Icons Among Us

The name of this documentary film series, Icons Among Us, has been popping up on my radar, but I just recently took the time to investigate it. The subtitle is Jazz in the Present Tense, and it seems to be an interesting look at the current state of some of the music that comes from the lineage of jazz. Some of the available press samples have people like Nicholas Payton and Russell Gunn talking about the difficulties of the concept of genre, which is right in line with some of my own thinking of late. I need to figure out if I get the Documentary Channel…

For more info (airtimes, etc) go to http://www.iconsamongus.com.

If you are offended by the language sometimes used by musicians (and sailors, and soldiers, and salesman, and bankers, and golfers, and…) don’t watch the following clip. It is not real bad in terms of foul language, but it is honest. BTW Russell Gunn and I were roommates on a cruise ship in 1993, and he was just as outspoken and strong in his ideas then, before anyone knew who he was.

Stratusphunk video

I came across this video while looking for an album cover pic for the George Russell Recent Listening post. Note that the announcer describes this music as in the tonal stratosphere. It doesn’t sound out at all to me. Also, dig the great Jimmy Cleveland trombone solo.

Of course, as the YouTube time suck goes, that video led to this one, which is also worth checking out. Interview with Orrin Keepnews…very interesting.

12 days

I am sure this is making the rounds, but I just saw it this morning (thanks to jw). Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Crazy Cool Kwanzaa, I hope you had a Happy Hannukah, and please have a great anything else that I may have missed.

Complicated Life

Interesting video from an old friend. Clint turned me on to a lot of music in high school.

Filmed in mid-2005, this is a glimpse into life on the French Quarter’s lower Decatur Street before Hurricane Katrina.

Originally written by Ray Davies of the Kinks, this track is performed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band featuring Clint Maedgen on vocals with a guest appearance by the New Orleans Bingo! Show in the video.