musicology #582
20 Sep 2010 1 Comment
in instrumental, Jamaica, Reggae Tags: augustus pablo mp3, black ark, East Of The River Nile, Horace Swaby, Islington Rock mp3, Lee Perry, reggae mp3, The Gatherers, themusicologist
Flow #1
(Augustus Pablo – Islington Rock)
Thinking about a name for this theme I came to a conclusion that what really interests me is sharing what I believe are slices of prime musicology. Themes are fine but when they interrupt the flow it’s a problem that needs solving so with that in mind hold this selection of tunes that have no thematic, (or any other), restrictions.
First up is a piece from one of Jamaica’s premier musicologists Horace Swaby, (AKA Augustus Pablo), with a version of the Lee Perry produced Gatherers cut ‘Words Of My Mouth’ recorded at The Gorgon’s Black Ark.
musicology #0581
17 Sep 2010 2 Comments
in instrumental, Jamaica, Reggae, Studio1 Tags: Cedric Im Brooks mp3, coxsone dodd, Jamaica, Mun Dun Gu mp3, reggae mp3, studio 1 mp3, themusicologist
mOareEssentials #4
(Cedric Im Brooks – Mun Dun Gu)
Been a long time coming but I feel the fog is clearing. Troubled mind can be a living hell. In my world change happens, isn’t forced so I find myself riding the downs same way as the ups…for all their worth. Too often over the past few years I’ve been hanging on by my shredded and torn fingertips, knuckles white as winter snow. Bwoyyyyyy it’s been a long dance but the music’s changed and it’s time to step to a new beat.
Hold this next entry courtesy of the MAJESTIC Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks. Studio 1 in all it’s glory..Second time round on themusicologist having featured it when I laid it down on the BBC back in the day. Slipped it into my set at the weekend..to me it communicates a message of a new day dawning..
musicology #567
22 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in Funk, instrumental, Jazz, Rhythm and Jazz, Rhythm&Blues, themusicologist, UKPressure Tags: Acid Jazz, Dean Drury, Eddie Harris, Eddie Piller, G-Spot, George Benson, Get Carter mp3, Graham Fox, Grant Green, Mark Brown, Nick Etwell, Nigel Price, Pete Whittaker, The Filthy Six mp3, themusicologist, Vintage Goodwood, Wes Montgomery
Down The Road Apiece #3
(The Filthy Six – Get Carter)
Continuing with the Vintage @ Goodwood story…(can’t believe it was a week ago !!), Saturday morning after a few hours kip, (had the breakfast call at 8:30), I crept back up to the site at around 11am and drifted around on my ‘jacks’ without much purpose until I caught a mesmerising sound floating on the breeze that compelled me to investigate further. The music was so tightly woven together it was almost like one sound…harmony. Not blowing my own trumpet but I have heard a LOT of what I consider to be superb, and I try not to use that, (or any other), word lightly, music over the years and this was no exception. The location was the ‘Soul Stage’, (curated by Eddie Piller), the scene of much of the weekends entertainment as far as I was concerned and, as is often the case I allowed my ears to be my guide….The band on stage were playing what I like to call a blend of ‘Rhythm & Jazz’ in the mould of such luminaries as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Eddie Harris etc. My initial interest was in the guitar playing and my intention was to just give it a listen and then float off and take in the rest of the festival but the ‘Six were SO good that I couldn’t leave until the end of their set.
Quality music does that for me..once It starts I just can’t walk away until it’s finished. It was truly inspirational made even better in that I wasn’t expecting it. Basically it set the tone for the rest of the weekend which just got better and better. To finish the story later in the day I caught up with Eddie and raved about what I had just witnessed and found out that he had just released their set on his Acid Jazz Label. I kid you not ‘The Filthy Six’ are Quality with a capital Q. So in memory of my ‘discovery’ I’m laying this one on you which KICKS from start to finish.
The Tune is a rendition of the theme tune from seminal, cult English film ‘Get Carter’ which is particularly serendipitous for me as it was the first film I composed an alternative soundtrack for many moons ago when cutting and pasting film dialogue and combining it with alternative musicology was NOT done on the computer…since then I have composed alternative soundtracks for The Good Bad & The Ugly, Quadrophenia, 12 Angry Man and The Hustler and it’s about time I got another one together…
The Filthy Six are Nick Etwell, Mark Brown, Nigel Price, Pete Whittaker, Dean Drury and Graham Fox and I’m looking forward to catching them at Soul, Soul, Soul a G Spot event next week, (Sep 3rd), at ‘home’ in Soho, (London)
Listen Tune…..
musicology #563
08 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in America, instrumental, Mod, Rhythm&Blues Tags: 1966, 60s Soul Instrumental mp3, Earl Palmer, Googie Rene Combo mp3, Johnny Guitar Watson, Leon Rene, Modernist mp3, Plas Johnson, rene hall, rhythm and blues mp3, Smokey Joe's La La mp3, themusicologist
Tales From The Underground #5
Googie Rene Combo – Smokey Joe’s La La
Superb 1966 Rhythm & Blues instrumental and well known mod stomper from West Coast cats The Googie Rene Combo. Son of songwriter Leon Rene, Rafael Leon ‘Googie’ Rene was a suberb instrumentalist who led a combo full of legendary musicians that at various times included Plas Johnson, Rene Hall, Johnny Guitar Watson and Earl Palmer…
Special request to ‘Jumbo’…Hold tight.
musicology #553
23 Jun 2010 2 Comments
in instrumental, Jamaica, Reggae, Studio1, themusicologist Tags: coxsone dodd, reggae mp3, Soulful Strut mp3, Sound Dimension mp3, studio 1 mp3, themusicologist, Young Holt Unlimited
Times #5
(Sound Dimension – Soulful Strut)
Wicked piece of instrumentalism, (Cover of the Young Holt Unlimited Soul Classic), from the Studio 1 house band of the period, (late 60′s – Early 70′s), known collectively as the ‘Sound Dimension’. (Cover of the Young Holt Unlimited Soul Classic)
musicology #505
02 Mar 2010 5 Comments
in America, Funk, instrumental, Jazz Tags: 1974, Bad Benson mp3, communication, cover version, Dialogue, ego, George Benson mp3, JazzFunk mp3, Paul Desmond, Take 5 mp3, themusicologist
CoversWeek2 #2
(George Benson – Take 5)
Been a long time coming but after 8 months of trials and tribulations it feels like themusicologist is back in the saddle. To be honest there have been times over the past few months when I’ve asked myself whether I should continue to invest so much time and effort in the brave new world of the hyper-real as the ‘return on investment’ is almost impossible to quantify but as the months have rolled by and this new chapter in the book of life gets written I realise how essential it is, (for me at least), to have a soundtrack as well as how much the world is changing in relation to investment. As far as I can see the only life worth living is the one you want to live and not the one forced apoun us by fear, capitalism and politricks. I live and breathe music, (always have), and without it existence would be half of what it is..communication would be even more of a struggle and the continuing and ever more valuable dialogue I find myself engaging in would feel more like a monologue.
Music facilitates learning as it challenges the I to participate and question rather than just observe and obey whereas chasing financial success at the expense of all else is a fools quest..Something I have learnt along the way is that money ain’t worth the paper it’s printed on and the pursuit of it may leave you cold, bitter and empty whereas the pursuit of success as a human being opens up the possibilities to express your self and through that connect with others who are also crawling, walking or running along the road to freedom. I say fuck the money and let’s explore the love.
Today’s cut from master Guitarist George Benson, (a Cat who begun his career at the age of EIGHT playing in an unlicensed nightclub), says it all in two words.
Selected from his 1974 set ‘Bad Benson’
musicology #462
23 Dec 2009 1 Comment
in America, Christmas, instrumental, Jazz, Live Tags: christmas mp3, Count Basie mp3, Jazz Christmas mp3, Jingle bells mp3, themusicologist
TheManWithTheBag #12
(Count Basie – Jingle Bells)
Apologies for not uploading the Jackie Wilson cut until this morning…butterfly mind got the better of me. Not that I’m complaining or making excuses as the butterfly has led me down many interesting and fruitful paths along the way.
Last night it was football with the chaps..weekly game down the New Den on the indoor pitch. Being a striker my job is to hold the ball up and score goals. Bagged 5 last night and held the ball up so all told…job done. My cousin was on our team last night which is always a pleasure as we have the synchronicity that flows.
Today’s slice of the yuletide pie is courtesy of the swinging Count Basie Orchestra featuring of course the Count himself tinkling the ivories.
musicology #454
11 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
in America, Christmas, instrumental, Jazz, Mod Tags: christmas mp3, Jazz Christmas mp3, Jimmy Smith mp3, Silent Night Instrumental mp3, themusicologist, Verve mp3
TheManWithTheBag #4
(Jimmy Smith – Silent Night)
What is it with 1964?? 3 out of 4 so far from that year…hmmm. Anyway on with the Christmas showdown with a cut from Organist supreme Jimmy ‘The Cat’ Smith with a piece that just gets better and better as the tune unfolds. We all know his qualities so no need to wax lyrical about them….Recorded for and released on Verve. Step up Jimbo and let the people know what time, (of year), it is.
musicology #417
04 Aug 2009 2 Comments
in instrumental, Jamaica, Ska, Studio1 Tags: coxsone dodd, Don Drummond, Ivan Jahu Yap, jamaican music, Johnnie Dizzy Moore, Justin Yap, Marcus Garvey, ska mp3, studio 1, The Skatalites mp3, themusicologist, Top Deck mp3
AfterTheStorm #2
(Skatalites – The Reburial)
Stepping up the pace with this majestic piece of Jamaican musicology, (a tribute to Marcus Garvey), from the vaults. Recorded at Coxsone’s Brentford Road powerhouse, Studio 1 for Justin Yap and released on his top ranking Top Deck label.
musicology #397
07 Jul 2009 3 Comments
in Funk, instrumental, World Tags: 2001, funk mp3, Guiding Resolution mp3, rare groove, Shakespere quote, The Poets Of Rhythm mp3, themusicologist
Sound&Fury #1
(The Poets Of Rhythm – Guiding Resolution)
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. – William Shakespere -
I am utilising this quote NOT because that is my belief regarding the journey but because this theme, (unlike some), signifies nothing so my advice, (if needed), is “don’t waste time looking under rocks for scorpions”. There’s nothing deep about this theme other than the music.
First up is a majestic piece of musicology from German born, (and raised), hipsters ‘The Poets Of Rhythm’ who in the 90′s began their journey to redifine the parameters of Authentic ‘Funk’ with their fantasic sound. This cut is from their 2001 set Discern/Define. Anyone who knows, (as well as those who don’t), will, I hope, agree that this groove is as good as ‘it’, (the genre), gets. Soul and Funk was my entry into the world of clubbing and DeeJaying in 1985 on London’s ‘Rare Groove’ scene and I can assure you that had this been around then it would have been well and truly rinsed..
musicology #357
19 Apr 2009 1 Comment
in America, instrumental, Mod, Rhythm&Blues, Soundtrack Tags: 1961, alternative soundtrack, Earl Van Dyke and The Soul Brothers, Early Motown mp3, Jackie Gleason, Martin Luther King, Mod music, Paul Newman, philosophy, Rhythm & Blues mp3, Schopenhauer, the funk brothers, The Hustler, The Twistin Kings mp3, themusicologist
AlternativeSoundtrack4 #24
(The Twistin’ Kings – Congo Twist Pt1)
Martin Luther King was quoted to have said
“No Victory without Sacrifice”
Well Sarah has made the Ultimate sacrifice and took her life..I think it was the philosopher Schopenhauer who said/wrote that suicide was a cowardly act and not one of bravery and much as I check for some of his philosophy as far as this act was concerned he was wrong. Sarah took her life for more reasons than one…Eddie. She sacrificed her body to Bert and in the process her heart to Eddie. Some might call that selfish but again they would be wrong. If you know the film, (and if not I hope the dialogue has provided some insight), you may agree that Eddie’s salvation was uppermost in Sarah’s heart and mind. ‘Fast’ Eddie Felson wasn’t cut out for the world in which he found himself…he thought he was but in reality he wasn’t. As Bert said “You’ve got to be hard Eddie” where what we meant to say is “You’ve got to be heartless Eddie” and he is right. There’s no room for ‘weakhearts’ in an environment like that you’ve got to be a killer and grind your opponent into the dust and when they plead for mercy you have to twist the knife harder and further and take no prisoners…and as far as I have read it, Eddie isn’t that kind of person. He just loves to play Pool. A few scenes ago when Eddie asked Sarah whether she thought he was a loser, (as Bert never stopped telling him), Sarah answered that he was a Winner because of the love and passion and childlike joy he got out of playing Pool at the top of his game. He retained the child and that is what made him a winner. Bert on the other hand for all his money and material possesions was twisted, crippled and alone and Sarah knew that. She is the film’s hero not Eddie and in this scene we hear him clarify that. All too late. Remember “No Victory without Sacrifice . If you want something chances are you have to make sacrifices…and very few of us are genuinely willing/able to do that….anyway enough of the philosophy and back to the action.
Eddie’s back at Ames Pool room, the place where it all began to unravel and he’s looking to take Fats on again. But this time he has a lot more to say…
Today’s music is an early Motown, (1961?) instrumental cut by a collective known here as ‘The Twistin Kings’. Who were they? I can only hazard a guess that it’s the same band who backed almost all the Motown artists from 1959 right through. None other than what became known, (after The Soul Brothers), as The Funk Brothers. Far too many Cats were a part of this collective to namecheck here but if they are listening they know who they are so I won’t even begin to list them
musicology #354
16 Apr 2009 Leave a Comment
in America, instrumental, Jazz, Soundtrack Tags: 1960, A Little Busy mp3, alternative soundtrack, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers mp3, Blue Note mp3, Bobby Timmons, George C Scott, Jymie Merritt, Lee Morgan, Modern Jazz mp3, Paul Newman, The Hustler, themusicologist, Wayne Shorter
AlternativeSoundtrack4 #21
(Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – A Little Busy)
Apologies for the eleventh hour post yesterday..out grafting and got back late but had to throw one down to try and stay on track for what’s turning out to be the Hustler marathon..best part of a month will be taken up by this theme from the sounds of it but as the French are known to say Ces’t la vie or, (for all us Anglo Saxon speakers), in the words of Lord Creator ‘Such Is Life’, (watch and listen out for this cut…soon come).
Anyway enough of the interlude and on with the marat … story.
The trio are at the party and the two men are enjoying themselves, especially Eddie who is being admired by the ladies. Bert is slinking around like a snake in the grass waiting to pounce on Sarah who is back on the bottle in response to his and Eddie’s behaviour. As previously mentioned for Sarah alcohol is for numbing the pain, sound and fury of reality so all she can do is abstain totally or get hammered..no middle ground. Sarah notices Eddie in conversation with a female and as she is already drunk goes off in search of more medicine. Bert sees this as his time to pounce and makes what must be a sexual proposition. Sarah is disgusted and gives him the least that he deserves, a drink in the face and collapses in tears stopping the party. Eddie rushes over and asks what’s happening and Bert, (the low dog), lies and palms it off on Sarah being drunk.
Eddie, (the fool), takes his word for it and escorts her upstairs to lie down and sleep it off. It’s a painful scene to watch and has almost no dialogue so you’ll have to watch the film to see what I mean…
Today’s slice of the Hustler dialogue follows on with Eddie, Bert and Findlay retiring to the Billiard table to begin ‘the dance’… we are in to the meat and bones of the underlying tensions and, for me, true meaning of the film now and there are some harsh words said here which strip the characters bare as it builds up to the final countdown..
The music is courtesy of one of the most important figures in Be-bop. Drum legend, band leader and inspirational figure Art Blakey, featuring the ground breaking collective known as the Jazz Messengers, (Bobby Timmons, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan and Jymie Merritt)..wicked slice of Modernist Jazz from 1960 recorded for Blue Note.
musicology #349
11 Apr 2009 3 Comments
in America, Funk, instrumental, Soul, Soundtrack Tags: 1960, alternative soundtrack, Brother Jack, George C Scott dialogue, Hammond Organ mp3, Jack McDuff mp3, Paul Newman dialogue, Prestige label, Soul Jazz mp3, The Hustler, the musicologist
AlternativeSoundtrack4 #16
(Jack McDuff – Brother Jack)
Still a week to go for this theme such is the amount of quality dialogue..so wasting no time today’s section features our man ‘back in the saddle’ after having the casts removed. Not sure how long this period would have been…month or two? anyway, during this time there would have been no pool, no hustling, no sharks..just Eddie and Sarah. Back into the frame steps Bert who notices Eddie’s new ‘bridge’ but doesn’t make too much fuss about it…
Eddie, (after having time to think), accepts Bert’s previous offer to become his manager and the ‘action’ is about to begin again.
The music is another slice of Hammond organ but this time it’s courtesy of ‘Brother’ Jack McDuff with a cut from his 1960 album ‘Brother Jack’ released on the Prestige label.
musicology #344
05 Apr 2009 5 Comments
in America, instrumental, Jazz, Soundtrack Tags: 1961, alternative soundtrack, Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy, Impulse mp3, John Coltrane mp3, McCoy Tyner, Paul Newman dialogue, Piper Laurie dialogue, Reggie Workman, Rudy Van Gelder, Spiritual mp3, The Hustler dialogue, themusicologist, Village Vanguard
AlternativeSoundtrack4 #11
(John Coltrane – Spiritual)
Today’s dialogue features Eddie and Sarah almost at each other’s throats. As mentioned yesterday the way Eddie spat Charlie out has left it’s mark on Sarah who has hit the bottle again to try and numb the pain. Alcohol is a problem for Eddie too but not in the same way. For him it’s ‘fuel’ but for Sarah it’s ‘medicine’. I don’t get the impression that he thinks of his consumption as a problem, (the film portrays their reliance on alcohol completely differently), but is all too quick to conclude that for her it is. Anyway in this scene Sarah’s drunk, (it was he who got her back on the bottle at the end of the previous scene), Eddie isn’t and words are spoken, culminating in Eddie giving her a hard slap. Sarah comes back with a scathing response, (one of the best lines of dialogue in the film for me), and Fast Eddie leaves.
Todays’ cut is from a Cat, (with a capital C), whose musical prescence and command of the language is as good as it gets. Must admit that ‘Jazz’ from this period is not generally one of my musical passions but on more than one occasion the ‘Trane has blown my mind with his melodic originality and ability to communicate the message…..The piece also features Eric Dolphy, Reggie Workman, McCoy Tyner, and Elvin Jones.
Garvin Bushell, Ahmed Abdul-Malik and Jimmy Garrison were on the session which was recorded in 1961, (live), at New York’s famed ‘Vanguard Village’ but I don’t know enough about the players or the instruments to discern whether they were involved on this particular Jam. (Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder for Impulse).
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