Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil

Hey everyone...I'm back. Just flew home from Thailand the other day and now I'm back at home where my internet is fast enough to update this blog again. For my first post in a long time, I've decided to upload an album that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Wayne Shorter is a world renowned sax player and jazz legend. He, like most of the best jazz players, has created a hugely diverse body of work that features some of his most highly respected peers. He is arguably best known for his work with three groups: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 50's, one of Miles Davis' quintets in the 60's, and fusion giants Weather Report in the 70's. While he was working with Miles' quintet, he was also busy cutting his own solo album entitled Speak No Evil. The lineup for these sessions featured Shorter on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Elvin Jones on drums. Together they put together the 50 rock solid minutes of Speak No Evil. It is considered to be one of Shorter's finest albums, and for good reason.

Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil, 1965

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmnxymmz2zy

RIP Jerry Garcia (1942-1995)

With today being the anniversary of Jerry's death, I have decided to upload my favorite version of my favorite Grateful Dead song, Brokedown Palace, along with a poem that was written for (and delivered at) Jerry's funeral. Even if you aren't a fan of the Dead, I would suggest that you take a moment out of your day to read and listen to the offerings that I wanted to share.

Grateful Dead - "Brokedown Palace" (5/18/77 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?62adrhfwiko1md4

An Elegy for Jerry (written by Robert Hunter, lyricist for the Grateful Dead)

Jerry, my friend,
you've done it again,
even in your silence
the familiar pressure
comes to bear, demanding
I pull words from the air
with only this morning
and part of the afternoon
to compose an ode worthy
of one so particular
about every turn of phrase,
demanding it hit home
in a thousand ways
before making it his own,
and this I can't do alone.
Now that the singer is gone,
where shall I go for the song?

Without your melody and tase
to lend an attitude of grace
a lyric is an orphan thing,
a hive with neither honey's taste
nor power to truly sting.

What choice have I but to dare and
call your muse who thought to rest
out of the thin blue air
that out of the field of shared time,
a line or two might chance to shine --

As ever when we called,
in hope if not in words,
the muse descends.

How should she desert us now?
Scars of battle on her brow,
bedraggled feathers on her wings,
and yet she sings, she sings!

May she bear thee to thy rest,
the ancient bower of flowers
beyond the solitude of days,
the tyranny of hours--
the wreath of shining laurel lie
upon your shaggy head
bestowing power to play the lyre
to legions of the dead

If some part of that music
is heard in deepest dream,
or on some breeze of Summer
a snatch of golden theme,
we'll know you live inside us
with love that never parts
our good old Jack O'Diamonds
become the King of Hearts.

I feel your silent laughter
at sentiments so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I'll just say I love you,
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend
the rest you may ignore.

Neil Young - "After the Gold Rush"

In my opinion, "After the Gold Rush" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It doesn't get much better than this.

Neil Young - "After the Gold Rush" (1970) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?893oiw5cn3e9lgb

Gladys Knight and the Pips - "Giving Up"

The classic 1964 track from the "Empress of Soul".

Gladys Knight and the Pips - "Giving Up" (1964) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?9jazi6k4h13g8jg

The Velvet Underground - "Loaded" (1970)

Here is a copy of my favorite Velvet Underground album.

The Velvet Underground "Loaded (1970)" -

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=cfde42e04372bc6510dd00e4e8fc1f36c5eb0f23b7bb8409abedc5817af8ca29a423bb87dafddd24f308754d705e5e50

RIP Brent Mydland (1952-1990)

Today is the 20th anniversary of the death of Brent Mydland, keyboardist for the Grateful Dead. During his time with the Dead, he was known for his soulful voice and deep, organic tones and fills. Brent died on July 26th, 1990, three days after the final show of the Dead's 1990 Summer Tour. For the encore of the tour closing show, the Dead played a spot-on cover of the Band's "The Weight". Their version featured different members of the group singing their own verse throughout the course of the song. Brent's verse reads: "Picked up my bags, and went lookin' for a place to hide / when I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side / I said 'hey Carmen, come on let's go downtown' / she said, 'I gotta go, but my friend can stick around'."

He died three days later.

The Grateful Dead "The Weight" (Live - 7/23/90 World Music Theater, Tinley Park, IL) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNvlLRRodYs

Amon Tobin - 4 Deck Mix

This mix has been described as a "holy grail of DJing", and I couldn't agree more. I was lucky enough to witness one of Amon's live sets in 2007, and it is hands down the best set of electronic music that I have ever heard. The link that I'm posting is to a somewhat-newly released live mix from Amon that he and his camp were nice enough to release for free in high-quality format. The mix itself is an hour and fifteen minutes of uncompromisingly perfect song selection and flow. Prepare yourself.

Amon Tobin "4 Deck Mix" (2009) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?xnywcllflmj