http://www.kalamu.com/bol a conversation about black music Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:43:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Let’s trip, cover the four coasts of Africa, hear the sisters sounding West, North, East and South. Let’s sample, as it were, femme songs, women singing survival songs, touching the soft and the strong of their lives and sharing that touching with us. * * *   1. West. Ivory ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/21/test/ Let’s see, we start with love songs from Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Willie Hutch, Maria Bethania, Yellowman, Sam Cooke, Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder; and then we wander around the four corners of Africa with Manou Gallo, Souad Massi, Saba and Ernestine Deane; finally Matt ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/21/july-21-2008/ Here are five selections from Portraits of Wonder, my favorite album of Stevie covers. Three big things to recommend this set. First are the arrangements by New Orleans pianist Matt Lemmler. I believe he’s now in East Texas somewhere. I quote from his liner notes (written June 2001): This ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/21/matt-lemmler-featuring-leah-chase-%e2%80%9ci-just-called-to-say-i-love-you%e2%80%9d/ “I’m getting married in the morning.” That’s the first line (after the intro) of one my favorite dancehall records, Yellowman’s “I’m Getting Married.” And guess what? A week from today it’ll be true – I’m getting married Sunday, July 27th. In honor of the big day, this week’s ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/21/stevie-wonder-%e2%80%9cribbon-in-the-sky%e2%80%9d/ OK, what do the following have in common: John Coltrane, Ta’Raach & Joy Jones, Jill Scott, Goapele, India.Arie, Soul II Soul, Godessa, Burni Aman, Nina Simone, Jay-Z, Max Romeo, Lee Scratch Perry, Lil Wayne and Common? They are all featured in a serious discussion about the music in this week’s ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/14/july-14-2008/ Every time I hear Nina Simone’s classic version of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” I’m reminded of a fairly obscure Lee Perry record named “Disco Devil.” Why? Follow me now. * * *   Nina Simone – “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – From Broadway Blues ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/14/lee-perry-the-full-experience-%e2%80%9cdisco-devil%e2%80%9d/ I’m going to keep this post short and sweet, like this week’s feature track. Recently, I heard a mixtape by a friend of a friend that included one song I just had to get my hands on. I didn’t know the title or the artist, but it was ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/14/ta%e2%80%99raach-featuring-joy-jones-%e2%80%9cliberation%e2%80%99s-lullabye%e2%80%9d/ Sometimes we don’t know who we are until some one or some thing comes along and smacks us—Whap! Whap! (Twice as it were to make sure it got our attention.) Maybe it was the sight of something we’ve never seen. Maybe it was a tall, tall black woman coming down ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/14/john-coltrane-%e2%80%9cblue-train%e2%80%9d/ There is some shit that is beyond the pale, too square for anyone hip to dig. I used to feel that way about some of Pops’ stuff, particularly this song with its “darkies” and “mammies.” Too much Jim Crow to fit up in my mouth. But eventually, I grew up—by ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/07/esquizito-%e2%80%9cwhen-it%e2%80%99s-sleep-time-down-southles-armes%e2%80%9d/ We’re going to take our time getting into this. Going to take the long way around, so settle back, hit the jukebox, get an appropriate libation and relax in an easy chair. (Or, if you’re at work, as easy as you can). A number of folk have asked my ... http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2008/07/07/ayo-%e2%80%9cneva-been%e2%80%9d/