Give the Drummer Some's
Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere
While doing some research online for last week's Bill Evans/George Russell entry, I stumbled on a chilling account of the drug-ravaged Evans' last few agonizing days. It's not a short read, nor a particularly pleasant one, but it's well worth your time. Laurie Verchomin, Evans' girlfriend at the time of his death—which stunned the jazz world 30 years ago today—is writing a book about her experience with the pianist, and she spoke with journalist Marc Myers for an interview that appeared on his blog, JazzWax, over five consecutive days in August last year. It's a devastating, unforgettable read.
Read the interview here.
Recorded a week before his death, listen to Evans perform this song dedicated to Laurie Verchomin: Laurie (mp3)
Now that you're all cheered up...
St. Vincent's Latinaires ~ "Supersound Orchestra"
(Blog: OufAr KhAn)
From the album: Hot Pants I'm Coming (mp3)
Pardon the Eruption
These famed Afro-Vincentian soulsters were no one-hit wonders. Heck, at least two of their tracks (including the James Brown cover, provided above) have appeared on numerous Caribbean funk compilations. This LP from 1972 is the second of the group's only two releases. Read this warm tribute to band leader Kerwyn Morris, who died in 2007.
Mal Waldron ~ "Spanish Bitch"
(Blog: Orgy in Rhythm)
What's With the Album Title?
Recorded almost exactly 40 years ago (9/18/70), this unheard bit of genius from pianist Mal Waldron recently surfaced over at the exalted Orgy in Rhythm thanks to some outsize generosity. (All hail Munnnnnph!) Waldron was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist during her final years, and the searing beauty ever-present throughout his prolific recordings has always borne the mark of that particular crucible. You'll dig the cover of "Eleanor Rigby" here, but "Black Chant" will dig into you.
Popera Cosmic ~ "Les Esclaves"
(Blog: Mutant Sounds)
From the album: Le Chanson du Lièvre de Mars (mp3)
Sitar on My Face
This over-the-top French prog/psych mindmelder was previously posted at the ultra-swank Telek et Stilla. Now, the wonderful Mutant Sounds has it, along with a marvy description. Here's a taste: "One of the first salvos of true otherness from the French underground…mindbomb…eccentric…Wakhévitch-like eeriness…swooning orchestrations...period psychedelic mad hattery…outsized sense of theatricality…overloads of caustic acid guitar flailing and fabulously cooing, sighing, and keening vocals." That got your attention?
Various ~ "Sorrow Come Pass Me Around: A Survey of Rural Black Religious Music"
Seriously Holy Grail
These riveting, heartfelt performances, recorded by ethnomusicologist David Evans in Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana, were released on the Advent label in 1975, then reissued, briefly, by Japan's P-Vine in 1991. [Ed note: This item had originally linked to a blog that posted a download for this recording. I've removed the link because folks at the wonderful Dust-to-Digital, in a comment left at the blog, have announced that Parlortone will be reissuing this record in 2011. Buy the reissue!]
Edy Star ~ "Sweet Edy"
(Blog: Sylvio Passos)
From the album: Edyth Cooper (mp3)
Glam I Am
Called by some "the most famous transvestite in Brazilian rock," the fabulous Edy Star was a frequent collaborator with rock idol Raul Seixas. In 1971, along with Miriam Batucada and Sérgio Sampaio, Raul and Edy produced the anarchic, psychedelic, absurdist masterpiece Sociedade da Grã-Ordem Kavernista Apresenta Sessão das 10 (which some say got Seixas fired from his day job as an arranger for CBS Records.) Three years later, Edy released Sweet Edy, his only album, featuring songs written for him by Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso. (Read Edy's Blog: in Portuguese or in GoogleEnglish.)
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My two for the week both come from Snap Crackle & Pops
http://snapcrackleandpops.blogspot.com/2010/09/bandolero-bandolero-fuzzy-psych-from.html
http://snapcrackleandpops.blogspot.com/2010/09/raissa-rkya-damcyria-berber-music-from.html
Both are highly recommended.
Blatant Self-Promo:
http://aboombong.bandcamp.com/album/amnemonic
http://bendle.bandcamp.com/album/while-speaking-softly-you-can-hear-the-insects-sing
Posted by: icastico | September 15, 2010 at 04:52 PM
Doug, thanks once again for your amazing posts. The interview with Laurie Verchomin was indeed harrowing. Though I knew that Evans was a hardcore drug user, I always feel a bit of cognitive dissonance when confronted with that fact. It is hard to reconcile the fact he constantly shot cocaine intravenously with the sublime and gentle music he was capable of creating.
Posted by: Dave | September 15, 2010 at 06:54 PM
Oh and...that "Survey of Rural Black Religious Music" has got to be one of the most amazing things yet posted on Mining the Audio Motherlode. Many many thanks.
Posted by: Dave | September 16, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Glad you are digging it, Dave. Thanks for letting me know. Please be sure to spread the praise over at Holy Warbles, the original poster of this gem. And by all means, be sure to purchase this album when its finally reissued (I don't know the particulars). I am praying that the folks putting out the reissue also reprint the original liner notes.
Posted by: Doug S. | September 16, 2010 at 11:09 AM