Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 25, 2016

A really last minute playlist... more to come. Probably the only Boston Free Radio program this week to twice feature Bernie Glow!

Update - I've finally gotten around to putting up an archived version. The reason I was unprepared for the show was that my computer crapped out last week, and I've had other stuff to do and to take care of as well which is why I was unprepared for the webcast and to put up an archive. I also ended up with another hummy, hissy studio recording so I've put in the original files instead, except for the breaks and the last tune, which I took out of the BFR library. Hopefully it sounds alright by when it reaches your ears.

See what's here after the break

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 18, 2016

Another grouchtasctic show from me. The music was good, though right? To find out for yourself, peruse the playlist below. The will be no archive.

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.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 11, 2016

Today's arbitrarily selected program. It's like the old saying about New England weather, "if you don't like it, it'll be different in five minutes." I'd give this show seven to ten.


See for yourself after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for June 4, 2016

I had the program put together in plenty of time, but I was barely put together myself. A typically freeform show. Something for everyone, so if you like everything, you're all set!

See for yourself after the break...

Short review of Kidd Jordan at Once Lounge, June 3, 2016

I feel like this is a special set for people who know what music really is.

Short review of Jooklo Duo at the Once Lounge, June 3, 2016

Oh, hell yeah!

... and neither was I for that matter

For a diversion, I direct you to a piece from the Onion A. V. Club (which is not satire, if you don't know) with the headline "No, Kim Gordon was not bit by a coyote at Whole Foods"

Jonathan Lethem on influence and ownership in creativity

I found a random link to this essay by Jonathan Lethem on how everything is influenced by everything else, and how attempts to control ownership through copyright and such can be futile and counterproductive. It's also largely made up of "previously used" sentences and phrases, conveniently sourced at the end.

I consider the Unpopular Music webcast to be a "second use" creative object, taking the sounds created by Henry Threadgill, The Ex, or Machaut and realigning them into a new sound/time experience. I was also reminded of a time back in my open mic days when the someone introduced his own song as an "original" and then something like "we're quite presumptive to consider this original".

Webcast info for May 28, 2016

I'm out of town for the holiday weekend, so this week we'll be presenting a classic episode from the Unpopular Music archives, specifically the episode from January 10, 2015.

If you don't recall, we here in the Boston area had all come down with Olympic Fever, and it took a good seven months for the antibiotics to kick in.

But, I did come up with the program that was cited as a "recent typical show" when I was presented with the award for music show at the SCATV/BFR awards ceremony later that month.

Another option is the Memorial Day episode from 2014, which also included an 100th birthday tribute to Sun Ra.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for May 21, 2016

Consistency, or just more of the same -  you be the judge. Actually, there are a couple of recent additions to the Unpopular Music Library, along with some further digs into records I've played before. Enjoyable all the same I think.


See the playlist after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for May 14, 2016

A somewhat arbitrary selection for your Saturday listening pleasure. The typical jazzy first hour, freeform second hour, this time getting a little poppy towards the end.


See for yourself after the break...

Webcast info for May 7, 2016

from

IIP Photo Archive

Out of town to see Mom (not pictured) this weekend, so no new webcast. In it's place will be either a rebroadcast or selections from an old playlist.  Enjoy!

Update: The December 6, 2014 program is finally being broadcast after (I'm gonna say) five failed attempts!

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for April 30, 2016

A behind the scenes technical nightmare, but not a bad show. A jazzy first set, a latin influenced second set and a somewhat mellow freeform third.




As always, the playlist after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for April 23, 2016

A good day for sitting inside and listening to the internet (not that anyone listened to this show). We also learn a couple of interesting scientific tidbits.



See the playlist after the break...

Congratulations Henry Threadgill

Composer, multiple woodwindist, and Unpopular Music favorite Henry Threadgill has won this year's Pulitzer Prize for music for In for a Penny, In for a Pound. It's a fantastic example of Threadgill's compositional style, a combination of what people call "jazz" and what people call "modern classical music." There is perhaps a larger amount than usual for jazz of written-out material plus a rather specific (yet still stimulating) course laid out for improvisation. Threadgill is one of those composers, like say Beethoven or Brahms on one hand, Charles Mingus or Tim Berne on the other who are able to take a few constant elements and consistently find new ways to combine and develop them over the years into something new.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the third time a "jazz musician" has won the Pulitzer. Wynton Marsalis won in 1997 for his (in my opinion) rather workman-like  Blood on the Fields, a retelling through music of the African-American experience, which pales in comparison to the similarly themed "Roots and Folklore" by John Carter, which I have praised in this space on several occasions.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for April 16, 2016

A sleepy (for me, hopefully not for you) program. The jazz is frontloaded in the first hour, which is a bit more rockin' than usual. A classical/jazz mix for hour two, with some afropop in both halves. Also, a tribute to 90's-era end of CD hidden tracks.


See the playlist after the break...

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for April 9, 2016

Having kind of a lousy last couple of days. If your familiar with the Simpsons episode where they install a koi pond and it attracts the endangered screamapilliar, it's sort of like that.

Nonetheless, I've cobbled together a couple of hopefully entertaining hours of music for your listening pleasure.

See the playlist after the break...

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.

Playlist for the Unpopular Music webcast for April 2, 2016

This week a relatively jazzy freeform adventure for a good day to curl up with the internet. No apologies made for playing two twelve minute tracks in a row.



Since the in-studio recorder failed to record the program, we have some of what I did or should have said about the music below, along with the playlist...