Titoro, Three Times (Revisited)
Sean MurphyAn amazing tune by Billy Taylor, played three times. The first one is coupled with the incredible "Oscalypso" (which is also covered in fine fashion by Curtis Fuller and my personal…
Improving Upon Perfection, Part Seven
(Parts 1-6 of this series here, here, here, here, here and here.) Having just written, at length, about King Crimson (check it HERE), it seems appropriate to revisit another song…
Mingus Speaks. We Listen.
Charles Mingus did not do small. He was a big man, with big appetites, big ambitions, big grievances, big passions, big skills, and above all, a big vision. By any…
When Is The Last Time You Got Your Fixx?
Alternate title to this post: Reach The Beach, Biotch! When's the last time you got your fixx? For me it was in the early '80s, when they were one of…
I Love Eleanor Friedberger More Than She Loves Playing Guitar
I am very much on the record of endorsing the Fiery Furnaces; indeed, I rank their 2006 joint Bitter Tea as my personal #10 choice for best albums of the…
King Crimson: A Prog-Rock Case Study
Although it was already suggested that Pink Floyd is the archetypal prog-rock band (HERE), an equally compelling case could be made for King Crimson. By practically any criteria, King Crimson…
Search for the New Land
There are times when I need to simply post a song, without comment. This is easier when no comment is particularly necessary. This is one of those times. If you…
Improving Upon Perfection, Part Six
(Parts 1-5 of this series here, here, here, here and here) "On The Sunny Side of the Street" is a song with a long, wonderful history. Like so many jazz standards,…
A Week of Americana. Part Four: James Brown
On this most American of holidays, it seems appropriate --if not obligatory-- to celebrate the most American of geniuses. It does not get any more American than James Brown, does…
A Week of Americana. Part Three: The Doors
If the discussion is going to turn to American rock bands, it would be impossible to avoid R.E.M. Fortunately, I already dealt with their legacy and am on record declaring…