Artist: Masada String Trio
Album: Haborym (2010)
Song: ‘Turel’
John Zorn’s Masada String Trio play beautiful eclectic chamber music. Zorn stated that “the idea with Masada is to produce a sort of radical Jewish music, a new Jewish music which is not the traditional one in a different arrangement, but music for the Jews of today. The idea is to put Ornette Coleman and the Jewish scales together..
The owner of my favourite record store suggested this album to me (Haborym), and it is a brilliant one at that. I play this music loud (as with all of my music), so when I am smoking a cigarette whilst driving during peak hour traffic, I sometimes see cars slowing down or speeding up to stay alongside me. It is crazy to notice how many people don’t even have music playing, I feel like they are thankful I am blasting this music rather than anything strange(r).
Artist: Moondog
Album: Moondog (1969)
Favourite Songs: ‘Lament I, “Bird’s Lament”‘ and ‘Symphonique #3 (Ode to Venus)’
Moondog was a blind musician and poet who was born in New York, 1916 but unfortunately passed away in 1999. He called his own music “Snaketime”, and described it himself as “a slithery rhythm, in times that are not ordinary […] I’m not gonna die in 4/4 time”
Artist: Art Blakey
Album: The Big Beat (1960)
Song: ‘Dat Dere’
Art Blakey (1919-1990) was the inventor of the influential Bebop drumming style, a Grammy award winner and Grammy hall-of-famer.. need I say more.
Artist: Johnny ‘Hammond’ Smith
Album: A Little Taste (1963)
Song: ‘Nica’s Dream’
Johnny was a soul-jazz/hard-bop style organist (hence the name Hammond), but moved toward Jazz/Funk Fusion in the 70’s which I will post below..
Album: Gears (1975)
Song: ‘Fantasy’
Artist: Rotary Connection
Album: Hey, Love (1971)
Song: ‘I am the Black Gold of the Sun’
Artist: Funkadelic
Album: Hardcore Jollies (1976)
Song: ‘You Scared the Lovin’ Outta Me’
Artist: Sly and the Family Stone
Album: Fresh (1973)
Song: ‘If You Want Me to Stay’
Artist: The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album: Freaky Styley
Song: ‘American Ghost Dance‘
This video gives insight into George Clinton’s influence on the album Freaky Styley, as a producer. And he produced the best RHCP album IMO, including a cover of If you want me to stay (above). This is my favourite song on the album.