It just doesn’t happen, especially something created by David Simon, that the drama plays backup to the music. The music is the backbone to this wonderful epic, cause New Orleans is a living document about the United States and as much some people would like to see it gone and forgotten it keeps rolling, like that river.
New Orleans is the seed to the culture of the United States and the source of modern music across the world, and it takes “Musician from Other Lands” who come to pay their respect for us to wake up to the treasure we are trying to kill.
There is a thought that recreating New Orleans and turning it into a Disney Land park, with re-enactments of funeral marches, and almost spontaneous breakout of jam sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 8PM at a designated club will preserve the history and magic of this place. I don’t think so.
Gil Scott-Heron, an African-American truth troubadour passed away last year. It was all in the words. There were no gimmicks, no staging, nothing to take you away from the truth of his message. His poems and music are timeless. Revisit.
The Irony is that some of the insight contained within Scott-Heron poems did not spare him a difficult existence (my judgement, of course) and may have consumed him. Substitute the addiction and it is the same story.
“See that black boy over there, runnin’ scared his ol’ man’s in a bottle. He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time so now he’s livin’ in the bottle. See that Black boy over there, runnin’ scared his ol’ man got a problem Pawned off damn near everything, his ol’ woman’s weddin’ ring for a bottle. And don’t you think it’s a crime when time after time, people in the bottle.” Gil Scott-Heron, “The Bottle”
“Go away, I can’t stand to see your face Cuz you seen the weakest link And now you know I’m only human Instead of all the things I’d like to be” Gilbert Scott-Heron April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011
It seems our hero’s always disappoint and our excuses for them just doesn’t cut it. Their suffering, family, race etc. are not necessarily the cause of their genius or their personal desperation. They are often unable to see themselves, the good and the bad that they produce in their lives. They see themselves as being exempt. Gil Scott-Heron was able to see himself and didn’t like what he saw, but he didn’t see enough to care to change his ways. He just could not inspire himself.
The understanding of folk music and its lyrics can provide an unabashed depiction of the life of a people. This music is never about being popular or a hit, rather, it is always an expression of endurance.
Reviewing the songs that can be found in the book Slave Songs of the United States you begin to see how amazing the journey has been for Barack Obama and others.
I didn’t watch much of the coverage on the death of Whitney Houston, nor did I see the services at The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark this Saturday. I grew tired of the random speculations by experts etc, on the possible causes of her death.
Young people who become stars like Whitney, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Natalie Cole and even Bobby Brown are painted into a corner by their fame and rumors, that they find difficult to escape from. We, the fans, don’t ever want them to grow up, grow old or to just be. We don’t realize that we wear them out with our expectations. The personal life of Whitney Houston was never any of my business and now that she has passed away I have no right to insist on an explanation of why she died. Artists are in part what they produce (their art). Ms. Houston is a unforgettable talent and her art is the gift that she left us. We should not expect more.
with a reunion of the Hot Licks band and promising special guest joining in. I love when the artist preforms for his/her on celebration.
On April 19th, Anoushka Shankar will be at the Herbst Theatre celebrating being exceptional.
There is so much more music happening every year, throughout the year with the SFJazz series. San Francisco is a fun place. If you are traveling to the Bay area between February and late June of next year and you love live music in great settings, check out SF Jazz
Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Jimmy Heath and Jon Hendricks in concert on Saturday September 24, 2011. These 2 legends are still making great music.
“Jazz royalty begins the 2011-12 JALC season with two NEA Jazz Masters, both stylish veterans who are still finding new ways to swing. A triple threat as a composer, arranger, and player, Jimmy Heath was already a forward-looking musician when he formed his first orchestra in 1947, and has remained so… The ageless Jon Hendricks rose to fame with the renowned vocalese group, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross…he’ll revisit favorites from the LHR repertoire…”
you begin to see how amazing the journey has been for Barack Obama and others.
