Category: Soul
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Public radio inspiration and homage to Bebo Valdes
Hey y’all. Missed ya. I’m still here – listening and digging deep for the best in roots and roots-inspired music. I felt inspired tonight listening to the heart and soul of LA music on public radio. Yesterday a legend of Latin music passed away, Bebo Valdes, and over at KJazz (88.1), they were playing his…
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Keepin’ it funky with New Orleans’ brass band tradition
Last night I had the fortune to see Rebirth Brass Band at The Mint in LA (an awesome roots-music venue if you ever are in town). Hot off their Grammy win for their album, Rebirth of New Orleans, it was a sold-out, standing-room only show. People who didn’t have a ticket were waiting outside, hoping…
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Reminds me of why I love music: Alabama Shakes
I don’t know much about this band. I just found out through a friend (shout out to Deb in New Orleans) about Alabama Shakes. This band, featuring the vocals of Brittany Howard, does the music that I love. It hits me in the heart, soul, and gut. This is where music belongs and I love…
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Imagining New York City with Rakim & James Brown
When I first started this blog, I did for the pure joy of sharing my passion for music, culture, and history. In the past year, I’ve felt joy leave and posting has become more burdensome as I’ve felt pressure to commercialize it in some way. As the blog steamed along, I got more and more…
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The Bo-Keys: Memphis sounds full of soul
Scott Bomar, the musical mind behind the award-winning soundtrack of Hustle & Flow AND the producer of the band, The City Champs, has a really cool project going on in the style of Booker T & The MGs, called The Bo-Keys. I love this short 12 minute documentary about the background of these guys –…
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La Santa Cecilia: Homegrown LA style
I am in love with the Los Angeles band, La Santa Cecilia, named after the patron saint of music. They play an eclectic fusion of everything soulful – from boleros to rancheros, cumbias to klezmer, folk and jazz/jam to their own unique take on the Beatles. Lead singer La Marisoul is absolutely adorable and on…
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Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” reinterpreted
With all the insane anti-immigrant sentiment going on around the country and most notoriously in Arizona, it got me thinking of Woody Guthrie’s timeless folk song, “This Land Is Your Land.” Over the years, so many diverse musicians have done their own take. I’ve always loved Mexican-American singer Lila Downs’ version, speaking for the voiceless…
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