Pickin' the Stylins
"One ought to go too far, in order to know how far one can go."-- Heinrich Böll
It is the time of year for voting members of the Recording Academy to cast a ballot for the Grammy Awards. For the seventh time in eight years (do I have that right?), a boxset that my wife incredibly designed, Excavated Shellac, is nominated for the Historical category…which definitely adds to the excitement (I would vote for it anyway, Lance and April Ledbetter of Dust to Digital put together a historical game-changer of international recordings from 1920s and 1930s).
I won’t get into the voting process, because it is a little too watching-the-paint dry of a conversation. But I will say that while the whole idea of awarding art…and how the Grammy awards are decided…is just a little funky (Velvet Underground never won a Grammy…Neil Young never won a Grammy until the 21st century) since I do vote, there is no reason not to take it seriously: artists who win Grammys do have another notch in some universal consciousness to help their careers. Taking voting seriously demands having knowledge of the music in each category you are voting for, which means in some cases learning about new artists and becoming reacquainted with others who have been active in the past year.
I found some great music within the categories this year, and thought I might share a few of the nominees with you, some discoveries…as well as the work from old favorites:
Arooj Aftab (New Artist category): This was the biggest mind-blower of the list. In a category filled with young pop-stars is a young-ish Pakistani film composer and music producer who has released a record called Vulture Prince this past year that is stark and beautiful with a lot of depth and heart, exploring sounds from her native country as well as rich western melodies and harmonies. Her inclusion in this category is unexpected and exciting. Song to dig into: Last Night.
Corey Ledet Zydeco (Best Regional Roots Music Album category): Ledet comes from a long line of Zydeco musicians and breaths a freshness into the genre much like King Kahn and & BBQ Show did for doo-wop when they first hit the scene. With a voice reminiscent of Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and a self-titled record that is a roaring good time, I am looking forward to seeing his live show and hearing more.
Native Sons by Los Lobos (Best Americana Record category): This past year found the wolves releasing a record of covers from East Los Angeles bands of yesteryear; a love letter to the artists that came before them. It is both a great record and a guide to a scene that is still relatively unknown to most…all done in that exciting, signature Lobos style.
Sun Ra Arkestra (Best Large Jazz Ensembles category): WHAT!?!?! The Arkestra nominated for a Grammy!??!?! Led by original Arkestra member, the 97 year old Marshall Allen, the idea that their brilliance is being recognized by a whole new audience is heartwarming.
I Be Trying by Cedric Burnside (Best Traditional Blues Album category): RL Burnside’s grandson and drummer, Cedric is becoming a usual suspect for the Grammys, and this newest record of his is definitely his best. On I Be Trying, Cedric is showing tremendous growth as a guitar player while he is evolving the blues idiom, injecting a lot of soul and making it his own.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free By The 5 Blind Boys of Alabama and Béla Fleck (Best American Roots Performance category): Billy Taylor’s song that has been performed so often throughout the ages (Solomon Burke’s version is a favorite) gets a new, sweet breath with Fleck on banjo and the Boys sounding as powerful as they always do…
Happy Monday!
Filmmaker John Waters names his “Best Films of 2021″
John Waters must be celebrating this week with his film Pink Flamingos entering into the Library of Congress film registry. His year-end best-film pics always make an intriguing list. The Onania Club cannot be ignored: a film, in Waters’ words, so “loathsome” and at times “wrongheaded” that it is being treated…like Waters’ early classic films were at one point (it is impossible to see because distributors are so scared of it). Those adjectives coming from him: that is an extreme compliment.
John Mueller, Barbecue Legend, Dies at 52
Back in the days of the epic SXSW BBQ runs, Louie Muellers was a favorite. The peppery bbq was just delicious. I had no idea that one of the family members behind the smokey goodness, John Mueller, had such a crazed life, becoming known as “the dark prince of barbecue." An intriguing and sad tale. RIP.
Librarian of Congress adds 25 films to the National Film Registry
“Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today the annual selection of 25 influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selected for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage, the newest selections include" Sounder (1972), Stop Making Sense (1984), Strangers on a Train (1951), Pink Flamingos (1972), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962), Return of the Jedi (1983) and so many more.
Western Flyer takes another step in restoration
The first phase of restoring the Western Flyer fishing boat is nearing completion…The 76-foot purse seiner was chartered by author John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts for a biological collecting trip to the Sea of Cortez in 1940. Steinbeck’s notes from the trip resulted in the book, “Log From the Sea of Cortez.”“The original table where Steinbeck sat is there,” Chase noted.
Why funerals give me and Peetie the blues
In honor of Peetie Wheatstraw, whose birthday it is today…a small story that he inspired…“Don’t bring me flowers after I’m dead / A dead man sure can’t smell / And if I don’t got to heaven, ooh, well, well / I don’t sure need no flowers in hell.”
SEA MONSTER
By: W. S. Merwin
…memory, which is very sensitive and hates to be found lacking, tends to fill in any gaps with its own spurious creations of reality, but more or less in line with the facts of which it has only a vague recollection, like what remains after the passing of a shadow. -Jose Saramago