-
Doc Pomus documentary
UPDATE (May 13) Just came back from the first-ever screening of the documentary, A.K.A. Doc Pomus at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema as part of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. What a great film. It did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Doc’s life (as well as the music and the stories. I […]
-
“Under African Skies”: Documentary on “Graceland”, 25 years on (updated)
Update, May 24: See this page for details on the various CD/DVD/Blu-ray packages being released June 5. Update (May 18): The film will be shown on A&E (TV), May 25 at 10pm. Update (May 13): A couple of film reviews: LA Times (May 11) The Age (Australia) (May 14) And, to capture a bit of […]
-
“Appalled by Dick Clark”: Joe Boyd on Clark’s Bandstand beginning
He may not be hip, but he was clean Two very, very different rock & roll figures died within a day of each other this past week, and have each received, in their own way, extensive media & internet coverage. Below is one take on Dick Clark. One of the news stories I read about […]
-
Musical losses in Sudan & North Carolina
RIP: Sudanese singer and musician Mohammed Osman Wardi died Feb 18 at the age of 80. More here Live in Addis Ababa, 1993: And halfway across the world, North Carolina fiddler Joe Thompson died Feb. 21 at 93. More here Thompson was the prime inspiration for the Carolina Chocolate Drops who will be releasing […]
-
Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Jr Lockwood: on film, 1942
Amazing colour film footage from 1942 of Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) and Robert Jr Lockwood playing on the front porch of an Arkansas grocery store in 1942. It also features some shots of Williamson playing with his band in 1952. No sound, but as one YouTube commenter wrote, “The music is there! You […]
-
Etta James & Johnny Otis
It’s been more than a week since the deaths of those two giant figures of American R&B: Johnny Otis, and his greatest discovery, Etta James. My initial comments on Otis’ death are in a post below, and they’ve both received significant media coverage, especially James, although Lynn Crosbie in the Globe & Mail this week […]
-
Howlin’ Wolf: “What is the Soul of Man?”
In early December, I made my yearly note that the Oxford American‘s annual Music Issue was about to hit the streets. Usually full of interesting takes on musicians, unknown, little known, or well known, it includes a CD of music by all artists profiled. (NOTE: The issue has been out for some time, but Soundscapes […]
-
Townes Van Zandt: new book, old interview
Sometimes I don’t know where This dirty road is taking me Sometimes I can’t even see the reason why I guess I keep a-gamblin’ Lots of booze and lots of ramblin’ It’s easier than just waitin’ around to die —from “Waitin’ Round to Die”, Townes Van Zandt One of the greatest Americana singer-songwriters, Townes Van […]
-
Boubacar Traore at Hugh’s Room, Oct. 3
A show not to be missed for African music fans. The Malian guitarist/singer makes a rare Toronto appearance on Monday. Get some background about him, and read a review of a show he did in NYC earlier this week here. And watch a couple of videos of him from that show here
-
A few video treats
Today I was browsing the readers’ forum of the late British DJ, Charlie Gillett, and came across a few video treats… Boubacar Traore The wonderful Malian guitarist/singer will be at Hugh’s Room, Oct. 3. A nice, short video clip here Kandia Kouyate An amazing clip of the Malian griot at the age of 18. She’s […]