Sugerencias de escucha (Enero-Abril, 2023)

During each week in the Footer I leave a weekly listening suggestion, accompanied by a music player with the corresponding songs. As it is a dynamic content that I renew every seven days, I have decided to place a Playlist with a representative song of each album with its data, accompanied by the corresponding critical text.

Robert Forster: vocals, acoustic guitar; Karin Baumler: xylophone, vocals; Louis Forster: bass, acoustic and electric guitar; Loretta Forster: electric guitar, vocals; Luke McDonald: bass, vocals, piano; Adele Pickvance: bass, congas; scott bromley: drums, organ, nylon-string guitar, vocals; Christine Dunaway: fiddle; James Harrison: cello; Tony McCall: drums.

When his partner passed away The Go-Betweens, Grant McLennan, he dedicated the album The Evangelist. The Covid broke out and Robert He was composing songs. Unfortunately, his partner Karin Baumler suffered a serious illness. The body of the album was practically composed, but Robert added in some songs, brushstrokes of encouragement towards her, also a participant in the recording. The album maintains the seal of identity and quality to which we are accustomed.

Nick Wheeldon: composer, Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar; Danny Kendrick: Drums, backing vocals; Marius Atherton: Bass, Backing Vocals; Paul Rannaud: Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals; Sebastien Adam: Piano, Organ, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar Solo on 'Saint Marie' and Backing Vocals.

Nick Wheeldon He comes from Sheffield but has been based in Paris for ten years. He fronted the garage band, you night owls, with which he published three albums. He released solo in 2021, the excellent, Communication Problems. For the record at hand, he surrounded himself mostly with French musicians. But everything got complicated, they barely rehearsed beforehand and they only had one day to record; but better tell it Nick (full interview ⬈): “El primer día de ensayo Marius anuncia que se irá en 2 semanas, durante 3 meses. En ese momento, decidimos grabar el álbum antes de que se fuera. Hay 9 canciones. Trabajamos y arreglamos 3 canciones por ensayos con un ensayo final donde trabajamos las 9 canciones una vez juntos. Paul luego nos ofreció grabar el álbum en su estudio, revisamos las fechas, solo había un día libre antes de que Marius se fuera… ¡De acuerdo! Vamos a grabar todo EN VIVO, en un día. Estaba tan emocionado que temía que no fuera posible”. Y el disco respira ese aire mágico, esa inmediatez y frescura. Por él planea tanto big star like the best McCartney solo, and they even remind me of the outsider, roky erickson, and in some song to the great ones, Jayhawks. The result, a record destined to become a classic.

Diane Hubka: vocals, rhythm guitar; rick mayock: vocals, acoustic, elect. and baritone guitars; Albert Lee: guitar, mandolin, vocals; Chad Watson: bass, mandolin, trombone, guitar, vocals; Lynn Coulter: drums, percussion, vocals, whistle; Joe Caccavo: banjo, bass; chris elliott: trumpet. Nora the dog: the bark.

Diane Hubka comes from Maryland. In college she met a young jazz guitarist, becoming interested in him. Later, she listens to Carmen McRae and falls in love with the genre, completely. So much so, that until 2017 she had released six albums as a vocalist and occasionally a guitarist. The results of the 2017 elections upset her to such an extent that she considered returning to combative songs close to folk. She also relived her youthful phase, where she sang songs from Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell or Neil Young; influenced by her mother -folk singer-. On this record, veteran co-producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, Chad Watson —musician with The Burrito Brothers, Charlie Rich or Ronnie Milsapp—, recruited the well-known guitarist and mandolin player, albert reads; whose accompanying list is extensive —Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, emmylou harris, Joe Cocker…— Diane he has chosen the songs well, well-known compositions by guy clark, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Chuck Berry... and even some of his own, like the beautiful ballad, Home. Diane tells us about the song: “Obtengo mi espiritualidad a través de la naturaleza, y en ‘Home’ hablo de dejar la ciudad y volver a la naturaleza. Se trata de los valores simples con los que crecí en los años 60 y 70: anti comercialismo, anti materialismo. Me inspiran esos valores y siento que salen en esta música”. On the album we find varied styles, folk, country, zydeco, blues Or any swing Texan. In addition to the rhythmic section, crystalline guitars, the mandolin, the banjo predominate or we may be surprised by a trombone, a trumpet and the barking of the dog Nora. A record that is not going to reveal anything new to us, nor does it need to; because what interests us is enjoying things well done, having a very pleasant time listening to some magnificent musicians together with the versatile and beautiful voice of Diane, who in addition to jazz sings what he sets out to do wonderfully. On the album you can see how they enjoy and transmit their enthusiasm to us.

i'm leaving texarkana
I'm gonna leave Texarkana
I'm going to Louisiana
I'm going down to Louisiana
I'm gonna try my luck in Baton Rouge
I'm gonna try my luck in Baton Rouge
I'll follow the old red river down
I'm gonna follow ol red river down
Until I see the city lights I ain't gonna sleep in Baton Rouge
Till I see the lights of town I ain't gonna get no sleep in Baton Rouge

Erik Laroi: vocals, acoustic and electric guitar; Kendall Jane Meade: vowels; Mike Levey: acoustic and electric piano, organ, analog synths, trumpet, french horn; Dan Asher:bass; Butch Norton: drums, percussion; Tom Curiano: percussion; Anthony Bracewell: violin, viola; Dan White: flute, saxophone; dave bertrand: flute, clarinet; chris ott: trombone.

In back of lost weekend hides the creative spirit of Eric Laroi. He has intelligently managed to reflect in a personal way; the orchestral pop of burt bacharach —also serve as a tribute to his recent death—, the bossa nova of joao gilberto and the camera pop of Belle and Sebastian. Sophisticated and elegant pop.

Jim Snidero: tall sax; Kurt Rosenwinkel:guitar; Orrin Evans: piano; peter washington:bass; joe farnsworth: drums.

Jim launched in 2021 the excellent direct, Live At The Deer Head Inn. A wise decision was to keep the rhythmic section that offered such good results for this new album. But also, it has incorporated the guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel; which has provided new perspectives in the music of our saxophonist. The result, impeccable. It was the first Suggestion of the week and I leave for the music list, the great initial theme that gives the album its title.

Band: Tbone Paxton, trombone/vocals; Matt LoRusso, guitar; kurt krahnke, stringbass(2, 4, 6, 7, 10); Trevor Lamb, string bass (1, 3, 5, 8, 9 11) Sean Perlmutter, drums; RJ Spangler, congas, various percussion instruments;

Members of the Planet D Nonet: Alex Colista, alto & tenor sax #1, 3, 5, 8, 11; Christopher Tabaczynski, tenor sax, clarinet #1, 3, 5, 9; Goode Wyche III, baritone sax #1, 3, 8; James O'Donnell, trumpet, various percussion instruments, background vocals #5, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11; michael zaporski, piano #1, 3, 7;

Special Guests: john douglas, trumpet #3; Mike Harrison, piano, Fender Rhodes and vibraphone, background vocals 5, 8, 11.

John “Tbone” Paxton is a vocalist and trombonist on the Chicago scene. He is a member, as is RJ Spangler —with which he leads the Paxton/Spangler Band—, from the Big Band Planet D Nonet, who lend their support to him on the album, his second solo. Since he was little, the world of music has been part of him. His father was a music teacher and pianist at the London Chop House. Both he and his mother; they had a large collection of jazz records from classical orchestras, Count Basie, duke ellington…, but they also listened to Broadway music and opera. He also listened to rock music, from his two older brothers, also professional musicians. But his inclinations have always been towards jazz. As he has stated in some interviews, he was attracted to swing because he considers it a music full of lyricism, honesty and purity. He has chosen for the repertoire, beloved and diverse authors, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Percy Mayfield, john hendricks, Dr John… This gives us an idea of ​​the variety of styles that we can taste through their grooves: New Orleans jazz, swing, bossa nova, calypso, blues, soul-jazz and even some crooner ballads. A formidable album that deserves our attention. It is also noteworthy the most recent album tribute to duke ellingtonOf Planet D Nonet: “Blues to Be There: A Salute to Duke Ellington“, de diciembre de 2022; en el que RJ Splanger and our dear Tbone PaxtonThey contributed their talents.

Adam Tobin: guitar, vocals; zach gilliam: bass, vocals; cody scott: organ, piano; Justin Bissett:drums; Guests - zac cialek: guitar, lap steel, vocals; Jakob Corbin: percussion, flute; Jeremy Horn: vowels (co-producer).

Amon Tobin Y Justin Bissett They hail from Massachusetts and together they joined forces to form the group. They both grew up listening to Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd. Currently based in Colorado, these are the main sources from which their music flows, but not the only ones, because they are also open to innovation and some experimentation in the genre. Thus in its initial song, the sad and evocative, “Jenny”, in addition to the sounds of lap steel, we can find certain touches of psychedelia. “Mister Ford”, is an impeccable instrumental piece that delves into fields close to jazz. The Hammond B3 begins the piece contributing not only in this song but in the rest of the album, that organ sound that is so lacking in current recordings. A flute close to the sounds of Jethro Tull, which provide a distinctive touch. The guitar plucks with the wah wah pedal also stand out. “This Road”, the title track of the album, seems to lean towards the style of The Allman Brothers, but at any given moment, it can deviate into classic rock and roll, introducing characteristic piano touches, as well as derivations towards other genres. In “Heartwork”Curiously, they had to compose music and lyrics in one day to complete the album; at the request of the friend and producer in his home studio, Jeremy Horn. Es un medio tiempo sentido, que poco a poco ira “in crescendo”. Está dedicado, como ellos mismos explican, “a los que luchan con la salud mental, un recordatorio de su verdadera capacidad hacia la positividad, el amor propio y el autodesarrollo”. Es una pieza folk donde podemos observar la influencia de las canciones de Jerry Garcia in the Grateful Dead. The disc closes the optimistic and boisterous, “Here I Come Again”, embellished with certain funky touches and pop and folk inclusions. If you like them southern sounds of twinkling guitars, funds hammond organ Y coupled voices; but also opening new horizons in the genre, don't let it escape.

Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Organ; martin quinn: Synth, Piano, Keys, Additional Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals; andrew quinn: Drums, Percussion; kevin kelleher: Flugelhorn; Sylvie Lewis: Backing Vocals; Astrid-Williamson: Backing Vocals; Majella O'Reilly: Backing Vocals; Jason Falkner:Bass; brendan scott: Backing Vocals; tony smith: Backing Vocals; Roger Joseph Manning Jr.: Backing Vocals, Mellotron, Moog Solo, Electric Piano, Synth, Keys; Gary Lucas: Guitar Wizardry; The Avoca String Quartet:Strings; Lily McCann: Backing Vocals; Cassie McCann: Backing Vocals; James Quinn: Clavinet, Electric Rhodes Piano; Alan D'Arcy: Saxophone; kevin kelleher:Trumpet; Ken Stringfellow: Organ, Electric Piano, Tambourine, Backing Vocals; Evin O'Meara: Trumpet, Trombone; kevin foran:Trumpet; charlotte hatherley: Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Backing Vocals, Wurlitzer electronic piano, Synths and Noiz.

The accidental death of his father, in 2018, marked for the Irish, Paul McCann, a turning point. Still influenced by the death of his parent, he began to compose and rehearse the initial sessions for the album, in 2019, but the arrival of the Covid It meant another stagnation, which he took advantage of to continue composing and polishing the songs for his second album. She has surrounded herself with a series of renowned interpreters: Jason Falkner, charlotte hatherley, Majella O'Reilly, brendan scott, Gary Lucas or Ken Stringfellow. The entire record process was a healing balm for Paul, as he himself explains: “Escribir estas canciones actuó como un tipo de terapia para mí durante un momento muy difícil. Cuando escuchas el álbum, puedes percibir muchas emociones y sentimientos diferentes que se filtran. Es lo más personal y expuesto que mi composición ha creado. Parte de ella no fue exactamente fácil de escribir o grabar, pero ciertamente me ayudó a salir del otro lado con una pizca de cordura restante”. All the emotions experienced over the years, since the loss of his father, have a place on the album: love, confusion, anger, memory, loss... Elegant arrangements and magnificent melodies run through the album by this most creative pop artisan. , with influences from The Byrds Y Teenage Fanclub, but he has also complemented some songs with a section of winds and strings, which provide sophisticated touches and aromas to burt bacharach.

Christina Galisatus: compositions/arrangements, piano; Erin Bentlage: vowels; Michael Blasky: tenor saxophone; Steven Lugerner: bass clarinet; Brandon Bae – guitar; Joshua Crumbly:  bass; Zev Shearn-Nance: drums.

Con un padre dedicado por entero a la música –es trompetista y profesor de música– no es de extrañar que Christina encaminara sus pasos hacia la música. Con tan sólo cinco años comienza a aprender piano. Más tarde, sus estudios se inclinarían al aprendizaje de piano clásico. En un momento dado, en Stanford, prosigue estudios para composición y piano de jazz. Por tanto, aquí nos quedan las claves que podemos escuchar en su álbum de debut. Christina ha compuesto tanto la música, como la letra de las canciones. Ella misma nos explica el tema principal, que tiene mucho que ver con el tratar de encontrar un equilibrio mental entre los altibajos presentes en la vida: “El proceso de terminar los estudios y tratar de encontrar mi equilibrio, no solo como músico sino como persona que navega por las relaciones, las luchas de salud mental y el mundo en general, trajo muchas emociones, especialmente cuando miré hacia atrás en varias experiencias que tuve en el pasado que estaba empezando a procesar. La música que estaba escribiendo en ese momento provenía principalmente de ese tema”. Para cantar sus temas, mientras ella pulsa el piano y el resto del grupo la arropa, se ha servido de la frágil voz de Erin Bentlage. El jazz y la música clásica contemporánea, están presentes, pero también se cuelan delicados trazos de folk en sus canciones.

David Broza, Guitarra y voz

David Broza es un cantautor nacido en Haifa, Israel. Pasó su adolescencia entre España y el Reino Unido. Siempre en su música ha tratado de enviar un mensaje de tolerancia y paz. En 1983, justo hace 40 años, lanzó en hebreo, Haisá Sheití’, האשה שאתי. Era un tributo a la música española que escuchó en España entre los 12 y 18 años. Justo ahora, repite el disco, pero todo en castellano. Nos cuenta un poco David: “Descubrí a Serrat a través de amigos españoles en Madrid cuando tenía 17 años. “La Mujer Que Yo Quiero”, la canción que da título al álbum, “Tío Alberto” Y “Que Va Ser De Ti” son todas versiones del épico álbum Mediterráneo of Joan Manuel Serrat. Serrat hizo un álbum basado en los poemas de Antonio Machado, un trabajo increíble, ya que Machado había muerto mientras intentaba huir del ejército fascista durante la guerra civil española. Respeto mucho su composición e interpretación. Paco Ibanez era un nombre que escuchaba con frecuencia entre mis amigos. Ibáñez fue un trovador y cantor popular exiliado en París, que había grabado y musicalizado muchas obras de Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti y otros poetas renegados. Me encantaba su forma de tocar la guitarra y las melodías folclóricas que sonaban como si hubieran sido escritas hace cientos de años. “Mi niña se fue a la mar” tiene la letra de Lorca, asesinado durante la guerra civil en España y se desconoce el paradero de su tumba. En 1986 se grabó un disco con muchos artistas internacionales, incluidos Leonard Cohen, Paco de Lucía y yo mismo, para conmemorar a Lorca y su libro de poesía de Nueva York. “Como tú”, con letra de León Felipe, quien nació en 1884 en Tábara, Zamora, y murió en 1968 en México, donde vivió exiliado. León fue un poeta modernista, parte de la generación del 27. Durante la guerra civil luchó en el Ejército Republicano Español contra la facción nacionalista, por lo que pasó el resto de su vida en el exilio. “La más bella niña” es una melodía de un poema de Luis de Góngora del siglo XVII sobre una joven viuda que acaba de perder a su marido en el frente. Está destinada a vivir sola el resto de su vida mientras llora a su madre por su oscuro destino. En 1983 presenté a Paco Ibanez en algunos de los grandes shows que hice después del gran éxito del disco. No podía creer lo que veía mientras miles de personas cantaban con nosotros en hebreo. Fue muy poderoso. ¡A sus 88 años, Paco era y sigue siendo el ejecutante renegado con su guitarra! Manzanita fue un héroe para mí y para muchos otros en España con su increíble forma de tocar la guitarra y su voz gruesa y ronca de flamenco, cantando canciones pop melódicas. Manzanita dotó a sus canciones de un destello por la profunda cultura de la tradición gitana y el duende del flamenco. También vino a Israel para ser invitado en el segundo disco de las canciones traducidas, Ha-Ishá She-Ití 2. En el primer disco tenía tres canciones, dos de las cuales escribió, “Por tu ausencia” Y “Dentro de tu alma” y una que versionó, “Ramito de violetas” Conocía la versión original de Cecilia, pero cuando escuché la versión de Manzanita, allá por los años setenta, me ayudó a convertir la versión en hebreo en la mía. En 1999, Manzanita fue invitado a mi show del amanecer en Masada. Fue una experiencia increíble con él y sus dos hijos, Rafa y José. Manzanita murió en 2004. Que en paz descanse”. David por la manera de tocar excelentemente la guitarra y de aplicar la voz, emparenta las versiones con un matiz flamenco muy apropiado. Excelente trabajo el de David.

Cover Photo: Diane Hubka, © Sun Canyon Band