JOSHUA REDMAN Moodswing (on cassette)

back in college i saw Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade perform in the campus auditorium.. i guess looking back, the autographs tell me.. i met the band.. but the music on this tape was always so timeless. and listening to it now, the powerful effect this music had on me has not worn off... the music on this tape means much more than the autograph ... its the "voice" of each musician... on a magnetic ribbon.. and one beautiful song can stay with you, deep down in your heart, for years and years... these songs are memorable and very singable.. even without lyrics.

Neighborhood Resource Center To Host Halloween Bash - Featuring Rattlemouth and Dj Carlito

The Halloween party at the Neighborhood Resource Center was really fun- many thanks to Rattlemouth and the Neighborhood Resource Center for inviting me to perform! I highly recommend getting involved with the Neighborhood Resource Center if you have some skills or time to offer!! They offer everything from courses in Tae Kwan Do, to Music recording, to GED preparatory classes !! (see contact info and link below)

this past weekend:
The Neighborhood Resource Center in Fulton Hill hosted a Halloween Party with partial proceeds going to benefit NRC. The evenings’ entertainment featured “musical gymnastics for the body and spirit” of Rattlemouth, an offshoot from the legendary Ululating Mummies. Led by the incandescent saxophones of Danny Finney (supported by Robbie Kinter-drums, Marc Langelier- bass, and George Lowe- guitar) their music is lush, intricate, mesmerizing, irresistibly danceable, and not to be missed.

Neighborhood Resource Center, 1519 Williamsburg Road
for More Information call the NRC at: 864-5797
or via email :nrc1@comcast.net
rattlemouthmusic@yahoo.com

Classic Dancehall reggae / Last week's show link

CD: DJ Reggae From 1969 To 1979 on Trojan Records- the "evolution" of dancehall "toasting" styles... showcasing the true originators... whose influence can be heard even now, in today's dancehall and hip hop artists..
Last week's show featured recordings from the 1980's in Jamaica from Downbeat International, Gemini Soundsystem inna Skateland, & King Stur Gav .. and my own amateur attempt at a "dub" remix - as humble tribute to the dub forefathers.. and then some "dubbed out" Indian music too.. (since Diwali is next week and Ravi Shankar is coming to town...see previous post)

its a beautiful morning for some early am jackhammering in downtown Richmond!!! next best thing to Foldgers in your cup  

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks passed away yesterday at the age of 92-- Oct 24 2005. Her refusal to "move to the back of the bus" on December 1st, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, brought worldwide attention to the Civil rights movement. "The entire black community boycotted public buses for 381 days. Dozens of public buses stood idle for months until the law requiring segregation on public buses was lifted." (source)

Actions speak louder than words. and each of us can make a huge difference by making deliberate decisions in our daily lives.. and exercising our right to an opinion.

>>>listen to an interview with Rosa Parks on NPR

Ravi Shankar performs in Richmond on Nov 1 (beginning of Diwali!)

"Ravi Shankar's "Festival of India III" comes to Richmond's Landmark Theater on Tuesday, November 1, 2005, at 7:30 pm. A legendary sitarist and composer, Ravi Shankar is India's most esteemed musical ambassador and a singular phenomenon in the classical music worlds of East and West. As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, he has done more for Indian music than any other musician, and is well known for his pioneering work in bringing Indian music to this part of the world.
Joined by daughter Anoushka and an ensemble of musicians from India, Mr. Shankar presents a concert celebrating the heart of India's classical music. The concert features Mr. Shankar's own compositions and blends sitar, Indian violin, folk drums, wind instruments and traditional vocals. His 1998 performance at the Carpenter Center sold out, so don't miss this rare opportunity to hear a musical legend." (from Richmond.com)

This year, November 1, 2005 is also the beginning of the Indian Holiday **DIWALI*** (Festival Of Light)

here's Ravi Shankar's website: link

and here's an article my sister Xeni wrote for Grammy Magazine! (there was talk in 2001 of Ravi Shankar retiring from touring so dont miss this show! its a rare opportunity! ) : link

King Malik, tonight's featured guest on If Music Could Talk, is originally from Senegal. Malik's outlook is unique, having lived in Senegal, Harlem, as well as briefly in Hopewell- He now lives in Richmond and is already stirring up all sorts of creative energy. He flows in Wolof, French and English. Malik and collabotator Akeem, were guest hosts this week- along with Roxana Burgana, who is currently putting together JAMATI "africa's premier entertainment portal" www.Jamati.com! I played some of King Malik's tracks (from his WE WANT FREEDOM demo) and we also featured LOTS of music from Senegal. Thanks Malik, Akeem, and Roxana for an incredible show. If music Could Talk- 7-9pm EST on Sundays WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Indie Radio
listen to the show!

modern life on planet earth : wars for oil and natural disasters- are they connected ?

it may be simplistic of me to try to make that connection-- but since we've been saying "something's gotta change" for so long-- it seems that things are weather we like it or not .. all these natural disasters are pretty terrifying honestly.

"This we know: The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life: he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. " -Chief Sealth




can we take responsibility for our affect on the environment? Here's a good film to watch: killowatt ours

(thanks Silver! )

thanks to everyone who showed up for Pangaea Lounge last night at Cafe Gutenberg... listen to the set here and here enjoy!

Special Guest - Adam Nathanson- "If Music Could Talk" Oct 8 2005

from last week:
"my guest this week is Adam Nathanson, who has played in many well known punk bands, been a champion of diversity in Richmond, a leader and friendly contact at the 17th street Farmer's Market/MERCADO LINK and a friend to WRIR since way before WE (WRIR) went on the air here in Richmond."
PODCAST LINK

Special Guest - Carlos Pozzi - on "If Music Could Talk" (archived from May 2005)

***archived show (from May 2005)***-- "Guitar Teacher Carlos Pozzi has taught many people, young and old, to play the guitar. He gave me a new perspective on music in general at an early age- specifically, he taught me to use my ears.
He is the author of his own method of teaching guitar (Mr. Pozzi studied under Maestro Abel Carlevaro  who passed away in 2001.) Mr. Carlos Pozzi has developed and will soon publish his own Guitar Method, a project which has taken years of research and consideration- and it is now almost complete, a fact that Mr. Pozzi expresses with sincere enthusiasm.
AS a teacher, Carlos not only gets you excited about the music, but he also promotes the importance of "playing real music" early on in the student's career.- His method stresses an early intuitive understanding of the guitar as an instrument, proper posture when practicing and playing, & the basic finger positions which translate to "true musical notation" in later lessons.
He performs regularly here in Richmond at Museums, Galleries, Weddings, the Richmond Public Library, even under the Carrilon ( an amazing performance! ) And several times alongside his many students at the Governor's Mansion.
If you haven't heard him play, we might have a chance to give you a sample of his brilliance this Sunday -maybe, by then, Ill have some dates to give you when you can see Carlos Pozzi play live in person..."

[[We also played some music from Argentina, and Uruguay, but mainly focused on Classical Guitar performances by Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Sharon Isben, John Williams, and Carlos Montoya.]]

heres the link to listen to the show!: podcast link

Khmer Classical Dance Ensemble - Oct 8, 2005 at the 67th National Folk Festival, Richmond, Virginia  

Khmer Classical Dance Ensemble - Oct 8, 2005 at the 67th National Folk Festival, Richmond, Virginia  

"the Whole City" by Max Ernst -( goes well with the song "Shadows" by Wagon Christ watch the video here: link )

Heavy Metal in Malaysia

Malaysian Heavy Metal records (classic malaysian metal-Kuala Lumpur,1990)
since the 90's, metal in Malaysia, and the rest of the world, has progressed much further than the relatively innocent glam metal ive posted here- transitioning into the darker, more menacing territory.

From one paper i recently read online (which turned out to be a japanese tabloid), authorities in Malaysia suspected "black metal" fans of practicing satanic rituals and "painting their faces like KISS." They also suspect that the "ring leader" of these "cults" is a foreigner-- could it be Gene Simmons?? Back in 2001, these Malaysian metal heads were rounded up, strip searched, questioned, and subsequently dosed with drugs (to help them study better), and forced to attend religious services. Now, from at least one source, the paranoid government crackdown is happening AGAIN!! in Kuala Lumpur!! (I HAVE REMOVED THE LINK TO Mainichi- a Japanese tabloid which wrote on October 5, 2005 that this Malaysian Heavy Metal "cult" was having a "revival" Why?? because the site isnt working for me and it causes problems with my browser when i navigate there.. now, my question is, simply-> WHY ARE THEY WRITING ABOUT THIS AGAIN?? Is Heavy metal STILL a threat in Malaysia? I'll keep you posted )

However, for background on this recent alleged satanic revival read more here: Malaysian Authorities Ban Heavy Metal link
"Herbal cure for Malaysian metal fans"
link
"Dissonant Voices" link

"If music could talk" - last night's show

Last night on "If music could talk" I played music by Carmen Rivera, Mongo Santamaria, Los Chachakas, Tetty Kadi, Elly Kasim, Zam Zam and the Twilights, as well as music from the 1951 Hindi film Madhosh starring Meena Kumari, Cambodian wedding music, some really early reggae, and a track by Gustavo Cerati.
here's the link:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=14359

butterflies of the world (l-r) Madagasgar , Equador , Indonesia -click picture for closer view