Archive for May 8th, 2011

Vinyl

One Track Mind: Aloe Blacc, "Mama Hold My Hand" (2010)

Just as Mike and the Mechanics’ “The Living Years” reminds me of my father, there’s now a song that brings fond thoughts of my dear mother, to whom I dedicate this song. During this time of year, a lot of us reflect a lot on what our mother means toRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Tony Levin – Stick Man (2007)

by Tom Johnson Bassist Tony Levin has made an incredible career for himself backing some of the finest musicians in the world, but his most notable contributions have been with Peter Gabriel and the ’80s and ’90s incarnations of King Crimson. He left, then returned around this time when TreyRead More

Steely Dan Sunday: "Brooklyn" from 'Can't Buy a Thrill' (1972)

Steely Dan Sunday: “Brooklyn” from ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’ (1972)

I don’t know how many Steely Dan fans are also into country music, but “Brooklyn” showed the two seemingly opposed passions could co-exist quite nicely.

Vinyl

Half Notes: Chris West, "Where I Got My Groove" (2011)

Where’d saxophonist Chris West get this groove? The undulating downtown streets of New Orleans, of course. Sassy and just plain nasty at times, “Where I Got This Groove” is like a sweat-soaked traipse across that city’s legendary Vieux Carre’. They start with drummer Justin Amaral’s slapping second-line groove, then addRead More