Hard Way To Go

Just got the sad news that John Prine has passed away due to Corona virus complications. The rightly revered country and folk singer/songwriter was 73. Seeing Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan perform together on tv in the late sixties, Prine felt he "could fit straight in between the two of 'em" and he was right of course. Miss him.

John Prine - Angel From Montgomery

New Suite

If current American jazz tickles your fancy, Jeff Parker is one of the guys to watch. Both on The New Breed from a couple of years back and on the recent Suite For Max Brown, the guitarist (who is also known for his work with postrockers Tortoise) embraces the new without forgetting the old. Often abstract and trippy, always interesting.

Jeff Parker - After The Rain
Jeff Parker - Jrifted

Burn The Candle

Some steaming live Hiss for a good local cause. Forward, Children is a fundraiser for students in Durham's public schools, which makes sense as Hiss mastermind M.C. Taylor calls that fair town in North Carolina his home, and his wife is a teacher there. Recorded at the Cat's Cradle club in nearby Carrboro last January, it's a fine-sounding bunch of songs full of fire and hope. So make it lasting, make it faithful, and get it here.

Hiss Golden Messenger - My Wing (live Carrboro '20)

Behold

Shabaka Hutchings is a busy man alright. After singlehandedly showing Britain's new jazz movement the way forward with the Sons Of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, he now goes for a more traditional approach with the Ancestors. Recorded solely with musicians from South Africa, We Are Sent Here By History delights with yet another dose of powerful and always spiritual jazz.

Shabaka and the Ancestors - Behold, The Deceiver

Without Fela

A 2010 recording session by two African musical giants, released at last. Afrobeat meets jazz, and it all swings like crazy. Rejoice? But of course. Drummer, do your thing.

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela - Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)

Set Me Free

Just got the sad news that Keith Anderson, better known under the stage name of Bob Andy, has left us. The influential Jamaican reggae singer, who scored many a hit in the late sixties and early seventies, was 75. Miss him.

Bob Andy - You Don't Know
Bob Andy - Desperate Lover
Bob Andy - Unchained

Tune In

Just released: a very welcome registration of a très jolie '75 Pharoah gig in the city of light. The master plays tenor sax here, and he plays it surprisingly cool, hardly ever going really far out. His band's a solid one: take a bow Danny Mixon (keys), Calvin Hill (double bass), and Greg Bandy (drums). Really wish I'd been in the audience for this one.

Pharoah Sanders - Farrell Tune

Never Die

Staying in the land of the rising sun a bit longer with Doronco Gumo, who's got an excellent pedigree playing the bass with the legendary Les Rallizes Dénudés, Suishou No Fune and Keiji Haino's band. This gloomy track comes from his interesting solo album Old Punks.

Doronco Gumo - Boku Tachi No Rakuen

Hip Cat

Guitar, drum machine, vocals. May rock'n roller be in the world? But of course. Bought this beauty by Sadahiro 'Sad Hero' Yamada on Bandcamp recently just because the cool artwork caught my eye. And I'm glad I did, as this cassette-only release on Tokyo's Fuyusoubi label is a prime slab of Japanese underground weirdness.

Sadahiro Yamada - Kanpachi Surrealism Cat

Full Dose

Trying to dub the evil virus away with a bass-heavy six pack of prime roots. All killer no filler, as it's brutal out deh.

Errol Brown - Black Forest Rock
Techniques All Stars - .357 Magnum
Augustus Clarke - Creation Dub
Harry Mudie & King Tubby - Full Dose Of Dub
The Revolutionaries - Atom Bomb
Phil Pratt - Walking Razor

Name In The Sky

Best ever blues singer in the low countries? Harry 'Cuby' Muskee, hands down. Here's a personal fave, featuring a young Herman Brood on upright piano and the delicate guitar work of partner in crime Eelco Gelling. Greetings from pastoral Grollo village, my amigos da musica.

Cuby & The Blizzards - Somebody Will Know Someday