Marching In With Good Vibes + New Music
Liner Notes: Gorillaz
Spring is only 14 days away. Looking outside, it doesn’t feel that close, but it’s okay. We can’t control the weather, and it’s the least of our concerns right now, right?
With all that’s happening on this planet right now, let’s all take a deep breath and try to work towards peace and stability for all. The cats and I would like that very much.
And with that, let us dive into some music talk. 🙏🏼
Joel Ross and Good Vibes
Last weekend, I saw Joel Ross perform at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in Portsmouth, NH. His newest album was just released last month on Blue Note Records, and this was the last stop on his East Coast tour. His band was young and impressive, featuring Maria Grand on tenor saxophone, Kanoa Mendenhall on bass, Tyler Bullock on piano, and Jeremy Dutton on drums. With his ensemble Good Vibes, Ross makes music that's technically ambitious yet keeps you interested and engaged throughout. The first piece lasted almost 75 minutes, with a quick break to introduce the band before diving into another 20-minute piece, and then an encore followed.
The club was almost sold out, and everyone near me was glued to the stage the entire time. I had seen Ross perform a few times before, the last time was at The Montreal Jazz Fest a few years back with Makaya McCraven’s ensemble.
If you see Joel Ross coming to a venue near you, I recommend catching him live.
You won’t regret it.
Liner Notes
Sharing stories about albums in my collection. My mission is simple: one record and one story at a time. Since I bought my first record in 1982, I’ve been obsessed with the stories hidden in the grooves. This is a sanctuary for the music nerds, and the audibly curious, dedicated to records and the liner notes that keep them alive.
I fell in love with Gorillaz back in March 2001, when I was visiting San Francisco for a conference. I stumbled into their debut album while perusing inside a Virgin Mega Store downtown. It was an import, which made me want it even more. Being a fan of Blur and Dan the Automator, I knew this album would be special. Damon Albarn also reintroduced the world to a variety of musicians, past and present, and it was sort of a music history lesson. This theme wold continue upon each new album…
Fast forward to this week, and a new album called The Mountain.
This new release feels like the Gorillaz album Damon Albarn has been building toward since 2010’s Plastic Beach. It’s cohesive, transportive, and evolving slightly into a new direction.
The two original creators of Gorillaz both lost their fathers recently, so this album is personal to them both, and it’s full of posthumous appearances as a reminder of who we’ve lost. (Bobby Womack, Tony Allen, Mark E. Smith, and Dennis Hopper)
The Indian theme runs throughout this album, reminding me of how much Albarn is a fan of international and world music scenes. A fantastic cast of Indian musicians, including Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, and the Bangash brothers are given real space to breathe and make this record unique.
The first track I heard was “Damascus” with Yasiin Bey and the brave and incredible Syrian singer and songwriter Omar Souleyman. My favorite tracks would also include “The Manifesto,” “The Shadowy Light,” “Delirium,” and “The Sweet Prince.“
I bought the deluxe CD version, which includes four bonus tracks, but I may eventually grab this on vinyl, too. It’s an excellent record to listen to on the commute into work, as it helps me get into the right frame of mind.
New Music Playlist
Flea - Traffic Lights (feat. Thom Yorke)
Analog Africa - Albores De Mi Selva
Jappie Lebona - You’ve Got It
Chris Lyons - It’s Come Over Me
Altin Gün - Gönül Dağı
Jasmine Myra - Reflections
Eek-A-Mouse - Ganja Smuggling (reissue)
Tyler Ballgame - I Believe In Love
Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos Orchestra - Vittor e Fabi
Okonski - Easy
New Music This Week
I made a few purchases on Bandcamp Friday, a mini haul, perhaps?
Let’s begin with Minyo Groove 1963-1979, the latest in the Wamono series, compiled by Tokyo DJ and record collector Yoshizawa Dynamite. Traditional Japanese folk songs reimagined.
Cara Maluco EP is the latest from Osees, a four-track one-sided 12” (with etched B-side) that finds John Dwyer and company pushing even deeper into psych-punk and krautrock territory.
DJ Amir Presents Strata Records: The Sound of Detroit Vol. 2, diving deeper into the Detroit label’s catalog, features some funky and groovy corners while still honoring its avant-garde roots, and includes a previously unreleased Charles Mingus alternate take, among others.
Until next time, thanks again for reading. - JB