Music Matters

Since the death of Mark.E.Smith, The Brian Jonestown Massacre have now taken the place of The Fall as a band I see most regularly. Playing  a few  surprise UK shows before a set at Glastonbury, it was great  to see the  band playing to a pretty packed crowd, close up, in an intimate venue. Despite the intimacy, Anton Newcombe may have sung “three words you have spoken” in the epic Nevertheless , but not one word or acknowledgment to the crowd was forthcoming from him. This aloofness adds to a moody and at times edgy performance.  Alongside other regular members, a shadowy guitar tech/ roadie in a wide brimmed hat comes and goes somewhat mysteriously in the background.  Kicking off with the driving Maybe Make It Right , Newcombe directs with his guitar from the right of the stage, while the only other original member, percussionist Joel Gion, remains static, like Liam Gallagher, with tambourine and shaker.   Newcombe’s whiny vocals are sometimes l...

I first heard this album back in  the late eighties, on a band trip whilst at school. A sax player passed the driver the tape. The optimistic opening chords of  I.G.Y.  resonated  around the bus speakers and I was hooked. I didn’t have a clue who Donald Fagen was, it was only a few years later that  I found out he was one half of Steely Dan, alongside collaborator Walter Becker.  Despite having success since the seventies, Steely Dan split up in 1981, with Fagen pursuing a solo career. The Nightfly was released on the Warner Brothers label on  October 1st 1982 and produced by Gary  Katz. With its super slick production and arrangements, The Nightfly is a regular go to album for many sound engineers when testing speakers at venues.  The album was one of the first to be fully digitally recorded and makes even the cheapest home sound system sound incredible!  Recorded over eight months between multiple studios in Los Angeles and New York, ...

  Track Listing So What Freddie Freeloader Blue In Green All Blues Flamenco Sketches Personnel: Miles Davis: Trumpet Julian “Cannonball” Adderley : Alto Saxophone John Coltrane: Tenor Saxophone Wynton Kelly: Piano  (Track 2 Only) Bill Evans: Piano Paul Chambers: Bass Jimmy Cobb: Drums A landmark album, not just for jazz, but for all  music . Recorded in 1959, A Kind Of Blue is still the top selling jazz album of all time and for many, a perfect introduction to jazz.  Before  two recording sessions of the album took place, always leading the way, Davis told  his carefully selected musicians not what to do, but  not what to play.  Arriving  with just sketches of his compositions,  none of the musicians had any rehearsal. The  first performance of each composition was taken in one take, with all the musicians  involved, being   in top form or shape. Infact, Davis loved pianist Bill Evans so much, he would ring Evans up and ...

  Another blistering performance from the Jim Jones All Stars on Thursday evening. Never quite reached the fever pitch of their last packed to capacity gig at this venue though.  Superb musicians led by the Godfather of Garage, Jim Jones, a dazzling frontman, always on the go and who always gives it his all. Key members also include bassist Gavin Jay and Elliot Mortimer on keyboards, both members of  The Jim Jones Revue. Together the baritone sax of Chuchi Malapersona, and the tenor sax of Albert Steptoe lookalike Stuart Dace create a hell of a sound.   A half full venue, Easter beckoning and just an hour onstage, probably so they could recoup some costs on merchandise. What an hour it was though, the music and grooves are so infectious. This group have so much energy and swagger, swing and boogie, you can't stop moving your happy dancing feet. They never let up!  The slight aroma of stale cat urine, only but adds to the charm of this venue.  I left ...