Thursday, March 26, 2009
So long, Eddie Bo.
so sad to hear the news of eddie passin'...veronica, if you're readin' this, my heart is with y'all...much much love.
the above photo of eddie bo was taken by dan prothero at a show that he and I produced. the venue was dba during jazzfest a couple of years ago. the band that night was me on guitar and vocals, eddie on piano and vocals, kirk joseph on sousaphone and robb kidd on drums. eddie's old pal ( and our dear friend and spiritual guide), big chief monk boudreaux dropped by and ended up stayin' all night.
my friend kieth abel cooked up a mess o' collard greens, fried chicken and homemade cornbread and set it up backstage...and we all spent a couple of hours before the show, eating, conversing, enjoying life and it's simple pleasures...good friends, good food, good music...eddie and monk were especially keeping us all entertained with reminiscin' bout 'back in the day'. kirk related how 'check yo bucket', with it's tuba-like bassline, sing-song chorus and sexy lyrical innuendo, was a personal favorite of his and all the jumpropin' girls on his block as a 12 year old kid!
earlier that week I had tried to persuade eddie to rehearse (because it was a big deal to me to play with the elder funk maestro and I wanted to be prepared)...finally, he reluctantly agreed the day before the show to come by the studio I had rented for the occasion. he listened to us run through 'hook and sling' and 'check your bucket', barely joining in himself. he grinned and half-jokingly scolded me for making him drive across town..."See...I wouldn't even be doin' this show if I didn't know ahead of time that y'all could play! I knew we didn't need no rehearsal!"
Nothing could have been truer as he took the stage and took command of the band, the audience and the piano underneath his fingers. The packed house began to sway and shout, jump and sweat...at one point, during an intense workout on brother ray charles' 'what I say' the entire building felt like it was expanding and relaxing in time with his left hand...oh yeah - it was funky!
I am lucky in so many ways to have known eddie and shared that magical night of music on the bandstand with him...I will never forget it as long as I live.
R.I.P.
the above photo of eddie bo was taken by dan prothero at a show that he and I produced. the venue was dba during jazzfest a couple of years ago. the band that night was me on guitar and vocals, eddie on piano and vocals, kirk joseph on sousaphone and robb kidd on drums. eddie's old pal ( and our dear friend and spiritual guide), big chief monk boudreaux dropped by and ended up stayin' all night.
my friend kieth abel cooked up a mess o' collard greens, fried chicken and homemade cornbread and set it up backstage...and we all spent a couple of hours before the show, eating, conversing, enjoying life and it's simple pleasures...good friends, good food, good music...eddie and monk were especially keeping us all entertained with reminiscin' bout 'back in the day'. kirk related how 'check yo bucket', with it's tuba-like bassline, sing-song chorus and sexy lyrical innuendo, was a personal favorite of his and all the jumpropin' girls on his block as a 12 year old kid!
earlier that week I had tried to persuade eddie to rehearse (because it was a big deal to me to play with the elder funk maestro and I wanted to be prepared)...finally, he reluctantly agreed the day before the show to come by the studio I had rented for the occasion. he listened to us run through 'hook and sling' and 'check your bucket', barely joining in himself. he grinned and half-jokingly scolded me for making him drive across town..."See...I wouldn't even be doin' this show if I didn't know ahead of time that y'all could play! I knew we didn't need no rehearsal!"
Nothing could have been truer as he took the stage and took command of the band, the audience and the piano underneath his fingers. The packed house began to sway and shout, jump and sweat...at one point, during an intense workout on brother ray charles' 'what I say' the entire building felt like it was expanding and relaxing in time with his left hand...oh yeah - it was funky!
I am lucky in so many ways to have known eddie and shared that magical night of music on the bandstand with him...I will never forget it as long as I live.
R.I.P.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
PAPA MALI IN AUSTIN
PAPA MALI PLAYS TWO SHOWS IN AUSTIN...TOMORROW NIGHT (FRIDAY THE 13TH) AT THE PARISH ON HISTORIC SIXTH STREET IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. ALSO ON THE BILL: A DUO IN THE TRADITION OF BLACK KEYS AND RL BURNSIDE, THE ROOSTER BLUES (HATTIESBURG, MS) AND MC LEMORE AVENUE, A KILLER SOUL/FUNK ENSEMBLE THAT ALWAYS DRAWS COMPARISONS TO BOOKER T & THE MG'S AND THE METERS!
AND NEXT WEEK, FOR SXSW ATTENDEES, PAPA MALI IS HOSTING THE 1ST ANNUAL HOODOO BLUES AND BBQ, SATURDAY MARCH 21ST FROM 2PM TIL 6PM AT KENNY DORHAM'S BACKYARD, AN OUTDOOR VENUE LOCATED NEXT TO THE FAMOUS VICTORY GRILL IN EAST AUSTIN!
1:30PM: GATES OPEN
2PM: THE ROOSTER BLUES
3PM: THE GREYHOUNDS
4PM: TOPAZ AND MUDPHONIC
5PM: PAPA MALI AND FRIENDS
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO BENEFIT THE DIVERSE ARTS GROUP
AND NEXT WEEK, FOR SXSW ATTENDEES, PAPA MALI IS HOSTING THE 1ST ANNUAL HOODOO BLUES AND BBQ, SATURDAY MARCH 21ST FROM 2PM TIL 6PM AT KENNY DORHAM'S BACKYARD, AN OUTDOOR VENUE LOCATED NEXT TO THE FAMOUS VICTORY GRILL IN EAST AUSTIN!
1:30PM: GATES OPEN
2PM: THE ROOSTER BLUES
3PM: THE GREYHOUNDS
4PM: TOPAZ AND MUDPHONIC
5PM: PAPA MALI AND FRIENDS
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO BENEFIT THE DIVERSE ARTS GROUP
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Second Annual Supernatural Ball is Next Week!
Just a reminder that PAPA MALI'S SECOND ANNUAL SUPERNATURAL BALL will be held a week from this Thursday, February 19th at Tipitina's Uptown (501 Napoleon Ave) beginnig at 10pm and going late until whenever????
This year's lineup is amazing! John Mooney! George Porter Jr.! The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble (from Boston)! The Hot 8 Brass Band! Groovesect featuring Uganda Roberts! The Rev Goat Carson! Plus more surprises...and of course, your host Papa Mali (yours truly).
So arrive early, stay late and get as freaky as you please...it's Carnival time in New Orleans, y'all!
This year's lineup is amazing! John Mooney! George Porter Jr.! The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble (from Boston)! The Hot 8 Brass Band! Groovesect featuring Uganda Roberts! The Rev Goat Carson! Plus more surprises...and of course, your host Papa Mali (yours truly).
So arrive early, stay late and get as freaky as you please...it's Carnival time in New Orleans, y'all!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Papa Mali featured in New Orleans 'Offbeat' magazine.
Click on the Offbeat icon to your right, or simply paste this URL into your browser: http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3503.shtml
Inside, I am interviewed by noted music journalist, John Swenson and we also announce and discuss the upcoming 'Second Annual Supernatural Ball', an event that I started last year and plan on doing every year around Mardi Gras.
Inside, I am interviewed by noted music journalist, John Swenson and we also announce and discuss the upcoming 'Second Annual Supernatural Ball', an event that I started last year and plan on doing every year around Mardi Gras.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Yes, we can...and we did!
My friends, we are at a unique place in American history.
Starting in the sixties - with the assassination of JFK, through Vietnam, Watergate, the Reagan years of yuppie greed, Iran-Contra, arms buildup, the Bush Sr. years of Desert Storm,CIA/Noriega/crack, and into the new millenium with Dubya and Cheney's phony election and subsequent war in Afghanistan leading up to the illegal invasion of and war in Iraq - it hasn't been easy keeping one's faith in our government.
But with the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, we have a leader who has attracted the attention of the world, and given people everywhere, from all walks of life and from every background, a reason to believe that change - sweeping, radical change - is possible again in this once mighty and beloved nation.
Let's get behind him...he will need our confidence and our support as he takes on the nearly impossible task of repairing the economy, ending two wars, healing the damage done by partisan politics and corruption in Washington, addressing the state of our fragile global ecosystem and restoring the reputation of the United States as a country that stands for freedom, justice and equality.
It won't happen overnight, but it won't happen at all without the cooperation of every American citizen, getting behind an underdog who believes that as long as there is hope, there can be change...
It's the best campaign platform I've seen for these times we live in, and I, for one am going to put my faith in this amazing man. Won't you join me?
Click on the photos of Obama to the right, for an amazing speech by Obama (crowd shot) and an inspirational music video entitled 'Yes, We Can' (photo of Obama and little boy).
Starting in the sixties - with the assassination of JFK, through Vietnam, Watergate, the Reagan years of yuppie greed, Iran-Contra, arms buildup, the Bush Sr. years of Desert Storm,CIA/Noriega/crack, and into the new millenium with Dubya and Cheney's phony election and subsequent war in Afghanistan leading up to the illegal invasion of and war in Iraq - it hasn't been easy keeping one's faith in our government.
But with the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, we have a leader who has attracted the attention of the world, and given people everywhere, from all walks of life and from every background, a reason to believe that change - sweeping, radical change - is possible again in this once mighty and beloved nation.
Let's get behind him...he will need our confidence and our support as he takes on the nearly impossible task of repairing the economy, ending two wars, healing the damage done by partisan politics and corruption in Washington, addressing the state of our fragile global ecosystem and restoring the reputation of the United States as a country that stands for freedom, justice and equality.
It won't happen overnight, but it won't happen at all without the cooperation of every American citizen, getting behind an underdog who believes that as long as there is hope, there can be change...
It's the best campaign platform I've seen for these times we live in, and I, for one am going to put my faith in this amazing man. Won't you join me?
Click on the photos of Obama to the right, for an amazing speech by Obama (crowd shot) and an inspirational music video entitled 'Yes, We Can' (photo of Obama and little boy).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Music for your supernatural soul...
From time to time, Mysterious Forces will suggest musical selections - radio stations, podcasts and (coming soon) my personal favorite, vinyl records - which may or may not provide an excellent soundtrack to the mysterious forces guiding your own path.
Today, consider this blog/podcast, whose very title 'Voodoo Funk' has been used to describe my music, though this genre is a kindred spirit of a different order. I think you will enjoy it.
Simply click on the 'Everybody Get Down' icon to the right, OR copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://www.voodoofunk.blogspot.com/
THEN once you are on the VOODOO FUNK main page, scroll down to the same 'man with guitar' icon (Everybody Get Down)and click on it for a podcast of vintage african soul vinyl...check the beautiful photos and label art!
Today, consider this blog/podcast, whose very title 'Voodoo Funk' has been used to describe my music, though this genre is a kindred spirit of a different order. I think you will enjoy it.
Simply click on the 'Everybody Get Down' icon to the right, OR copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://www.voodoofunk.blogspot.com/
THEN once you are on the VOODOO FUNK main page, scroll down to the same 'man with guitar' icon (Everybody Get Down)and click on it for a podcast of vintage african soul vinyl...check the beautiful photos and label art!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
This just in...
From concsious brother and snake charmer Graham Wood Drout:
click on image above for "the ten commandments of successful daily living"...amen!
click on image above for "the ten commandments of successful daily living"...amen!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Hawaii, Part 1
On December 29th, my buddy, keyboardist Matt Hubbard and I flew to Paia, Maui, Hawaii to join up with our friends, Hutch Hutchinson, who has played bass for Bonnie Raitt for nearly 3 decades, and Bill Kreutzmann, legendary drummer and founding member of the Grateful Dead. We were picked up from the airport in a very cool, funky, retro limo (thanks, Julie) which I was calling the "reel-to-reel-to-reel Dubmobile", due to the excellent reggae music that was booming from the sound system, and after a long, long, day of airports and overcrowded flights, Matt and I were more than ready for some of the local 'hospitality'. Wowie, indeed! But it was a brief chill, as we had to get to the venue...showtime was less than 90 minutes away.
The four of us performed for nearly 3 and a half hours at Charley's in Paia, to a packed house of revelers who were ready to get started with the New Year's festivities. A psychedelic light show was provided by our good friends and hosts, Joey, Jeremy, and Benjamin, and the crowd seemed to appreciate the extra effort to enhance their experience...one very stoned brother came up to me and said "how do you make your shirt DO that?", referring to the swirling projections pulsating on my black rayon button-down. That pretty much summed up the mindset of us all, but the week had just begun...(to be continued)
NEXT on Mysterious Force: Willie and family, and the big New Year's Eve extravaganza...stay tuned!
The four of us performed for nearly 3 and a half hours at Charley's in Paia, to a packed house of revelers who were ready to get started with the New Year's festivities. A psychedelic light show was provided by our good friends and hosts, Joey, Jeremy, and Benjamin, and the crowd seemed to appreciate the extra effort to enhance their experience...one very stoned brother came up to me and said "how do you make your shirt DO that?", referring to the swirling projections pulsating on my black rayon button-down. That pretty much summed up the mindset of us all, but the week had just begun...(to be continued)
NEXT on Mysterious Force: Willie and family, and the big New Year's Eve extravaganza...stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
