years ago) link
He or his proxy posted this on social media recently. Really nice:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plsQMB1o6Vg
― Jazz Telemachy (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 16 December 2019 03:02 (four years ago) link
Sooner or later, should start talking about Carmen McRae as well. Always like her Monk interpretations, right now learning a tune by one of her favorite accompanists, Jimmy Rowles. https://indianapublicmedia.org/afterglow/jimmy-rowles-jazzs-secret-weapon.php
― Jazz Telemachy (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 16 December 2019 03:13 (four years ago) link
I should listen more to both
― curmudgeon, Monday, 16 December 2019 06:19 (four years ago) link
Well since we're talking McRae -- Mainstream Records is now officially on Bandcamp and they've put up the live album Woman Talk:
https://cramenmcrae.bandcamp.com/
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 4 July 2020 20:05 (three years ago) link
(They should fix that spelling, though! Link works.)
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 4 July 2020 20:06 (three years ago) link
Yeah, several things (incl. ones I hadn't heard of) recently emerged from the Mainstream vault, posted a press release on Rolling Reissues.
― dow, Saturday, 4 July 2020 22:37 (three years ago) link
Mainstream's Big Brother & The Holding Company, def. incl. Joplin, was a demo, sounds like, only issued when they became famous elsewhere, but worth hearing if you're into them/her at all; I especially like the Moondog round "All Is Loneliness."
― dow, Saturday, 4 July 2020 22:42 (three years ago) link
Yesterday "Graveyard Rock" popped up on a playlist and I was instantly transported to 1981. I didn't realize it was a Jeffreys track until I looked it up, and I was surprised to see it wasn't released as a single. Was my local college radio station the only one that had this in heavy rotation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLInOChfc1k
― Brad C., Thursday, 4 March 2021 16:12 (three years ago) link
I found Escape Artist in a used bin a few months ago and it's been in my own heavy rotation since. The only song of his I recall getting any airplay at the time was his cover of "96 Tears", and that was on the rock stations. I love his version but have never really liked the original. And they're not that different! Garland just makes it swing more. His music seems tailor-made for The Sopranos though I don't think they used any of it.
― henry s, Thursday, 4 March 2021 16:45 (three years ago) link