All That Jazz

Just got the sad news that Rudy Van Gelder passed away last week. The brilliant recording engineer was 91. RvG helped shape a ton of legendary jazz albums for illustrious labels as Blue Note, Prestige, and Impulse. Here's a swinging six pack in his honour. Miss him.

Miles Davis - If I Were A Bell
John Coltrane - Witches Pit
Kenny Drew - Groovin' The Blues
Dexter Gordon - I Was Doing All Right
Eric Dolphy - Something Sweet, Something Tender
Sonny Clark - Eric Walks

Sad Bay

In 1972 former tropicalismo forerunner Caetano Veloso was living in exile in London, where the Brazilian recorded his mighty Transa album. Here's one of the highlights: Triste Bahia, which although based on a 17th century poem by Gregório De Mattos, was foremost a fitting depiction of the sad state of the country the singer temporarily had to leave behind.

Caetano Veloso - Triste Bahia

Dream Job

A true talent, young Mr. Walker both ups the ante and changes his sound every time he releases a new record, and we gladly grow with him. Cue the remarkably organic-sounding Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, the fourth offering from the singer/songwriter and picker from Rockford, Illinois. Simply hypnotizing.

Ryley Walker - The Great And Undecided

Burning Lives

Almost pastoral splendour from Ethan Miller and his boys. That's the same dude currently making waves with the mighty Heron Oblivion by the way, so beware. Stoner prog? Why not indeed. Hold your head high...

Comets On Fire - Jaybird

Every Day

Presenting a six pack for troubled times. Oh, lawdy... Indeed. Fine fine art once again by Tinca. Do stay tuned for part 2 if you please.

Vera Hall - Trouble So Hard
Otis Rush - Double Trouble
Nina Simone - Trouble In Mind
The Mothers Of Invention - Trouble Every Day
Little Feat - Trouble

Dr. Alimantado - One Trouble

Que Locura

Travelling to Jerez to meet Juan Moneo, the deep flamenco singer who's better known as El Torta. On guitar? The legendary Moraíto of course. Un, dos, tres, eh...

El Torta - Compás Borbóreo

Time After Time

Time for an old fave. Here we go: uno, dos, tres, cuatro...

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - The Bottle

Stop The Car

The Dead C were always the weirdest of the Flying Nun bunch. Legendary lofi from kiwi country.

The Dead C - Speed Kills
The Dead C - The Wheel

Nicer View

Open them windows!  Sit back and enjoy a brand new six pack, my amigos da musica. Cool artwork above courtesy of the talented Tinca.

George Jones - If My Heart Had Windows
Swampwater - Look Out Your Window
George Harrison - Window Window
3/3 - Open A Window
Wire - The Other Window (Peel version)
Simon Joyner & The Fallen Men - Open Window Blues

Om

Please welcome the hip and high priest of the beats, who just happened to bring his harmonium with him. "Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddi Hum..." Holy soul jelly roll, indeed.

Allen Ginsberg - Pacific High Studio Mantras

Into Your Valley

Back refreshed and more than ready to play you all kinds of wonderful songs both old and new, as is the custom around here. Let's start with the latter variety, courtesy of Los Angeles-based picker and singer Kayla Cohen. Her band Itasca came to my attention a few weeks back thanks to the hip Doom & Gloom blog, and I've been tripping to their refined nouveau acidfolk ever since. An album is on the way on the always interesting Paradise Of Bachelors label, but until then a WFMU live session will sort you out nicely. Here's a characteristic sample.

Itasca - Angel

And we've got time for an oldie, too, for a sad reason. Cause while lingering on a sunny, far away beach somewhere, I got the news that the legendary Alan Vega, of Suicide fame, had died. The influential protopunk was 78. Speeding on down the skyway... Miss him.

Suicide - Rocket USA