The word funk has different usages today. Last Friday I was in a deep funk – having had one of the longest, most horrible days of my life. I didn’t think anything could shift me out of that funk. But when George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic came on stage and started playing at London’s Electric… Continue reading George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Live: Outta The Funk With The Funk
Category: North America (USA)
North American Music Artists
Roots Manuva, Leon Bridges & Human Snails at Citadel Festival 2015
On a sunny, blue-sky London day I found my way to the inaugural Citadel Festival 2015 for two reasons: to experience an uncommon live performance by veteran Londonite rapper Roots Manuva – and to hear the music of the young, up-and-coming Texan soul artist Leon Bridges. Roots Manuva Roots Manuva came first – the casually,… Continue reading Roots Manuva, Leon Bridges & Human Snails at Citadel Festival 2015
A Blessed Musical Day With Eric Harland & Co.
It’s a blessed musical day when a Beaver finds herself arrive in Amsterdam to hear about an Eric Harland, Dave Holland, Chris Potter and Lionel Loueke show starting in two hours; buy a randomly-seated ticket and turn up to the gig to discover she’s seated a few metres behind Eric Harland on drum kit –… Continue reading A Blessed Musical Day With Eric Harland & Co.
D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day
The difference between D’Angelo & The Vanguard’s concert at London’s Roundhouse on Monday night and the last concert of theirs I heard is like Night and Day. The last was nine months ago when they performed at Soulfest 2014– “Australia’s first annual neo-soul, hip hop and jazz festival”. At that time and for the previous… Continue reading D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day
Pops Staples – Don’t Lose This
The blues guitar and gospel vocals of dearly departed Pops Staples and the rest of the Staples family, has always been sweet music to my ears. But the release of Pops Staples’ most recent album by Mavis Staples in 2015, 15 years after his passing, and amongst the rest of the world’s contemporary releases, is… Continue reading Pops Staples – Don’t Lose This
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2015: Herbie Hancock & All Who Followed
Ever so perfectly, this year’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival opened its eleven-day program with a performance at Hamer Hall by two of jazz history’s most influential and pioneering artists: Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. One of them, Herbie Hancock, is a musical hero in the life of Chick Corea, me and millions of other people… Continue reading Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2015: Herbie Hancock & All Who Followed
An Inspiring Conversation With Eric Harland
If you’re not already familiar with the impressive musical history of Eric Harland you only have to read on to get a sense of why he is considered to be one of the world’s greatest contemporary drummers in the jazz sphere. Eric Harland returns to Australia next week with Voyager to play four shows at… Continue reading An Inspiring Conversation With Eric Harland
Bluesfest 2015 – Nothing But The Euphoric Funk
Five festival days of performances by 89 international and Australian acts at Byron Bay Bluesfest ended for me with three hours at the main stage frontline having what felt like the most euphoric live music experience of my lifetime. I was, of course, in the company of George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. With the greatest of… Continue reading Bluesfest 2015 – Nothing But The Euphoric Funk
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Givin’ Up The Funk Live In Sydney
Any cats or kitties out there whippin or wailin and jumpin up and down tellin each other who the greatest contemporary funk cats in the world are can just zip it. Those cats are George Clinton & the Parliament Funkadelic collective, of course. I knew it a while back when the gift of the new… Continue reading George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Givin’ Up The Funk Live In Sydney
WOMADelaide 2015: Nourishment Forever-After
Oh WOMADelaide, how I long to be back in your nourishing arms. You came again and gave the people four days and nights of awesomely-diverse arts, culture and music from around the world under sunshine and shady trees in Adelaide’s Botanic Park. You created the space for a vibrant community of friendly, conscious, arts-loving people… Continue reading WOMADelaide 2015: Nourishment Forever-After