GIL SCOTT HERON: THE LAST HOLIDAY…. The Revolution Continues…..

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Paul Brad

Canongate Books, Book Slam and XL Recordings come together to celebrate the life of radical poet, novelist and musician, Gil Scott-Heron at the launch of his posthumous memoir, The Last Holiday.

The event takes place at the wonderful people’s palace that is Wilton’s Music Hall in East London on the 19th January. It will include a one-off back-to-back set from DJs Jamie XX and Gilles Peterson who will play a musical tribute to Gil. The line-up also includes dynamic new generation poets Kate Tempest and Ben Mellor. The session will also provide an opportunity to see interviews and rare film footage of Gil.

TICKETS GO ON SALE: 5th January!


For more on Gil Scott-Heron including a short film of part of the last interview he did before he died and to check out exclusive readings from The Last Holiday go to http://www.canongate.tv

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WE FREE KINGS! … whoops… ‘We Three Kings: The Quest Of The Magi’

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Paul Brad

Just realised that everybody has stopped working… long time!


So, in an attempt invoke the reflective spirit of the festive season, the earth energy of the winter solstice and that essential message of “Peace on earth and and good will will to all men” – and women! – I bring you this little indo-jazz offering from Arun Ghosh’s Soundcloud site.

It features Arun on clarinet & piano and Rastko Rasic on darbucka, castanets & cymbals.

Enjoy!

Check: Arun Ghosh – ‘Northern Namaste’ + ‘Primal Odyssey’ (camoci records)

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Welcome to SHADOW-LANDS at the The Boiler Room

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Paul Brad

Back in the day… way back in the day….  I met a young DJ Shadow at the Blue Note Club in Hoxton Square.  He was working with an even younger James Lavelle, who at that time was scribbling a column for Straight No Chaser magazine and conspiring with Swifty to create the highly individual look of his most excellent Mo’Wax imprint.  If I think correctly, it was Shadow’s first London show and he was sharing the honours on the Technics with Tokyo’s deep and deadly  DJ Krush. It was, if my herb addled memory serves me well, a ground breaking, ram jam session that I’m sure is firmly imprinted in the minds of those hip hop heads who were there.

DJ Shadow & DJ Krush at the Treasure Island Music Festival 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In more recent times, I’ve been made aware of Shadow’s musical adventures by Ross Allen, another former Chaser contributor, who has worked with Shadow, on the A&R front, on and off over the years.  And so, when I heard he was playing a set for Boiler Room TV (respect to the BPM) which coincided with a globetrotting tour and the release of his new album, ‘The Less You Know The Better’ , I was most curious.

Fortunately for us, Boiler Room Tv is  a most organised bizniz and if you tune to http://boilerroom.tv/dj-shadow-30-min-mix/ you can watch and listen to a most radical and free style set that takes it back to Shadow’s “essence of dj’ing”.

Check it out!

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THE DEEP JAZZ QUIZ. from the Steve Reid Foundation ‘Lions of Judah’ launch party.

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Paul Brad

OK people… last Monday saw the Steve Reid Foundation launch for Emanative and Ahmed Abdullah’s reworking of Steve’s  ‘Lions Of Judah’ – a tremendous  12″ single that deserves a place in any discerning music headz xmas stocking! It was in a pub, The Londesborough, in Stoke Newington and it took the form of  charity dinner.

As gatherings go, this one was rather special, and in the house were a host of faces and serious players from across the musical spectrum. In the mix was Ross Allen, Ashley Beedle, Deisel, Joe Davis, Simbad, Chris Phillips, Jez Nelson, Janine Neye, Earl Zinger, Valerie Etienne, Demus, Karen P, Mike Connolly, Kay Suzuki, Russ Jones,  Simon Goffe, Koichi Sakai, Dayo, Jim Lister, Jessica Lauren …. nuff…. and live music was sweetly delivered by Zara Macfarlane and her excellent band which features the fiercely talented Peter Edwards and Binker Golding.

As the people awaited the arrival of their turkey & tings copies of Deep Jazz Quiz (concocted by yours truly with a little help from Gilles Peterson) were dished out. Various teams were formed and the rival factions most definitely rose to the challenge.  A lot of deep knowledge was combined in order to notch up points from what were quite tricky questions .

In fact, it was a great help if you had been an avid reader of Straight No Chaser magazine.  So, on reflection I’ve decided to print the Deep Jazz Quiz here for your perusal and  will post the answers at a later date… maybe during the Xmas break.

Have Fun! (PS: No googling etc… take it from the top!)

Name 2 US jazz/funk musicians who played and lived with Fela Anikulapo Kuti in Nigeria

(a)                 Ginger Baker

(b)                 Roy Ayers

(c)                 Steve Reid

(d)                 Oliver Lake

(e)                 Lester Bowie

(f)                  Randy Weston

 

Which jazz bass player plays on the Tribe Called Quest LP ‘Low End Theory

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Staying with jazz bassists… which leading light in the Native Tongue collective is currently producing Esperanza  Spalding?

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On Bro GP’ s latest  Havana Cultura CD… ‘The Search Continues’… which Tribe Called Quest cut do they cover and how does it translate into Spanish?

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Hamiliton Bohannon –  the original disco-don-da-da – started off playing jazz….  What instrument did he play?

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Two seminal UK albums came out in 1981 by Incognito and Freez. What were they called?

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On the revolutionary album Pharoah Sanders  LP ‘Thembi’  – which feats. Lonnie Liston Smith and includes the track ‘Astral Travelling’ – Impulse brought in rock & blues producer/engineer Bill Szymczyl to introduce modern recording techniques like close mics, over-dubbing, reverb  etc . – Which multi billion selling west coast band famed for “taking it easy” was Bill renowned for working with?

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Which album was Pharoah Sanders emulating in practice when he discovered he could get sound from his horn when he was not blowing? Think flautist & India!

…………………………………….. / ………………………………………………………………..

In the Sixties Terry Callier was one half of a folk duo. Upon going to NYC they were told by a major record company that America was not ready for a black & white duo. Which member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was his partner?

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Which band performing live in Chicago inspired singer/songwriter Terry Callier to use 2 bassists on one of his early albums.

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Which antipodean piano player played on the live cut of Yusef Lateef’s ‘Brother John’?

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On a bit of an old skool tip…  which US jazz musician sent the young Hugh Masekela a trumpet?

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Which US composer / band leader was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1999?

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Which celebrated Be Bop musician reputedly stabbed legendary hipster Slim Gaillard in Billy Berg’s in Hollywood.

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The sleeves for Blue Note records are iconic.

(a)                 Who did the graphic design?

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(b)                 Who did the photography?

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Pirate Radio vibes…. the first superstar DJ playing jazz on pirate radio was Andy Jackson. He was on Radio Invicta but what was the frequency?

94.9 fm  /  100 fm /   94.2  fm /  92.4 fm

Which excellent British journalist / photographer authored the wonderful book on post Sixties US jazz movement –  ‘As Serious As Your Life’?

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Which saxophonist initiated the New York Loft Scene?

a)       Marion Brown

b)        Roscoe Mitchell

c)       Sam Rivers

d)       David Murray

What was Art Ensemble of Chicago trumpeter, Lester Bowie’s preferred method of transport?

a) Cadillac El Dorado

b) 750cc Kawasaki

c) Ford Mustang

d) Greyhound Bus

 

 

 

 

 

Film question 1: On a world tour of a famous jazz musician the baggage of the band kept getting heavier and heavier. Upon inspection they discovered bags full of empty coke bottles. The bandleader was intending to return them to the land from whence they came. Who was that?

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Film question 2:  Which saxophonist played on the soundtrack of Bertolucci’s film ‘Last Tango In Paris’ and which country did he come from?

……………………………………………………   / …………………………………………….

What was the name of pianist Randy Weston’s club in Tangiers?

a) African Rhythms Club     b) La Belle Epoque      c) Blue Morning

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Brasilian vocalist Flora Purim is famed for her ability to replicate the sound of seabirds in flight. She acquired this skill while in prison… which prison?

a)       Terminal Island           b)     Rykers Island

Which two legendary conga layers played at Talking Loud & Saying Something @ Dingwalls:

a)       Poncho Sanchez

b)      Ray Baretto

c)      Mongo Santamaria

Which UK band included a version of the Electric Ballrooom Jazz dance classic ‘The Bottom End’ on a 12” single?

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Which jazz dance crew battled  (on TV)  the Brothers In Jazz in a boxing ring?

a) Floor Technicians    b) Back Street Kids     c) Jazcotech      d) IDJ

Steve Reid was drum mentor to one the members of Rocket No 9. Who wrote the song ‘Rocket No. 9’?

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Which Mercury Prize winning musician /DJ played with Sun Ra at the Hackney Empire.

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Which contemporary Ensemble includes in their current set  Tommy McCook’s ‘Samson’ and this Sun Ra song:  “Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.”

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Which classic Motown hit did the teenage Steve Reid play on?

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Above:  Keiran Hebden & Steve Reid

Just to backtrack to the session… Dayo & Jim Lister et al (Brownswood Message Board Massive) had the highest score (41 points!). Jez Nelson (Something Else/Jazz On 3) + his crew crew came second and Joe Davis (Far Out)  + posse came third. It was close. However, GP sprung a surprise and a nominee from each of the top three teams had to compete to name each tune he played. Ashley Beedle, Jim Lister and Joe Davis lined up but it was  no contest… Joe Davis (who has the ears of a serious record dealer) freaked everybody out… he even by named one tune before it   started… on the sound of the between tracks applause. A night was had!

OK… just remember…  consult your friends but no “cheating”. Also, don’t forget to snap up  the vinyl.

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All hail the ‘Lions Of Judah’ at the Steve Reid Foundation tonight!

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Paul Brad

Been a bit hectic, so I’ve been a touch slack on ancient to future. However, tonight… Monday 12th December…. we are  celebrating the launch of the forthcoming vinyl only single ‘Lions of Judah’ by emanative & Ahmed Abdullah. Brownswood and Gilles Peterson are hosting a very deep ‘n’ funky charity dinner and launch party with all profits going to the Steve Reid Foundation.

So, for me, all roads lead to The Londesborough in Stokie.  There’ll be a few faces in the house, a live set from the lovely Zara McFarlane + a few tunes + the Deep Jazz Quiz concocted by GP and I-self.

I might even pop that Quiz up on the blog tomorrow… until then, as Steve Reid would have said, “Stay in the rhythm!’

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‘SLEEP’…. No. 4 from THE ROOTS… ‘Undun”.

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Paul Brad

CHECK the post THE ROOTS: ‘Undun’… a ghetto symphony… the story so far! to watch ‘Tip The Scale’, ‘Stomp’ and ‘Make My” from this radical quartet of short films. It was Posted on November 16, 2011 under Words Sound & Power

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The Valley Spirit: Lindsay Wei’s Story Of Daoist Cultivation

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Paul Brad

As I am partial to reading about journeys, spiritual journeys, like Sun Shuyun’s Ten Thousand Miles Without  A Cloud or Bill ‘Red Pine’ Porter’s Road to Heaven  or O.M. Burke’s Amongst The Dervishes, I was most enthused to discover that  Alex Kozma’s Line of Intent imprint has just published The Valley Spirit: A Story of Daoist Cultivation.

Penned by a young Chinese American, Lindsay Wei, we embark upon a journey to the White Horse Mountain, on the westerly edge of Wudang.  Amid the swirling mists and under the tutelage of Li Shi Fu, a hermetic Daoist priest, who has renounced the world of “red dust”, she immerses herself in the internal martial arts, healing, medicine, alchemy and meditation.  This is book that promises not just a glimpse into the re-emergence of Daoism in China today but some deep insights into the struggle between earthly desires and heavenly knowledge.

The Valley Spirit is unique. This is a woman’s story. It is a search for an identity and it’s the combination of Gnostic texts, the Gospel of Mary Magadalene, the Seven Powers , Guan Yin and the teachings of the Dao De Jing that propel her towards the light. As she puts it, “I was walking in the dark asking which way to go” and this book gives an intimate account of a journey towards enlightenment that is inevitably tainted by sexuality, age and upbringing.

Reading this book I thought of Jade Fox in Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger, abused and embittered by her experiences at Wudang and her woman warrior counterpart, Yu Shu Lien, who yearns for the love of master  swordsman Li Mu Bai. Each involved a complicated web of experiences and emotions. Anyone engaged in spiritual or martial practices knows that the search for that teacher, who can provide the guidance you seek, is difficult at the best of times and the experience for a woman is often different to that of a man.

However, despite the pain and fear and confusion she experiences along the way she eventually finds a spiritual home. She draws on the strengths of other women who have embarked upon the same path and with guidance from her enigmatic teacher, Li Shi Fu, a modest foundation has been laid.

Today, her journey continues and as she says, “I am a young woman in what is also a world of wonder, where multitudes of souls full of compassion linger untapped. And we are warriors if we continue to battle the self, the ego and desire.”  Lindsay Wei believes we live in a world where the potential is unlimited and the infinite knowledge of the ancients is there if only we seek it out . She declares that she knows “nearly nothing” but one day she will hui feng dao – return on the wind! Until then she will continue to grind the stone and maybe, in the future, we will be privileged to read another illuminating and thought provoking chapter in her journey along The Way.


To buy a copy of Lindsay Wei’s The Valley Spirit send a Paypal order to

kozma108@gmail.com

Cost inc P&P: UK £14-50, Europe £15-60, Rest of the World  £17-30

Other info: http://thevalleyspirit.wordpress.com/

 

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A TUESDAY NIGHT PRAYER MEETING…

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Paul Brad

Last night found me sitting in a half lotus  – had to make a bit of an effort! – in the midst of evening prayers before the five shrines which house the sacred deities in the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.  The impressive and normally silent room, which is constructed solely from Italian and Bulgarian marble, its pillars adorned with gods like Ganesh, all hand carved by skilled Indian artisans, was filled with rhythmic chants. As the monks of the temple prostrated themselves candles were lit and passed around those gathered.  I gladly cupped my hands to the flames and pressed the Wisdom offered to my eyes and temples.  It was a good beginning to the evening.

This was my first visit to the Mandir, one of several, equally lavish Hindu temples that have been constructed around the world. A stone’s throw from the hectic traffic of London’s North Circular it is truly a sight to behold – it’s as if an Indian national monument has been dropped into Neasden from outer space. As an invitee to this inter-denominational event organized by the Hindu Christian Forum – an organization that will be officially launched today at St James’ Palace under the auspices of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Shri Shruti Dharma Das Ji –  I was made most welcome and my somewhat awkward questions readily answered. It did seem something of a mystery as to how such  imposing and ornate places of worship had come about when its founder, Shri Swaminarayan, as a youth – as a yoga practicing sadhu – had wandered the length and breadth of India barefoot and with no possessions at all, initially rejecting involvement in any institutions.

Maybe it’s my passion for music or the discipline and rhythm of practice one embraces in martial arts that draws me to explore the ascetic pathways to enlightenment. However, as I’m neither Christian nor Hindu but a spiritual and politically conscious person I recognize the astronomical body count that exists a result of centuries of conflict between organized religions and the threat of violence that still exists today. So, an exchange of knowledge and beliefs, a practical coming together, no matter how small, has to be for the good when aiming to defuse global conflicts or day to day racism.

At the helm of this event was one Kate Wharton, an assistant to the Archbishop Of Canterbury and a former Straight No Chaser scribe.  A deep and spiritual asset to the Chaser posse  it was Kate who went to live in Alice Coltrane’s ashram in California, and on this night she and I had joined forces to  enlist Swifty to do the artwork and composer/clarinetist Arun Ghosh to provide the music for this gathering. Basically, it was a coming together of people over platters of vegetarian food while being immersed in sound and melodies  that echoed the Arun’s travels around the sub-continent from Kerala to the Himalayas.

Born in Calcutta but growing up in Bolton, Arun is a new generation musician, inspired by incredibly diverse diverse musics of India and Pakistan but attuned to the continuum of jazz and naturally steeped in dance music and club culture. On this night his quintet took us on a journey via his South Asia Suite and judging by the immediate and spontaneous applause that greeted each composition a deep connection had been made.
In essence, the gathering was simple in concept and the formalities faded into the background overshadowed by the relaxed but spiritual dimension of the exchange – a dimension that was clearly heightened by the music which, as one enlightened speaker affirmed, speaks directly to the soul.

So, if music is – as the late Albert Ayler maintained – the healing force of the universe, let’s put our hands together and pray for more occasions where we can break bread or a couple of popadoms and listen to sounds that can transport us to another spiritual plane.

Arun Ghosh’s latest album  ‘Primal Odyssey’ is out now on comoci records.

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A Pilgimage To The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Paul Brad

A couple a weeks ago I passed through the Grayson Perry’s show, The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman, at the British Museum and was quietly blown away.

I knew little about this man except that he had notched up a Turner Prize, enjoys dressing up (more Bo Peep than RuPaul) and is a ceramicist.  I had never seen his work and was not aware that Perry was loathed by certain critics who maintain a man who makes pots cannot be crowned a great artist. Neither was I in the know about his relationship to his teddy bear, one Alan Measles, the god of his imaginary world.

So, I entered into  The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman somewhat naive but with an open mind. At the entrance to the show was the extraordinary, customized Kennilworth AM1 motorcycle on which he and Alan Measles had apparently journeyed to Bavaria. Their conciliatory mission was one  of peace and friendship. It was  intended to lay to rest the duo’s aversion to all things German due to a youth spent  immersed in World War 2 comic  books  – a quest I immediately identified with.

The Rosetta Vase, 2011. © Grayson Perry.

Once inside, it was apparent that a British Museum curator with a bit of vision had allowed Perry free access to their most incredible vaults – 8 million items!  For two years he rifled through the archives and selected  around 170 objects purely on what touched him. Inspired by what he’d discovered, he then set about creating his own pieces – some of which inevitably feature Alan Measles in various splendid incarnations which sit comfortably alongside each other engaging in a spirited and quirky  conversation that criss-crosses the globe and toys with time.

The exhibition is a pilgrimage to generations of people, unknown people, who created and made things. Incredible, fascinating, confusing, mystical, mind boggling things,  from Malian fetish objects to magic nails. One wall is graced by a fantastical tapestry map with the British Museum at the heart of it, created by Perry.  It’s a journey filtered through Perry’s vision which is informed, intuitive and not lacking in humour. Sometimes it’s hard to know what is his and what’s not – which is definitely consistent with with his playful approach toying with experienced reality, truth and beliefs.

Above: top l: Grayson Perry at work / Top r: A Stonehenge Badge  Bottom: A selection of Egyptian Statuettes

A Boli figure or power figure from Bamana, Mali

By the time I’d reached the final leg of the journey, my head was swimming and the artist’s metaphorical piece de resistance,  a cast iron boat embossed with resonant and potent images from the collection and carrying a 250,000year old flint axe head, pretty much sailed silently by.  The tired cynic in me was throwing up images of the Time Bandits and so, I took my leave. That said,  I may have to return another time especially as I have since gained further insight into the ways of this maverick artist and craftsperson.

Check the man out:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016ycnn/Imagine_Winter_2011_Grayson_Perry_and_the_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Craftsman/

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SPATIAL A.K.A.: A Night To Remember!

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Paul Brad

Spatial A.K.A. … London Jazz Festival… I don’t know if this will work but here’s the notes I was prompted to scribble during what turned out be an extraordinary and incredibly inspiring three hour concert…

Cacophony of Horns.  Weaving though the audience. Spatial A.K.A.  Masked, cloaked, blowin’, beating drums, shaking percussion.  Jerry Dammers – hooded in black and playing an offbeat melodica.  Onstage:   ‘Frownland’…. “my smile is stuck in your Frownland”…  Anthony Joseph is joined by Edgar Broughton …  a memory from the Sixties and the ghost of the Captain (Beefheart). Projected: People-less landscapes of Turner nominated Coventry artist George Shaw.  Duke Ellington’s ‘Blue Pepper’ from the ‘Far East Suite’.  Big band heaven! An Andrew Hill composition… alto sax… WOW! Nathaniel Facey – A Star. The Strings!  Jerry: “From the sublime to the ridiculous…” Library music:  vibes, bata drums  – Bro. Spry… Sixties “jet set” sounds.  Special guest… all the way from Jamaica… Johnny Clarke…  ‘Blood Dunzer’ (Pablo Moses tune!). Bless-ed. Track from Anthony Joseph LP – ‘Generations’. DEEP Dammers arrangement. Coltrane’s ‘Naima’…”it’s about broken love”… Francine Luce… brilliant gold mask black feathers… haunting version – it’s in French.  Jason Yarde solos… funky little soprano sax. More library music. Circus Parade – trained Bears?? Nine horns… top players… Shabaka… Finn Peters comes with a tiny flute, thumping rhythm… drum frenzy. New reggae composition by Jerry D. Magnificent arrangement… roots… Johnny Clarke… “The first victim of war, always the poor”… reality! Another Library comp. by Christian somebody – a German dude… ‘Medium Pop’.  Images of concrete Sixties modernism… Eastern Europe… Berlin… HEAVY GROOVE! Jerry D: Conductor… dangerous synth renegade. ‘Serendipity’ – a film. Made in the 70s. “You can all gargle to this…”. ‘Ghost Town’  – alternative lyrics by Jerry D delivered by A. Joseph. Next:  Sun Ra: ‘I’ll Wait For You’. Love this! Played this at first A.K.A gig.  QEH. Dedicated it to his dad… just passed. This time: Francine’s dad just died… “In some far place, many light years in space… I’ll wait for you”…. abstract dreams… wonderful.  Who’s the keys player? Alcyona Mick? Who is she?  Amazing…. Bolt upright & hands – a blur of activity. ‘Mode For DD’…  The Awakening… FINN… Next cut: William S. Fisher ‘Chains’. Images: slavery… bondage.  Powerful, moody… resonant strings… Denys Baptiste again… wow… shades of Trane…  so underrated… all these players… so underrated. Intense. FREE–DOM JAZZ LIVES!   “A song about struggle…”… JC – dreadlocks down to the ground… ‘Peace In the Ghetto…”  Harry Brown. Trombone. Robin Hopcraft. Trumpet. SKA. Big band ska … Tommy McCook’s ‘Samson’… pure power. Roger B vibes… kettle drum solo. Dancers give up. Finally… “well, almost”… Sun Ra… “on the dark side or maybe on the bright side”…  Larry Stabbins.. blazing… they leave as they came.  Strings continue. Finn Peters and Jason Yarde remain. Beautiful! Lights are up. They’re in the foyer. Mobbed! Everyone’s high… space is the place!

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