You realize of course that, in the barbaric course of human events we have wrought upon ourselves, it is not Biden v fuckface but it is who and what we are as individuals and a society that will decide this gasping November. So ask yourself exactly what the hell you want to leave as a legacy: dictators and classic rock or classic rock and democracy?
That, in an ugly nutshell, is my state of mind these days. Fortunately there’s the missus’ love, that blue sky above Lake Awosting and some great music and meds to ease the pain. #VoteLikeUMeanIt
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i/o – Peter Gabriel: Unlike far too many boomers who have gone MAGA, Peter ages gracefully.
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Veronica Swift – Veronica Swift: Singing since she was eleven, this disc is trans-genre stratospheric. Includes songs by Queen, Nine Inch Nails, and Duke Ellington.
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Phoenix – Lakecia Benjamin: This woman’s horn blows like many an elder.
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Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard – Kris Davis: Pianist Davis treats her music like she’s twisting balloons into different shapes. Give a good listen.
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Evenings at the Village Gate – John Coltrane: With Eric Dolphy, downtown in August 1961. Just three months (and an eight-minute walk) before the start of Coltrane’s mind-bending, soul-searching run at the Village Vanguard. Epic.
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Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – Various Artists: 7 CDS of true bliss, spirit, and wonder. The Memphis Soul behind the Memphis Sound.
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Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17 – Bob Dylan: Many can argue about the worth of deep dives like this one but you can’t argue about this one. Essential.
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Sardinia – Chick Corea: Chick’s take on Mozart and Gershwin. A great 2018 performance from a man who made sixty plus years of great performances.
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Joni Mitchell Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) – Joni Mitchell: As if this music could be anything but Joni.
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Reveal – Micah Thomas: It is great to watch and listen to younger breed of maestros, ie: Thomas, Benjamin, Cohen, Swift et all become the stuff of legend.
Prime – Christian McBride: McBride ain’t new and McBride ain’t old and this jam with New Jawn kicks a whole lotta ass.
In Real Time – Artemis: Pianist Renee Rosnes leads this high flying all female sextet (with drummer Alison Miller etc . . .) and never lets the energy lag.
The Electric Years Box Set – Miles Davis: 11 LPS that changed the course of well, everything.
Emerald City Nights: Live at The Penthouse, 1966-1968 – Ahmad Jamal: If there was ever anyone who understand cool better, we’ve yet to cross paths.
Books Read in 2023:
Leon Russell: The Master of Space & Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History — Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World — Prequel — Scattershot — The 1619 Project — Psychonauts — The McCartney Legacy Vol 1 — Thank You Falettinme be mice elf again — The Tyranny of the Minority — Storyteller (which just might be the most honest, most engaging rock n roll self bio ever) — Charles Chaplin vs. America
Shameless self promotion: If and when the spirit hits ya, check out my New Jazz Excursions, Mondays 9AM, WVKR 91.3 FM Vassar College Streaming live at: https://player.listenlive.co/65631
good luck everybody
mj