Showing posts with label country music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country music. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Guy Clark's "Maybe I can paint over that"

By Mona Goldwater, Roots/Americana Music Ed.

Guy Clark's song from his new album.  Another knockout. Guy is a master who has been writing and recording for decades.  And now, late in life, he comes up with a masterpiece like this,

"Maybe I can paint over that."

I've smeared my heart on my sleeve
I've tagged my name on the wall
It's prob'ly time for me to leave
Actin' big and talkin' small

I've tracked blood in on the floor

I put my first through the wall
I've dragged trouble through the door
And I've spilled wine on it all

(chorus)

Maybe I can paint over that
It'll prob'ly bleed through
Maybe I can paint over that
But I can't hide it from you

I've got some ink beneath my skin

A good idea at the time
I won't be doing that again
Not with any arm of mine

And I have stumbled in my time

I left my footprints down the road
And the part of me that shines
Ain't the part of me that's showed

Maybe I can paint over that

It'll prob'ly bleed through
Maybe I can paint over that
But I can't hide it from you


---o0o---

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Presidents, First Ladies and country stars

By Jack Brummet, C & W Ed.

Another Willie and Jimmy meetup

Richard Nixon sits in at the Grand Ole Opry

Kris Kristofferson and Darius Rucker meet FLOTUS

Waylon and his wife Jessi Colter meet FLOTUS Rosalynn Carter

Willie and Jimmy on the porch

Jimmy sits in with Willie

Jimmy Carter on the mouth harp

An earlier shot of Willie and Jimmy

Jimmy Carter wearing a headband on stage
---o0o---


Saturday, May 07, 2011

Song, defined by Nick Tosches


"And, of course, that is what all of this is - all of this: the one song, ever changing, ever reincarnated, that speaks somehow from and to and for that which is ineffable within us and without us, that is both prayer and deliverance, folly and wisdom, that inspires us to dance or smile or simply to go on, senselessly, incomprehensibly, beatifically, in the face of mortality and the truth that our lives are more ill-writ, ill-rhymed and fleeting than any song, except perhaps those songs - that song, endlesly reincarnated - born of that truth, be it the moon and June of that truth, or the wordless blue moan, or the rotgut or the elegant poetry of it. That nameless black-hulled ship of Ulysses, that long black train, that Terraplane, that mystery train, that Rocket '88', that Buick 6 - same journey, same miracle, same end and endlessness."


-- Nick Tosches, Where Dead Voices Gather
---o0o---

Monday, October 25, 2010

Austin's Dale Watson, Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon, and Chicken S**t Bingo

This is a short video bio of Dale Watson, one of my favorite country singer-songwriters in Austin. I saw him three different times when I was spending a lot of time there, most notably at Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon--an excellent dive, and the home of Chicken S*** bingo...which is just what it sounds like....on Sunday, you buy a number, and if the chicken does her business there, you make a little money. But, even better, you get to see Dale Watson, drink $2 Lone Stars and eat free hot dogs...


---o0o---

Friday, July 03, 2009

Concert: Three Girls And Their Buddy at Woodland Park Zoo - Emmy Lou Harris, Shawn Calvin, Patty Griffin, and Buddy Miller




It's kind of strange going to a show in your own neighborhood--and a show that starts at 6:00, at that. Most shows I go to you're still waiting for the first band three hours later.

Last night's show by “Three Girls and Their Buddy” was a powerful but mellow night of melody and harmony by four roots stars. They are all accomplished singer-songwriters who play in each other's bands, sing each other's songs, and produce and play on each other's albums. They all mostly have new albums with new songs, and played some of those along with old tunes, and some wonderful covers of various artists (including The Beatles, and Gram Parsons, Emmy Lou's boyfriend in the 60s). My favorite tunes were from Buddy Miller’s recent record with Julie Miller, "Written in Chalk,” in particular the song "Gasoline and Matches." But every single one hit it out of the park more than once, and variously supported each other on guitar, bass, hand percussion and harmony.

For a little over two hours they took turns singing lead and telling a few stories. Buddy's were probably the best, and he put in a few digs against Tacoma, where he lived for a couple of years...and spent much of the rest of the night apologizing. Sort of.

They all sounded good, and it was an inspiring show. It was wonderful to see Buddy Miller back and joking. Earlier in the year, he had a heart attack after one of their shows and was forced to drop off the tour.

Patty Griffin said "I'm 45 years old and I've written two love songs in my life," before singing "Heavenly Day," from her album, "Children Running Through." Emmy Lou Harris, now a 62 year old grandmother, admitted that her mother still insists she wear a bike helmet.

It was like being at a friends house, listening to four people play.

Here is an amateur video from a performance in Colorado two weeks ago:


---o0o---

Monday, March 30, 2009

Bobby Bare, Jr. at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard



We saw an awesome show last night at the Sunset Tavern in our neighborhood. My sister in law is a long time fan of Bobby. I knew his dad's music. In fact, I thought that who we were going to see, although I thought it mighty strange he was playing at the grungy but beloved Sunset Tavern. Like some other alt country folk, Bobby has a twisted sense of humor. Bobby stopped in Seattle after touring with Son Volt, and playing at Austin's SXSW. From a recent review in the Baeble blog:

"Blown to New York on a carefree combination of crude oil chords, and sweet summer melodies, Bobby Bare delivers the kind of take on authentic country blues and southern rock that lets the whiskey running through your blood do its job. Humid and hazy at times, fearlessly grungy at others, Bare brought the region that bred him to the Bowery's stage. Whether lamenting for a Flat-Chested Woman in two-part harmony, moaning and whaling like a real singing cowboy, or rolling through rock and roll barn burners, Bobby and his band rollicked like a southern fried Guided By Voices. "

Bobby Bare, Jr. , 43, has recorded several solo albums, along with two major label albums with his band, Bare, Jr., (1998 and 2000) and his new, loosely-confederated band, the Young Criminals Starvation League. Last night he released a DIY album, American Bread, consisting of him covering songs by Bread and America. You get the feeling Bobby is just barely keeping it together, and yet he is sweet and funny on stage.

Bare is the son of country musician Bobby Bare. In 1974 — when Bobby Jr. was eight — they were both nominated for a Grammy for the song "Daddy What If."

He plays now with the Young Criminals Starvation League, a constantly-changing group of musicians who have released three studio albums, an EP, and a live album. Bobby will be at the Sunset Tavern again this coming Friday, for an early show. Get tickets early--last night's sold out.
---o0o---

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Best of 2008 -- Jamey Johnson: Somewhere between Jennings and Jones, song and interview


click to enlarge - This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

One of my favorite albums this year is Jamey Johnson's That Lonesome Song. Below is an interview he did about the album and a YouTube slideshow version of the song Somewhere Between Jennings and Jones. He is definitely somewhere between Waylon and George Jones, although to my ears he leans toward Waylon, with a similar "outlaw" sound, with the pedal steel and fiddle. "Somewhere Between" also refers to the fact that Jamey Johnson music will always be shelved between Jennings and Jones in the record stores (hey, remember them?). It's always great to hear new country music that isn't Country Lite. I love this guy!

Somewhere Between Jennings and Jones




An interview on his album That Lonesome Song



---o0o---

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Dolly Parton Concert in Seattle, August 8, 2008

Dolly Parton came to Seattle in August and played a great show at a miserable venue--the WaMu Theatre near the Seahawks Stadium and Safeco Field. I started writing about it in August, and just bumped into it again, so I thought I'd finish this now.

Dolly brought along an eight piece band and three back-up singers. The singers were great. The band itself, serviceable. They may have been great (there were no flubs or clams or anything) but they never got much of a chance to stretch out.

Dolly did what is apparently her standard show, just under two hours, with a lot of corny jokes and reminiscences of growing up in a poor family in Smoky Mountain Tennessee. Interestingly, she never mentioned her first big job in the music business, working with Porter Wagner.

Dolly's voice was near-perfect. Unbelievably, heartbreakingly true, and maybe even better than it was on her debut record in the early 70's. When I first heard her sing way back then it was stunning, but thirty-five plus years later, unlike, say Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell, Mick Jagger, and other 60+ year olds who use back-up singers to hit the high notes, and keep them on pitch, Dolly did the heavy lifting. This was nowhere more apparent than her rendition of "Little Sparrow" a capella. It was absolutely stunning and spot on, and maybe even better than the version she recorded a few years ago on one of her fairly recent bluegrass albums.

Her eight-piece band took the stage at the stroke of eight and Dolly was singing on her headset mic before some of the crowd was even in their seats. The audience for this stop on the "Backwoods Barbie" tour was not a sell-out, but Parton immediately made those who showed up feel at home.

She performed quite a few covers. The first was a version of John Denver's Thank God I'm A Country Boy. It was OK (better than the original). She also had a hunky roadie or guitar tech in overalls dance a sort of hillbilly shuffle. She named him her "Backwoods Ken." During the show, she also covered Great Balls of Fire (which seemed pointless). Her cover of the Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy," complete with hoedown, was wonderful, both her arrangement, and the hoedown she interpolated.

All the glitz and cornpone humor didn't distract from the heart and country soul behind her classic tunes like "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," "Tennessee Mountain Home" and many others.

During the course of the show she played an a rhinestone-encrusted autoharp (or is it a dulcimer), an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, the piano, a harmonica, a banjo, and maybe one or two other instruments. It was hard to tell if it was shtick or not. . .but she could play them all. I don't know how she was able to play the harmonica without turning her lipstick into a clown job. Whether it was showmanship or not, it helped break up the show and made each song unique.

She played about half the songs from her current album, "Backwoods Barbie" album, a couple of which I could have lived without.

After a 20-minute intermission, the second set peaked with a remarkable doo-wop arrangement of Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind," featuring Dolly and the men of her ensemble singing a cappella. They followed that with Parton singing the heartbreaking "Little Sparrow," from her 2001 album, ranging from soft and breathy to a piercing belt and back again in the space of a few seconds. After that, it was time to wrap things up, and Parton served up her broadest pop-oriented megahits (though not necessarily her best tunes), as fans of every age, background and sexual orientation (she draw a large gay and lesbian audience, at least in Seattle), danced, sang along and generally had a blast. Of course, she sang the biggest cash cow from her songbook, "I Will Always Love You."

At just past ten, Parton walked offstage, and returned for a one-song encore.

Parton's chops as a songwriter and singer almost have no peer, but equally remarkable is that larger-than-life personality, in which tackiness and sincerity somehow co-exist in a rhinestone world.

---o0o---

Thursday, September 11, 2008

George Jones' 77th birthday commemorative heater

WFMU's beware of the blog reprinted a copy of this advertisement today, honoring the country legend's 77th birthday. And, even better, they have two downloads of George songs: Wino The Clown, and Relief is just a swallow away. Jump here to download the tunes.




click the ad to enlarge
---o0o---

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Dirty Old Egg Sucking Hound; Johnny Cash song and lyrics




Dirty Old Egg Sucking Hound


Well he's not very handsome to look at
Oh he's shaggy and he eats like a hog
And he's always killin' my chickens
That dirty old egg-suckin' dog

Egg-suckin' dog
I'm gonna stomp your head in the ground
If you don't stay out of my hen house
You dirty old egg-suckin' hound

Now if he don't stop eatin' my eggs up
Though I'm not a real bad guy
I'm gonna get my riffle and send him
To that great chicken house in the sky

Egg-suckin' dog
Your always hangin' around
But you'd better stay out of my hen house
You dirty old egg-suckin' hound
---o0o---

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Back in Austin, Texas

It is crisp and rainy in Austin tonight. I've probably been here ten times and this is the first time it hasn't been balmy. The tapwater is actually cooler than lukewarm. And the town is quiet. Usually, all the outdoor bars are filled and at The Austin Motel, I can hear music booming from The Continental Club, and Guero's.

We went to Ruby's BBQ for dinner and then walked a few blocks to the Hole In The Wall (another favorite...one of the oldest bars in Austin, who have had many legendary performances on their modest stage. It is a hole, and it is great! Clyde & Clem's Whiskey Business a sort of alt-country jugband affair played.

Now, at 12:30 AM, I am watching a replay of the Democratic debate. It's kind of nice to see the three real contenders go head to head... Tomorrow it is a day of business, then fly back to Seattle where I will arrive before midnight.
---o0o---

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Bumbershoot 2007, a late write-up


Roky Erickson


It took me a while (e.g., nearly six weeks) to finish writing about this, but Bumbershoot--the Seattle end of summer music and art festival had a decent line-up this year. Better than some years past, but still under-serving the 40 and over crowd among which I number myself. At some point you're though being cool and just want to hear what you came up with. The hottest attractions this year were probably Wu Tang Clan, The Frames, Kulture Shock, The (local) Shins, and Crowded House.

We only attended on Monday, mainly to See Roky Erickson and Steve Earle. But we were also able to see the amazing rockers, Kulture Shock and the hugely popular, but disappointingly emo The Frames.

Kulture Shock were a blast! They are a sextet of "Balkan punk rock gypsy metal wedding-meets-riot music." The band includes players from Bosnia, Bulgaria, Japan and Seattle. I'd categorize their music as extremely energetic art-punk outfit around. The enormously entertaining lead singer--Gino Yevdjevich--conceived of the band while he was sitting in a Croatian refugee camp. They are similar to another band that played this year: Gogol Bordello.


Roky Erickson - You may have heard of this legendary Austin musician. I have wanted to see him for many years. In the 60's he led the seminal and influential 13th floor elevators. They released a tune in '66, "You're Gonna Miss Me," that has been on every compilation of psychedelic music, and was also on the soundtrack of High Fidelity. Other tunes have been covered and seveeral tribute albums have appeared. Some of his covers were by bands like REM, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Butthole Surfers. Peter Buck was a big supporter, and I think has been something of a lifeline for Roky in the last few years.

Roky's subsequent life is a tragedy. If you want to know more, see Kevin McAlester's documentary "You're Gonna Miss Me." In 1967, the Elevators looked like they might be the next Byrds or Doors. But that didn't happen. By 1968 Roky was hearing voices. His mother says in the film that she found him in the back yard one day in 1968, babbling and covered with sores. Cycling between periods of clarity and musical activity, over the years, Roky's voices shifted between aliens, devils, and monsters. In 1969, he was arrested for possession of a couple of joints. His lawyer pled insanity and Roky was sent to a maximum-security unit for the criminally insane where he underwent electroshock and was even possibly tortured and tormented by guards. He would never be the same again. Under the care of his family, he declined over the years. He was eventually rescued by a brother, was finally put on medication, and has come to live approaching like a normal life. I was ten feet away from him at his show, and let me tell you, his face is a testimony to all that he endured. Brian Wilson or Daniel Johnston look like the picture of health and sanity compared to Roky.

He put on a good show of psychedelic-tinged rock-blues. It was good to see him. . .not intact, but more or less back.


The Frames

The Frames - A band with a small but steady fan base. . .although they have reportedly had five double platinum albums (which means they sold at least 600,000 copies each (assuming they were certified in Ireland). Unfortunately, they were too emo for me. They were clearly accomplished players, but the songs didn't do much for me.



Steve Earle with his wife Allison Moorer

Steve Earle - Was Steve Earle, funny, gruff, and very Steve Earle, telling some good stories and spinning some yarns. I didn't enjoy his love songs nearly as much as I do his more topical songs. I think falling in love has been good for his life; maybe for his music, not so much.
---o0o---

Friday, July 20, 2007

The concert to save Town Lake


click the poster to enlarge

I have tickets to a benefit at Stubb's Barbecue tonight--the concert to Save Town Lake (town lake, a/k/a The Colorado River as it runs through Austin). A lot of great music all at once: Bob Schneider, Jimmy Lafave, Dale Watson, Stephen Bruton, Bob Livingston, and some surprise guests. This should be great! /jack from Austin (btw, on a Sleep Number tm bed, I dialit all the way up to 100...rock hard)...
---o0o---

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" Music and Lyrics

I've Been Everywhere is one of my many favorite Johnny Cash Tunes. Here is a video with postcards a woman, Jen, put together. I put it up because I want you to hear the tune. Of the places he names, I've actually been to 29 of them. . . how about you? /jack



"I've Been Everywhere"

I was toting my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi with a high canvas covered load
If your goin' to Winnemucca, Mack with me you can ride
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!"

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Reno
Chicago
Fargo
Minnesota
Buffalo
Toronto
Winslow
Sarasota
Wichita
Tulsa
Ottawa
Oklahoma
Tampa
Panama
Mattawa
LaPaloma
Bangor
Baltimore
Salvador
Amarillo
Tocapillo
Barranquilla
And Padilla

I'm a Killer
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Boston
Charleston
Dayton
Louisiana
Washington
Houston
Kingston
Texarkana
Monterey
Fairaday
Santa Fe
Tallapoosa
Glen Rock
Black Rock
Little Rock
Oskaloosa
Tennessee
Chicopee
Spirit Lake
Grand Lake
Devil's Lake
Crater Lake

For Pete's Sake
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Louisville
Nashville
Knoxville
Ombabika
Schefferville
Jacksonville
Waterville
Costa Rock
Pittsfield
Springfield
Bakersfield
Shreveport
Hackensack
Cadillac
Fond du Lac
Davenport
Idaho
Jellico
Argentina
Diamantina
Pasadena
Catalina

See What I Mean
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to:
Pittsburgh
Parkersburg
Gravelbourg
Colorado
Ellensburg
Rexburg
Vicksburg
Eldorado
Larimore
Adimore
Haverstraw
Chatanika
Shasta
Nebraska
Alaska
Opalacka
Baraboo
Waterloo
Kalamazoo
Kansas City
Sioux City
Cedar City
Dodge City

What A Pity
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been everywhere

Monday, July 09, 2007

The Willie Nelson Picnic; July 4, 2007



At the last minute (noon), Keelin and I decided to spend the 4th of July with Willie Nelson and one of my new favorites, the Old 97's. It was 100 degrees in George that afternoon. . .not all that different than the weather would be in Austin. We drive the 2 1/2 hours over the pass into the central Washington desert, headed for the Gorge Amphitheatre, sitting on a hill above the mighty Columbia.

Alas, there was no barbecue from Stubb's or The Salt Lick, but everyone made up for it by drinking lots of beer (no Shiner Bock!). Of course, at the prices they charge, it would cost you about $60 or so to get a buzz going.

It was a happy crowd--a stew of people of my ilk (aka silverbacks) and the tatooed, babies, lots of 20 and 30 somethings, pierced folks, 50 and 60 year old cowfolk, and a sprinking of hippies. Although we mainly went to see the Old 97's and Drive By Truckers, the other bands performed respectably. Including, of course, Willie. I am not a huge Willie Nelson fan--I've been more a fan of his songs than his performances. However, most of the people I talked to were bored with the lineup, and were mainly waiting for Willie to appear. One guy was counting the minutes until the Old 97's finished. Heresy!




We arrived about ten minutes before the show started at 4:00. It was 100 degrees and broiling. There is virtually no shade at the Gorge. The place looked half-filled at first, mainly because people were in the misting tents, and drinking beer on the plaza. The theatre began to fill slowly. Unfortunately most people missed Amos Lee, who played a warm and loose folk/blues to just a few us. He was the only act on the bill I didn't know, and he was a great surprise. I'll be buying some of his music this week!


The Drive By Truckers

I liked the Drive-By Truckers early work, but I wasn less impressed with their performance. They did play some great guitar. They were fine; I was just eager to see the Old 97's.

In Seattle, Old 97's and Son Volt are very popular, but the Gorge audience didn't seem to know them, and the respose was fairly muted. The Willie audience didn't know their work. The Old 97's played a lot of their earlier country stuff (from the Too Far To Care era), but also several of the great tunes from Fight Songs and Satelite Ride. Rhett Miller sounded great (and even danced), the guitarist was, as always, awesome, and the drums were way up front in the mix (something Old 97's have in common with The Posies). It felt like both Son Volt and the Old 97's, as talented as they are, probably come across better in a smaller venue (and without most of the audience being there to see the headliner).


Amos Lee - a charming, moving performer

The Nelson Family event kicked off with a subset of the band--40 Points--featuring Nelson's sons Micah and Lukas on drums and guitar. These Nelson kids are good! Lukas smoked on guitar. However, the six or seven songs they played (sans Willie) were perhaps a bit much.

When Nelson finally took the stage wearing his black vest, jeans, and cowboy hat, the audience absolutely erupted with the yells and applause they had been so stingy about giving the other acts. Willie played down home country, as he always does. He played many of his great tunes: like "Whiskey River," and "Whiskey for My Men, Beer for My Horses," and "Still Is Still Moving to Me" before slowing down for "Funny How Time Slips Away," and maybe his greatest tune (that Patsy Cline made famous) "Crazy." Willie is a consummate performer and knows how to work a crowd of 30,000. The band, and Willie himself, sounded great.


The Old 97's, my current favorite alt-country band (mainly
because they jumped the fence into power-pop land)



Willie's sister Bobbie plays excellent honky-tonk piano, and they even gave her a one song solot slot. stepping into the limelight for one perfect solo song. Let me also mention that she has hair that must be four feet long. The harp player, Mickey Raphael (with Nelson for 30 years now) sounded great, and it's always nice to hear harmonica in country music; for some reason, CW has always seemed to eschew harp playing.



Son Volt

Willie performed a honky-tonk version of Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee," a Stevie Ray Vaughn cover, and his classic "On the Road Again." They also played a Hank Williams medley, and of course, Willie crooned "Georgia on My Mind." Danny Goodfellow, a longtime Willie pal, came on stage to fiddle on the bluegrass song"Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms."

Previous links to Old 97's posts and videos on All This Is That:

The Old 97s in Austin
The Old 97's show at Stubb's BBQ was a rainout . . .but the Small Stars were great!
Designs On You
Video and Lyrics to Old 97's "Lonely Holiday"
Video and lyrics: Old 97's Designs On You
---o0o---

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Video and lyrics: Old 97's Designs On You

The Old 97's perform Designs On You at La Zona Rosa in Austin, Texas. Watching this video reminds me I haven't been to Austin for three months. In the last couple of years, Austin has become one of my main sites for seeing live music, althought I have still not been able to see the Old 97's there (due to schedules, and one rainout at Stubb's).



Standin' on the corner of 6th and how to forget
Tryin' to do right by you all night, Annette.
You can go ahead and get married
And this'll be our secret thing.
I won't tell a soul except the people in the nightclub where I sing.
I don't wanna get you all worked up,
Except secretly I do.

I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.
I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.

Standin' on the corner of 6th and where do I go
The parade shut down now the rain is runnin' the show.
Where did all these people come from
And how soon can they leave?
Normally I'd be headin' to it
But I need to get some sleep
Though I do wish you'd come over but I'm warning you if you do

I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.
I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.

Standin on the corner of 6th and where do I get
Tryin' to do right by you all night, Annette.
This would only be an experiment
In things that could have been
And you can go ahead and get married
And it'll probably never happen again
I don't mean to make you excited except secretly I do.

I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.
I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.
I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you.
I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't have designs on you
---o0o---

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Happy 108th Birthday Duke Ellington!


click duke to enlarge

Duke Ellington would have been 108 years old today (born April 29, 1899, died May 24, 1974). He is usually considered one of the most important figures to emerge from jazz scene in the twentieth century. Duke, however, didn't usually speak of jazz, but instead liked to consider his work just music. Jazz was too narrow for Ellington, although he created some of the best jazz yet, as well as nurtured hundreds of young musicians. Here is a YouTube video of his 1942 band:




Duke's band performing C Jame Blues in 1942


---o0o---