Fashion appreciation from Thelonious Monk

Via Boing Boing -

Among Thelonious Monk's many gifts was his fashion sense. While his own duds are pretty sharp, here, he shows his admiration for saxophonist Johnny Griffin's fabulous Danish pants, from, I'm guessing 1967. Sadly, no color film exists of this clip.

You don't really care for music, do ya?

In light of what is for some reason one of my most popular blog posts, I must say I must say I respect Leonard Cohen greatly for doing this.

These days, folks not only do this at the beginning of songs, but will hoot at any proper noun they recognize, anything to mark themselves hipper than thou.

Random You Tube find - John Tchicai with Strings

Extending my continuing fascination with one of the great underappreciated jazz musicians.

They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Another find from Network Awesome -

There once was a time when PBS was a showplace for serious culture. I can't imagine something like this being show today, alongside Downton Abbey, Andrea Bocelli, or baby-boomer nostalgia musical programming.

By this, I mean "Good Morning Mr. Orwell", a New Year's special conceived by Nam June Paik for New Year's Day 1984, broadcast by PBS and French TV. (Does PBS still show the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert?) The program hoped to emphasize and celebrate the positive aspects of electronic culture, as opposed to Big Brother's intrusive presence. Ultimately, it's a bunch of artsy, avant-garde weirdos having a good time.

Sun Ra and the All-Stars in Berlin, 1983

A find from Network Awesome, an all-star concert from 1983 led by Sun Ra of masters from various free-jazz schools (if I may use such a contentious term). From the Arkestra Marshal Allen on alto, drummer Clifford Jarvis, and the ever underappreciated John Gilmore on tenor; from the Art Ensemble of Chicago Lester Bowie on trumpet and Don Moye on drums and percussion; from Ornette Coleman's universe Don Cherry on trumpet; representing the Coltrane school Archie Shepp on tenor sax and Richard Davis on bass; and the odd man out, post-bop drummer extraordinaire Philly Joe Jones.

Random You Tube find - Max Roach's Freedom Now! Suite

Here's the parts 1, 2, and 4 of Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite which I had just happened upon. These were recorded by Belgian TV in 1964. If anyone can direct me to the two other parts, let me know.

Webcast info for July 4, 2015

Update:

Well the studio gremlins have had their way again. No Unpopular Music webcast for this week. Enjoy the videos and the encore link below.

Hey baby, it's the 4th of July and the SCATV building, and therefore the BFR studio, is closed. Therefore, today we are presenting an encore presentation of last year's 4th of July program.

Please enjoy! At least have more fun than the couple in this song (but those Mexican kids sure have some pretty awesome fireworks).

Too hot to blog

Yeah, that's my excuse, it's too darn hot. I blogged more when there were snowstorms. So, I'll just throw a bunch of links at you.