December 2006 Rambling Podcast : The Groove Show

I had some good feedback about the Acoustic Show, thank you all. This month's Rambling Podcast is the Groove Show and it's right here:

Rambling Podcast #3.

I'm still frustrated by the extremely low proportion of listeners who comment, so please, please, please (in the words of the Godfather of Soul) let me know what you think ! Let's start discussions on the merits of the selections, ask questions about the artists, let me know if there are things you'd like me to do differently or better. This is, afterall, the Web 2.0, it's supposed to be interactive !

Speaking of which, I've started using various search engines to promote the podcast, and I now have an Odeo Channel (odeo/c95833c1cd3a511b), we'll see if it brings in new listeners !

For more information on the philosophy behind the sources and legality thereof, I've designed a generic Rambling Podcast post. Incidentally, if you want to link towards the Rambling Podcast, it's that post you should aim for rather than individual podcasts.

Anyway, this month's show is a little longer than usual, let's say it's my contribution to the spirit of Christmas. The first two shows had a lot of jazz, blues and associated music, this month's show will be somewhat different. The theme of the show is Groove, and here's the detailed track listing (you can also find a summary listing and playing times in the attached text playlist):

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - Freedom: I first heard Karl Denson as a guest on Gov't Mule concerts; I first saw his Tiny Universe on the 2002 Bonnaroo Festival DVD and I promptly acquired The Bridge, which features the studio version of Freedom. The version featured here is from a 2003 live record available legally and for free on the Live Music Archive. All you have to do is click here.

Charlie Hunter Quintet - Oakland: Oakland is from Charlie Hunter's Right Now Move, featuring chromatic harmonica player Grégoire Maret. Charlie Hunter plays a custom-made eight-string guitar, the top strings of which are bass strings. Another great record of his (with a project called Garage à Trois)  is the recently released soundtrack to the movie Outre Mer. As for Grégoire Maret, his harmonica playing is also to be found on records by Cassandra Wilson and Pat Metheny, and he's part of the hip-jazz band Dapp Theory.

Jimmy Smith - 8 counts for Rita: The late Jimmy Smith was the undisputed master of the Hammond B3 Organ, and this track 8 counts for Rita is from his final studio album, the amazing Dot Com Blues, which is also a great way of discovering Smith's music and features a host of blues and jazz stars. You can't go far wrong in purchasing most any Jimmy Smith album, but for sheer groove I'd recommend the 1972 live Root Down. Most of the albums from the Blue Note period are worth hearing also.

G. Love and Special Sauce - Stepping Stone: G. Love's blend of rock, hip-hop and american roots music is unique. Stepping Stone is from his album Yeah, it's that Easy and features some of his harp-in rack playing. If you like this stuff, you could do worse than check out his first self-titled album G. Love and Special Sauce or his one but last, the excellent The Hustle. Philadelphonic is the album that features the most harmonica, also an excellent listen. This particular version of Steppin Stone is from a moving, post 9/11 gig in New York City which can be downloaded for free and legally on the Live Music Archive, and the link is here.

Saul Williams - Bloodletting: Saul Williams is a poet first and a musician second, assuming there's a difference. I'm not always so keen on the arrangements of his music albums Amethyst Rock Star and Saul Williams, but his writing and delivery are absolutely stunning throughout. Bloodletting was first released on a anti-war EP called Not in My Name which is out of print but still easy to find. Saul Williams has also released several poetry books including the epic Said the Shotgun to the Head.

Erik Truffaz - Siegfried: Erik Truffaz is a jazz trumpet player from Switzerland who made his mark by releasing an EP called The Dawn on Blue Note in the late 90s. The Dawn featured slammer Nya and became an instant hit with fans far outside the pure jazz scene. The Dawn was followed by a longer album released in 1999, Bending New Corners, which includes Siegfried. Truffaz has now moved on to other things, but these two records stand the test of time superbly. Beware of an inferior US release from which Nya was edited out for fear that his slamming would not be to the liking of US jazz audiences.

Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely: Stevie Wonder is known for many things besides his harmonica playing, but to harmonica players he is nonetheless one of the greats. Isn't She Lovely was first released on Songs in the Key of Life, but can also be found on most of his compilations. Stevie released an instrumental album on which he played only harmonica in the 70s, called Alfie. It's under a mangled version of his name Eivets Rednow, and very romantic, but it's also amazing playing.

Which brings the Groove Show to a close. Many thanks to Charlie Hunter's management for allowing me to use Oakland from his commercial release Right Now Move. As always, thanks also to Bill Barrett for providing the jingle to the Rambling Podcast. The piece I've used, Corn on the Cob is from Brother Weasel's Swingin' & Groovin' available here.

As usual, please comment lots! Let's make this more interactive than it is. I take requests as well, assuming I can honour them! I'll be back in January with what will very likely be The Progressive Show, very different from all I've podcasted so far!

And finally, whatever your skin colour, religion, country, age, sex and instrument of preference, all the relevant Seasonal Greetings to you and thanks for reading me !!!

Comments

[Eugene]

Firstly Ben, let me thank you for taking the time and effort for putting this up there. I may not have time to listen to it till after Christmas, but I will do then.

>>I'm still frustrated by the extremely low >>proportion of listeners who comment, so >>please, please, please (in the words of >>the Godfather of Soul) let me know what >>you think!

Will do! I think I commented on your other Podcast(s). Getting feedback seems to be a tricky business. I posted links to two sound files on my site on a discussion group recently and overnight I had 50 downloads of the first and 46 of the second - so almost 100 downloads of the files overnight - I got zero comments, not one. I suppose I didn't ask for them per se, but I expected some comment somewhere, to the good or bad. Ah well, my moan is over... I've been told by others that put their own music up for free review that it is a similar story. So hang in there. Rest assured that your effort is appreciated!

[scot ray]

greetings ben, my sonic comrade in gutpuppet bill barrett hipped me to your podcast and i just wanted to let you know i have been greatly enjoying it. i appreciate you putting the energy out there and through that process i have been exposed to some players i was not aware of...which is a great pleasure! thanks again. cheers, scot

[Ben Felten]

Hey Scot !

It's a pleasure and an honor knowing you listened to and enjoyed the Podcast ! There's a Slide Show (pun intended) on the way that has your name on it, I believe !

And a Happy New Year to you !

[scot ray]

hey ben, thanks for the reply and i will definately look forward to the 'slide show'! along those lines...i have a new solo disc out entitled 'rumi', if you are up for a listen send me your mailing address and i will happily put one in the post! thanks again. sonicly, scot

[Murray]

Oh yes I remember now. You seem to have a clear idea about themes of forthcoming shows, but spare a thought for the possibility of extremely prosaic themes. I have playlists based around clothing, weather conditions, days of the week, and so on. I wanted to have one about modes of transport, but anyone with any blues in their collection is going to run into difficulty with the fifteen hundred train songs. Just a thought.

Looking forward to the grooves though. May I recommend a little-known number entitled Buddy's Groove, referring to Mr B Guy, which is stout.

[Brand]

Hi Ben,

As you know, I really miss education on the kind of music your broadcast and I guess my ears lack the very knowledge needed to appreciate your podcast as it would deserve. Anyway, I am really enjoying it each time. Keep up the good work :)

[Ben Felten]

Hey Murray, you're right ! In the old radio show we used to do at University ten years ago with your namesake, I remember we had this section called "fat guy's blues" where we would only broadcast tracks by fat artists. It was fun ! I'll have to think of some wacky themes. I promise one at least for April's Fool !

Brand, thanks for the feedback! I don't think any background or education is needed to enjoy music. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that education happens when you enjoy music, so I'm really glad you're enjoying it ! It means I'm doing a public service !!!

[Eric]

So I've finally dowloaded this podcast and, I must confess, I've had great fun listening to it! Now I'll have to try to the earlier ones =)

Thanks to you, Ben, I know now that I have to check G-Love and Special Sauce again.

[Seagull]

I'm going backward thru the podcasts so this is the second one i comment. I really enjoyed this one, you just seem to have made it for me - steevy wonder, jazz-funk, hammond b-3, chromatic harmonica... Such good stuff.

Earlier yesterday i listened to Milteau's show on the radio tsf, it was about... "jazz-funk-blues mixes" ! If that ain't a sign...