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Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it...
Mike McKinley
September 3, 2008
Another wonderful moe.down! Here's the festival closer.

Thoughts on LeRoi Moore
Matthew Shapiro
August 20, 2008
We have lost another giant with the passing of LeRoi Moore‚ saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band. As DMB's pop stature continually grows bigger and takes them further from their jamband roots‚ it has become easy to forget that these are serious musicians whose talent and dedication to musicianship has changed the face of pop music and in many ways have elevated the genre with their infusion of songcraft and jazz savvy.

Say what you want about a great deal of their audience‚ who can seem like a mosaic of frat boys and teenybopper girls‚ but I like to think that even if they don't realize it‚ that portion of their audience is more in touch with the power of music than most who lap up the fodder on the top 40 charts‚ because of the sheer power of the band. Moore was a major force behind that power. Anyone who's ever seen DMB knows that Moore had a presence; he had the look of a saxophone player. He was a sight to behold‚ a big man who would look intimidating if he wasn't blowing his heart out through his glimmering sax. While drummer Carter Buford no doubt supplies the band with its fire‚ in many ways Moore provided the band with its soul.

If anyone needs to know what I'm talking about‚ listen to the band's first live release‚ Live at Red Rocks. On the intro to the very first track‚ "Seek Up‚" Moore does it all. His Miles Davisesque freeform solo opens up the heavens and gives you a sense that anything is possible‚ both musically and in the world. It's inspiring and incendiary. You can't listen to that moment and not be lifted to a higher plain of existence. That's what my mind will always turn to when I think of LeRoi Moore‚ that glorious moment that makes you feel like everything will be OK.

While things might be OK‚ they are certainly a little out of tune this morning with LeRoi's passing. He will be missed. Stream David Byrne and Brian Eno's New Album
Live Music Beth
August 18, 2008
From Mr. Byrne:

Brian Eno and I recently finished our first collaboration in about 30 years. The name of the new record is Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. For the most part‚ Brian did the music and I wrote some tunes‚ words and sang. It's familiar but completely new as well. We're pretty excited.

Go to Everythingthathappens.com to either stream or purchase the album. Surprise Me Mr. Davis: "I'm No Good at All" Video
Live Music Beth
August 16, 2008
Mr. Davis have been in the studio‚ and if this video is any indication‚ great things are coming our way from these guys. This really gets me goin'...

Who's Afraid of John Zorn?
Drew Stoga
August 14, 2008
Fans of Medeski Martin & Wood may or may not be aware that the band is about to release Zaebos - Book of Angels Volume 11‚ a new album featuring MMW playing material written by the ubiquitous experimental jazz composer and player John Zorn. As the title suggests the album marks the eleventh installment in the Book of Angels series. Each volume‚ named after a spiritual entity from the Jewish or Kabbalah tradition‚ features a different group playing Zorn compositions.

If that sounds a little heavy‚ Zorn definitely can be. While I imagine MMW fans (myself very much included) will be quite happy with Zaebos‚ many people find listening to some of Zorn's work… a bit of a challenge (myself once again included).

I set out to see John Zorn's Cobra play the opening set of a night of music sponsored by the Issue Project Room‚ a Brooklyn venue dedicated to experimental music. I was lured to the show by the price tag (free show!) and the cool setting of a make-shift venue at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. With stunning water-level views of Manhattan‚ not to mention those crazy waterfalls‚ it was a great backdrop to enjoy live music.

That night Zorn did not play his trademark "screeching" saxophone. Instead he hopped down to audience level in front of the bandstand and conducted using a series of hand gestures and big‚ marker-on-paper signs. The conducting seemed somewhat democratic as band members would also make hand gestures at another‚ suggesting where the music should go.

For the most part - the music didn't go far. To the untrained ear (mine) the musicians seemed to simply be taking turns making intentionally loud‚ unruly and sloppy noises. The sound‚ as well as the stage itself‚ was crowded with ten musicians (horns‚ strings‚ drums‚ guitars‚ laptops oh my!) and was bracingly loud. An example:



At one point a little girl who was sitting near me took advantage of a brief break in the noise to announce "this music scares me!" I sympathized with the girl‚ and also wondered what her parents were thinking by dragging their kids to this kind of show.

To be fair‚ much of the audience seemed to really enjoy the performance‚ and I know I should not be complaining about free entertainment.

There is also plenty of Zorn out there that I love. A friend recently introduced me to Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10‚ an album much easier on my ears than the Cobra show. I also highly recommend the albums The Dreamers and The Gift‚ a two-part series that ditches the noise in favor of beautiful compositions that at times sound close to surf-rock. Zorn himself plays very little on all three of these albums‚ instead leaving room for guitar virtuoso Marc Ribot‚ celebrated pianist Jamie Saft and a crew of many other master musicians.

So I guess my point is while the music may at times be scary‚ you don't always have to be afraid of John Zorn.

Link to pre-order: MMW- Zaebos: Book of AngelsVolume 11

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