Willie Nelson Wynton Marsalis - Two Men With The Blues

Where to begin? You’re computer literate, net savvy groovers so I’ll begin by assuming you know nothing about Willie Nelson. And that’s probably a good thing. See, Willie has probably done a duet with everybody that’s ever cleared their throat.  And with limited success, but forget about all that. In fact, forget everything you though you knew about Willie Nelson.

Two Men With The Blues brings together two of the most important figures in Country and Jazz to share their love of Blues and Jazz. The result is a beautiful and often playful synergy of great musicians playing music they love. When interviewed Willie said:

‘Record labels had to know what to call it before they could sell it, so they called it Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, Gospel and whatever. But some music incompasses it all. So what do you call it? And that’s pretty much what I like to play.’ 

The album opener is a scene setting loose and jazz infused blues version of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Bright Lights, Big City’. It hints at what’s in store - subtle arrangements that allow the whole band to shine, not just the headliners. Mickey Raphael’s harmonica and Wynton’s horn spar and play through out the album, with bass, guitar, keys and drums getting their moment in the spot light. Hank Williams ‘My bucket’s got a hole in it’ becomes a New Orleans march cum eulogy for beer, and showcases Nelsons picking and wry comedic timing.

Two Men With The Blues is unlike anything I’ve heard this year - a celebration of music. A worthy addition to anyones collection. Go get it!

THINK: The best Jazz / Blues album this year!
WATCH: Willie & Wynton’s clip.
READ: Willie & Wynton’s site.
BUY: Two men witthe blues at amazon

30_Borrowed_Beats_August_08_Edition - Stress Free Edition

Is everyone witnessing (or suffering from) the inordinate amount of stress involved in our daily lives recently? It seems everywhere I look a friend is out with a stress induced illness, or taking a few ‘mental health’ days.

No one seems to take the time to immerse themselves in anything anymore. People just buy the track they like, not the album - the death toll for music as a body of work. And that track they bought had better grab them in the first 15 seconds…

If all that rings true, then you will either love the opportunity of the August Edition or hate its lack of immediacy, because this month we’re not in a rush. So take some deep breaths and press play for a 68 minute aural massage.

Maceo Parker - Roots & Grooves 

Maceo Parker (mah-see-oh) is like the Don of funk.
Forget George Clinton, the green haired freak.He wouldn’t be nuthin’ with no Maceo.  My man Maceo has played with James Brown, Bootsy Collins, Parliment, De La Soul, Janes Addiction , Red Hot Chilli Peppers , Brian Ferry and Prince. No doubt. ( Not the band, you understand….oh forget it.)

‘Roots and Grooves’ is a two CD (remember them?) release. The first is a tribute to Ray Charles. Running 8 tracks long , this live recording covers a lot of ground, showcasing the Jazz Funk style that Ray pioneered. Opener ‘Hallelujah I love her so’ sets the scene perfectly, complete with dazzling keys and shout outs.

Maceo closes the tribute with an amazing version of ‘What’d I say’, Ray’s first #1 single. the signature refrain is still very much evident, inciting even Christopher Walkin to shake his booty. (sample hunter cred.) Disc 2 is populated with parkers own compositions, famous for being “2% Jazz, 98% funk”. And if he’s lyin’ he’s flyin’.

Maceo plays 250 gigs a year, each show lasting in excess of 2 and a half hours. And the best bit? He’s playing in at The Basement in Sydney on March 16 and 17. So this St. Patrick’s day, why not do less of this, and more of this.

THINK: Hot damn! Good Gawd! (and so on)
WATCH: Shake everything you got
READ: maceo dot com
BUY: Roots & Grooves at amazon

Amon Tobin - Foley Room

In the immortal words of John Cleese, and now for something completely different.
Amon Tobin, a brazillian with Irish parentage (hurrah) released his 7th album on Ninja Tune in October. Foley Room is a departure for Tobin because the album is inspired (and named after) the foley rooms where sound effects were recorded for films.

Found sounds and field recordings are nothing new, but Tobin manages to weave them with a cinematographer’s sensibility. In fact, the album could be accurately categorised as sonic fiction, it features jazz, d’n’b, dub and ambient passages, all out to the backdrop of borrowed beats. (Please excuse that little self indulgence. )

Tobin’s earlier influences have not necessarily faded. Ennio Morricone’s influence can heard on ‘Keep Your Distance’. ‘The Killers Vanilla’ is a dancehall murder scene and ‘Always’ is carnival dub step. It’s surprising that Tobin hasn’t scored much since his debut with Splinter Cell – Chaos Theory. My reaction to the music is to conjure up images the music would be a soundtrack for.

A worthy dream is that life could be exciting enough to have an Amon Tobin soundtrack.

THINK: Burial with David Holmes sense of the cimenatic
READ: Tobin’s myspace and homepage
WATCH: Foley Rooms Trailers 1 & 2
BUY: Foley Room at Amazon

Waldeck  - Ballroom Stories

Klaus Waldeck is one of the original purveyors of the Vienna Sound. Together with the likes of Kruder & Dorfmeister, Tosca and Madrid del los Austrias (snigger snigger) he took the world by storm with a unique blend of nujazz downtempo beats.

Waldeck is back with Ballroom Stories, and it’s a doozey. Waldeck guides us through jazz and swing, with hints of Tom Waits along the way. Joy Malcom and Zeebee purr over sublimely produced beats, strings and keys. I featured ‘Addicted’ on the October Edition of Borrowed Beats, and ‘Make My Day’ is featured in a Mercedes add at the moment.

This is a sophisticated album from a sophisticated individual. I thoroughly recommend it to all my sophisticated readers and listeners.

THINK: K&D Meets Zero 7
READ: Waldeck’s Home and myspace pages
WATCH: Get Up Carmen Clip
BUY: Ballroom Stories At Amazon