Bold As Love

Got any questions for Death?

The Hackneys (l to r): Dannis, Bobby Sr. (holding pic of original trio), & son Bobby Jr. of Rough Francis
credit: Burlington Free Press

I'm in the process of prepping for my SXSW interview with Death on March 20.  I'm doing background research as well as pre-interviews with the band, Bobby Jr. (Rough Francis) and some folks from the label.

But, I then thought it'd be cool to incorporate some of your questions into the discussion.  You can ask anonymously, but do include your email address in case I need clarification on something.

Thanks!

VIDEO: Nelson George/Diane Paragas -- "A Walk Through Fort Greene" (trailer)

A Walk Through Fort Greene - TRAILER from Diane Paragas on Vimeo.

For those of us who lived in Fort Greene, Brooklyn during the early 90s, this will take you back.  Nelson George and Diane Paragas co-direct.  From the Vimeo page:

A feature length documentary of the black arts movement that exploded in Fort Greene from the mid 1980s through the 90s as intimately told by writer, historian and director, Nelson George. The film features Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, Vernon Reid, Carl Hancock Rux, Saul Williams, Lorna Simpson, Alva Rogers, Kevin Powell, Toure, Bill Stephany to name a few.

Upcoming events + other links--March 5, 2010

• 3/5--Shelley Nicole's blaKbushe at WNYC Battle of the Boroughs: Brooklyn Throwdown
• 3/6--Peekaboo Theory at Crazy Frogs (Houston, TX)
• 3/6--Full Spectrum presents "The Infiltrators"
• 3/8--4 Women redux: A Tribute to Miriam Makeba, Odetta, Eartha Kitt & Abbey Lincoln at NYC Schomburg Center
• 3/25-28--The 10th National Black Writers Conference @ Medgar Evers College
• 3/26--The BRC's Nina Simone tribute returns to NYC's HarlemStage
• Ongoing: The 8th Lady Got Chops Jazz Festival
• Armond White on why the Oscars stink
• Danger Mouse finally able to release "Dark Night of the Soul". Dispute with EMI resolved. (via JP917)
• Glad Guru is recovering, but why did his nephew feel the need to make this video? More updates here.  Stranger and stranger, indeed. Can anyone say "Health Care Proxy"?
• An expert explains why captivity can turn killer whales into, well, killers (thanks @danamo!)

Jimi Hendrix's "Valleys of Neptune" drops March 9

Hendrix in the studio in 1968 (credit: Eddie Kramer Archives)

The Hendrix estate--in conjunction with Sony Legacy Recordings--will be releasing the guitar legend's Valleys of Neptune on Tuesday.  According to the NY Times, it's "the first album of previously unreleased studio recordings by Hendrix in more than a decade."  Perhaps there's be more we can hear without the 10-year wait: The article also quotes Janie Hendrix, president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, who says there's "about 10 more years of music" in the company's vaults.

The album documents Hendrix's creative output in 1969.  While many people feel that Hendrix tried to stay above the fray of all the turbulence going on in the country at that time, Living Colour's Vernon Reid--who's part of the Experience Hendrix tour that kicked off yesterday--has a different take:

“He was the Movement, his very existence, without his having to put his fist in the air,” Mr. Reid said. “When you hear ‘Machine Gun’ or ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ there was much more said in those tunes than if he was a speechifying dude. In the world of great guitar solos, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ just stands in this weird other place. He created, he was, the soundtrack of the nation at that time.”

Additional link:

• Wikipedia entry on Valleys of Neptune
• New York Times: "Beyond the Jimi Hendrix Experience" by Anthony DeCurtis, February 28, 2010

EVENT: Full Spectrum presents "The Infiltrators"--Sat. 3/6

From producer Brian Tate: "This free forum with some of NYC's most adventurous producers will explore what they do, why they do it, and how they maintain progressive ideals at major institutions.  Be there!  The conversation will be thoughtful, eye-opening, and hip..."

Additional links:

• Full Spectrum site
• Full Spectrum on Facebook
• Corridor Gallery

VIDEO: Massive Attack -- "Paradise Circus"

Just 'cause I'm feeling this new album.  Dubby goodness.  Just wallow in all that low end!

UPDATE: My former colleague, Paul James, hipped me to the fact that the video is a recut/mashup of the Massive Attack song and the trailer for the movie The Fall by Tarsem Singh (REM's Losing My Religion and the movie The Cell).  Check it out:

Additional link:

• Heligoland album art and track listing

LISTENING POST: Pascal Toussaint -- "Je Suis Malade"

When somebody puts it on smash, you just gotta give it up.  So, I'm giving it up for Pascal Toussaint.  He's unusual in that he's a male soprano.  Originally from the French West Indies, Pascal was born with a physical anomaly in which his voice did not change into an adult voice.

According to his site, he sings across the gamut of jazz, American and French stands, rock, gospel, opera, songs in classical Arabic, German ballads, Brazilian.  The list goes on.

For those of you in the Bay, you might've checked him out in his US debut at Yoshi's SF this past Sunday.

More info on Pascal here. (via Bill Bragin)

My (second) interview on Afronerd Radio--February 28, 2010

I was honored to be asked back on Afronerd Radio by host Desmond Burton to talk with Post Black author Ytasha Womack about alternative black culture, why there's so much minstrelsy (Desmond feels) in the age of Obama, and what can be done about it.  You can listen below. Cool, too, that Sergio Mims, of the great film blog Shadow and Act, decided to call in and offer some perspective on Tyler Perry.

BTW, it's about a 90 minute interview.

I'll be interviewing Ytasha later this week, so stay tuned.

Additional link:

• Afronerd

TOUR DATES: Fishbone Spring Skaward Tour

Asking for a late pass on this.  They're on tour with The English Beat and Outlaw Nation.  Unfortunately, the NYC date is tonight.  Sorry, folks.  Go if you can.

DATE                     CITY                       VENUE

Sat 02/27/10         New York, NY          Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza
 
Mon 03/01/10       Covington, KY          Mad Hatter
 
Tue 03/02/10        Chicago, IL              House Of Blues

Wed 03/03/10       Milwaukee, WI        Turner Hall Ballroom
 
Thu 03/04/10       Minneapolis, MN      The Cabooze

Fri 03/05/10         Omaha, NE             The Slowdown

Sat 03/06/10        Englewood, CO        Gothic Theater

Sun 04/11/10       Silverado, CA           Irvine Lake Mud Room

Shouts to Afro-Punk for the heads-up

Additional link:

• Fishbone official site

John Mayer apology video

Great to see The Smyrk's Doron Flake in this comedic skit.  Jambo, indeed!

Also via TheRoot.com.

Additional link:

• Listening Post: The Smyrk -- "Whenever You Call"