Michael Jackson: Poseur

For the record, Michael Jackson was a musical neophyte compared to pop greats like Sam Cooke, Al Green, and James Brown. It's one thing to be famous for being famous, and quite another thing to live as an actual musician of prolific talent. Two good, albeit over-produced, albums does not equal greatness. In the lexicon of 20th century music, Michael Jackson falls far below the half-way mark. Don't get me started on his pedophilia.

Che Games in San Diego this weekend -- Come one, come all!

CheUnderground Band Reunion Shout-Out

Pop the pimples and set the controls for the heart of the sun: The Che Underground’s quarter-century reunion looms ever larger — so large, in fact, that one night just couldn’t contain it.

Now scheduled for May 29 and 30 at Tim Mays’ legendary Casbah Club in San Diego, the event will comprise:

Friday, May 29:
The Answers
The Gay Dennys
(featuring members of the Tell-Tale Hearts and the Crawdaddys)
Manual Scan
Everybody Violet

Saturday, May 30:
Hair Theatre
Noise 292
The Wallflowers
The Mirrors
DJ P-Man

Check out the action at CheUnderground.com

My old stamping ground remembers The Rockin' Dogs

My friends from the San Diego music scene of the early ‘80s have put together a website http://cheunderground.com/blog/ and now the San Diego Reader has provided my old band The Rockin’ Dogs with some historical reference http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/rockin-dogs/. "Baby rock, baby roll, baby lose your self-control, Do the Candy Rock!"

The best show I've seen in years.

Upon arriving at my seat at Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom I glimpsed Elvis Costello's drummer Pete Thomas walking nearby with his wife. Pete's wife was kind enough to take some photos while I questioned him about his current work with Elvis. Pete proudly told me that he and Elvis had filmed the first episode of Costello's new television show at 4 o'clock, and that Bill Clinton was on the show. He also mentioned the upcoming tour with Elvis and The Police. Pete Thomas has long been a musical hero to me, and meeting him was a moment I'll always treasure.

As for the show that followed with Robyn Hitchcock performing solo opening duties for Nick Lowe that eventually segued into a surprise appearance from Mr. Costello; it was remarkable.

Elvis Costello's New Variety Television Show

Variety announced on April 3rd that the Sundance Channel will launch "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…" in December. The 13-part series promises to bring some much-needed musical zest to audiences. Icon, legend, and the world’s greatest living songwriter, Elvis Costello never fails to surprise. And his show should prove no different.

Playing with the Jazz combo at the 92nd street Y

On January 28th my 7-piece Jazz combo played a free show at the 92nd street Y and photographer Sergio Lira took these cool shots.

"There Will Never Be Another You," "Song for my Father," "Interplay," Blue Bossa," "Valse Hot," "Sidewinder," "Caravan," and "Prince Albert" made up the night's set list.

Ian Hunter at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg

In the company of a couple of friends I caught glam rock icon Ian Hunter at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last night. At 67 Hunter still gives a hell of a rock n’ roll show. We hung out at the bar with punk photographer legend Leee Black Childers who listed "Dumbo" as his number one movie that made him want to be an alcoholic, along with the "Thin Man" movies.

Ian did songs from his great new album "Shrunken Heads" and closed the show with a version of "All the Young Dudes." Apart from some fan constantly yelling "Ian Hunter" like a baseball chant, it was a thoroughly enjoyable show at an intimate venue. Here’s drinking to you Ian. Cheers.

Sex Pistols Reunite for a Single Gig

The Sex Pistols are scheduled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Never Mind the Bollocks" by reuniting at London's Brixton Academy on Nov. 8 for a single performance.

Original band members John Lydon, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock will tear through their punk classics. And that's how fast 30 years blows by. 

John Fucking Doe

While visiting Portland in June, I had the supreme pleasure of seeing John Doe at a great joint called Dante's, performing songs from his new album "A Year in the Wilderness" with Dead Rock West doing double duty as his erstwhile opening and backing band. When I lived in San Diego back in the early ‘80s, my friends and I saw "X" more times than I can remember. As far as I’m concerned they were by far the best punk band to come out of LA, and John Doe retains the group’s sense of musical purity in his solo work.

The show in Portland was the highlight of my time there, so if you get a chance to catch John Doe on tour this summer I highly recommend it, not the least because of Cindy Wasserman’s inspired backing vocals. You can check out the duo on You Tube at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2S-FEjeBMKQ

 

My Flame Burns Blue

From time to time someone will write in asking about my musical tastes, and while I’ve done some live concert reviews, I don’t usually go out of my way to weigh in on pop music.

Last month, my local public radio station WNYC hosted a "Must Have Music Contest," so I dutifully wrote about my favorite recording "Easy Living" with Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald.

Without fanfare my piece (see below) was chosen and played on WNYC on December 12, 2006

http://www.wnyc.org/music/playlists/2006/12/06

I listen mainly to jazz guitarists like Grant Green, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Bruno. But I always love to listen to horn players like Miles, Stan Getz and Trane (especially the albums Ole’ and Coletrane Plays the Blues - where Trane employs George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept to great effect).

Nouvelle Vague is my favorite new band, and I’m always a sucker for anything Elvis Costello does. Robyn Hitchcock is as good as ever, and I had the pleasure of catching him with his terrific band the Venus 3 recently here in NYC. Hitchcock’s latest album "Ole’ Tarantula" is a winner in the Jack Warner definition of the word.

"Easy Living"
By Cole Smithey

Joe Pass’ guitar announces Kurt Weil and Ira Gershwin’s "My Ship" with an arpeggio, played out of time, that Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic voice grabs and sets into tempo with the words, "My ship has sails that are made of silk." That evocative phrase describes the effortless weaving of rhythm and harmony that pull and glide between Joe’s distinctive guitar playing and Ella’s generous voice.

I was referred to "Easy Living" by a San Francisco guitarist, and although I was familiar with Joe’s virtuosic sound and Ella’s nuanced phrasing, nothing I had heard before prepared me for the love affair I would enter into when I first heard the musicians together. It has become a touchstone recording that tunes my ear. I can’t imagine a more intimate yet expressive musical achievement. The duo’s rendition of "Love for Sale" is something that still sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it.

I couldn’t exist without "Easy Living" because of the way it inspires me to savor life with a sense of balance and arrangement. Ella and Joe perform impromptu versions of 15 timeless standards with an infectious naturalness that invites you to share in their own melodious friendship. From "The Days of Wine and Roses" to "Moonlight In Vermont," the songs evince a jazzy approach to romantic communication that consumes all aspects of idealized love and musicality. It’s an acoustically sheer musical pas de deux where every subtlety is taken to heart.

Cole Smithey on January 17, 2007 in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack