The Sunday Six

Happy Sunday, and hard to believe we’ve made it through another week. To all moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day and hope your families also appreciate you on all other days of the year! Welcome to another mini-excursion that once again will take us to music with different flavors from six different decades. The imaginary music time machine is ready to take off, so hop on board to join the fun!

Weather Report/Birdland

Today, our journey starts in March 1977 with Weather Report. While in general jazz fusion continues to be an acquired taste to me, I’ve come to dig this group co-founded in 1970 by Austrian keyboarder Joe Zawinul, one of the creators of jazz fusion, and saxophone great Wayne Shorter. By the time they released their seventh studio album Heavy Weather, the group also featured fretless bass maestro Jaco Pastorius, as well as Alex Acuña (drums) and Manolo Badrena (percussion). Here’s the neat Birdland, composed by Zawinul as a tribute to the Birdland nightclub in New York City.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins/I Put a Spell On You

Next, we shall jump back two decades to October 1956 and a single that became the signature song of soul, R&B and rock & roll vocalist Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell On You, which I first heard by Creedence Clearwater Revival who covered it on their July 1968 eponymous debut album. When Hawkins who co-wrote I Put a Spell On You with Herb Slotkin first released it as a single, it didn’t make the Billboard pop or R&B charts. But over time, it became a cult song, not only because of his unusual vocals, but also his wild live performances that included his emergence from a coffin on stage, wearing a long cape and featuring props like rubber snakes and smoking skull pieces – kind of like an early version of Alice Cooper.

Ozzy Osborne/Crazy Train

While it’s difficult to follow an eccentric performer like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, I figured Ozzy Osborne could pull it off. In September 1980, the heavy metal singer released his solo debut Blizzard of Ozz after he had been fired from Black Sabbath by guitarist Tony Iommi. Crazy Train, co-written by Osborne, guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Bob Daisley, became Osborne’s solo debut and the album’s lead single. While it just made the top 50 in the UK (no. 49), Crazy Train also would turn out to be Osborne’s best-selling single over time. In the U.S., it reached 4X Platinum status (4 million certified sold units) as of September 2020. This is probably as much ear candy as you can get with metal. All aboard! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ay!

Shinyribs/Dark Cloud

Okay, I suppose time for a little breather with Shinyribs. In case that name doesn’t ring a bell, you’re likely not alone. I only came across the Texas band a few months ago. They were initially formed in 2007 as a solo side project of singer and guitarist Kevin Russell who at the time still was a member of alternative country band The Gourds. After that group went on hiatus in 2013, Shinyribs became Russell’s primary focus. Today, the band is an eight-piece who in addition to roots rock incorporates Texas blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn-driven Memphis soul, big band swing and other genres into what their website calls a sonic melting pot. Dark Cloud is a track from Shinyribs’ most recent album Transit Damage released in July 2023. This is rich stuff I hope you dig it as much as I do!

The Allman Brothers Band/Whipping Post

I trust y’all have heard of The Allman Brothers. The epic Whipping Post, written by co-founder Gregg Allman, takes us back to the group’s eponymous debut album that came out in November 1969. Apart from Gregg (organ, lead vocals), the group still had their short-lived original line-up featuring Gregg’s older brother and bandleader Duane Allman (slide and lead guitar), Dickey Betts (lead guitar), Berry Oakley (bass, backing vocals), as well as Butch Trucks (drums, percussion) and Jai Johanny Johanson (drums, congas). Sadly, the death of Betts last month at age 80 leaves Johanson (79) as the band’s only surviving member.

The La’s/There She Goes

Reaching our sixth stop once again means it’s time to wrap another trip. After jazz fusion, R&B, pop metal, rich roots rock and southern rock-plus, my final proposition is some jangle pop. In October 1990, British band The La’s released what would become their sole and self-titled studio album. It included their best-known song There She Goes, penned by the group’s frontman Lee Mavers. Founded in Liverpool in 1983, they were initially active until 1992, followed by a few reunions, mostly recently in 2011.

Of course, our little music excursion wouldn’t be complete without a Spotify playlist of the above tracks. Hope there’s something you dig and that you’ll be back for more music travel next Sunday. So long!

Sources: Wikipedia; Shinyribs website; YouTube; Spotify

Catching Up: Short Takes On New Music I Missed

With April now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take another look at new music that escaped my attention when putting together my weekly posts last month. At the rate new music keeps coming out, I’m under no illusion these additional picks only represent the tip of the iceberg of good stuff I missed but, hey, better some encore and none!

No Man’s Valley/Orange Juice

I’d like to kick things off with No Man’s Valley who based on their Bandcamp page are a psychedelic post punk group from The Netherlands. The five-piece of Jasper Hesselink (vocals), Christian Keijsers (guitar), Ruud van de Munckhof (keyboards), Rob Perree (bass) and Dinand Claessens (drums) calls out The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Gun Club and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds as influences. The group’s latest studio album Chrononaut Cocktailbar/Flight of the Sloths, apparently their third, dropped on April 19 and definitely is a psych rock affair. Here’s Orange Juice, a cool song that grabbed me right away, especially the vocals that sound like a psychedelic Eric Burdon.

Owen Stewart/Nobody Needs to Know

Owen Stewart is a Philadelphia-based artist whose music his Spotify profile characterizes as “groovy, gravelly, soulful and enormous.” It also notes Stewart “was born into rock at a young age,” adding his father Tommy Stewart was the drummer and lead vocalist of a late ’70s band called Cats who apparently opened for Van Halen, Blue Öyster Cult and others. On April 19, Owen Stewart released a great single, which the below YouTube clip imdicates is the first from his debut album Done and Dusted. Unfortunately, this seems to be all publicly available information on Stewart. Perhaps he prefers it that way. His new song is titled Nobody Needs to Know. You can’t make this stuff up!

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge/Tell Me Why U Do That

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge are fronted by Nashville, Tenn.-based 17-year-old guitarist Grace Bowers. A recent feature in Guitar World reveals Bowers started playing guitar as a 9-year-old after she had seen Guns N’ Roses’ Slash on YouTube, playing Welcome to the Jungle. She since discovered the blues and now also listens to lots of soul and funk, calling out Mountain, Buddy Miles, Shuggie Otis and Sly & The Family Stone. Apparently, her talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, and Bowers has been name-checked by the likes of Devon Allman, Margo Price, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Susan Tedeschi. Here’s the smoking hot Tell Me Why U Do That, the first single from her yet-to-be-named debut EP, scheduled for sometime this summer. Check this out – damn!

Grumpster/Waste

Grumpster are a pop punk band from Oakland, Calif. According to their profile on the website of their label Noise Records, the group’s origins date back a few years when Donnie Walsh (bass, vocals) met Lalo Gonzalez Deetz (guitar). They subsequently added Noel Agtane (drums). Following the release of their second album Fever Dreams in June 2022, Alex Hernandez (guitar) joined, completing their current line-up. Waste is the neat closer of Grumpster’s third and new self-titled album, which has been out since April 26. It’s evident Walsh had Green Day’s Dookie on heavy rotation while growing up.

GospelbeacH/Nothin’ But a Fool

GospelbeacH are a band from Los Angeles, who were formed in 2014 around vocalist and guitarist Brent Rademakar. He first had gained prominence in the ’90s and 2000s as a member of the groups Beachwood Sparks, Further and The Tyde. GospelbeacH’s record label Curation Records notes their sound harks back to several eras of California music, from folk-rock and sunshine pop to country-rock and the Paisley Underground. Off their fifth and latest album Wiggle Your Your Fingers, which dropped on April 26, here’s the opener Nothin’ But a Fool. I dig the song’s relaxed vibe, which to me has summer and California written all over it.

Deep Purple/Portable Door

I trust Deep Purple need no introduction. To say I’m excited to write about new music by my all-time favorite hard rock band would be an understatement. On April 30, they dropped Portable Door, the lead single of their upcoming album =1, slated for Jul 19. Based on Wikipedia, it should be their 23rd. Having had their March 1972 Machine Head on heavy rotation during my early teenage years, I immediately noticed the song’s guitar riff has a tiny similarity to Pictures of Home. While expecting another Machine Head would be unrealistic, Deep Purple still unmistakably sound like the group I came love, with their dual attack of electric guitar and that mighty Hammond. Co-founder Ian Paice (drums) and longtime members Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass) and Don Airey (keyboards) remain part of their current lineup. Simon McBride (guitar) replaced Steve Morse who departed in July 2022 to care for his ill wife. Earlier in April, Deep Purple announced a North American summer tour with Yes.

Sources: Wikipedia; No Man’s Valley Bandcamp page; Grace Bowers website; Guitar World; Noise Records website; Curation Records website; Deep Purple website

The Sunday Six

Hope everybody is spending a great weekend. Welcome to another installment of The Sunday Six, my weekly imaginary time travel series visiting six music tracks from six different decades and in different flavors. Except for the first stop, this time we’re back to vocals.

Lou Donaldson/Dorothy

Today, our journey starts in 1957 with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. From his web bio: Jazz critics agree that “Sweet Poppa Lou” Donaldson is one of the greatest alto saxophonists of all time. He began his career as a bandleader with Blue Note Records in 1952 and, already at age 25, had found his sound, though it would continue to sweeten over the years — earning him his famed nickname –“Sweet Poppa Lou.” He made a series of classic records for Blue Note Records in the 50’s and takes pride in having showcased many musicians who made their first records as sidemen for him. After an impressive 64-year career as an active performer, Donaldson officially retired in 2017 and last November turned 97. Dorothy, a composition by Rudy Nichols, is the opener of Swing and Soul, an album the Lou Donaldson Quintet recorded in June 1957. In addition to Sweet Poppa Lou, it featured Herman Foster (piano), Peck Morrison (bass), Ray Barretto (congas) and Dave Bailey (drums).

Gitarsong/Lucky Lucky Man

From the past we shall jump 67 years to the present and a neat groovy song by an artist you likely don’t know yet. I came across Gitarsong aka. Tim Jordan and Lucky Lucky Man on Facebook the other day and dug it right away. Jordan’s website notes the guitarist, vocalist, composer, engineer and producer explores guitar-based music in a broad range of genres, including rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, fusion, blues and groove jazz. He played in two major-label groups, Forest Green (pop/prog rock) in the ’70s and The Ladder (AOR) in the ’80s, and shared concert billings with the likes of Hall & Oates, Steve Miller and Todd Rundgren. Since these major-label engagements Gitarsong has released many self-produced CDs of his original music on his own label. Lucky Lucky Man is from his latest EP Groove Party, which dropped in February this year. The title says it all!

The Music Machine/Talk Talk

Let’s continue jumping decades back and forth coz why not, and head to 1966 with a great recent recommendation by my dear friend Mike Caputo, a singer, songwriter and musician who has been performing in the NY/NJ/PA area for over 50 years. In December 1966, psychedelic garage rock group The Music Machine released their debut studio album (Turn On) The Music Machine. Initially, the Los Angeles band came together in 1965 as folk rock trio the Raggamuffins before expanding into a five-piece and changing their name to The Music Machine. But the group started facing serious challenges starting in late 1967 and after an unsuccessful revival attempt by frontman Sean Bonniwell disbanded for good in early 1969. Talk Talk, written by Bonniwell, was the band’s debut single and a song from their first album. It became their only U.S. top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Soul Asylum/Runaway Train

Our next stop takes us to October 1992. That’s when Soul Asylum released their sixth studio album Grave Dancers Union, which turned them into one of the biggest alternative rock acts. Founded as Loud Fast Rules in Minneapolis in 1981, the band initially had an edgier punk and hard rock sound and by the late ’80s had achieved cult status but no mainstream chart or commercial success. This changed in June 1993 when they released their single Runaway Train, which became a major hit in the U.S. and many other countries. Written by frontman Dave Pirner, it won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Each time I’m listening to the song, I’m reminded of Chris Norman, the original lead vocalist of English band Smokie who were hugely popular in Europe in the ’70s, including Germany.

Sly and the Family Stone/If You Want Me to Stay

Let’s get a dose of hot funk on our next stop in June 1973 with Sly and the Family Stone. The group was created in November 1996 when Sly Stone and his brother Freddie Stone combined their bands they had formed earlier in the same year. The group who combined elements from different genres including funk, soul, R&B, rock and psychedelic music helped pioneer psychedelic soul. If You Want Me to Stay, written by Sly Stone, appeared on their sixth studio album Fresh. It also became the album’s biggest hit single, reaching no. 3 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart (today known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) and no. 13 on Billboard Hot 100. Feel free to groove along!

Peter Gabriel/In Your Eyes

Once again we’re reaching our sixth and final stop, a real goodie that takes us to May 1986 and Peter Gabriel’s fifth studio album So. In Your Eyes, written by the ex-Genesis frontman, features Senegalese artist Youssou N’Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. The song also appeared separately as a single in the U.S. where it received significant airtime on the radio and MTV. It ended up topping Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and peaking at no. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song reentered the latter chart in 1989 after it had prominently been featured in the teen romantic comedy drama Say Anything…, featuring John Cusack. I guess after watching the picture, you will never look at a boombox the same way.

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above tracks. As always, I hope there’s something there you like.

Sources: Wikipedia; Lou Donaldson website; Gitarsong website; YouTube; Spotify

Catching Up: Short Takes On New Music I Missed

I realize I’m starting to sound like a broken record. While I’m taking a fresh look each week, there’s way more decent new music coming out than I can track. Once again, Spotify’s Release Radar comes to the rescue. Following is some good stuff that appeared over the past four weeks I missed.

The Reds, Pinks & Purples/What’s Going On With Ordinary People

The Reds, Pinks & Purples is an indie pop project launched in 2015 by San Francisco-based musician, singer-songwriter and producer Glenn Donaldson, who I first featured in March 2023. Their Bandcamp page notes six albums, several EPs and many singles they have released over the past five years, citing The Go-Betweens, The Smiths, Magnetic Fields and Felt as inspirations. Off their latest album Unwishing Well, which dropped on April 12, here’s the great-sounding What’s Going On With Ordinary People.

Ringo Starr/February Sky

Bless Ringo Starr who continues to release new music and keeps touring! February Sky, which came out on April 12, is the first single off his upcoming EP Crooked Boy scheduled for April 26. It comes six months after his previous EP Rewind Forward and is his fifth in a row since March 2021. Like the remaining three tracks on Crooked Boy, February Sky was written and produced by Linda Perry. “February Sky is great – very moody,” Starr said. “But since Linda wrote these specifically for me – it of course has to have a positive peace & love element.” Pretty decent pop rock song!

Lions in the Street/Down in the Hole

Lions in the Street are a cool ’70s style rock & roll band from Vancouver, Canada, who only entered my radar screen a few months ago when I featured them in another Catching Up post. Formed in 2000 as The Years, they changed their name to Lions in the Street in 2006 after a label deal to release an album had gone sour. With their latest single Down in the Hole, released on April 8, they deliver more of that kickass style rock & roll. Check out that neat b-b-b-b-bad to the bone slide guitar action!

James Bone/Left Side Right Side

Speaking of bone, here’s the new single by James Bone, a British singer-songwriter who strangely has a website and an online store but no posted bio! According to this review I found in Louder Than War, Bone released his debut album in April 2023. “I played in bands for years but they all fell by the wayside as is often the case,” he’s quoted in the review. “Then I wrote/directed a short film about a boxer which kept the creativity bubbling, but I knew I had to get my ass in gear and make a record, then Covid happened and it seemed like the time was ripe!” Here’s Bone’s new single Left Side Right Side – neat song! The next step I’d humbly suggest is to throw us a bone and post a bio.

Stewart Forgey/Look For the Truth

Stewart Forgey is a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist and member of Pacific Range, a country-oriented jam band formed in 2013. Look For the Truth appeared on March 26 as an upfront single to Forgey’s solo debut album Nature of the Universe, set to drop on April 24. This is a gorgeous song with a neat West Coast vibe that reminds me a bit of America. It follows Starry Dream, another nice-sounding track from the forthcoming album. Looking forward to hearing the rest of it!

Anders Osborne/Reckless Heart

I’m thrilled to wrap up this post with new music by Anders Osborne, a versatile singer-songwriter and guitarist who my longtime German music buddy Gerd first brought to my attention many years ago. Osborne was born in 1966 in Uddevalla, Sweden and has lived in New Orleans since 1990. He blends multiple genres, such as funk, soul, rock, blues and R&B, into a tasty gumbo. Since his 1989 debut Doin’ Fine, Osborne has released more than 20 studio and live albums. The great roots rock-flavored Reckless Heart is from his upcoming album Picasso’s Villa scheduled for April 26. The song first appeared as an upfront single on March 21.

Sources: Wikipedia; AllMusic; The Reds, Pinks & Purples Bandcamp page; Ringo Starr website; Lions in the Street website; Louder Than War; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Happy Saturday and welcome to my weekly new music review. All featured picks can be found on albums that were released yesterday (March 15)

Beans/Dreaming Daisy

First up are Australian psychedelic garage rock group Beans from Melbourne. An announcement on the website of their label Fuzz Club Records notes the band is fronted by Matt Blach, drummer of rock band The Murlocs who also hail from Melbourne. Boots N Cats is Beans’ third full-length album after All Together Now (2020) and Babble (2018). Boots N Cats “bounces between organ-driven garage-rock wig-outs, breezy psych-pop and groovy funk instrumentals.” Here’s Dreaming Daisy.

Scott Stapp/Deadman’s Trigger

Scott Stapp is best known as lead vocalist and lyricist of post-grunge rockers Creed who he co-founded in Tallahassee, Fla. in 1994. After Creed had disbanded in 2004, Stapp released his first solo album, The Great Divide, in November 2005. During the hiatus of Creed who had reunited in 2009, Stapp resumed his solo career and is now out with his fourth and latest album Higher Power. Meanwhile, Creed emerged from hiatus in July 2023 and will tour the U.S. and Canada starting in April. Here’s Deadman’s Trigger co-written by Stapp, Blair Daly, Marti Frederiksen, Scott Stevens and Zac Maloy.

Potato Beach/Please Waste Your Time

Potato Beach are another psychedelic garage rock band, from Vienna, Austria, who were formed in 2020. From their Bandcamp profile: Anja, Peter, Sven, Lili and Jannik try to make everything sound like the 60s, even though they live in 2022. Because they are not cool enough to move to L.A., they are trying to bring the seductive sound of bands such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Allah-Las and La Luz to Austria. Off their first full-length album Dip In, here’s Please Waste Your Time – that cool retro grabbed me right away!

Cory Wells/Natural Disaster

Cory Wells, not to be confused with the former Three Dog Night member of the same name, is a California singer-songwriter who AllMusic notes blends acoustic EMO and cathartic power folk. Initially, Wells focused on metal and hardcore and was a touring member of post-hardcore band Movements before shifting to a quieter style and releasing his 2018 debut EP How to Tear Apart the Ones You Love. His second and latest full-length album is titled Harboring the Hurt I’ve Caused. Here’s Natural Disaster, co-written by Wells, Anton DeLost and Sarah Thompson.

James Clarke Five/Ghost

James Clarke Five is the solo project of British power pop artist James Hughes. He was a co-founder and the keyboarder of ’80s English new wave band The Cherry Boys. After their breakup in 1984, he also co-founded indie pop outfit Exhibit B whose 1988 album Playing Dead became a cult classic. Hughes launched James Clarke Five in the early 2000s. His latest album under that moniker, Zoom and The Gadflies, has “a common theme inspired by the music that excited me as a child,” Hughes explained in a statement, “people like Adam and The Ants, and also the likes of T. Rex and the ‘production style’ of the Glam Rock era.” Here’s Ghost, a song about bittersweet reflections on childhood and the passing of time with a neat harpsichord-driven sound!

The Black Crowes/Wanting and Waiting

Rounding out this post is music from the new album by The Black Crowes, the group’s first since their third reunion in 2019. Initially formed in Atlanta, Ga. as Mr. Crowe’s Garden in 1984, the band around brothers Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson has seen numerous line-up changes and much drama, especially between the brothers. In late 2019, they told Howard Stern they had resolved their differences. The group conducted a 2022 tour around the 30th anniversary of their Shake Your Money Maker debut album. Off their new studio project Happiness Bastards, here’s the great Wanting and Waiting. The Black Crowes are touring behind the album starting in early April.

Sources: Wikipedia; Fuzz Club Records website; Potato Beach Bandcamp page; AllMusic; Shameless Promotion PR press kit; YouTube; Spotify

Musings About Cindy Blackman Santana

When fellow blogger Lisa from Tao Talk earlier this year asked me whether I would still be up to write a post about Cindy Blackman Santana for her excellent, now ongoing series Women Music March 2024, I said ‘yes’ immediately. If I recall it correctly, Cindy’s name initially had come up in the wake of Lisa’s 2023 installment of her series, for which she was kind enough to invite me as well. For that installment, I wrote about the incredibly talented Tal Wilkenfeld. Following is my contribution to Women Music March 2024, which first was published on Lisa’s blog on March 7. Thanks for having me back, Lisa!

“I feel that music, in general, is the supreme communicator, which crosses all barriers that human beings have implemented upon ourselves around the world … . [M]usic touches people and it just transcends any kind of veil that we put between us. If you look at everything from a spiritual perspective, then we’re not going to have the issues that we have, you know? We won’t hate on each other, we won’t hurt each other, we won’t fight each other.” (Cindy Blackman Santana, DownBeat, October 23, 2020)

Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer. She gained broader prominence beyond jazz circles after playing on the official video of Lenny Kravitz’s 1993 hit Are You Gonna Go My Way and becoming his touring drummer for the next 18 years.

Cindy has also performed and recorded with numerous jazz and other artists like Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Simmons, Ron Carter, Ravi Coltrane, The Isley Brothers, John McLaughlin, Jack Bruce and Joss Stone, as well as Carlos Santana who became her husband in December 2010.

Early Life

Cindy Blackman Santana was born November 18, 1959 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She has been attracted to drumming since early childhood, telling music magazine DownBeat her mother would find her using whatever household objects the little girl could find. After begging for years, Cindy finally got a drum kit. “[My mother] thought I would outgrow it. But I never did…I think it is something that my soul has always wanted to do.”

When Cindy was 11, her family relocated to Connecticut where she attended the Hartt School of Music in Hartford. Two years later, she became interested in jazz after listening to Max Roach. At 14, she got her first professional drum set. Cindy attended Berklee College of Music in Boston to study with jazz drummer and teacher Alan Dawson who had also taught one of her drum heroes, Tony Williams.

Musical Beginnings

In the late 1970s, three semesters into her studies at Berklee College of Music, Cindy left for New York City, after a friend had recommended her for a gig with The Drifters. In addition to becoming a performer, Cindy attended many concerts to watch drummers she admired, including Williams, Elvin Jones and Art Blakey.

Blakey became a close friend and mentor to Cindy. “He really was like a father to me,” she said during a 2001 interview with the Jazz Journalists Association. “I learned a lot just watching him. I asked him a lot of questions about the drums and music — and he answered all of them.” Blakey passed away from lung cancer in October 1990 at the age of 71.

In February 1987, Cindy’s first two compositions appeared on jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney’s debut album Verses. The following year, Cindy released Arcane, a jazz album and her first as a bandleader.

Discography

As Leader

• Arcane, with Wallace Roney, Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, Larry Willis, Buster Williams, Clarence Seay (1987)
• Code Red, with Steve Coleman, Wallace Roney, Kenny Barron, Lonnie Plaxico (1990 [1992])
• Telepathy, with Antoine Roney, Jacky Terrasson, Clarence Seay (1992 [1994])
• The Oracle, with Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter (1996)
• In the Now, with Ravi Coltrane, Jacky Terrasson, Ron Carter (1998)
• Works on Canvas, with J. D. Allen III, Carlton Holmes, George Mitchell (1999)
• A Lil’ Somethin’ Somethin’ – The Best of the Muse Years (2000)
• Someday…, with J. D. Allen III, Carlton Holmes, George Mitchell (2001)
• Music for the New Millennium, with J. D. Allen III, Carlton Holmes, George Mitchell (2004)
• Another Lifetime, with Mike Stern and Doug Carn featuring guests Joe Lovano, Vernon Reid, Patrice Rushen, Benny Rietveld and David Santos (2010)
• Give The Drummer Some (2020)

As Co-Leader or Sidewoman

• With Eddie Allen
– Summer Days (2000)
• With Santi Debriano and David Fiuczynski
– Trio + Two featuring Greg Osby and Jerry Gonzalez (1991)
• With Melinda Doolittle
– Coming Back to You (2009)
• With Kali Z. Fasteau and William Parker
– An Alternative Universe (2011)
• With Russell Gunn
– Love Requiem (1999)
• With The Isley Brothers and Santana
– Power of Peace (2017)
• With Rodney Kendrick
– The Colors of Rhythm (2014)
• With Lenny Kravitz
– 5 (1998)
• With Greg Lewis
– Organ Monk (2010)
• With Carlos Martins
– Passagem (1996)
• With Wallace Roney
– Intuition (1988)
– The Standard Bearer (1989)
– Obsession (1990)
• With Santana
– Corazón (2014)
– Corazón: Live From México – Live It To Believe It (2014)
• With Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin
– Live at Montreux 2011: Invitation to Illumination (2015)
• With Saxemble
– Saxemble (1996)
• With Sonny Simmons
– American Jungle (1997)
• With Spectrum Road (Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, John Medeski, Blackman Santana)
– Spectrum Road (2012)
• With Mike Stern
– Big Neighborhood (2009)
• With Joss Stone
– The Soul Sessions (2003)
– Mind Body & Soul (2004)
• With Alicyn Yaffee
– Someone Else (2016)
• With Bernie Worrell and John King
– Spherical (2023)
• With Various Artists
– Black Night – Deep Purple Tribute According to New York, with TM Stevens, Stevie Salas, Corey Glover, Richie Kotzen (1997)

One thing to share: 

By 1993, Cindy had established herself as a drummer in New York jazz circles and released two jazz albums as a leader. Then she received a phone call from Lenny Kravitz. After Cindy gave him a demo of her drumming chops over the phone, Kravitz immediately asked her to come to Los Angeles. Her two-week stay there not only resulted in playing on Kravitz’s video for his hit single Are You Gonna Go My Way, but also led to a gig as his touring drummer, which would last for 18 years. Notably, this did not extend to Kravitz’s studio albums, except for one track on his May 1998 studio release 5 – likely reflecting that Kravitz is a multi-instrumentalist and likes to play most or all of the instruments on his studio recordings by himself.

Cindy first played with Santana in the spring of 2010 to fill in for jazz fusion and funk drummer Dennis Chambers. As her web bio puts it, Electricity onstage generated chemistry offstage—Carlos proposed to Cindy during a July 2010 concert, and they married in December. Cindy has since collaborated and toured with Carlos frequently. She plays drums on Santana’s most recent single Let the Guitar Play, which his website notes is a reimagination of his 2021 track Song for Cindy. Cindy is also part of Santana’s current tour An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live.

Official website: https://cindyblackmansantana.com

Are You Gonna Go My Way – from Lenny Kravitz/Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)

In the Now – from In the Now featuring Ravi Coltrane, Jack Terrasson & Ron Carter (1998)

Abracadabra – from Music for the New Millennium (2004)

Blues for Tillmon – from Spectrum Road featuring Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, John Medeski and Blackman Santana (2012)

The Chamber – Lenny Kravitz live (2014)

Superbad (featuring John McLaughlin) – from Give the Drummer Some (2020)

Sources: Wikipedia; Downbeat; Jazz Journalists Association; Cindy Blackman Santana website; Santana website; YouTube

The Sunday Six

It’s Sunday and I’d like to welcome you to the first music time travel trip of 2024! I hope everybody had a good start into the new year. As always, our itinerary includes six stops in different decades, featuring music in different flavors. Let’s do it!

Red Garland Trio/Blue Red

Our first stop takes us to June 1957 and Red Garland’s debut album as a leader, A Garland of Red. The modern jazz pianist helped popularize the so-called block chord style of playing piano in jazz. He first gained prominence when joining the Miles Davis Quintet in 1954. In addition to Davis (trumpet), it featured John Coltrane (saxophone), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). By the time Garland recorded A Garland of Red, he still was a member of Davis’ quintet, though their relationship had started to become strained. Davis eventually fired him. On A Garland of Red, Garland was backed by Quintet mate Chambers (bass), as well as Art Taylor (drums). Let’s listen to the album’s closer and sole Garland composition Blue Red. One could be forgiven to think it was written by Chambers, but trust me, eventually you’ll hear more than just upright bass! Plus, did I ever mention bassists are cool? 🙂

The Subdudes/(You’ll Be) Satisfied

New Orleans band The Subdudes blend folk, swamp pop, R&B, Louisiana blues, country, cajun, zydeco, funk, soul and gospel into a tasty musical gumbo. They have been around since 1987 with breaks from 1996-2002 and 2011-2014. Since their eponymous debut from June 1989, The Subdudes have released nine additional studio and two live albums. (You’ll Be) Satisfied, a tip from my dear German music buddy Gerd, is from the third studio album Annunciation that came out in March 1994. The song was written by the band’s bass player at the time, Johnny Ray Allen. This is great stuff!

Quinn Sullivan/Salvation (Make Me Wanna Pray)

For our next stop, we shall travel back to the present and the most recent single by Quinn Sullivan, a dynamite 24-year-old blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was discovered in 2007 at the age of 7 by Buddy Guy who became his mentor. Sullivan also was a guest on Guy’s 2008 album Skin Deep and has toured various times with him and also performed with B.B. King. Since 2011, Sullivan has released four albums. His most recent single Salvation (Make Me Wanna Pray), released in November 2023, blends contemporary elements with a neat retro sound that reminds me a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Damn, this is so good!

Coney Hatch/Don’t Say Make Me

Our next destination was inspired by fellow blogger Deke from DeKe’s Vinyl Reviews & More and The Distortion Den, so you can all blame him! It was on his YouTube channel that I was reminded of Coney Hatch, a Canadian hard rock band I had known by name only. They were formed in 1981 and are still rockin’. In August last year, they released a live album, Postcard from Germany. Of course, any music artist who performs in my country of birth gets my attention! Don’t Say Make Me takes us back to 1983 and the band’s sophomore album Outa Hand – a great opener that reminds me a bit of early Foreigner.

Steve Miller Band/My Dark Hour

We’re reaching our second-to-final stop, so it’s about time to pay a visit to the ’60s. My Dark Hour by Steve Miller Band is the closer of their third studio album Brave New World, which appeared in June 1969. Written by Steve Miller, it was also released separately as a single but only reached a measly no. 126 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100. Even if you don’t know the song, you probably recognize the distinct guitar riff that starts at around 13 seconds into the track. Miller would recycle that riff for his major August 1976 hit single Fly Like an Eagle. My Dark Hour also had a special guest: Paul McCartney (credited as Paul Ramon) who contributed backing vocals, drums, guitar and bass!

Outlaws/Stick Around For Rock & Roll

Time to wrap up our first music excursion of 2024 with a great proposition by southern rockers Outlaws. Stick Around For Rock & Roll is the final track of their third studio album Lady In Waiting, released in May 1976. It was written by Outlaws co-founder, guitarist and vocalist Hughie Thomasson. Later on, from 1996 to 2005, Thomasson who passed away in 2007 would also play with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Outlaws are still around, though no original member remains in their current line-up. That said, Henry Paul, who was part of the band when they recorded Lady In Waiting, remains a member to this day. This definitely rocks and reminds me a bit of The Doobie Brothers.

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist featuring all of the above tracks. Hope you enjoyed the trip and will be back for more!

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify

A Pretty Good Get Up! Mix

The algorithms my streaming music providers use to serve me listening suggestions have greatly improved. Until four or five years ago, I used to make fun of them thinking, ‘gee, how do they come up with their recommendations?’ Now I have to say they evidently have a pretty darn good idea about my music taste.

Welcome to the age of A.I.! If you use Google, which of course also already leverages A.I., to search for the key trends in music projected for 2024, you quickly get to the emergence of new technologies, including A.I.-assisted music production!

While I have decidedly mixed feelings about A.I. and feel there needs to be some level of regulation to limit misuse, in entertainment and beyond, the reality is the genie is out of the bottle. As such, I might as well enjoy A.I. when it does something good, such as separating tracks of old recordings to enable sound-enhanced remixes and, of course, spitting out playlists, based on my historical listening patterns.

This brings me to the subject of this post – a playlist that was recently offered to me by one of my streaming music providers. Overall, they hit the nail on the head about 95% of the time! Here are clips of four of the picks I dig, followed by a Spotify link to the entire playlist. Hope there’s something you like as well!

Steely Dan/Kid Charlemagne – The Royal Scam (March 1976)

Yes/Beyond and Before – Yes (July 1969)

Traveling Wilburys/Inside Out – Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (October 1990)

Bonnie Raitt/Give It Up Or Let Me Go – Give It Up (September 1972)

And here’s a Spotify link to the entire playlist!

Sources: Wikipedia; Apple Music; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Once again it’s Saturday and I’d like to welcome you to my latest weekly look at new music. All six picks in this post are from releases that appeared yesterday (December 1).

Allman Brown/Call Me On

Leading off this installment is an artist who admittedly got my attention at least in part because of his cool name: Allman Brown, a young UK-based singer-songwriter. According to his Spotify profile, Brown’s influences include Bon Iver, Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman and Feist. He has released two studio albums to date (1000 Years – 2017 and Darling, It’ll Be Alright – 2019) and is now out with an EP, Second Son, Pt. 1, the first half of his new album Second Son. Here’s Call Me On. Brown’s vocals and the song’s pleasant melody drew me in.

Muriel Grossmann/Devotion

Muriel Grossmann is an Austrian saxophonist and composer. She was born in Paris and grew up in Vienna where she got into classical music at the age of five, playing the flute. When Grossman turned 21, she switched to saxophone and began touring with R&B, funk, world music and jazz groups and artists, such as Hans Tschiritsch, Shani Ben Canar, Christoph Kurzmann, Pete Hoven and The Original Brothers. Since 2002, she has led her own bands and released a sizable amount of albums. Off her latest, Devotion, here’s the title track – definitely a bit on the free form/experimental side but it intrigued me!

Beans On Toast/AI

Beans On Toast is the moniker of British folk singer-songwriter Jay McAllister. He emerged on the UK folk scene in 2005 and since 2009 has released a new studio album each year on December 1, which is his birthday. His 16th and latest is called The Toothpaste and the Tube. Here’s AI. The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory and sum up some of my sentiments about the potential and dangers of the potent technology.

Jonathan Rado/For Who the Bell Tolls For

Multi-instrumentalist, record producer and engineer Jonathan Rado first gained prominence with indie rock duo Foxygen, which he co-founded in 2005 with vocalist Sam France. They released six studio albums and five EPs until confirming their official break-up in August 2022. By that time, Rado already had produced albums for other music acts for six years, such as The Killers, The Lemon Twigs, Father John Misty and Weyes Blood. He also found time to pursue a solo career and since 2013 has released three albums under his name. Off this latest, For Who the Bells Tolls For, here’s the opener and title track.

Bones Owens/Bring Me Back

Bones Owens is a Nashville, Tenn.-based guitarist and singer-songwriter. From his AllMusic bio: Drawing on a variety of genres and his diverse work as a session and touring guitarist for artists like Bon Jovi, Mikky Ekko, and Yelawolf, Bones Owens makes eclectic alternative roots rock as a solo artist. After nine years as a working musician and songwriter in Music City, his first EP, Hurt No One, arrived in 2014. He issued a sophomore EP, Make Me No King, in 2017, followed by an eponymous full-length effort in 2021. He is now out with a new EP, Eighteen Wheeler, from which I decided to pick Bring Me Back. I like the rootsy sound!

Peter Gabriel/Live and Let Live

It’s been 21 years since we’ve seen a new studio album of original music by Peter Gabriel. Remarkably, I/O took nearly three decades to finish, and at one point (in 2005), Gabriel reportedly was working on 150 songs. For various reasons, the album’s release was delayed repeatedly, which apparently led some observers to wonder whether it would ever come out. Well, the time has finally come, and with nearly 70 minutes, Gabriel has delivered his longest album to date. And that’s not counting that each of the 12 tracks comes in a bright-side and a dark-side mix. Based on my initial impression, the album is “very Gabriel.” There’s no obvious hit like Sledgehammer, but if you like him, I suspect you’re going to dig I/O. Here’s the bright-side mix of Live and Let Live.

Sources: Wikipedia; Muriel Grossmann website; AllMusic; YouTube; Spotify

Southern Avenue Shine at SteelStacks

Southern Avenue are a great band from Memphis, Tenn., who first entered my radar screen in August 2017 after fellow blogger Jim had written about them on his Music Enthusiast blog, which is currently on hiatus. Jim, if you happen to read this, we miss you, and I hope you’ll be back! The group mixes traditional blues, southern soul and funk with elements of contemporary R&B. When I learned a few months ago they would play SteelStax in Bethlehem, Pa., it was a no-brainer I would go there. My fourth Southern Avenue concert went down last Thursday evening, and once again they killed it!

Unless you’ve followed my blog for some time or regularly watch Billboard’s Blues charts where they’ve had two top 10 albums since 2017, the name Southern Avenue may not be familiar. They were founded in 2015 when Israeli blues guitarist Ori Naftaly met Memphis vocalist Tierinii Jackson and her sister Tikyra Jackson, drummer and backing vocalist. Tierinii’s and Tikyra’s younger sister Ava Jackson joined the group in 2021 as backing vocalist and percussionist. Jeremy Powell (keyboards) and Evan Sarver (bass) complete their current line-up.

Southern Avenue (from left): Ava Jackson, Tierinii Jackson, Jeremy Powell, Ori Naftaly, Evan Sarver and Tikyra Jackson

Southern Avenue took their name from a street that runs from East Memphis to “Soulsville,” the original home of Stax Records. While that’s a clear nod to the band’s admiration for the legendary soul label, they do not consider themselves a Stax revival act. But there’s another intriguing connection. After Stax, which since 2004 is owned by Concord Records, had been a reissue label for various decades, Southern Avenue became their first newly signed artist in late 2016. How friggin’ cool is that?

To date, Southern Avenue have released three studio albums, including their eponymous debut (February 2017), Keep On (May 2019) and Be the Love You Want (August 2021), which I’ve reviewed here, here and here, respectively. In addition to select tracks from each of their albums, they performed various covers by artists, such as Aretha Franklin, Prince and Michael Jackson, as well a rendition of Genesis’ That’s All, which is their most recent single that came out in November 2022.

I was glad to support the band by purchasing a vinyl copy of their eponymous debut album and would like to thank Evan Sarver and Jeremy Powell for signing it!

Initially, the gig was supposed to happen at the Levitt Pavilion, SteelStax’s compelling open air venue at the base of blast furnaces of the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation, which until its closure in 2003 was one of the world’s largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies – a surreal breathtaking backdrop! The weather gods had different plans with a severe thunderstorm, but luckily, the organizers were able to move the consider inside to the third floor of the ArtsQuest Center. Through the large glass windows, you could see the blast furnaces dramatically illuminated by lightning while being in a safe, dry and air conditioned space!

I’d say it’s time for some music! Here’s Switchup, a groovy song from Southern Avenue’s sophomore album Keep On. It was co-written by the band’s Ori Naftaly and Tierinii Jackson, together with album producer Johnny Black. Naftaly’s funky guitar reminds me a bit of James Brown’s Sex Machine. Also, check out Jeremy Powell’s neat Hammond action starting at around 2:45 minutes into the clip. And then there’s Tierinii Jackson who constantly dances and belts out incredible lead vocals enhanced by beautiful harmony singing provided by her sisters Tikyra Jackson and Ava Jackson. Ya think I was excited? Hell, yes! I still am watching these clips!

Another groovy tune Southern Avenue performed of the Keep On album is Jive. This great track is a co-write by Naftaly, Tierinii Jackson, Tikyra Jackson and producer Black. That rhythm is so infectious that I felt like moving myself constantly – sometimes I succumbed, making the clip dance as well! 🙂 At around 2:35 minutes, Tierinii calls out her sister Tikyra who did some excellent drumming throughout the gig. And once again, these harmony backing vocals she provides with Ava are just sweet.

Yes, occasionally, Southern Avenue slowed it down a little while still keeping it groovy. A beautiful example is this next song titled Wildflower. Penned by Naftaly and Tiernii Jackson, it is from the group’s eponymous debut, which remains my favorite Southern Avenue album. Check out Naftaly’s nice guitar solo starting at around 2:06 minutes into the action.

Another track from the band’s first album I dig in particular is their rendition of Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love, song that was written by George Jackson, an American blues, R&B, rock and blues songwriter and singer. It was popularized by Ann Peebles who scored a hit on the U.S. R&B chart in 1972. Southern Avenue turned it into a jamming version featuring a great extended keyboard solo by Powell that starts at about 3:35 minutes. He made that mighty Hammond sing!

The last track I’d like to call out is the group’s closer of their regular sets. I would perhaps call it their signature song: Don’t Give Up, a tune with a simple yet powerful for anyone dealing with challenges life can throw at you. Written by Naftaly, I feel the opener of Southern Avenue’s eponymous debut album is made for Tierinii Jackson. Every time I hear this, it gives me the chills!

Following is the entire setlist:

Setlist
• Push Now
• Switchup
• We’re Gonna Make It
• Jive
• Savior
• Wildflower
• Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin cover)
• Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love (George Jackson/Ann Peebles cover)
• Kiss (Prince cover)
• Blood On the Dance Floor (Michael Jackson cover)
• It’s Gonna Be Alright
• That’s All (Genesis cover)
• What Did I Do
• Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder cover)
• Don’t Give Up

Encore
• Steady Beats (cover)

After the gig, I had a chance to chat with some of the band’s members. In addition to being compelling artists, they are super kind and down-to-earth people – something I find very refreshing in the oftentimes ego-driven music business! Ori Naftaly confirmed Southern Avenue are working on new music, and we may see something by next spring. That’s exciting! Ava Jackson shared she’s a trained classical violinist who picked up the instrument as a 12-year-old. It sounded like she intends to pursue parallel music tracks as classical solo violinist while continuing to work with Southern Avenue.

Tikyra Jackson told me she picked up the drums at the age of six, adding she feels lucky to have grown up in a musical family. Her older brother who also plays the drums helped her get started after witnessing Tikyra’s first attempts behind the skins. All three sisters began singing together in church when they were kids. I couldn’t resist to jokingly refer to them as the Jackson Three! If they thought it was stupid, they were polite enough not to show it.

Tikyra Jackson

I should also mention Colin Dunning, Southern Avenue’s tour manager, who was kind enough to speak with me for 10 minutes or so prior to the gig. We talked about life on the road and how much hard work goes on behind the scenes music audiences do not get to see. Colin also gave me the setlist, which he had written down by hand. Last but not least, I also would like to thank the group’s manager Jonathan Schwartz, of General Musica LLC, who a few months ago mentioned the gig to me and leading up to the concert introduced me to Colin.

If you like what you’ve heard and would be curious to catch Southern Avenue on the road, you can check out their current touring schedule here. In case you don’t see any upcoming shows you can reach, don’t worry. Southern Avenue are one of the hardest touring bands I can think of, so chances are they will eventually play at a venue near you!

Sources: Wikipedia; Southern Avenue website; YouTube