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
My Fairy Tales By Nneka
Once upon a time at the beginning of the 80s, a beautiful and intelligent girl from the Nigerian kingdom of Warri was born. She was named Nneka Lucia Egbuna, and was destined to bring much musical goodness to the world. Nneka grew into a passionate, socially and politically conscious woman. Also a special music artist with a unique… Continue reading My Fairy Tales By Nneka
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
Ngaiire Live & Revamped
During her show at Howler in Melbourne last week, Sydney-based soulstress Ngaiire talked of a time not so long ago when she questioned the value in continuing on her musical path. Thankfully Ngaiire found a way over that hump and is set this month to release her new single Once – with the full album Blastoma due out in… Continue reading Ngaiire Live & Revamped
Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
The less words said about Haitus Kaiyote’s new album Choose Your Weapon, the better really. And I say that with the greatest of respect for Hiatus Kaiyote, their music and their artistry. Listening, hearing and experiencing this one-of-a-kind music is what needs to happen instead. If I must use words I’ll start with the short… Continue reading Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
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
Richard Bona: “Music is The Real School of Life”
If you love the sounds of jazz, blues, funk, West African rhythms, flamenco, salsa, bossa and the other diverse musical flavours of the world and you’re not already well acquainted with the vast body of music of Richard Bona, now is the time. His very long list of collaborators and fans include Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Bobby… Continue reading Richard Bona: “Music is The Real School of Life”
Future-Soul Artist Wallace Releases ‘Vinyl Skip’
New Zealand Music Month has just begun. About the same time last week Beaver was praising the unique sounds of music coming out of Aotearoa (New Zealand) in recent decades – a promising, young New Zealand-born “future soul” artist named Wallace was digitally-releasing her debut single Vinyl Skip. Wallace Gollan is a jazz-trained singer/songwriter who cites NGAIIRE, Georgia… Continue reading Future-Soul Artist Wallace Releases ‘Vinyl Skip’
Myele Manzanza: New Zealand Music Aesthetics
Except for the reformation of Trinity Roots and what a handful of other New Zealand music artists like Myele Manzanza, Fat Freddys Drop, Electric Wire Hustle and Ladi 6 are up to, these days I’m more out of touch with New Zealand’s music scene than I used to be. The Sound When I was on the pulse… Continue reading Myele Manzanza: New Zealand Music Aesthetics
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