From: BRIAN (bbaltin_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 2003-02-22 02:13:27
Hello all,
The big news this week is, of course, the Coachella announcement. The most
important for my money would be: (4/26) Masters at Work (Louie AND Kenny),
Roger Sanchez, Kinky, Lemon D + Dillinja, Amon Tobin, Nightmares on Wax,
Groove Armada, Blur (if there were nothing else on any other stage), Darren
Emerson, and Peanut Butter Wolf, Jaydee, and Madlib; and (4/27) Primal
Scream, Underworld, Deep Dish, Thievery Corp, Tortoise, and Café Tacuba
(figuring they'll add more to Sunday).
Very glad that I won't be in New York tonight, as I wouldn't remotely
want to have to decide between Fertile Ground and the lustrous Angela
Johnson (of Cooly's Hot Box), or Paul Weller, or Archie Shepp. If I knew
that Archie would play "Attica Blues," I would say no choice, but without
Joshie Jo Armstead and his other vocalists from the Impulse days, Archie
won't ever do any of that, or "Sea of Faces," or any of what I consider his
best work. Strictly instrumental "out" sounds. Still a lovely choice,
though, by all means.
The best bit for NYC this week, though, is the GORGEOUS pairing of the
utterly radiant and sublime Julie Dexter (and Donnie) with one of my idols,
the beautiful and brilliant in every way possible Bobbito Garcia. The man
behind my favorite hip-hop label, period, the sadly defunct Fondle 'Em (home
to Siah and Yeshua, the Juggaknots, and Da Nuthouse), co-host of legendary
NYC radio shows the Stretch Armstrong show and Trash Talk (a half-hour show
ostensibly dedicated to street basketball where he would end every week with
all seven minutes of the Heath Brothers' "Smilin' Billy Suite."!), and
long-time columnist for Rap Pages and Vibe (which I know is a rag, but
Bobbito's "Sound Check"‹in which he spins and gets comments on jazz, soul,
hip-hop and Latin classics from a ridiculously eclectic amalgam of jazz and
soul legends, hip-hop lumanaries, and occasionally actors‹has always been
the magazine's saving grace). I'm very glad to say he's branched out as a DJ
into a broader groove, Latin and just plain deep dancefloor aesthetic that's
getting him much due in NYC (where Giant Step has paired him recently with
Seiji, DJ Spinna, and now Julie Dexter) and elsewhere (wish he'd come to
L.A.), has started a new label, Fruitmeat, that's not hip-hop at all, but
has already released a few Afro-flavored and Latin killers, with hopefully
much more to come, and gone in as a partner on a new Brooklyn art gallery
called the Martinez Gallery. If any man ever deserved support (I've met him
many times, and he's just sweet as hell, and has always been tireless in
supporting and promoting both aging legends and brilliant upstarts), it's
Bobbito, so please check out his site @ http://www.somosarte.com/Bobbito/.
It's a great week on the Japanese tip in all directions (special note to
the Soundlounge group): Krush is in Los Angeles and Chicago‹I'm seeing the
L.A. gig tonight, so I'll report back on it, although I'll say right off
that I'm one of those who thinks that he did his best work in '93, with
"Slow Chase," the first LP, and the productions with Monday Michiru. But I
saw his first two American shows ever, at two back to back nights at Giant
Step in NYC in '95. The first night was blindingly radiant, as he was acting
as DJ to a live set by the Groove Collective crew (Richard Worth, et. al.),
and dropping in lovely instrumental hip-hop of the moment (the Fab Five's
classic "Leflah" track is all I remember). Beautiful. The second night he
did a solo set at a Red Hot benefit timed to the release of Red, Hot and
Offbeat. All I can remember of the huge roster of DJs/acts are Krush, Matt
Ducasse of Skylab, and Soul Coughing. At any rate, Krush basically just
played half of "Strictly Turntablized," while barely adding anything to the
blend. I felt cheated to say the least. I'll let everyone know what to
expect from this tour. Elsewhere, the iconic (albeit admittedly slightly
insane) Damo Suzuki of Can is in Chicago. I've never seen any of his
entirely improvised sets, but I've heard that at their best he and his Damo
Suzuki network sound as close to "Ege Bam Yasi"-period Can as any live act
you'll ever hear (plus he was the inspiration for my favorite Fall song, "I
Am Damo Suzuki."). Lastly, Dan the Automator is in L.A.
Had more to say, but I know I've already gone on far too long. However I
will add that my agenda for the week is KRUSH, PAT MARTINO, JOHN BELTRAN,
and KOOP, and anyone in L.A. would certainly do well to emulate this f**king
lovely itinerary.
Respectfully,
Brian Baltin
Aesthetic Rejuvenator
Liquidator Graphics
For much more please visit www.liquidatorgraphics.com. The newly redesigned
Culture page is now up:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/culture_home.htm
Also now up, the long-promised and lavishly packaged 28-page excerpt from
Babs Gonzales's classic jazz tome, "I Paid My Dues.":
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/ipaidmydues1.htm
*
London:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/gigs_london.htm
BBE'S BEN + PETE, SUBTERANIA 2/22
TERRI WALKER, JAZZ CAFE 2/26
*
Los Angeles:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/gigs_losangeles.htm
MOSE ALLISON, JAZZ BAKERY 2/21-23
DJ KRUSH + MISTA SINISTA, EL REY 2/21
ROB SWIFT, ZANZIBAR 2/22
DAN THE AUTOMATOR, GOTHAM HALL 2/22
VIKTER DUPLAIX, DEEP @ 1650 2/23
PAUL VAN DYK, THE MAYAN 2/23
LORRAINE FEATHER, CATALINA BAR + GRILL 2/23
LES McCANN, LUNARIA 2/23
PAT MARTINO, CATALINA BAR + GRILL 2/25-3/2
JOHN BELTRAN, TRANSISTOR LOUNGE @ NACIONAL 2/26
KOOP, EL REY 2/27
ATERCIOPELADOS, PALACE 2/27
EDDIE AMADOR, SMOOTH SESSIONS @ 1650, 2/27
THE ROOTS, HOUSE OF BLUES 2/27-28
*
New York:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/gigs_nyc.htm
PAUL WELLER, HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM 2/21
FERTILE GROUND + ANGELA JOHNSON (EARLY), S.O.B.'S 2/21
FLOETRY (LATE), S.O.B.'S 2/21
PAUL VAN DYK, ROXY 2/21
EDDIE HENDERSON, SMOKE 2/21-22
DR. JOHN, B.B. KING'S 2/21-22
KINKY, B.B. KING'S 2/24
BILAL, S.O.B.'S 2/25
JULIE DEXTER + DONNIE + BOBBITO GARCIA, VILLAGE UNDERGROUND 2/26
GOAPELE, S.O.B.'S 2/26
LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES, S.O.B.'S 2/27
*
Chicago:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/culture/gigs_chicago.htm
SONNY FORTUNE, JAZZ SHOWCASE 2/21-23
JAZZY JEFF, ZENTRA 2/21
DONNIE, CONWAY CENTER 2/21
DAMO SUZUKI, FIRESIDE BOWL 2/22
DJ KRUSH, METRO SMART BAR 2/24
ATERCIOPELADOS, HOUSE OF BLUES 2/25
MARK FARINA, METRO SMART BAR 2/26
DAVID "FATHEAD" NEWMAN, JAZZ SHOWCASE 2/27-3/2
*
The new CD by Baltin:
"Bellissima Idyll (Chasing After the Sun)" is now available:
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/cdsbybaltin/bellissima_idyll.htm
*
http://www.liquidatorgraphics.com/