http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJNN-YmaJ8I

Roy Hargrove is a music sensation. His albums define the true creativity that Jazz can express. He has used hip-hop and funk, as well as R&B artists to contribute to this American Art Form.  You will find that Roy has been playing the trumpet ever since he was a little boy. He has been influenced by the greats, like Wynton Marsalis and David “Fathead” Newman. He has performed with legends such as Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, Common, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, and John Mayer among many others. You will hear a lot of these artists on his recordings.

The RH Factor’s “Hard Groove” is one of my favorite albums; this was actually the first Roy recording I had ever heard. One song that I can’t stop listening too is called “Kwah/Home”, featuring Anthony Hamilton.  His sounds have such full eccentric sounding chords that always manage to evolve. He is very soulful, and any true lover of music will enjoy Roy Hargrove.  When I first heard he was coming to Blues Alley in DC, I was excited. When my friend and I got there, the line was practically around the corner. We had to wait a good while before they let us in. Blues Alley is known as one of the top performance venues for Jazz artists, so I felt glad that I was able to attend this event. Our seats were right in the front, because my friend actually knows Roy and has had the opportunity to play with him. The scene inside was very intimate, the place is only but so big, so everyone was able to see the stage.  The audience was in awe of his performance.  Each song gave them a chance to give him a warm and full applause. This night the music was truly straight ahead jazz with a little bit of funk at the end. He allowed guest musicians to come and perform with his band. His band members include: Justin Robinson (sax), Jonathan Batiste (piano), Ameen Saleem (bass) and Montez Coleman (drums).  Each musician on stage was able to carry their own show if allowed; their solos were full of rhythms, distinct melodies, and dissonant harmonies. I truly had a great night seeing and hearing this wonderful art form at it’s best.

If you do not know Roy Hargrove’s music you must begin your journey now!!!

More info about Roy Hargrove: http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/royhargrove

]]> http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/11/17/the-night-roy-came-to-dc/feed/ 0 http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/11/16/tv-reviews-foxs-glee/ http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/11/16/tv-reviews-foxs-glee/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:47:22 +0000 Neto http://www.meandthestereo.com/?p=897 TV Show: Glee
Network: Fox
When: Wednesdays 9/8c
Favorite Tunes: “Don’t Stop Believing”
Rating: 4/5

I have never understood why musicals are so divisive.  Approximately fifty percent of the population hates musicals.  At least, that’s what I’m guessing with no evidence whatsoever.  It makes no sense for so many people to be anti-musicals.  A lot of people like movies, and a lot of people like music.  Both put together should have a sizable built-in audience, but its only been recently that musicals have been successful anywhere outside Broadway. Me, though, I have enjoyed musicals for a while now, but especially recently thanks to some of the smarter musical comedies that have been released.  Those that are successful, because they don’t take themselves too seriously.

This is precisely why Glee is successful.  It doesn’t take itself seriously as a musical or as another television show about pretty adults pretending to be teenagers.  The plot is actually pretty similar to the dreadful High School Musical (or so I hear).  A group of misfits who just want to sing make singing seem so fun that eventually non-misfits want to join in too.  But while a regular musical might put more emphasis on making the musical numbers seem as artificially spectacular as possible, Glee takes popular songs and shows the characters enjoying performing these songs.  I mean we can all relate to singing Journey in a moment of happiness right?  Anyone?

Besides the musical numbers the show also has a great sense of humor going for it.  I especially enjoy a running gag of having people getting Slushies dumped on them.  All the actors do a really great job.  The actresses are really hot.  And I enjoy the feeling that anything can happen at random.  Also a plus is the inclusion of one of the funniest women in the world, Jane Lynch.

What I don’t like about the show is most of the plotting of the show.  While I enjoy not knowing what to expect, I don’t enjoy being entirely confused by the rapid pace of the show.  I feel like the show doesn’t really want to be on for more than one season so they’re throwing everything at the screen now.  Also, one of the plots involves a woman faking a pregnancy which is getting to the point that stretches credulity.  My main complaint is the use of Jane Lynch.  Most critics love her in this show.  I don’t believe she is being used well.  Her character is the villain on the show and while she has fun with it, I don’t find her all that funny.  I think its because she works better when she has another gifted comedian to match wits with, and this show doesn’t have that.

Other than those minor flaws, though, Glee is a great show about the joy of music, and I am having fun right along with it. 4/5

We as humans are always ever revolving. Our minds cannot be in control, but only our inner being and spirit must be in control. The ego can be a detrimental thing if it’s not understood. In order to stay committed to uplifting our lives, we must know who we are. No confusions or uncertainty. We must stay positive and keep looking onward. It’s hard to escape from the past when those choices you made affect you today. There is so much to look forward to, and there are many things that we want to accomplish. We really should put ourselves out there and do all the things we have dreamed of. There is no reason for us not to. It’s time, people. There is a life that most of us have envisioned for ourselves ever since we were little, and it will come to pass. Do less of looking to materialistic things and more digging into yourselves. I am learning that life comes from the inside. Look inside for health, creativity, confidence, and just for life. Take that step now, because you will begin to glow inside from knowledge, from living each day.

Most successful artists, composers, playwrights, dancers, businessmen, and even politicians go through this process. This is a sure way to rebuild and stand firm on your beliefs. What are you passionate about? What is your calling to life? Are you a musician? Do you love to write lyrics or scenes from experiences you have encountered? Follow that little voice inside of you. What I want us to figure out now is what do we want from this life? If we want to be successful, are we willing to make the necessary sacrifices and put in the work to see results? Are will riddled with guilt and fear or freedom and courage? Some of us have been stuck in a rut for ten or more years. Where and when is the breakthrough coming? God provides more than enough for us to succeed and conquer.  We can be weak, at times, as humans. Looking inside to our inner being seems like the last thing we want to do, instead we drink, eat, smoke party, sleep, watch TV and waste our years of living.  It’s time for a new beginning and a new way of thinking. I would like the opportunity to challenge ourselves to step up to the challenge of change. Sometimes life forces us onto the path that we must go, because we would have never done it otherwise.

We are each here for a purpose and we must seek it out daily. It’s not just one thing, but a mirage of things over the course of our days here on earth. Life is a credit, because we definitely have to pay it back. As Cornel West said, “we are on borrowed time, nothing is promised.” Every day, seek out the best opportunities and do your best to challenge your inner self to do things you would never do and to say things you would never say. YOU WILL SUCCEED!!

]]> http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/27/let%e2%80%99s-begin-to-look-inside-ourselves/feed/ 0 http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/21/why-try-to-appear-cool/ http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/21/why-try-to-appear-cool/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:03 +0000 Belle http://www.meandthestereo.com/?p=851

Image is a huge factor in rock music.  For lack of a more articulate term, I typically observe musicians and performers constantly attempting to appear “cool.”  Why bother?  It seems like being a talented musician and performer should be effortless once the musician is confident in his or her career.  Why are people not just comfortable being themselves?

Rock musicians are only suffering on a bigger scale from what we all face.  When we talk to other people, are we constantly thinking to ourselves, “what does this new person think of me?”  The image we project becomes the part of our personality that will be the first impression.  So we try to perfect this impression, and end up sometimes agonizing over it.  We are control freaks who want absolute control over our image.  Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing or controlling what others’ impressions of us will be.  So instead of dropping the whole idea, we hyper analyze and obsess.

I was watching a video promoting a certain band’s new live documentary of one show.  The members of the band are fantastic musicians.  And yet, all the editing is clearly geared toward making the band members look as absolutely good and polished as possible.  So the video ended up making me suspicious of what the editing is covering up, and also feeling an urge to see rock musicians stop caring about image.  Of course, anyone who is able to live in the public eye comfortably must have nerves of steel or something; a certain confidence that isn’t born overnight.

As a society, we trip ourselves up when we demand perfection from others.  If we all forgave others’ awkwardness and mistakes and didn’t expect a flawless show all the time, we would be easing the pressure on ourselves too.  Part of something appearing cool is that it tries to appeal to others in a certain way.  In this commercial, consumer-oriented society, we want our personality traits to appeal to others, and we want to only see what is appealing in front of us.  This type of vision leaves a lot of important factors about life out.  In my personal, ideal world, individuals would be comfortable and effortlessly be themselves, even when there is an audience.  I think as a society we can demand more:   Not more perfection, but more acceptance of imperfection.

The source for the first image is here. The source for the second image is here!

Who – Albert Rivera

Originally From – Bronx New York

Music Style – Jazz

Instruments – Tenor and Soprano Saxophone

School - Attended LaGuardia H.S. of Music and Art and Performing Arts “Fame”, New School University Jazz and Cotemporary Program

Most Popular Performance Venues – York’s Smalls Jazz Club, Sweet Rhythm, Zinc Bar, Cleopatra’s Needle, and the River Room of Harlem

Album – “Re-Introduction”

When I think of the music of Albert Rivera, it reminds me of being at the mountain top looking over the horizon. His music is very powerful and full of emotion. Albert’s album has a new sound that lets the listener know how far jazz has evolved and has not lost its way. It’s important that we have dedicated Jazz musicians dedicated to keeping this music alive. The sound of the saxophone is very smooth and articulate and it blends well with his choice of players for the piano, drums and bass.  “My Way of Sayin’ It” is my favorite track on the album, because it really shows his personality and passion. His dexterity and timing are uncontrollable.

I have had the honor to attend high school with Albert, and I have seen where his journey with jazz music began. Being in the different bands at school allows you to have the opportunity and exposure to grow as a musician. He is truly on his way to becoming one of the greats. The sound of his quartet is electrifying; they have so much energy and have been performing together for a long time. Mr. Rivera is well known around New York City and in the jazz community. He is constantly traveling and keeping a busy performance schedule.

I look forward to his next album.

For more go to – http://www.albertriverajazz.com/music

]]> http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/03/artist-of-the-week-albert-rivera/feed/ 0 http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/09/30/does-music-change-your-life/ http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/09/30/does-music-change-your-life/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:12:35 +0000 Belle http://www.meandthestereo.com/?p=796 Many people want to make certain changes to their lives.  There is a huge self-improvement section of the bookstore, where I can sometimes be found.  From better scheduling to better eating, from more thoughtfulness to more action, change and improvement seem to be popular.

Maybe it’s just me, but people seem to rely on music to unleash some of the emotional neediness that arises in everyday life.  We interpret as we please, and seek reassurance in the cryptic lyrics.  The haunting melodies evoke either energetic times or sorrowful times, pensive times or forward-moving times.  We chose what we listen to, but maybe we can’t always control how exactly a particular song will affect us on a particular day when we listen to it.

When I listen to Mates of State, I feel a lot of energy from the upbeat piano lines and drum rhythms.  I want to feel enthusiastic about something when listening to Mates of State.

When I listen to The National, I want to be thoughtful in a dramatic way.  It’s funny that just the lead singer’s deep voice can lend extra elegance and seriousness to the music.

When I listen to Sleater-Kinney, I want to be a brave, strong woman who is not afraid to wail lyrics, and play heavy bass and guitar riffs.

Listening to Radiohead, life becomes a mournful state, very bleak, on its way to some type of post-apocalyptic destruction that is too depressing to fully express.

These disembodied voices and instruments, due to the recordings of excellent production quality, feed a sense that there is a way to reach true perfection.  Life is shrink-wrapped and hygienic, plastic with easy-to-read instructions.  When my own perspective is messy and disorganized, I hold it up to an unreal ideal that is created by the way society wants everything certain, safe, attainable, glossy-surfaced.

So there is always a disparity that somehow demands improvement to close the gap.  Music allows us to take three minutes to feel caught up in the moment.  A good song can seem to hold your hand and help you continue on your journey.

1. The Background

This is the tenth studio album from Queensryche; technically the twelfth if you include Operation: Mindcrime II and Take Cover. The album centers around the trials, stresses, general torment and complicated decisions that a combat soldier is faced with on a daily basis. Geoff Tate, the singer and songwriter for Queensryche, wanted to musically chronicle the war and expose the feelings of guilt, hate and loss of innocence these men and women experience, from the time they enlist in the forces, through the nightmare of fighting and killing, enduring, until they return home to their family and friends. The war seems even more chilling (and meaningless) from these soldiers’ perspectives.

2. The Substance

This album is extremely intense. The intensity comes in part from the actual voices of the soldiers themselves which are peppered throughout the recording via sound bites from the interviews that Tate conducted with former soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. From the interviews, Tate weaves countless tales of fear, remorse, guilt and tragedy into some very powerful and memorable lyrics that reflect the emotional turmoil and anxiety of soldiers. The album takes you on a journey from the opening command of “On your feet!”, which starts the first song on the album called ‘Sliver’, through the soldier’s declaration that ”…bad things happen at night…” and the whispered “Wake up!” to find yourself in the “Middle of Hell”, all the way to the return home and the hope that the family of the soldier remembers him or her for who they are and not what they’ve done. Regardless of which song you listen to, the chaos of war is very palpable and apparent. The best song on the album is ‘If I Were King’. It starts off with a touching, if not unsettling, testimonial from a soldier who lost his friend on the battlefield. Geoff Tate’s lyrics and voice are particularly poignant on this song and really drive home the love-hate connection of the war and the brotherhood of soldiers.

Long time fans of Queensryche will notice that Chris DeGarmo is not on guitar for this album. I loved the style and virtuosity of DeGarmo, but I feel like Michael Wilton does a stellar job with the six-string duties. And Scott Rockenfield is still on the drums; a great percussionist and long time member of Queensryche. Musically, the album is as solid as any Queensryche album. Overall, the tone of the whole record is pretty dark, but the liner notes really bring the project into perspective and provide a context for all the stories and songs. In the liner notes, you will find the words of Brigadier General Charles M. Burke, U.S. Army (Retired), “Americans owe their freedoms to today’s soldiers. Their voices should always be heard, and this unique project is making that possible.”

3. The Decision

4/5. If you’re a big fan of Queensryche, go out and pick up this album; you’ll love it.  If you have never heard Queensryche before, I would recommend you pick up some of their earlier works, and then come back to this one. This album is solid…great vocals, guitars and drums. Plus, it tells one hell of a story!

Awesome place for chili!

Living in DC has many perks: The White House, Smithsonian Museums, Georgetown, and most of all, the Music.  Jazz, R&B, Go-Go, Hip Hop, Latin, Classical, it’s all in Washington DC. There are so many good places to go and hear live music, especially on U St. It does not matter what day of the week it is, you will always find a broad selection on this side of town. U Street is the center of Washington’s music scene, with the Lincoln Theatre, Howard Theatre, Bohemian Caverns, and other clubs and historic jazz venues.

U Street has a collection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, galleries, and residences located along a nine-block stretch of U Street in NW Washington DC. It extends from 9th Street on to 18^th Street and Florida Ave. On Mondays through Thursdays you can visit Club Pure, Jo Jo’s Restaurant and Bar, or HR 57, and listen to a variety of music.  On Friday thru Sunday, you can check out Café Nema, Twins Jazz Lounge, Indulge, Station 9, Bohemian Caverns, Utopia Bar and Grill and if you don’t mind traveling further than U Street, visit the 18^th Street Lounge. There are also specific groups that perform on certain nights. On Thursdays, The Young Lions give a great show at Café Nema. On Fridays you have the Collector’s Edition at Utopia Bar and Grill, Saturdays are the Twins Jazz Lounge to hear local and national touring jazz greats, and if you want to hear some Go-Go, visit Indulge on Sundays.  It really does not matter when or where you go because there will always be an artist performing there.

A wonderful view of U St.

Source

If you would like to check out these places visit the links below:

http://dc.about.com/od/washingtondcnightclubs/tp/UStreetNightclubs.htm

http://www.dcjazz.com

Unfortunately, this article was not as easy as I thought it would be.  It turns out deciding on only five songs that I will listen to for the rest of my life (as in as long as the supplies on the plane last cause I’m not much of a survivalist) was not that easy.  My first list mostly represented music from the late 90’s and early 00’s but then I realized I would eventually get tired of all that angst.  I needed to diversify my list and include some more toe-tapping numbers.

My new list is better.  It includes music from more time periods.  It includes some singable songs (for when I get tired of simply talking to my volleyball) and is more of a broad sampling of Rock and Roll.  So here’s my list in no particular order and without any references to LOST.

Come On Lets Go – Ritchie Valens
Its singable, danceable, and gets bonus points for being sung by a Mexican.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
I have to include a Beatles tune though I know Hey Jude is kind of a cliched pick.  But what can I say, I really like the “Na Na Na” part at the end.  Its a good song to play if I want to bring my fellow castaways together.

Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
I won’t be able to survive a deserted island if I can’t get the Led out.  It was between this and Black Dog.  I find this song more fun.

Ingrata – Cafe Tacuba
Talk about your fun songs.  I will waste days away trying to perfect the singing of this song.  And then doing a full long performance of it will scare the smoke monster away.

The National Anthem – Radiohead
Finally, when I just want to be alone, this is the song that will be playing in my head.  Played extremely loud, it’s oddly soothing.

Ok, so I lied about the order and the references.

Artist: Radiohead
Album: Kid A (Collector’s Edition)
Label : Capitol
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Decision: 5/5 Amazing
Favorite Tunes: All of them.

1. Background:

It’s been a big year for reissues.  Along with the Beatles’ reissues last week, Radiohead has been staggering reissues of their entire discography all year.  These special edition reissues have been double-sized affairs with the remastered original album and extra discs with live performance, b-sides, and a DVD with video performances.

When it comes to film, I’m not a fan of collector’s edition DVDs with extra material that wasn’t included with the first release so that fans have to buy their favorite movies twice.  But when it comes to music, it actually makes sense.  Remastering technology helps give listeners a new appreciation of the music they thought they were familiar with.  And the extra material wasn’t really available when the albums were released since performances and music videos don’t often happen before an album is released.  Still, I was skeptical about the Kid A collector’s edition CDs.

Kid A is one of my favorite albums of all time but I had never thought that Kid A was an album that could translate well to a live performance.  I had seen live performances of some of the songs on Saturday Night Live and on Youtube but it was never the same as the experience that was listening to the album.  So I didn’t expect much out of the extras, and the original album used the technology it had available to it so well that remastering it wouldn’t really add much to it.

2. The Substance:

This was an exceptional release of one of the greatest albums of all time.  Rarely does one get the chance to re-experience something they love for the first time all over again, but listening to the live recordings included with this Radiohead release was like hearing Kid A for the first time.  Kid A was translated to a live performance in a way that made it seem completely new but still in keeping with the essence of the original album.

3. The Decision:

5/5! So, is this album worth the 30 dollars it costs on Amazon?  A resounding Yes.  One of the greatest albums of all times is packed with new material that completely changes your perception of the music you just listened to.  Such that if you are a fan of Kid A, the second disk should be required listening, especially if, like me, you haven’t had the chance to experience Radiohead live.