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Arthur Brooks on Playing with Cecil Taylor
Mike McKinley
December 6, 2010
Matt Bushlow started a blog with the perfect title for its purpose: Tasty Leftovers. This is a home for the great interview nuggets that didn't get used in his published articles. His recent interview with trumpeter and composer Arthur Brooks that was published in the Vermont alt-weekly 7 Days had a lot of leftovers - check it out.




Here's Brooks' take on playing with the great free jazz thinking/player Cecil Taylor:

"I was kind of intimidated with playing with Cecil's Unit, because the music is so high, so technically demanding in a certain kind of way, at least the rehearsals were, but when we got on the gig, it was [makes a "takeoff" sound and motion with his hand] pew! Cecil's sets last for an hour, two hours, and I said, 'I don't know if I have the chops for this.' And it would be this whole universe of sound open up, and you'd be there watching yourself play and the horn is playing itself, and Cecil's just in front of you, behind you, on your side, above you [makes more sound effects, like Cecil is zipping around him while he's playing], just urging you on…. And we'd finish and you'd think, wow, you've been playing maybe 10, 15 minutes - maybe 30 - [but it was] two hours. And you finish and you can't say anything because you're so high. It's amazing. And every single time I've played with Cecil, it's been that way. … And that's what I aim for. That's what I want, is to reach that state where the music is just revealing itself. To me, at its best, that's what you do: You become the instrument. You put yourself in position where you become the instrument."



No More Dragons to Slay? Time to Listen to DARK DARK DARK
Evangelos Dimitriadis
December 2, 2010


I stumbled upon DARK DARK DARK by chance one October night in Brooklyn. A friend mentioned that her co-worker was hosting his own showcase for the CMJ Music and Film Festival‚ and it happened to be a (near) stones throw from my apartment. So trusting in her good taste of sounds I joined her and another companion at COCO66 in Greenpoint‚ and we took the night in merrily. They stole the show that night - the other acts on the bill were nowhere near as captivating.

It felt like an incredible soundtrack to a joust‚ with (nothing short of) amazing folk-laden‚ chamber music. The three of us at the show were floored. All of their playing shined uniquely bright‚ and what a voice on Nona Marie Invie! Here are a couple videos of them performing:



Video: The Wood Brothers - "Shoofly Pie"
Mike McKinley
December 1, 2010



The Wood Brothers will release a new record, Smoke Ring Halo, in early 2011. Here's a video montage of the band in the studio and on the road to the track "Shoofly Pie" off the new record. Although Smoke Ring Halo will officially be released in early 2011, you can pick it up at their upcoming shows in December -- go here for news and tour details. Now dig this:

Listen: Younger Brother - "Night Lead Me Astray"
Mike McKinley
December 1, 2010
Check out the title track from Younger Brother's new EP Night Lead Me Astray. Expect the full LP out in the early part of 2011 (see press release below).

Younger Brother - "Night Lead Me Astray"



Full press release
Younger Brother's Night Lead Me Astray EP‚ their first studio release since 2007 and the first to feature contributions from members of the Disco Biscuits‚ Brothers Past‚ and the Benevento-Russo Duo‚ is now available digitally from their own Younger Brother Records. The release is a preview for their upcoming full-length Vaccine‚ expected in early 2011 along with an accompanying worldwide tour.

Simon Posford (Shpongle‚ Hallucinogen)‚ Benji Vaughan (Prometheus)‚ and Ruu Campbell (Leftfield) are the creative driving force behind this electronica-infused post-rock project‚ a unique underground electronic dance band who have spent the past several years carving out their very own musical identity across the world.

In late 2008‚ these three UK principles enlisted the help of their American live band members to join them in London for work on the followup to their 2007 album The Last Days of Gravity (Twisted Records UK). On Election Day evening‚ guitarist Tommy Hamilton‚ bassist Marc Brownstein‚ and drummer Joe Russo took off for England and began recording what would become Younger Brother's first studio album to feature extensive live instrumentation.

In the two years since‚ the electronic wizards Posford and Vaughan have been crafting and refining the sonic environment in which these live tracks reside and interact‚ and while the resulting album Vaccine will not be unearthed until early 2011‚ they are proud to offer a preview with the Night Lead Me Astray EP.

The release features three versions of the title track (the album version‚ a radio edit‚ and a remix done by the band themselves)‚ another track from the upcoming release ("Pound A Rhythm")‚ plus a remix of "All I Want" (from The Last Days of Gravity) by fellow British live electronica band Cicada. The EP is available digitally at iTunes‚ Amazon‚ Beatport‚ and other digital retailers. Isolated Tracks on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter"
Mike McKinley
November 30, 2010
Saw this on Dangerous Minds today (thanks to Matt Bushlow for posting on Facebook). After listening to each part‚ I'm amazed and perplexed at how sloppy and brilliant this is‚ and even more so‚ how each component beautifully plays into the haunting and hopeful element embodied in this song. Here's a few observations:

Merry Clayton's voice reaches as far as it can several times (even breaking) with the line "Rape‚ murder‚ it's just a shot away" -- as raw and powerful as it gets.

Keith's two guitar tracks -- the way he punches in the rhythm‚ solo and harmonica on each track (over each other) is incredibly unique and inventive.

And my favorite part: Bill Wyman's bass. It's simple rock 'n' roll bass playing‚ but he throws in tasty passing tones every once in a while that give it a brief feel like he's playing a funk tune. You realize that's why the tune swings so much‚ while still rocking and never losing its dark urgency.

Vocals


Guitar 1


Guitar 2 and Piano


Bass


Drums

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