What was the inspiration for this title? Was it a time-traveler? a psychic? a distant relative? random chance? a play on the word trumpet? For whatever reason Cuban musician Anselmo Sacasas chose this title, he laid down a mean mambo back in 1955 with this as its name, and with our current POTUS it somehow even rings true.   [Read more…]

Canned Heat is more widely known for its hits “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again”, but here’s a lesser known one of their numbers from 1972 after Nixon was re-elected and features a theme that has been repeated all too often. One of the verses includes the lament “When votin’ time came, most people didn’t turn out at all”. Let’s not repeat that mistake. Make sure that you are registered to vote, then pledge to turn out to vote this year, even though it’s not a presidential election. Representation in Congress is just as important as who’s in the White House.   [Read more…]

From the Keb’ Mo’ YouTube page:

“My mother just recently passed at the age of 91. She was smart. She was strong. She was a leader. This video is dedicated to her and amazing women everywhere that are getting the job done.” -Keb’ Mo’

[h/t to Annie L]   [Read more…]

Music for our Times? Talking Heads – Burning Down the House (and maybe the Senate, too?)   [Read more…]

Here’s the Adagio from Khachaturian’s Gayane Ballet Suite, envisioned by Politesseo as a lament for a warming planet.   [Read more…]

R.I.P. Marty Balin (January 30, 1942 – September 27, 2018). Marty Balin was one of the original founders of the Jefferson Airplane and in the early years was its signature voice. This YouTube clip features him performing “Volunteers” live at Woodstock in 1969. Rolling Stone obit: here; Washington Post: here.   [Read more…]

Music for a bit of respite from the hectic and insanely tumultuous last few days: Satie’s Gnossiennes 1 – 3 performed by pianist Reinbert de Leeuw. Breathe slowly and deeply.   [Read more…]

From the Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna Oficial YouTube page:

This song is dedicated to so many people who leave their hometown, their family to look for a job. This poetry wants to remind you that you can leave a geographical territory, but your origin, your myth, will be with you wherever you are. In the video, the “Kkoyaruna” (“miner” in Quechua language), is accompanied by a carnival on the way to the mine, the masked dancers and musicians, we remind you that through the Carnival rite you can clean up the degradation of work and connect with your root. The recording has dear invited friends; Freddy Torrealba (charango), Alex Johnson (quena) and Francisca Vilches (trombone). The video was recorded next to the comparsa ̈La Gritona ̈ at the Olmué Aerodrome, under the old mine called Cerro la Campana.

  [Read more…]

After two years without Tom Waits on the music scene, he’s back! He joins Marc Ribot in a version of Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful) with video by Jem Cohen. (h/t to AGD)   [Read more…]

From the Playing for Change YouTube website:

Playing For Change and Buddy Guy united to record and film his anthem, “Skin Deep” across America. The song includes over 50 musicians from coast to coast featuring Buddy Guy, Tom Morello, Billy Branch, Chicago Children’s Choir, and Roots Gospel Voices of Mississippi. Originally, this was going to be a song across Chicago to bring light to all the violent shootings across the city but as time marched on, along with various shootings across our country, we realized we needed to expand our vision and use this song as a tool to unite our divided nation.

  [Read more…]

Childish Gambino has released a new animated music video celebrating Summer. It features a number of imagined celebrity appearances including Kanye West, apparently remorseful about recent comments, being consoled by Michelle Obama. More details at this TMZ article.   [Read more…]