I recently came across Thievery Corporation’s performance at KEXP back in 2016. My favorite highlight is watching the bassist on Forgotten People. I need a dose of that before heading to work… 😂🎶
I recently came across Thievery Corporation’s performance at KEXP back in 2016. My favorite highlight is watching the bassist on Forgotten People. I need a dose of that before heading to work… 😂🎶
Listening to: Beethoven Blues by Jon Batiste. The kids love it as it is fun to listen to. I enjoy the tracks where the improvisation is integral to the original music vs the ones where improvisation feels pasted on. But even then, the more I listen to it, the more more I enjoy it. 🎶
Two albums (new to me) that I enjoyed over Christmastide:
Listening To: Amassakoul by Tinariwen Good music to keep you feeling warm during a cold snap. 🎶🥶
Listening to: Various albums by Jorge Ben Jor
Taj Mahal is stuck in my head… 🎶
Listening to: Aman Iman by Tinariwen. I am a newcomer to “desert blues,” but so far I really like the sound. 🎶
Listening to: “Walking Backwards” by Clutchy Hopkins. Who is Clutchy Hopkins anyway? 🤔 🎶
Listening to: Tourist by St. Germain Good background music for work this week. And, to my old ears, it still holds up well 24 years after its release. 🎶
Listening to: Ki-Oku by DJ Krush and Toshinori Kondo I was able to find a used copy on eBay. Unfortunately, this album is not available anymore. For me, it is an album worth saving and supporting. 🎶
This episode reminded me of a quote for a recent post by Ted Gioia:
We don’t need to destroy the bad stuff, because there’s some kind of quasi-evolutionary process at work that will eliminate it anyway. But goodness is more fragile, and needs our support.
Listening to: Stan Getz: The Bossa Nova Albums I need to learn more about Stan Getz’s connection to bossa nova. There is something about his playing that sounds perfect in this context. 🎶
Listening to: Into the Wind by Bei Bei & Shawn Lee Shawn Lee’s collaborations are always worth a listen. This is a fun combination. 🎶
Listening to: 15 Years of West Coast Cool by Greyboy 🎶 Two top tracks are “Got to be a Love” with Quantic and Sharon Jones and “Genevieve” with Bart Davenport.
Listening to: An Evening with The Sound Providers by The Sound Providers 🎶 This is one group I wish was still making music…
Listening to: Arvo Pärt Choral Music by Polyphony & Stephen Layton 🎶
Top tracks are Solfeggio (sounds like softly reverberating bell tones) & Alleluia-Tropis.
Listening to: Kofi by Donald Byrd 🎶
Listening to: Rounds by Four Tet 🎶
Not sure why it took so long for me to listen to Four Tet. I took the plunge today after seeing a recommendation. Looking forward to hearing more…
Listening to: Tractus by Arvo Part 🎶
Some tracks I have heard previously sung by the Tallis Scholars. They sound a lot different when played by a smaller string ensemble. As of now I prefer the voices to the strings.
Listening to: Ali and Toumani by Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate 🎶
A great recommendation via Hoopla. I haven’t heard of either artist before and look forward to exploring their work. In the meantime, this is going to be to be a great soundtrack for the rest of the week.
Listening to: The Deer’s Cry. Music by Arvo Part. Performed by Vox Clamantis. Preparation for Sunday. 🎶 ✝️
Listening to: Music is My Medicine by Clutchy Hopkins and Lord Kenjamin 🎶
It’s the type of week that benefits from some mysterious sounding tunes. “The Old Spot” is my favorite track, much too short at 2:04
Listening to: Lighten Our Darkness by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. 🎶
Beautiful choral music for the end of the day.
Listening to: Ethiopian Knights by Donald Byrd. A nice album that adds some energy to a rainy day. 🎶
Listening to: A Feather on the Breath of God by Gothic Voices. Beautifully sung plainchant composed by Hildegard of Bingen. 🎶
Listening to: Vikingur Olafsson’s Goldberg Variations 🎶
I first listened to him with his Philip Glass album. This is just as good.
Listening to: Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers' Neighborhood by Johnny Costa 🎶
After listening to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood coming back from vacation (the kids were watching it in the backseat), I became aware of the piano in the background. It added a new, wonderful dimension to an already great show.
Listening to: [Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo] (https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-ladysmith-black-mambazo-shanachie--mw0000617085) 🎶 No collaborations, just the group by itself. I love it.
Listening to: Handsome Boy Modeling School’s White People (Instrumentals) 🎶 I have been exploring instrumental hip hop albums for background music while working. I like to avoid vocals when possible. 🤫
Listening to: Brian Eno + David Byrne’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts 🎶 I initially heard about the album through Steven Johnson’s book Where Good Ideas Come From. It’s an interesting album to explore, but since then, better examples of using sampled voices have come along.
Listening to: Hania Rani’s Biala Flaga 🎶
Listening to: North Star by Philip Glass. I did not expect to hear the track “River Run” and connect the dots to a sample in Handsome Boy Modeling School’s “Rock ‘N Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This).” It fits quite well as a sample on that track. 🎶🤷♂️
Listening to: Steve Reich: The ECM Recordings 🎶
Listening to: Methany Meldau 🎶