musicology #68

themusicologist@thebbc part 3. (Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks – Mun Dun Gu)

this weeks selection is yet another from the Studio1 stable, Jamaica’s premier production house. progressive and innovative it reflected owner and musicologist Coxsone Dodd’s love of ‘the new’ in every sense.

for themusicologist this piece feels like hope and, (synchronistically), has a ‘better must come’ flavour. driving, determined and focused …. 2008 in a nutshell !!!

so for all the 2007 sufferers, (and I know there’s many), consign last year to history, mark it down to experience and Move On Up with this slice of musical connection and communication.

Wishing all of you the very best for the coming year and thanking you for your support in 2007. BIG things a gwaan in 2008, keep it locked, loaded and musical.

p.s last of the bbc selection for now. hopefully back in the radio saddle some time in 2008 for some more slices of musicology….thanks to brother Sean Rowley, (and Jim), for providing themusicologist with the opportunity to reach out and, (hopefully), connect with the Joy Of Music crew.

musicology #67

themusicologist@thebbc #2 (May You Never – John Martyn)

the second selection on brother Sean Rowley’s show The Joy Of Music finds themusicologist connecting with the essence of friendship through a tune from the 1973 album Solid Air by John Martyn. English born, Glasgow raised minstrel and nailed on musicologist of the highest order.

this piece will always remind me of my spar ‘Nigo’ who communicated the message through this piece. if you’re interested in hearing the tune introduced ‘live’ click here for the BBC radio link, click on Sean Rowley , (right hand panel), and let the music play .. my appearance is at the 45 min mark, just before the second installment of Sean’s excellent interview with Dion, (which, really opened my ears and heart to the mans quality), it’s only up until midnight tonight after which it will be part 3 for a week..

musicology #61

Fontella Bass – This Would Make Me Happy

the first few weeks of the merry month of December have seen it all and non musical commitments along with so called service providers have kept themusicologist busy but I’m not here to make excuses because after all, is there anything more fulfilling and satisfying than playing, listening and sharing the joy of music…which leads nicely onto this.

fellow musicologist and friend Sean Rowley has presented an opportunity to include, (over the next six weeks), the one tune technique on his excellent show the joy of music which goes out live on BBCRadioLondon in the wee hours of Sunday mornings, (midnight till 2am GMT),

if you’re not a night bird but are still interested in hearing the show ‘live & direct’ click on the joy of music link above, click on Sean Rowley, (second column on the right), where you can stream it for up to seven days after the event. It’s one tune every week selected and introduced by myself … I make an appearance around the 45 minute mark preceeding the majestic Dion DiMucci interview a musicologist of the first degree.

for those not able to tune in and listen I’ll throw said slice of musicology down on themusicaldiary every Saturday starting right here right now

one last thing…not sure if you have heard but this information nugget has, (synchronistically), come to my attention…Ike Turner died on December 12th. The man was a legend and was a leading light in the development of the music that we know and love today from what some hail as the first Rock&Roll record, (Rocket88), in 1951 right through to tunes like River Deep, Mountain High he was instrumental in developing Rhythm&Blues as well as Soul, (something not many were able to do),

it’s more than coincidental that I threw this Ike production in advance of his passing and for themusicologist it is yet another example of music’s magic as well as its power to communicate so with that in mind I am going to pay a week long musical tribute to the man starting with this one

This Would Make Me Happy – sung by Fontella Bass, produced by Ike Turner, written by Oliver ‘Bus Stop’ Sain, for Ikes? LA based Vesuvius label, from the soulful year of 1964. very little is known of the label and according to the oracle, (R&B Indies), there are only two releases on it.

Ike, thank you for the music and the legacy.