Depending on the source, Savoy is being described as Taj Mahal’s first jazz album or just another approach to the blues, for which he is widely known. In any case,
What goes around comes around. Stricken as teenagers in California with the folk blues of the premiere Piedmont folk-blues stylists, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, living legends Taj Mahal and
A collection of Rolling Stones covers from last night’s charity concert.
A new batch of artists have been added to the Hot Rocks lineup.
The summer concert season is upon us and the Hidden Track staff knows that it’s virtually impossible for us to afford every show we want to hit, and still be able to pay our insanely expensive New York City rents. Luckily for us, there are a plethora of fantastic free concerts throughout the summer that don’t cost a dime. We decided to weed through all the listings and present to you our 4th Annual NYC Free Summer Concert Picks. Let’s take a look…
HT Recommends: Medeski, Martin & Wood / Josh Roseman & The King Froopy All Stars / Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis
Where: Central Park Summerstage
When: Saturday, June 11, 7:00PM
Official Info: The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Wide open: That’s the phrase that describes Medeski Martin & Wood’s musical sensibilities, attitude, and the spirit of adventure that the band has pursued for over two decades. The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Although the “jazz spirit” has been ever-present in their songs, the group has won over a substantial audience that is packed with alternative-rock lovers, jam-band aficionados and jazz heads.
The King Froopy All-Stars is an electric 12-piece project from celebrated trombonist and composer Josh Roseman. Featuring some of the edgiest voices harvested from Brooklyn’s new jazz scene, this electro-acoustic supergroup focuses world beat, spontaneous improvisation, dub, satire and psychedelia through Roseman’s unconventional lens. Able to simultaneously compel both your feet and the neocortex, this is what AAJ has called, “jazz-tinged party music with a master’s degree.”
AlasNoAxis is the culmination of famed jazz drummer, Jim Black’s years of experience on stage and in the studio with some of the world’s greatest composers and improvisors. The band’s 2000 self-titled debut, established a new standard for the cross-fertilization of rock, electro-acoustic and jazz, becoming the standard-bearer of “future jazz” and thrilling listeners with its powerhouse combination of virtuosity, rock emotion and noisy catharsis.
Other Free Shows At Central Park Summerstage: 6/22 – Reggie Watts / Natasha Leggero, 6/25 – Lee Fields & The Expressions / Fitz & The Tantrums / Andreya Triana / Rich Medina, 6/26 – Hugh Maskela / Freshly Ground / Somi, 6/29 – Comedy Central Park w. Jim Gaffigan & John Pinette, 7/2 – Everybody Love The Sunshine – Roy Ayers & The Jazz Mafia Symphony, 7/27 – Wanda Jackson / Imelda May, 8/6 – Shelebration! A Tribute To The Words Of Shel Silverstein, 8/7 – Friendly Fires / The Naked & Famous / Cults, 8/20 – Tiken Jah Fakoly / Meta & The Cornerstones / Los Rakas, 8/21 – Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex
READ ON for the rest of our list of free summer concerts in NYC…
This past Thursday night the stars came out at Carnegie Hall for the XXI Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert. Curated by Tibet House Vice President Philip Glass, the night included a beautiful duet with Taj Mahal and his daughter Deva, The Roots delivering a fantastic cover of Neil Young’s Down by the River with a stirring outro of Hendrix’s Hey Joe and Philip Glass soloing on piano with The Flaming Lips for Do You Realize.
R.E.M. fans got a special treat as Michael Stipe performed Every Day is Yours to Win for the first time live and went into full story behind Saturn Returns. Patti Smith then led her band in covers of the Youngbloods’ Get Together and Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away. The night ended with all the participants joining on stage together for a rousing People Have the Power as Patti Smith reminded the assembled that as people have risen up for their rights in Egypt, Libya and Wisconsin it can happen everywhere.
James McCartney: Angel, Old Man*
Angelique Kidjo: Malaika, Africa
Tenzin Choegyal: Snow Line, Hi Chung
Jesse Smith, Michael Campbell & Patti Smith: Springtime
Angelique Kidjo & the Roots: Move On Up!
The Roots & Taj Mahal: Why Did You Have to Desert Me?
The Roots: Down by the River*
Taj Mahal & Deva Mahal: Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes
Taj Mahal: Blues with a Feeling
Philip Glass & Hal Wilner: Roosevelt After Inauguration
Michael Stipe: Saturn Returns, Every Day is Yours to Win**
The Flaming Lips: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate, Do You Realize***
Patti Smith: Get Together, Not Fade Away
All (group finale): People Have the Power
*Neil Young Cover
**First Time Played
*** w/ Philip Glass on piano
READ ON for a full gallery of Jeremy’s Tibet House Benefit photos…
We talk a lot about jam, indie, folk, funk, etc. around these parts, but rarely do we get to pay homage to the genre that essentially birthed all these style
For those who don’t mind spoilers, you can find out which Exile on Main Street tune Green Day (Monday), Keith Urban (Tuesday), Sheryl Crow (Wednesday) and Phish (Thursday) will cover
Born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, Taj Mahal has been putting out albums full of his brand of blues music for over 40 years. Here’s Taj with a scorching version of
This Thursday and Friday former Velvet Underground front man Lou Reed will take up residence at the soon to be rechristened Gramercy Theater for two nights of fully improvised music
