Cahl's Jukebox, 6-30-09

The daily mix:

1) The Budos Band: "The Proposition"
2) The Watts 103rd Street Band: "65 Bars and a Taste of Soul"
3) Chaka Khan: "Foolish Fool"
4) Ben E. King: "Spanish Harlem"
5) Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: "Inspiration Information"
6) Shuggie Otis: "Aht Uh Mi Hed"
7) Delaney Bramlett: "Funky"
8) Dr. Lonnie Smith: "Come Together"
9) Al Wilson: "La La Peace Song"
10) Marvin Gaye: "Try It Baby"

Or, the Whale: 'Light Poles and Pines'

On "Light Poles and Pines," San Francisco's Or, the Whale delivers some of the prettiest harmonies I've heard in a long time.

The good news: The band's working on a new album.

The bad news: I can't join my best friend for Or, the Whales shows in Berkeley on July 30 and in San Francisco on July 31.

Call and Response - Or, the Wh...

Eleanor Ellis: 'Comin' a Time'

Eleanor Ellis might be based in Washington, D.C., but her blues is universal.

On "Comin' a Time," Ellis expertly drifts in and out of blues styles from all over as she covers tunes by Skip James, Sleepy John Estes, Tommy Johnson, Mance Lipscomb, Mississippi John Hurt and several other legendary blues figures. And no matter whether she's interpreting Delta, Piedmont or Texas blues she sounds earthy and earnest.

I first learned about Ellis many years ago when I read a story about her helping a fabulous old blueswoman named Flora Molton. On "Comin' a Time," released a couple of years ago, Ellis covers one of Molton's songs, "Sun's Gonna Shine One Day." It's riveting. So are her covers of a couple of Memphis Minnie's tunes. Ellis seems to have a special empathy for the blueswomen who came before her. She seems to understand the pain old bluesmen poured into their songs, too.

I guess that's why she's one of our finest interpreters of classic country blues. Give her music a listen and I'm betting you'll agree.

Sun's Gonna Shine One Day - El...

Leon Russell: 'Best of Hank Wilson'

Leon Russell is as responsible as anyone for cultivating my love of country music.

Back in 1973, I bought a country album by Russell called "Hank Wilson's Back" because I'd been on a major Leon Russell kick since seeing him in "The Concert for Bangladesh" a couple of years earlier. That album probably pushed me toward George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins...

Over the years, Russell recorded a few more albums using the Hank Wilson moniker, but I never bought them. This collection gives me a chance to catch up and to remember why fell in love with Russell's music in the first place.

It's not a straight country album, of course. Everything Russell's ever recorded draws on a variety of genres, much as Ray Charles did. So it's fitting that a wonderfully twangy and soulful rendition of Charles' "I Believe to My Soul" is included on "Best of Hank Wilson."

There's some straight twang, too. Folks who grew up watching "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the '60s will love "Ballad of Jed Clampett." Hank Williams fans might be amazed by Russell's spicy rendition of "Jambalya." My grandmother, who was perhaps the world's biggest Tennessee Ernie Ford fan, would have appreciated Russell's bouncy cover of "Sixteen Tons."

My other favorite tunes on the album are Russell's heartbreaking duet with Willie Nelson on "He Stopped Loving Her Today"; Russell's rockin' version of "Mystery Train"; and his swinging rendition of "Wabash Cannonball." Really, though, I like all 22 songs on the collection.

Mystery Train - Leon Russell

He Stopped Loving Her Today - ...

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-29-09

The daily mix:

1) The Pernice Brothers: "Waiting for the Universe"
2) Son Volt: "The Picture"
3) Volebeats: "World's Looking Lonely"
4) Vulgar Boatmen: "Traveling"
5) Cary Ann Hurst: "!,200 Miles"
6) Caitlin Moore: "Rosemary Moore"
7) Liz Tormes: "Limelight"
8) Slaid Cleaves: "Cry"
9) American Music Club: "Patriots at Heart"
10) Tim Bluhm: "Give Me Some More"

Mark O'Leary and Sunny Murray: 'Ode to Albert Ayler'

When I listen to guitarist Mark O'Leary and drummer Sunny Murray's "Ode to Albert Ayler," I close my eyes and imagine an animated tour of the late, great saxophonist's mind.

The music meanders at an often leisurely, occasionally frenetic, pace. Every cerebral note seems to probe then change direction. Ayler's music used to do that, too.

Most folks call Ayler a free jazz saxophonist. Fair enough, I suppose, but it was free jazz steeped in blues, gospel and the sounds of nature. He connected musical styles and sounds in a way that no else had done before.

Murray, Ayler's long-time drummer, and O'Leary don't try to recreate the master's music note for note. No one could. The tunes on "Ode to Albert Ayler," which I think is available only in digital format, are more like cosmic sketches of Ayler's music.

The music won't make you think like Ayler. That's not the point. But it will make you think ... and feel. I'll bet that's all Ayler ever wanted.

Spiritualized - Mark O'Leary, ...

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-28-09

Sunday night blues:

1) Amos Garrett: "Pretty Eyed Baby"
2) Eric Bibb: "Heading Home"
3) Otis Taylor: "Lost My Guitar"
4) Rob Roy Parnell: "Sorry As They Come"
5) Seasick Steve: "Yellow Dog"
6) Muddy Waters: "Hard Days"
7) Juke Boy Bohner: "Sad, Sad Sound"
8) Boo Boo Davis: "Red Door"
9) Willie Dixon: "29 Ways"
10) Walter "Wolfman" Washington: "Thinking for Yourself"

Idgy Vaughn and Gabe Rhodes in Greensboro, GA

My mom wants to thank the folks at the Lake Welcome Center on Lake Oconee for organizing the Roadhouse Concerts at Savannah's just a few miles from her house. I had such a good time at Idgy Vaughn's shows there this weekend that she thinks I'll visit more often. Mom's probably right.

If I didn't live in Indiana, I'd probably attend most of the concerts. The lineup is impressive. In particular, I'd love to see Stevie Coyle, Diana Jones, Amy Speace, Dionne Farris and Eliza Gilkyson. I've seen Corinne West before, but I wish I could have caught her act earlier this month, too.

But Vaughn's shows were the ones that made me rearrange my summer vacation schedule. My friend Cindy and I were smitten by Idgy's performance in Bloomington, IN, a couple of months ago. Cindy got to see Idgy again the next night; I had to come back to West Lafayette to give a seminar. Now Cindy's the one who's jealous.

I was a bit worried going into Idgy's shows this weekend because Will Sexton, the guitarist who normally accompanies her, is on a promotional tour for the state of Texas. I needn't have. Gabe Rhodes, his replacement, is terrific. Perhaps that's not surprising considering he grew up around Texas music legends such as Willie Neson and Townes Van Zandt, who played with his mother, Kimmie Rhodes. He's also played with his mom, Willie, Ray Price, Houston Marchman, Billy Joe Shaver and a lot of other great musicians.

Still, Friday and Saturday were only the second and third times Gabe had ever played with Idgy. With only a couple of exceptions, it was hard to tell. He was particularly good at setting a melancholy mood for "St. Francis Fire," a song about a group of schoolgirls who perished in a fire a hundred years ago. He also stretched out with some great blues licks on Idgy's cover of "Can't Let Go," a Randy Weeks tune popularized by Lucinda Williams.

I did miss Will Sexton's harmonies, but that's hardly worth mentioning because Idgy's voice is so engaging. Her vocals are riveting when she sings "Pearl of Georgia," an endearing song about her daughter, and "Good Enough," a heartbreaking song about her mother. They're saucy and funny when she sings "Redbone Hound" and "Mr. Wrong," peppy tunes about love gone awry. And at the Lake Welcome Center, a small venue that simulates the feel of a living room, the songs seemed especially personal.

I'd love to hear Idgy there again, but in the meantime I'll check for the next time she returns to the Midwest. And, yeah, I'll be checking out the schedule for future shows in the Roadhouse Concert series that might give me an added impetus to squeeze in another visit with my parents.

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-24-09

Wednesday morning jazz:

1) Carmell Jones: "Moten Swing"
2) William Parker Quartet: "Sound Unity"
3) Art Farmer: "Darn That Dream"
4) Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra: "Your Beauty is a Love Song"
5) Modern Jazz Quartet: "The Cylinder"
6) Jessica Williams: "Spoken Softly"
7) Anat Cohen: "After the Rain"
8) Hank Mobley: "The Morning After"
9) Dimitri Vassilakis: "Little One"
10) Andre Previn: "Angel Eyes"

Houston Person: 'Lost and Found'

Back in the '90s, the late Joel Dorn rescued seven tracks by jazz saxophonist Houston Person with blues great Charles Brown from the Muse Records vaults. Almost unbelievably, the songs from that album, which was to be called "Sweet Slumber," had never been made available.

Dorn paired those seven tracks with five more from a 1977 album by Person called "Wildflower," which had been out of print for years, for "Lost and Found" on his 32 Jazz label. Now, sadly, that album's no longer available either. That's a shame.

You won't find many better couplings of jazz and blues than on the collaborations between Person and Brown, who sings on four of the tracks and plays piano on all seven. "No Denial Blues," for example, opens with some slinky piano riffs by Brown. A few seconds into the song, you hear the wail of Person's saxophone; I don't know of many sadder sounds other than, maybe, Brown's vocals.

Neither Brown nor Person ever rush. That must have been a powerful lesson for Danny Caron, the young guitarist on the recording, who plays especially slow, steamy licks on "Never Let Me Go." Bassist Red Callender and drummer Gaylor Birch have deft touches, too.

The songs on the "Wildflower" portion of "Lost and Found" are less bluesy than the ones on "Sweet Slumber," but they're no less soulful.

At the beginning of "Dameron," trumpeter Bill Hardman seduces listeners with a melancholy solo supported by Sonny Phillips' lush organ licks. Person answers with tenderness.

Guitarist Jimmy Ponder, who's always fabulous, shares the spotlight with Person and Phillips on "Ain't Misbehavin'." With the help of drummer Idris Muhammad and percussionist Larry Killian, they speed the tempo a bit, making the tune sound both playful and romantic.

The album's centerpiece, though, is "My Romance." It's like a saxophone version of Miles Davis' prettiest ballads. And what could be better than that?

Find a copy of "Lost and Found" if you can. You'll be charmed.

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-23-09

The daily mix:

1) Daddy: "Love in a Bottle"
2) Chuck Prophet: "Somewhere Down the Road"
3) Rosie Flores: "More to Offer"
4) Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts: "Waltz for Minnie"
5) Eddie Bond: "Blue, Blue Day"
6) Hank Williams: "Moanin' the Blues"
7) Maddox Brothers and Rose: "Honky Tonkin'"
8) David Ball: "Miss the Mississppi and You"
9) Gillian Welch: "One Monkey"
10) Lucinda Williams: "Drunken Angel"

Blues Blog Special: Trixie Smith, 'Complete Recorded Works – Volume 2 (1925-1929)'

Trixie Smith's recording of "My Daddy Rocks Me" should probably carry a parental warning. You won't find any dirty words, but she rolls one sexual innuendo after another into the three-minute song.

Even if she hadn't, you could still tell it was a song about late-night rompin'. Every note she sings is filled with the kind of sexy anticipation you normally find only in honeymoon suites. Sidney Bechet's soprano saxophone and Charlie Shavers' trumpet sound sweet and nasty, too.

Judging from the songs on her collection called "Complete Recorded Works – Volume 2 (1925-1929)," Smith was an all-round party girl. In addition to the many songs filled with amorous intent, the album includes "Jack I'm Mellow," one of my favorite tunes about being high.

You can tell a lot about a musician by looking at the company she keeps. So you know Smith must have been a superstar when you see the credits for this collection include Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, Sammy Price, Johnny Dodds, Charlie Green and a lot of other fabulous jazz and blues musicians.

I certainly think she's one of the all-time great blues singers. If I rated albums, this one would get five stars. If you're reading my blog, I'm betting you'd probably agree. Just don't play "My Daddy Rocks Me" for your better half unless you're in the mood.

(Blues Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older blues albums worth checking out.)

My Daddy Rocks Me - Trixie Smi...

The Meteors: 'From Zorch With Love, the Very Best of The Meteors (1981-1997)'

I've loaded several of The Meteors' albums onto my iPhone for my drive to Georgia this week. I can't think of much better driving music. It's loud, fast and fun ... just the stuff to keep hundreds and hundreds of miles of pastoral landscapes from dulling my senses.

If you've never heard The Meteors, you might start with "From Zorch With Love, the Very Best of The Meteors (1981-1997)." It includes a nice survey of their tunes, which mix rock and rockabilly in much the same way that The Cramps have always done. The Meteors are probably a lot campier, though, and that's just fine by me. I love to laugh when I'm driving alone. I'll have to put on some George Jones before I get to Georgia, though; The Meteors' raucous tunes filled with references to monsters and devils would scare my mama.

Voodoo Rhythm - The Meteors

Swamp Thing - The Meteors

Dodo Greene: 'My Hour of Need'

I probably would have bought jazz singer Dodo Greene's "My Hour of Need," a 1962 recording from Blue Note, just to hear her vocals. On many of the songs, Greene sounds a lot like Dinah Washington at her sultriest and bluesiest, but I see that as a positive rather than a negative.

The thing that makes much of the album memorable is the way Greene's vocals float on top of the instrumentals of organist Sir Charles Thompson, tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec and guitarist Grant Green. With the help of bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Billy Higgins and a number of other fine jazz musicians, they blanket both the songs of love and heartache with a sensuous groove I could listen to every night.

A friend told me this weekend he was looking for albums that will carry him to Dreamland. My friend will be sleeping before the end of "My Hour of Need," the album's first track. I just hope I'm not around when it happens; his snoring might break the spell Greene, Thompson, Quebec and Green cast on me every time I listen to the album.

My Hour Of Need - Dodo Greene

Trouble In Mind - Dodo Greene

Cahl's jukebox, 6-11-09

The daily mix:

1) Big Joe Turner and the Trumpet Kings: "Mornin', Noon and Night"
2) Leroy Ervin: "Blue, Black and Evil"
3) Gene Krupa: "Jazz Me Blues"
4) Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band: "Big Bear Stomp"
5) James Booker: "Let's Make a Better World"
6) Bobby Marchan: "Have Mercy"
7) Dizzy Gillespie Big Band: "Con Alma"
8) Lou Rawls: "World of Trouble"
9) Homer Banks: "Lot of Love"
10) Barbara and the Browns: "In My Heart"

W.C. Handy Blues Festival

The best decision I made on Saturday was to park my butt in a seat at the beer tent across from the main stage at the W.C. Handy Blues Festival in Henderson, KY.

Beers were $3. Water was $2. Shade and a great view of the stage were free. I wouldn't have been able to stay at the festival for 11 hours without the shade and the water. As it turned out, the tent also proved useful when a northern Kentucky monsoon struck.

A little before 7 p.m., Albert Cummings was on stage sending one tidal wave after another from his guitar when the trees started whipping around. I'm not saying that Cummings conjured up the storm, but it sure as hell seemed as if the winds were riding in on his notes.

Cummings and his band scurried off the stage as lightning started lighting up the sky, and a few minutes later the festival was pelted with five minutes of the hardest rain I've ever seen. About half the crowd rushed for shelter under the beer tent — it probably would have been a lot more, but the bouncers were still carding would-be under-aged drinkers.

Surprisingly, not many folks left the festival after the monsoon. They were probably as eager as I was to see Shemekia Copeland, who finally took the stage about an hour later. Her big voice cut through every conversation in the park. I wonder whether folks even diverted their attention long enough to order beer when Copeland started storming through "Wild, Wild Woman." I know the tune delighted a few women around me, who playfully elbowed their boyfriends when Copeland sang "I'm a wild woman, baby, and you're a lucky man."

Unfortunately, lightning cut Copeland's set way short, but not until she'd performed two of my favorite songs: "The Other Woman," a drop-dead sexy blues burner from her "Wicked" album, and Buddy and Julie Miller's "Dirty Water," a tune that meshes Americana and blues styles (you can find it on Copeland's new album, "Never Going Back").

My friends and I headed back to the hotel a bit later when we decided the weather would probably prevent Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials from taking the stage. I'm sorry we missed them, but we had a great day of blues.

In addition to Cummings and Copeland, we saw:

• Moreland and Arbuckle. Aaron Moreland, a guitarist, and Dustin Arbuckle, a harp player and singer, are a couple of young dudes from Wichita who boogie like they're playing in old-time juke joints.

Moreland whips notes out of his guitars, especially his cigar box guitar, which is just about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Arbuckle sings with a swampy growl and plays his harp like Slim Harpo or Lazy Lester were his mentors. In a way, I'm sure they were, because I'm willing to bet he's burned through one old Excello recording after another, right along with all the old Allman Brothers records.

• Eric Bibb. I already knew how good Bibb is in concert; my friends didn't. They were amazed that a guy by himself with an acoustic guitar could command an entire park. He did.

Bibb is one of the greatest proponents of the blues tradition. He proved that right away, starting his set with a killer version of the blues classic "Stagger Lee." A sense of tradition comes naturally to Bibb, though. His father is Leon Bibb, a folksinger who used to hang with Dylan, and his uncle was John Lewis, the pianist of the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Eric Bibb's keen appreciation of the past was especially apparent when he sang "Still Livin' On," a tune on which he name-checks blues greats such as Mississippi John Hurt, Pops Staples, Elizabeth Cotton and Rev. Gary Davis. And if you've never heard a live rendition of Bibb performing Davis' "I Heard the Angels Singing," you need to add an item to your bucket list.

• The Nighthawks and Hubert Sumlin. I'd happily drive a couple hours just to see the Nighthawks, a rockin' blues band that incorporates a lot of musical styles into its tunes. I'd fly across the country to see them perform with Hubert Sumlin, who played guitar with Howlin' Wolf's band for so many years.

Sumlin might be 77, but he still plays with the vigor of a 20 year old. And, man, he caresses a sweet tone out of his guitar. Seeing Sumlin was the highlight of the festival for me. Hell, it was probably the highlight of my year so far, and I've seen a lot of fabulous shows in 2009.

So, yeah, I'm disappointed that storms kept me from listening to Shemekia Copeland sing for two hours. I'm miffed that I didn't get to see Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials. But it's hard to bitch much after seeing 11 hours of great blues and gorged on great barbecue. So you can bet I'll be back at the Handy Blues Festival down the road.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-21-09

Sunday night jazz:

1) Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond: "Body and Soul"
2) Branford Marsalis: "Abe Vigoda"
3) Julito Alvarado: "Cenizas"
4) Philly Joe Jones: "Confirmation"
5) Jimmy Woods: "Apart Together"
6) Sonny Stitt: "My New Baby"
7) Tom Harrell: "Recitation"
8) Harold Land Sextet: "Ursula"
9) Sonny Rollins: "God Bless the Child"
10) Stanley Turrentine: "Blues for Del"

Willie 'Sonny Boy' King: 'Alabama Bluesman'

Willie "Sonny Boy King" has a no-nonsense look on his face as he glares off the cover of "Alabama Bluesman," an album released by the Music Maker Relief Foundation. You'd probably have that look, too, if you'd fathered and raised 33 children.

Personally, I love the photo, because it's a perfect reflection of the music on the album. The 11 songs on "Alabama Bluesman" were recorded by a man who doesn't have the time or the patience for fancy frills.

King, playing guitar and harp, gets right down to business. The emotions he conveys in the songs are never hidden, but they run deep. He sounds a bit gruff as he sings, but you can tell there's warmth, even a sense of humor, under the stern exterior. That's pretty clear when you listen to "She's So Fine," an intense love song on which King bounces through one compliment after another for his woman.

I also love his spirited rendition of "Boney Maroney." King has a blast as he performs it. In fact, I love all the songs on the album. They're the product of a man who's spent a lifetime honing a craft in juke joints and at picnics. They're songs that are unadorned, unfiltered ... the only kind of blues that really matters.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-19-09

Friday morning blues:

1) Drink Small: "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town"
2) Robert Cray: "The Grinder"
3) W.C. Clark: "Cold Shot"
4) Johnny Copeland: "I Wish I Was Single"
5) Charlie Sayles: "Woodie"
6) Screamin' Jay Hawkins: "Swamp Gas"
7) Slim Harpo: "Wonderin' and Worryin'"
8) Snooky Pryor: "Headed South"
9) Carey Bell: "Pretty Baby"
10) Freddie King: "It's Too Late, She's Gone"

Jaime Hanna and Jonathan McEuen: 'Hanna-McEuen'

It's natural that Jaime Hanna and Jonathan McEuen have a natural connection when they perform; their mothers are twins and their fathers have been performing together for almost 40 years in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

But I know a lot of siblings from musical families and not many of them have harmonies like these cousins. They're mighty fine guitar players, too.

Follow this link for a video of "Something Like a Broken Heart" from their 2005 album, "Hanna-McEuen."

Skyla Burrell Blues Band: 'Working Girl Blues'

I'll bet Skyla Burrell doesn't take crap from anyone. She doesn't have to. If someone starts messing with her, all she has to do is take a chunk out of his butt with her biting guitar licks.

Her singing is feisty, too. She slices up some dude with her vocals and her lyrics on "Are You Kidding Me," a song from her 2004 album, "Working Girl Blues." And on "Mean Woman" she waves both her guitar and her guns around. Yikes.

But if you treat Burrell right, she'll take you to heaven. That's pretty clear when you listen to the rockin' "Love So Strong" and "Satisfaction Guaranteed."

When her heart breaks, as it does on the fabulous blues burner "Before You Go," it breaks hard. Yours will, too.

Buy her records and watch this clip of her performing. Behave and enjoy.

Willie Nelson: 'Teatro'

If you're looking to buy just one Willie Nelson album — which would be pretty silly, don't you think? — my vote goes to his 1998 album "Teatro."

Beautiful Spanish guitars. Even more gorgeous harmonies from Emmylou Harris. Simple, clean production by Daniel Lanois. Moody organs. And Willie Nelson's caressing every note he sings.

One of my former students who's meeting me at a concert tonight often asks me for a list of desert island records. OK, bud, here you go.

I Never Cared For You - Willie...

I Just Can't Let You Say Good-...

Cahl's jukebox, 6-18-09

The daily mix:

1) Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts: "Fight (Tonight's the Night)"
2) Randy Newman: "Gone Dead Train"
3) Built to Spill: "Else"
4) Paul Thorn: "Burnin' Blue"
5) Willie Nelson: "I Never Cared For You"
6) Charlie Robison: "Wild Man of Borneo"
7) The Blasters: "Slip of the Tongue"
8) Romney Getty: "You Left Me Weak"
9) Billy Joe Shaver: "Honey Bee"
10) Charlie Mars: "Bay Springs Road"

Charlie Mariano Dies

Jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano died Tuesday at age 85.

When I was still a kid, Charles Mingus introduced me to Mariano in the credits for "Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" and, of course, in the grooves of the record, one of my favorites of all time. Over the years, I've enjoyed Mariano's work on his own records as well as on those by Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Herb Ellis and many others.

Tonight, though, I'm celebrating his life by listening to the "Toshiko Mariano Quartet," an album he recorded in 1960 with his former wife, Toshiko Akiyoshi. The album really is a celebration because Mariano's play is so bright and spirited, so full of life.

That's especially true on "When Your Meet Her" and "Little T." On those tunes, Mariano sounds playful, almost as if he's flirting with Akiyoshi ... and with us.

Listen to Mariano's recordings over the years and you'll always hear that spark.

Check the Web page of my online pal Juan-Carlos Hernandez, the noted jazz photographer, for an excellent photo of Mariano.

RIP.

When You Meet Her - Toshiko Ma...

John Hammond: 'Rough & Tough'

I loved hearing John Hammond rock out on "Push Comes to Shove" — it was one of my favorite albums of 2007. I like his new one, "Rough and Tough," even more.

The album, recorded live at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in New York City, features Hammond with just his guitars and a harmonica. He revisits songs by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Blind Willie McTell and several other bluesmen as well as a couple of songs he wrote. He even covers "Chattanooga Choo Choo" again.

The fact that he's performing alone makes the songs seem more intimate. They're no less powerful, though. On Jerry "Boogie" McCain's "She's Tough," for example, Hammond's guitar and harmonica provide a stomping rhythm to accompany his vocals, which he delivers with a sly sense of humor.

On Howlin' Wolf's "My Mind is Ramblin'," Hammond guitar licks ramble (make that rumble) even more than his mind. It's a great example of just what a guitar virtuoso he's developed into over the years.

My guess is that "Rough & Tough" will sweep this year's top awards from the Blues Foundation. If you love blues, the album's essential listening.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-17-09

The daily mix:

1) South San Gabriel: "The Dark of Garage"
2) The Handsome Family: "The Petrified Forest"
3) Eels: "That Look You Give That Guy"
4) Chuck Prophet: "Rage and Storm"
5) Julie Doiron: "Spill Yer Lungs"
6) Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles: "I'll Show You How"
7) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: "Flirting With Time"
8) Ian McLagan and the Bump Band: "Annie"
9) Ronnie Lane: "Don't You Cry for Me"
10) Billy Bragg: "Must I Paint You a Picture"

The Handsome Family: 'Honey Moon'

The Handsome Family's "Honey Moon" is an album of love songs for folks who've never understood what most top 40 hits are about.

I'm betting you won't find a song on a Billy Joel album, for example, about a male praying mantis surrendering his neck to his hungry mate without fear or remorse. But really, is there really a greater love?

Weird? Maybe. But I think that song and most of the others on "Honey Moon" are just a reflection of Rennie Sparks' love of nature as well as for her husband and singing partner, Brett.

Listen and you'll find love on a drawbridge with the wind whipping and the river rippling. You'll find love in thorn bushes, in puddles and in the petrified forest. And love among the bugs ... lots of bugs. You'll even see the beauty reflected in the ruins of urban sprawl.

The music is romantic, too. Brett's deep twang is as refreshing as a spring rain. Rennie's harmonies are sweet, natural.

Folks who look for love in the lyrics atop the Billboard charts probably won't like The Handsome Family's singing or their lyrics. That's OK; Brett and Rennie love them, too.

Darling, My Darling - The Hand...

Joanne Shaw Taylor: 'White Sugar'

I don't have a daughter, but if I did I'd like to think she'd be just like British blueswoman Joanne Shaw Taylor.

Taylor, now in her early 20s, has been ripping out audiences' hearts with her wicked guitar licks and sultry vocals since she was 14. Her new album, "White Sugar," showcases tunes noted blues artists twice her age would be proud to have in their discographies. She's equally adept ripping through torrid songs and slinking through sexy ones.

Picking a favorite tune on the album is like selecting a favorite child, but if you're looking to sample her work you might start with "Bones," "White Sugar" and "Just Another Word."

In the meantime, check out these video clips of Taylor:

Geraint Watkins: 'In a Bad Mood'

I've seen Geraint Watkins in concert backing other musicians several times over the years. I also own a lot of albums on which he's manning the keyboards for the likes of Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, John Wesley Harding, Emmylou Harris, Dave Edmunds and Rory Gallagher.

Even so, I was a little taken aback when I bought the deluxe expanded edition of his latest album, "In a Bad Mood." On it, Watkins finds a hypnotic groove and keeps listeners spellbound.

He sounds like a Welsh gypsy who's spent a lot of time in Paris, Nashville, Memphis and Jackson, Mississippi. Probably, I'm guessing, because he has.

As a blues fan, I'm enthralled by his version of "Heart of the City," which includes a healthy heaping of Cajun spices. As a romantic, I'm in love with "Chagrin" and "Soldier of Love." I'm even taken by his rendition of "We've Only Just Begun." And his duet with Nick Lowe on "Only a Rose" is lovely.

Don't be fooled by the album's title. The record's filled with torch songs that'll put you in a great mood.

Chagrin - Geraint Watkins

Heart of the City - Geraint Wa...

Soldier of Love (New version) ...

Cahl's jukebox, 6-16-09

The daily mix:

1) Delbert McClinton: "In the Jailhouse Now"
2) Elvis Presley: "(You're the) Devil in Disguise"
3) Charline Arthur: "I'm Having a Party All By Myself"
4) Kip Anderson: "Dog Don't Wear No Shoes"
5) Sweet Betty: "You're a Two Timing Man"
6) Katie Webster: "Hard Lovin' Mama"
7) Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles: "The Day We Met"
8) Buck Owens: "Think of Me"
9) Red Foley: "Chattanoogie Shoeshine Girl"
10) Bing Crosby: "Sweet Georgia Brown"

The Gourds on NPR

Bless the hearts of the folks at NPR for sharing a concert by The Gourds.

I saw The Gourds last year and still marvel at the eclectic mix of influences of the band. Their show here in Lafayette was terrific. So, for that matter, is the concert being hosted by NPR. Catch the band live if you get a chance.

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-15-09

Monday night blues:

1) Ernie Payne: "Nothing Wrong With Texas (That Leaving Won't Fix)"
2) Macavaine Hayes: "Have You Ever Been Mistreated?"
3) Muddy Waters: "Nine Below Zero"
4) Joe Bonamassa: Ball Peen Hammer"
5) Slim Fatz: "Who's Gonna Miss Ya"
6) Rita Chiarelli: "Lonely Avenue"
7) Shirley Johnson: "Your Turn to Cry"
8) Ruth McGillivray: "Beautiful and Sexy"
9) Memphis Slim: "Lonesome"
10) Sunnyland Slim: "The Devil is a Busy Man"

Karl Denson: 'Dance Lesson #2'

I already had an inkling that Karl Denson's "Dance Lesson #2" might appeal to young folks because I played it for one of my hip-hop-loving students several years ago and he dug it. Then again, he was already a jazz fan.

Still, Denson used to play saxophone for Lenny Kravitz, and that carries some street cred, or at least it used to. Moreover, the album features DJ Logic, and what's cooler than that?

"Dance Lesson #2" would certainly appeal to many of my friends because it features organists Ron Levy and Leon Spencer Jr., along with guitarists Charlie Hunter and Melvin Sparks.

The result is a trip to Jazz Grooveville with some stops along the hippest little towns on the Hip-Hop Highway. Works for me.

After watching a youtube clip of Karl Denson performing "Dance Lesson #2" with a different crew, I'm sure it will appeal to everyone. Note the youngsters and the old folks getting down side by side:

Todd Snider: 'The Excitement Plan'

I know I shouldn't laugh about Dock Ellis throwing a no-hitter while he was on LSD. That's pretty clear when you watch a youtube video of Ellis rambling about that game and other things. It's a given when you consider, as a friend pointed out to me, that Ellis died in December. But let's face it, it is funny.

Todd Snider recognized the humor in the incident and wrote a song about it called "America's Favorite Pastime." It's funny as hell. For that matter, so are all the songs on his new album, "The Excitement Plan."

Snider, you see, finds humor in everything, even in his own arrest in Greencastle, Ind., for possession of pot.

Lots of folks say Snider's a poor man's Randy Newman. I can see that. I prefer to think of him as a funnier version of all of us. After all, he's just singing and joking about the things we were thinking but were afraid to say aloud.

Snider's slated to appear at the Austin City Limits Music Festival this year. I just hope I don't pass out from the heat while I'm listening to his set; he'd probably write a song about it.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-14-09

Sunday morning jazz:

1) Frank Foster: "Manhattan Fever"
2) Bennie Maupin: "The Jewel in the Lotus"
3) Wadada Leo Smith: "Go in Numbers"
4) Lonnie Smith: "Tyrone"
5) Jerome Richardson: "I Never Knew"
6) Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes: "I Wish I Knew How It Felt to Be Free"
7) Frank Morgan: "My Old Flame"
8) Larry Goldings: "Cocoon"
9) Ari Brown: "Trane's Example"
10) Eddie Harris: "Alicia"

Jazz Blog Special: Ernie Henry, 'Presenting Ernie Henry'

"Presenting Ernie Henry," recorded in 1956, was an outstanding debut as a leader for the young alto saxophonist.

There's joy in every note he plays. His band — trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Wilbert Ware and drummer Art Taylor — also play with the enthusiasm of a group of young gunners on the rise. They pair that energy with tons of talent.

Henry showed some promise as a composer, too — he wrote five of the seven songs on the album. The bop-oriented "Free Light" is particularly good; Henry and his bandmates attack it. And the bluesy "Cleo's Chant" is memorable.

They were good interpreters, too. Henry and Dorham trade lovely solos on the standard "I Should Care."

In the album's liner notes, Orrin Keepnews says the most exiting thing about the album is that it's unlikely to be Henry's best recording ever. That turned out to be true, perhaps. "Last Chorus," released in 1957, is mighty good. In addition to Henry, it features Dorham, Drew, Taylor, Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Cecil Payne, Sonny Rollins, Melba Liston, Thelonious Monk, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones and Eddie Mathias.

"Seven Standards and a Blues," which includes many of the same band members, is also a fine jazz album.

Many of Henry's young compatriots went on to greatness. Henry was headed there, too. Unfortunately, he died as a result of drug use in 1957 when he was just 31.

(Jazz Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older jazz albums worth checking out.)

Cahl's jukebox, 6-13-09

The daily mix:

1) Bruce Cockburn: "How I Spent My Fall Vacation"
2) Slaid Cleaves: "Cold and Lonely"
3) Audrey Auld and Mary Gauthier: "Ain't No Joy"
4) John Hiatt: "Walk On"
5) Jackson Browne: "Song for Adam"
6) Dear Janes: "Drunk on Hallelujahs""
7) Great Lakes Swimmers: "Hands in Dirty Ground"
8) Magnolia Electric Company: "Don't Fade on Me"
9) Chris Hillman and Steve Earle: "High Fashion Queen"
10) Damian Jurado: "Gillian Was a Horse"

Freddie Bryant: 'Boogaloo Brasileiro'

Guitarist Freddie Bryant tiptoes through Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Por Toda Minha Vida," the first track on "Boogaloo Brasileiro," released in 1999. The song is mesmerizing, gently meshing the sounds of Brazil with those of classical music.

Bryant's fingers start dancing on the second track, "Boogaloo Brasileiro." So, for that matter, do those of pianist Edsel Gomez and bassist Avishai Cohen, who fuel the funk-filled groove. Saxophonists Steve Wilson and Chris Cheek add some fiery jazz riffs. Percussionist Gilad and drummer Jordi Rossy lay down a bouncy Latin beat. Bryant glides through on his guitar, tying everything together.

On "You Don't Know What Love Is" Bryant's guitar and Cohen's bass intertwine seamlessly. It's the album's prettiest tune. "Alone," one of Bryant's own compositions, might be the album's best track. It's certainly a wonderful showcase for his guitar playing.

I bought the album because I'm a big fan of Edsel Gomez. I'm now a fan of Freddie Bryant, too. The album offers music for both contemplation and dancing, sometimes both at once.

If you want an affordable version of the album, you might check iTunes first.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-12-09

Friday night blues:

1) Robert Wilkins: "Old Jim Canan's"
2) Bessie Smith: "Lady Luck Blues"
3) Texas Alexander: "Range in My Kitchen Blues"
4) Georgia White: "Away All the Times"
5) Henry Thomas: "Cottonfield Blues"
6) Butterbeans and Susie: "Elevator Papa, Switchboard Mama"
7) Sippie Wallace: "Jack of Diamond Blues"
8) Champion Jack Dupree: "When I'm Drinking"
9) Kid Prince Moore: "Sally Moore"
10) Sonny Terry: "Lost John"

Bill Chambers: 'Sleeping with the Blues'

The songs of Australian musician Bill Chambers, the father of alt-country star Kasey Chambers, a frequent collaborator with the folksy Audrey Auld, creep into your ears and explode in your heart.

Take the title track of his 2003 debut, "Sleeping With the Blues." His voice, craggy and soft, and his Spanish-tinged guitar licks, pretty and soothing, are easy on the ears. But after a couple of minutes, the melancholy lyrics and the wistful tone of his voice will tear you up. The same is true even when Chambers covers other folks' tunes. Listening to him sing Mary Gauthier's "I Drink" always makes me feel like a voyeur. I never turn away, though. The song's too damn good.

There are moments of levity — Chambers' cover of Fred Eaglesmith's "Big Ass Garage Sale" is hilarious, but even it is a musical portrait of a family living on the wrong side of happiness.

Kasey Chambers and Audrey Auld make appearances on the, and both area great, but I like the tunes on which Bill Chambers is the focal point the best. The album's final track, "The Last Thing I Expected," is the perfect example. The song's simple and sweet. But I'm telling you right now: you'd better guard your heart.

Sleeping With The Blues - Bill...

I Drink - Bill Chambers

The Last Thing I Expected - Bi...

David Murray, 'Dark Star: The Music of the Grateful Dead'

I own a number of Grateful Dead albums, mostly out of obligation as a music fan. And really, the only reason I know anything about the Dead's catalog, other than "Working Man's Dead" and "American Beauty," which I love, is because I dated a Deadhead for a couple of years.

I do know a lot about saxophonist David Murray, though, so I jumped back in 1996 when I learned he'd released a jazzy tribute to the Grateful Dead called "Dark Star." It didn't hurt that he surrounded himself with such a great crew: James Spaulding, alto saxophone and flute; Hugh Ragin, Omar Kabir and James Zoller, trumpet; Craig Harris, trombone; Robert Irving III, Hammond B3 organ, piano and synthesizers; Fred Hopkins, bass; and Renzell Merritt, drums.

I've played the disc for some Dead-loving friends over the years and most of them have had tepid responses. Fair enough, I suppose, but it seems to me that the wild improvisations by Murray and his pals fit perfectly into the whole ethos of the Dead.

Moreover, I'm inclined to think that Jerry Garcia would have dug the tunes, especially "Samson and Delilah," an 11-minute free jazz ramble on top of a stone groove. I think Garcia also would have appreciated Murray's version of "Shoulda Had Been Me," a sweet five-minute duet between Murray on his saxophone and Bob Weir on guitar. It's gorgeous.

My favorite tune on the album, though, is "Dark Star," which starts as a lovely ballad and skitters into a long, strange psychedelic trip.

Peace, love and tie-dyed jazz, man.

Marva Wright Hospitalized

Blues singer Marva Wright is in the hospital following her second stroke in a month.

Wright's set at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival was at the top of my must-see list. I hope she'll still be able to make an appearance. Mostly, though, I just wish her a speedy recovery.

Here's a clip of her performing "Heartbreakin' Woman."

'Try a Little Tenderness'

It's easy to understand why most folks think "Try a Little Tenderness" begins and ends with Otis Redding. In my house, there's rarely a week when the soul classic doesn't get several spins.

Try A Little Tenderness (LP Ve...

But the song dates back to the '30s. In fact, Bing Crosby recorded one of the first versions.

Try A Little Tenderness - Bing...

Other than Redding's rendition, though, my favorites were recorded by Gloria Lynne, an under-appreciated singer with a foot in both jazz and soul, and by Frank Sinatra.

Tonight, Otis is going to have some company.

Try a Little Tenderness - Glor...

Try A Little Tenderness - Fran...

Maxine Sullivan and Her Jazz All-Stars: 'A Tribute to Andy Razaf'

Maxine Sullivan sang the way Ben Webster played the saxophone — every note sounded effortless and wrapped in various shades of blue.

Webster's not on "A Tribute to Andy Razaf," an album devoted to the great Tin Pan Alley composer who often collaborated with Fats Waller, but Sullivan certainly found a worthy group of substitutes. In fact, she's backed by one of the great supporting bands of all time: Charlie Shavers, trumpet; Jerome Richardson, saxophone; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Dick Hyman, piano; Wendell Marshall and Milt Hinton, bass; and Osie Johnson, drums.

Leonard Feather's liner notes tell the fascinating story of Razaf, the son of the grand duke of Madagascar, who was killed when the French took over the island. The notes also trace Razaf's partnership with Waller. What they don't do, couldn't do, is capture the depth of feeling in Sullivan's interpretations of songs such "Mound Bayou," "S'posin" and "Memories of You." You have to listen to the album for that.

Memories Of You - Maxine Sulli...

Cahl's jukebox, 6-11-09

Thursday morning jazz:

1) Misha Mengelberg: "We're Going Out for Italian"
2) Adrian Iaies: "Astor Changes"
3) Martial Solal: "It Don't Mean a Thing"
4) Duke Ellington: "Sepia Panorama"
5) Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau: "It's the Gospel Truth"
6) Jonas Kullhammar: "Frippes Blues"
7) Tim Hagans and the Norbotten Big Band: "Kickass"
8) Alexander Von Schlippenbach: "Ask Me Now"
9) Thelonious Monk: "Trinkle, Tinkle"
10) Milt Jackson and John Coltrane: "The Late Late Blues"

Blues Blog Special: Bob Kirkpatrick, 'Going Back to Texas'

The cover of bluesman Bob Kirkpatrick's "Going Back to Texas" is a lot racier than the music.


The only thing dirty about Kirkpatrick's 1996 album is the way he plays his guitar. But even at his most raucous moments, his tone has a sweetness that's reminiscent of B.B. King's. That shouldn't be a surprise, perhaps, because King is one of Kirkpatrick's friends and mentors.

Tunes such as "Ever-Ree Day," "I've Been Down So Long" and "I Want to See Her" are filled with angst and longing, but, most of all ... love. And Kirkpatrick has the perfect voice for a love song. It's sweet and true, brimming with emotion.

I like every song on "Going Back to Texas," but if I had to choose I'd pick the title track and "Big Feet," two of the album's more uptempo tunes. They've been in heavy rotation at my house lately and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon.

(Blues Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older blues albums worth checking out.)

Going Back To Texas - Bob Kirk...

Big Feet - Bob Kirkpatrick

Question of the Day

I'm often befuddled when classic albums are no longer available, at least in MP3 form. But nothing frustrates me more than my inability to find an affordable copy of John Hartford's "Aereo-Plain" to replace my vinyl copy that's now unplayable.

Apparently, I'm not the only one. How hard would it be to put it out in digital form?

Just another reason to hate the record companies.

Cahl's jukebox, 6-10-09

The daily mix:

1) Peter Case: "Coulda Woulda Shoulda"
2) Charlie Robison: "Sunset Boulevard"
3) Steve Earle: "Lungs"
4) Emmylou Harris: "Pancho and Lefty"
5) Gillian Welch: "Look at Miss Ohio"
6) Sammi Smith: "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down"
7) Charley Pride: "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer"
8) Guy Clark: "Cold Dog Soup"
9) Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore: "Her Lover of the Hour"
10) Mary Gauthier: "Falling Out of Love"

Johnny Conga: 'Breaking Skin/Rompiendo el Cuero'

Johnny Conga, a percussionist who's been in the music industry for more than 40 years, is a master of moods.

He certainly knows how to work listeners into a frenzy. There's one great Latin dance tune after another on his new album, "Breaking Skin/Rompiendo el Cuero," starting with a rendition of Chick Corea's "Guajira." But with a subtle shift of the groove, Conga's songs start to woo listeners. "Mariel," for example, is played in the key of love.

I certainly love both the Latin jazz and folk tunes on the new album. Check out the songs below and then visit his myspace page to hear more.

Kathy's Theme - Johnny Conga

Mariel - Johnny Conga

Bembe Ochun - Johnny Conga

'Mule Skinner Blues'

I've been on a Jimmie Rodgers kick lately, and that prompted me to look at some covers of my favorite song by Rodgers, "Mule Skinner Blues."

• Odetta's version, which can be found on "Odetta Sings Ballads & Blues," is arresting because it's so simple and stark.
• Van Morrison turned in a jazzy blues rendition for "The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute." It's my favorite tune on that fine album, though I also love Steve Earle's take on "In the Jailhouse Now," John Mellencamp's on "Gambling Bar Room Blues," Bob Dylan's on "My Blue Eyed Jane," and Willie Nelson's on "Peach Pickin' Time Down in Georgia."
• Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys' bluegrass rendition is, predictably, fabulous.
• I'm particularly fond of Grandpa Jones' recording of the song because it reminds me of watching "Hee Haw" with my grandmother in the mountains of north Georgia. It's hardly campy, though. There's some world-class pickin' going on.
• The Maddox Brothers killed the song, too. They fly through the song with their instrumentals and their sister, Rose, adds some yodeling to her vocals. It's a joy-filled version.
• Jose Feliciano's guitar work on his rendition is amazing.
• I really dig The Cramps' rockabilly punk interpretation, too.
• When Woody Guthrie sang the song, you'd swear he wrote it, and I can't think of much higher praise than that.
• James Cotton and Peter Rowan's version is an almost perfect mix of blues and twang.
• My favorite version, though, is the one by Jerry Reed on his "Georgia Sunshine" album. There aren't many guitarists I like more, other than, maybe, Chet Atkins. And Atkins kicks the track into another gear about three-quarters of the way through it.

Here's the version by Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins:

Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel...

Joan Armatrading Essay

Joan Armatrading's Web site pointed me to this essay she wrote. It's a fascinating look at her recording process, among other things, even if she does diss Twitter.

The good news: She's working on a new album

Cahl's jukebox, 6-9-09

The daily mix:

1) Merle Travis: "Kinfolks in Carolina"
2) The Krayolas: "Fish Out of Water"
3) Boz Scaggs: "Midnight Dream"
4) Al Wilson: "La La Peace Song"
5) Zac Harmon: "The Older Woman"
6) Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band: "Don't Lie to Me"
7) David Egan: "I Was Good to You Baby"
8) Bob Dylan: "Sign on the Window"
9) Carolina Chocolate Drops: "Corn Bread & Butter Beans"
10) June Tabor: "Beat the Retreat"

Tony Borders: 'Cheaters Never Win'

Soul singer Tony Borders could have, should have, been a star.

It's hard to categorize his voice because, depending on the track, he sounds a little like William Bell, Sam Cooke and James Carr on "Cheaters Never Win." The one thing that's always present, even on the weaker tunes, is one of the smoothest voices you've ever heard.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, my favorite tunes on the album are the two penned by Dan Penn and Spoon Oldham: "Cheaters Never Win" and "I Met Her in Church." Backed by a mournful organ, Borders sounds like his own heart his breaking as he sings "Cheaters Never Win." It's guaranteed to break yours, too.

"I Met Her in Church" is as joyful as "Cheaters Never Win" is sad. His rendition of the tune kills the classic version by The Box Tops, which I love. Like the Box Tops, Borders is backed by a gospel choir on the tune. But the choir's secondary to Borders' gleeful vocals on the song, which sounds like a gospel arrangement of an Otis Redding tune.

I also love Borders' soul rendering of John Hartford's "Gentle on My Mind," which sounds like it was meant to be a soul song. It's every bit as sweet as Glen Campbell's more famous recording.

"Polly Wolly" is a jaunty uptempo song that's sure to please DJs looking for a way to get a crowd dancing. And the slow-burning "You Better Believe It" sounds like a classic soul love song. In fact, it probably should have become a classic ... just like a lot of songs on this collection.

The songs found on the album were recorded in Muscle Shoals by the legendary producer Quin Ivy.

Gene Harris, Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton: 'Summertime'

I've mentioned Gene Harris' live version of "Summertime" on my blog many times, but until this evening, I never knew someone had captured the performance on video. Needless to say, it made my night.

The song's available on a wonderful compilation of Harris' recordings called "The Best of the Concord Years." I'd also recommend you pick up any recordings you can find by Gene Harris and the Three Sounds, Blue Note's most popular group for many years. "The Complete Blue Hour Sessions," a Stanley Turrentine set on which he's backed by the Three Sounds, is essential listening, too.

For now, though, celebrate Gene Harris' version of "Summertime."

Cahl's jukebox, 6-8-09

Monday morning chill:

1) Billie Holiday: "I'm a Fool to Want You"
2) Buddy Tate and Harry "Sweets" Edison: "Blue Moon"
3) Lou Rawls: "The Shadow of Your Smile"
4) Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters: "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"
5) Benny Carter: "Almost Like Being in Love"
6) Peggy Lee: "I Don't Know Enough About You"
7) Lil Greenwood: "Ain't Gonna Cry"
8) Bobby "Blue" Bland: "St. James Infirmary"
9) Marisa Monte: "Meu Canario"
10) Beverly Kenney: "A Woman's Intuition"

Cat Anderson: 'Cat Anderson Plays W.C. Handy'

All paths led to Cat Anderson this morning. First, I was trying to immerse myself in the music of W.C. Handy in preparation for the Handy Blues Festival in Henderson, KY, in a couple of weeks.

My search for Handy's music directed me to "Cat Anderson Plays W.C. Handy," an album I used to have on LP before a basement flood claimed it a few years ago. Then I discovered a new Youtube video (see below) featuring the great trumpeter with Duke Ellington's band. So, I bought "Cat Anderson Plays W.C. Handy" from iTunes and I've been smiling ever since.

Anderson was known as the king of the high notes; the guy could climb to the sky on his horn. That's clear from the opening notes of "Yellow Dog Blues," the first song on the album. But folks need to understand that few people ever played W.C. Handy's music better, or with more feeling. Anderson's soul was wrapped in blue.

I especially love Anderson's version of "Aunt Hagar's Blues," a song on which he uses a plunger to evoke the bluesy spirit of Memphis. Listen and you'll be back on the streets of that great city during Handy's time. You'll even hear horses whinnying. I'm also smitten by the album's swinging versions of "Memphis Blues."

Here's Anderson performing with Ellington's orchestra. Enjoy.

Sunday Morning Jazz Meditation...

... with Bill Frisell and an enormously talented crew:

The Krayolas Return

I had no idea The Krayolas were recording again until I checked Augie Meyers' recent discography.

The Krayolas, in case you didn't know, were a Tex-Mex garage band with some of the prettiest harmonies to come out of the '70s and '80s. The harmonies are still beautiful. Just listen to "Little Fox," the title track of an EP they recorded with Meyers in 2007 (see video below).

The Krayolas have also added layers of emotional social commentary to their music. "Corrido Twelve Heads in a Bag," a song from their new album, "Long Leaf Pine (No Smack Gum)," is about 12 people murdered and beheaded by gangsters who were retaliating against the Mexican government for its war on drugs. The song's stunning; it sounds like a collaboration between John Steinbeck, Isabel Allende and The Beatles.

"Alex," a song from their 2008 album, "La Conquistadora," is also special. It's a touching tour de force that Hector Saldana, the lead singer, penned about his cousin who was killed in Iraq.

I hope music fans embrace The Krayolas' new music. I don't want there to be another 30-year break between recordings.

Corrido Twelve Heads in a Bag ...

Cahl's jukebox, 6-7-09

The daily mix:

1) Cesária Évora: "Nutridinha (Kerri Chandler mix)"
2) Oliver Mtukudzi: "Ndakuvara"
3) Mozak: "Fire in Darfur"
4) Ini Kamoze: "World A Reggae (Out In The Street They Call It Murder)"
5) Femi Kuti: "Traitors of Africa"
6) M'Boom: "Rumble in the Jungle"
7) African Tribal Orchestra: "Soweto Song"
8) Miriam Makeba: "Soweto Blues"
9) Alex Cuba Band: "Fuego"
10) Fernando Lameirinhas: "Alma Só"

Rockpile: 'Seconds of Pleasure'

There aren't any liner notes for Rockpile's 1980 album, "Seconds of Pleasure." If there were, the notes would probably just say: "This is damn near a perfect pop album."

Baby Boomers all treasure this album, which found Nick Lowe collaborating with Dave Edmunds ... at least the ones who care about great rock 'n' roll. I certainly do.

On the day the "Seconds of Pleasure" came out, my roommate and I were supposed to meet some friends at a bar. We blew them off just so we could listen to the album all night. Almost 30 years later, the album sounds ever bit as good to my aging ears.

The hits, I suppose, were "Teacher, Teacher," "If Sugar Was as Sweet as You" and "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)." Those tunes rock, combining old-school rock, rockabilly and a mischievous sense of fun. I seem to remember that "When I Write the Book" got a fair amount of airplay, too. For me, that tune forever made me think Lowe is the King of the Hook.

My other favorite tracks on the album are "Fool to Long," which has a driving beat and extraordinary harmonies; "You Ain't Nothing But Fine," which reminds me of a Jerry Lee Lewis tune; and "Heart," which helped me persuade a skeptical friend that Lowe and Edmunds are gods. Guess that makes guitarist Billy Bremner and drummer Terry Williams — the other members of the group — rock 'n' roll angels.

If you don't own "Seconds of Pleasure," buy it. But don't blow off your friends when you do; invite them over to listen with you.

The Sir Douglas Quintet: '1+1+1=4'

"She's About a Mover" was the only song by The Sir Douglas Quintet I ever listened to until I hit my 30s. Not a bad choice; it's a rock classic.

But Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers and their bandmates were far more than one-hit wonders. That's clear when you listen to "1+1+1=4," a 1970 release I picked up today. These guys combined country, Mexican music, blues and even a bit of jazz into an electric rock mix.

All of those elements are present on a song called "In the Dark." If you're an organ nut like me, you're sure to dig "Pretty Flower," which sounds like a jazzy Allman Brothers track. You're not much of a rock fan if you don't like the Sir Douglas Quintet's rockin' R&B rendition of Isaac Hayes and David Porter's "Sixty Minutes of Your Love." And I know you'll dig the steel guitar on the twangy ballad "I Don't Want to Go Home."

If you're still young, I hope you learn from my mistakes. Don't wait until middle age approaches to discover this truly great American band. Here are a couple of video clips that will give you a taste:

John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives: 'Spills and Thrills'

There aren't many layers of complexity in John Paul Keith's lyrics; no one's ever going to mistake Keith's songs for those of Bob Dylan, John Prine or John Hiatt.

I'm a word guy, and even I don't care because the Memphis-based rocker and his band, the One Four Fives, blast throught the songs on their new album, "Spills and Thrills." Moreover, they blend in elements of blues, rockabilly and old-school country.

Tunes such as "Pure Cane Sugar," "She'll Dance to Anything" and "Let's Get Gone" sound like 1966 to me. They're scary good. They'll probably frighten your mama, too.

Pure Cane Sugar - John Paul Ke...

Cahl's jukebox, 6-6-09

The daily mix:

1) Johnny Cash: "Personal Jesus"
2) The Blasters: "Cry for Me"
3) The Flatlanders: "Pay the Alligator"
4) Jack Ingram: "Attitude and Driving"
5) Ryan Bingham: "Wishing Well"
6) Allman Brothers: "No One to Run With"
7) Stevie Ray Vaughan: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
8) Albert King: "Nobody Wants a Loser"
9) Ralph "Hurricane" Wilson: "Leave My Girl Alone"
10) Omar Kent Dykes: "Dream Girl"

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk: 'Listen Hear'

I've seen Ivan Neville with various groups five or six times over the years. I left impressed each time. Now I'm scheming to see him at least once more, this time with his funk band, Dumpstaphunk.

As far as I'm concerned, they're the reigning kings of groove.

Livin Ina Worl Gone Mad - Dump...

Meanwhile... - Dumpstaphunk

Rosetta Howard: 'You're a Viper'

I'm not saying I dream about 5-foot long reefer, but it's a possibility after listening to Rosetta Howard sing Stuff Smith's "You're a Viper."

If You're A Viper - Rosetta Ho...

Cahl's Jukebox, 4-5-09

It's Friday. Let's rock.

1) The Saints: "Simple Love"
2) The Primevals: "See That Skin"
3) The Cramps: "Human Fly"
4) The Ramones: "Swallow My Pride"
5) Dr. Feelgood: "Because You're Mine"
6) Mono Men: "Skin & Bones"
7) Swell Maps: "Another Song"
8) Reigning Sound: ""Straight Shooter"
9) Mark Sultan: "Mortal Man"
10)Tommy Womack: "My Name is Mud"

Dr. Feelgood

A couple of recent Twitter posts by Chuck Prophet reminded me to pull out my old Dr. Feelgood albums. Wilko Johnson's a monster.

If you don't have any of their albums, you might start with "Malpractice," my favorite, but you're in for a wild ride no matter which ones you choose.

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens: 'What Have You Done, My Brother'

I heard a couple tracks from Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens a few weeks ago and starting wondering whether the tunes had been recorded with the late Pops Staples.

Now their album, "What Have You Done, My Brother," is out and I'm convinced they're the most soulful gospel group since they heyday of the Staple Singers. That really shouldn't come as much of surprise, though, considering Shelton and the Gospel Queens record for Daptone Records, the home of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and the Budos Band.

Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed by the record. You probably will be too. So listen up, it's time to get sanctified:

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-4-09

The daily mix:

1) John Martyn: "Mad Dog Days"
2) Francis Dunnery: "Me and Franciene"
3) Jon Cleary: "Agent OO Funk"
4) Jill Sobule and John Doe: "Down By the River"
5) Shemekia Copeland: "River's Invitation"
6) Dee Dee Sharp: "Why Doncha Ask Me"
7) Johnny Rawls: "Show Me the Way"
8) Jimmie Vaughan: "The Deep End"
9) Rory Block: "Ramblin' On My Mind"
10) Chris Smither: "Blues in a Bottle"

Chris Smither

I flat-out love Chris Smither's 2006 album "Leave the Light On." Tonight, while rooting through old NPR features, I happened upon an NPR interview with Smither right before the album came out. It's a great piece, and Smither even plays a little.

Pick up the album when you get a chance. In the meantime, listen to the interview and watch this clip of Smither performing the album's title track.

Koko Taylor Dies

Koko Taylor, the Queen of the Blues, died at age 80 this afternoon, and I want to cry like a baby.

Taylor's voice was a force of nature, just as one of her album titles claimed. Male blues singers always sang duets with Koko Taylor at their own peril. None of them — not, Willie Dixon, not B.B. King, not Lonnie Brooks — could ever match the power Taylor's voice. I'll bet none of them ever minded, though.

Taylor, you see, always seemed to sing with a smile on her face and that spirit came through on even her darkest songs. You couldn't keep her down.

I have a lot of favorite Koko Taylor songs — "Wang Dang Doodle," of course; "Queen Bee," a variant of "King Bee"; "Come to Mama"; and "I Cried Like a Baby."

Tonight, though, I'm going to put Taylor's version of "I'd Rather Go Blind" on repeat. It's gruffer than Etta James' version, but every bit as sweet. Most folks never got past Taylor's gigantic voice. On "I'd Rather Go Blind," she opens a vein ... and sugar pours out.

I am taking comfort in one song she sang: "The Blues Never Die." Certainly not Koko's.

I'd Rather Go Blind - Koko Tay...

Blues Never Die - Koko Taylor

Dave Brubeck Trio and Gerry Mulligan: 'Live at the Berlin Philharmone'

Most of the jazz bloggers I read, and many of my friends, have been talking about the new 50th anniversary special edition of Dave Brubeck's "Time Out." I'm sure it's terrific — how could it not be?

I haven't picked it up, though. Instead, I've been revisiting some of the 20 or so of the great pianist's albums in my collection. Tonight, for example, I've listened to "Private Brubeck Remembers" (a remarkably sensitive solo collection recorded by Brubeck just a few years ago), "Angel Eyes" (the title track gives me chills) and "Dave Digs Disney" (it truly is a ride to a jazzy magical kingdom).

But the album I'm likely to linger over for days, perhaps weeks, is "Live at the Berlin Philharmone" by the Dave Brubeck Trio with Gerry Mulligan.

I own the reissued version of the album, which includes two tracks from the 1970 concert that were previously unreleased. And let me tell you, I've rarely heard Brubeck play with such energy. Mulligan either, for that matter.

Brubeck rumbles on "Jumping Bean," one of the tracks that was added to this two-disc set. And Mulligan blows one jaunty riff after another on his baritone saxophone.

"Blessed are the Poor," which opens with Brubeck playing over a simple, almost lonely sounding bass line that Jack Six repeats over and over, sounds like an elegy from a mountaintop. Drummer Alan Dawson reinforces that mood with almost mystical beats and jangles. A couple of minutes into the song, Brubeck starts whirling his piano notes, though, mixing blues with bits of discord. It's unsettlingly beautiful. Then, four and a half minutes into the tune, Mulligan calms the storm with gentle runs that could float down and put an entire village to sleep.

In the liner notes, Brubeck says they played "St. Louis Blues" and "Basin Street Blues" to close the concert, but the tunes jacked up the crowd so much that folks refused to leave. Personally, I don't blame them. Brubeck, Mulligan, Six and Dawson were swinging.

So, after being forced back to the stage for yet another song, Brubeck announces that the band's going to play a lullaby, "Lullaby of Mexico." It's gorgeous, but even on it, Mulligan has trouble going gently into that German night. A couple of times he breaks from the melody and takes off, his notes bouncing off the hypnotic ones Brubeck was laying down. With a concert filled with so much jubilance, nothing else would have made sense.

Dave Brubeck is coming to Purdue in November. Needless to say, I'm stoked.

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-3-09

Wednesday morning jazz:

1) Kenny Clarke: "Tricotism"
2) Miles Davis: "Yesternow"
3) Ray Brown: "Something for the Bass Boss"
4) Sam Jones: "Over the Rainbow"
5) Modern Jazz Quartet: "All of You"
6) Kenny Drew Jr.: "Evening in the Park"
7) Kahil El'Zabar Trio: "Song of Myself"
8) John Coltrane Quartet: "Wise One"
9) Shelly Manne: "Out on a Limb"
10) Dave Brubeck: "Don't Worry About Me"

JW Roy: "JW Roy"

"Dutch Treat: A Dutch Country Tribute to 30 Years of Rounder (Europe) Recordings" introduced me to alt-country singer JW Roy. "There are Some Days" — a song he recorded with Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eamon McMcLoughlin and Jeff Plankenhorn — is wonderful.

That led me to a new self-titled release by Roy that's available in digital form in the States from iTunes and a variety of other sources. I don't understand a word he's singing, but he can certainly count me as a fan.

There Are Some Days - J.W. Roy...

Om me heen - JW Roy

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-2-09

Tuesday morning blues:

1) Bobby "Blue" Bland: "You Got Me (Where You Want Me)"
2) Earl Hooker: "Off the Hook"
3) Bull Moose Walker: "Anna Lee"
4) Jimmy Reed: "I Told You Baby"
5) Ray Charles: "Blues Before Sunrise"
6) Harry Manx: "Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed"
7) Roy Buchanan: "Filthy Teddy"
8) Muddy Waters: "Got My Mojo Workin'"
9) Robert Pete Williams: "Goodbye Slim Harpo"
10) George Stancell: "Gorgeous George"

Jazz Blog Special: 'Melba Liston and Her Bones'

If I were compiling a list of my favorite bluesy jazz tunes, "Blues Melba" would certainly rank near the top.

The song, which is included on "Melba Liston and Her Bones," finds Liston and fellow trombonists Bennie Green, Al Grey, and Benny Powell settling into a memorable deep, easy groove. Liston's solo, on which she uses a bucket mute, sounds to me like the instrumental equivalent of a Josephine Baker dance. It's sexy and exotic with an effortless swing. Guitarist Kenny Burrell punctuates every trombone riff with shimmeringly elegant fills. His guitar solo is great, too.

The album is filled with contributions from jazz pros: trombonists Jimmy Cleveland, Slide Hampton and Frank Rehak; pianists Ray Bryant and Walter Davis Jr.; baritone saxophonist Marty Flax; bassists George Joyner and Nelson Boyd; and drummers Charlie Persip and Frank Dunlop.

In addition to "Blues Melba," my favorite tunes are "Wonder Why," a sleepy, lush ballad, and "Christmas Eve, a Slide Hampton tune that jumps. "Very Syrian Business" swings hard, too.

Liston is probably best known as an arranger, but this album, recorded between 1956 and 1958, is a testament to her prowess as an instrumentalist. "Melba Liston and Her Bones" is hard to find for a reasonable price, but it's certainly worth the effort.

(Jazz Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older jazz albums worth checking out.)

Cahl's Jukebox, 6-1-09

The daily mix:

1) The Seeds: "Evil Hoodoo"
2) The Premiers: "Farmer John"
3) Neil Young and Crazy Horse: "Mansion on the Hill"
4) Wilko Johnson: "Slipping and Sliding"
5) Arlen Roth and Bill Kirchen: "Gas Station Frustration"
6) The GP's: "Cut Across Shorty"
7) Tommy Womack: "My Name is Mud"
8) The Brigands: "(Would I) Still Be Her Big Man"
9) True Believers: "All Mixed Up Again"
10) Dave Edmunds: "Girls Talk"