New Orleans

Expect my next few posts to be New Orleans related as I have recently attained a newfound respect, curiosity and appreciation for the music and culture of New Orleans (Thanks in full to David Simon's new HBO series "Treme"). This video encompasses all that it is to be a musician from New Orleans. Dr. John, The Meters, and Professor Longhair playing Earl King's composition and a universally recognized anthem of New Orleans, "Big Chief".

Derek

As arguably the best slide guitarist in the world, no words can do justice to the gift that Derek Trucks was endowed with from a very young age. I've seen him play multiple times and have been blown away every time by his ability to what John Mayer refers to as making "his guitar sound like a female singer from the 50's or 60's just belting it out."

Covers

I've been thoroughly schooled in the diversity of truly great Beatles covers in the last 24 hours. You be the one to judge whether or not these are better than the original. Let me know if there are any good ones out there that I missed.

Credit goes to Micah Dubinsky



Credit goes to Dmitri Cherniak

I need a translator

I thought long and hard before posting this about whether or not there exists any Beatles' covers that surpass the original. This is the only one that came to mind. If you can think of any others please comment and let me know. Joe Cocker is one of my top four white/male singers along with Robert Plant, Jeff Buckley and Freddy Mercury. It sounds like he just ate a carton of cigarettes but it works magnificently. Enjoy.

Joe Cocker (Live Woodstock 1969) from David Lee on Vimeo.

Nothing from Nothing

There's one reason people come to this blog and that's to hear good music. Keeping with that trend, this song will put a smile on your face from to ear to ear. You know why? Cuz it's a great f*&^%$# song.

Paolo

If you haven't heard Paolo Nutini, get on it. He's a 23 year old scot with a monster of a voice. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself...

"Growing up Beside You"

Dream Team

Credit for this post goes to my roommate Mr. Noel Thomson. Although caucasian on the exterior I'm thoroughly convinced someone in his family lineage had a child with someone of African-American descent because the man's got s o u l soul.
I don't even know what to say about this video other than it combines three of my favourite musicians D'angelo, Eric Clapton, and Marcus Miller. Whatever planetary alignment caused this collaboration to take place, I hope it happens again. Soon.
Here's Bill Withers' "Use Me".

18th Century Soul

My dad introduced my to Irakere, the Afro-Cuban group formed in the 70's, headed up by Cuban brass legends Paquito D'Rivera and Arturo Sandoval and founded by pianist Chucho Valdes. Combine two of the best rhythm-heavy styles of music, Funk and Latin, throw in some blazing horns and you've got yourself a hell of a dish. I strongly suggest checking them out, but I've decided to share with you something a little bit lighter.
Here's a great clip of Paquito playing Mozart's Adagio with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. Everything's all ponies and daisies until Paquito brings it with some 12/8 soul straight outta left field. Makes for a beautiful contrast.

Blue Wild Angel

The release of Jimi Hendrix's new album "Valleys of Neptunes" has caused me once again to relapse into that familiar state of psychological and physical dependence on the man who's contribution to the guitar has in my opinion, been unrivaled since his death. I have a habit of exhausting artists pretty quickly on my iPod but there's something comforting, and even...mothering about Hendrix that always makes him a good choice. He was the first guitar player to completely engulf me in a solo and has the rare ability to make the world around you dissolve only to have you snap out of your daze once the song is over thinking "what just happened?".
Here's one of my personal favourite Hendrix clips. Jimi playing "Machine Gun" at the Isle of Wight in 1970, one of the last big shows before his death.

A Musical Tragedy

After a few enlightening conversations and the recent induction of two good friends to the world of blogging (http://peterwjmiller.com/, http://jacobsfox.com/), I've been re-inspired to hop back on the blog train and continue to share with the world what I believe to be music worth listening to. So welcome back to your one-stop full serve window into music that moves you.

If there was a consensus on what people thought was the biggest tragedy in the history hip-hop music, I'd put the disappearance of Lauryn Hill up near the top. Everyone familiar with Lauryn's only studio album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is well acquainted with its ability to encompass all that is good in Hip-Hop music. She's got the voice of an angel, the flow, the lyrics and the beats for a great organic sounding hip-hop album. Here's a taste of her unplugged set at MTV.
COME BACK LAURYN!!!!!!!!!!!

UK Neo-Soul?

There's been an unavoidable wave of soul music coming out of the UK these past few years and I can't conceive of any other label for it than 'neo-soul'. Obviously not the neo-soul one might equate with D'angelo or Erykah Badu but it's new, it's soul and most surprisingly, it's coming from across the pond. Historically, the Brits have had a habit of taking conventionally Black, American music, tweeking it and then sending it back our way. It happened in the 60's when they took Rock n' Roll and Blues and created bands like Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and oh I dunno...the Beatles. It seems like the Union Jack has done it again, white folk singing black folk music...and once again...they're killing it.

Exhibit A: Jamie Lidell



Exhibit B: Duffy




Exhibit C: Amy Whinehouse

Bessie Smith

Allow me now to share with you the motivation behind my love affair with Norah Jones. It wasn't until hearing her play one of my favourite Band songs, "Bessie Smith" that I decided it was time for me and Norah to become more...intimate. After that I dug a little deeper and began to understand what all the hype was about. Is there anything more attractive than a girl who sings, plays keys and covers The Band??? If you're not already a fan, hopefully hearing this will have the same effect on you as it did on me.
I also decided to throw in Ray Lamontagne's cover of 'Bessie Smith' for your listening pleasure. Any Ray fans? That unmistakable voice is a mandatory addition to LoveofMuzik. As a friend of mine put it earlier today, "it's like he's whispering REALLY loudly".

Note: If you're a Norah Jones fan or simply enjoy listening to good music, check out her side project "The Little Willies"...a little southern hospitality for ya.

Ray

It would be a sin for me to talk about music for the soul without recognizing one the patriarchs of soul and R&B, Ray Charles. Ray's music can't be characterized as anything but heartfelt, emotional, and doggone soulful. He'll find your soft spot, wherever it might be hiding and tug at it till you can't help but succumb to the notes he plays and the tune he sings.
I've decided the best way to portray Ray's profound influence is to hit you with some great tributes, unarguably reminiscent of Ray's ability to turn you to butter.
The first is Charlie Wood's rendition of "Come Back Baby". I was turned on to Charlie by my friend Mike Butlin, the well-hidden source of most good music I listen to.
Secondly is Norah Jones singing "Drown in my own tears". A song that's often replicated but never duplicated. Norah's touch never, and I mean never does any harm.

A Change is Gonna Come

This is my last post of the night. I'm just getting used to sharing music with the world and evidently need to pace myself a little bit better. So here's a night cap. Three equally moving renditions of Sam Cooke's classic "A Change is Gonna Come".

Warning: Each video is highly conducive to chills, goosebumps, and feelings of euphoria.

Goodnight.

00Soul

This one goes back a ways. The first time I saw this video it wasn't the fact that Ray Charles was playing keys that impressed me, nor was it the high-lighter coloured suit Preston was wearing. There's one thing that stands out above all else in this video and that is undeniably the dance break at 0:35. Let's take a moment to break down this spectacle.

He starts off with a combination of raising the roof and flicking water off his hands.

This is followed by a hypnotic, elastic-like, epileptic episode.

Finally, he so gracefully concludes by virtually floating to the microphone stand on one foot.

Preston you selfish son of a bitch. Didn't yo momma ever tell you to share??? How bout spreading some of the talent around.