Listening: The New Maalouf

Short post today. The new Ibrahim Maalouf CD “Diagnostic” is straight-up awesome. I’ve written about Maalouf before here and here. Like his first two albums, “Diagnostic” is eclectic and meticulously recorded, mixed, and mastered. It sounds amazing. And Maalouf is clearly growing as an artist. He’s not a jazz player or a typical classical player. His music melds the classical and jazz influences along with the music associated with his Lebanese heritage as well as the global music amalgam of his current home, Paris. This is global music. World music. Maalouf is a monster trumpet player. And a real artist. Check out this tune “Beirut” from the new record. The video is pretty special in its own right. Hey, Mr. Maalouf, please come play in Philly. Or anywhere in the northeast part of the US.

Listening: Rain

It happens every time. Every time I hear this song I think to myself “This song is just unbelievably awesome.” Then I hear something new in the song. Something I’d never heard before even though I’ve heard this song hundreds of times before. “Rain” by The Beatles. It’s just so freaking good.

I played "Rain" this morning as I was packing the boys their school lunches. I can’t be in a bad mood “when the Rain comes.” I’m a Beatles freak and this tune is one of my all-time favorites. So why is it so good? There are just so many reasons. It’s a great song. Great song-writing. Great hooks, great transitions, great structure. And the recorded sound is just amazing. So up front and in your face.

According to engineer Geoff Emerick, the reason for this is that Rain (and it’s A-Side “Paperback Writer”) was the “first release to use a new device invented by the maintenance department at Abbey Road called "ATOC" for "Automatic Transient Overload Control". The new device allowed the record to be cut at a louder volume, louder than any other single up to that time.” The guitars have a clangy, sitar-meets-harpischord-ish sound that was all new for the band at the time. Ringo’s drums sound like they are being played right in front of you. And Paul is also super high in the mix on his new Rickenbacker. And what Paul and Ringo play on this track is just some of their best playing ever on record. Paul’s lines are simply ridiculous. Listen to just the bass on this track. He’s rhythm. He’s melody and counter-melody. He’s accompaniment. He’s forward motion. He controls this track. Listen to what he plays coming out of the choruses. What?!?! And Ringo contributes his greatest work to this track, I think. Ringo plays some of the weirdest fills in Rock and Roll and this track features his weirdest. It’s like he doesn’t even know what he’s doing. Like he’s discovering the instrument for the very first time. And I mean that in the best possible way. (I tell my drum-playing 11 year old son, Julian, all the time to listen to Ringo's fills. Simple, but perfect in their own strange way)

Another thing that makes “Rain” so important is that, to me, it helps to mark the monumental transition from the pop, bubble gum Beatles into the mature, even experimental Beatles. This track was recorded in April 1966 and released a few months before Revolver came out. Sure it came out after “Rubber Soul” which was the truly the first Beatles album to have some studio experimentation. But “Rain” was truly experimental: slowed down and sped up tape tracks, the revolutionary use of the ATOC, the new up-front Rickenbacker bass, and perhaps the most important innovation, the backwards Lennon vocal. Lennon claims credit for the idea:

“After we'd done the session on that particular song—it ended at about four or five in the morning—I went home with a tape to see what else you could do with it. And I was sort of very tired, you know, not knowing what I was doing, and I just happened to put it on my own tape recorder and it came out backwards. And I liked it better. So that's how it happened.”

Producer George Martin also claims credit:

“I was always playing around with tapes and I thought it might be fun to do something extra with John's voice. So I lifted a bit of his main vocal off the four-track, put it on another spool, turned it around and then slid it back and forth until it fitted. John was out at the time but when he came back he was amazed”

I don’t know who’s idea it really was, but who cares? The fact is they made history with this little piece of genius. Regardless of your feelings and opinions of the Beatles, this was serious innovation in the recording studio.

“Rain” marks a pivotal moment in recorded music. Plus it’s just a superbad track. Oh, and they also made a music video for it. Another first of sorts. And this video should also prove that Ringo was the coolest Beatle. Good Gravy this song is good!

Listening: Shane Endsley “Then The Other”

Not much of a post today. Just a link really. Shane Endsley is a talented NYC-based trumpet player who is probably best known for his role in the NYC/California band Kneebody (or maybe you’ve heard/seen him with Steve Coleman). Shane has a new-ish CD out right now “Shane Endsley and the Music Band – Then The Other.” Only his second as a leader, it’s a good record. But don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself: http://kneebody.bandcamp.com/album/then-the-other.

The whole thing is streaming in its entirety. And if you like it, you can purchase it. So far my favorite track is “Kings County Ramble.” Shane writes some nice stuff and he sounds great. There’s a little Dave Douglas in his sound and approach, and maybe some Ron Miles on the slower stuff, but really he sounds like himself. Hope you enjoy.

Music Listening: American Routes

I can’t remember when I first started listening to American Routes but I know it’s been for at least five years.  American Routes is a weekly radio show created by folklorist/musicologist/educator/Guggenheim Fellow Nick Spitzer and the focus is on American music and all of the styles and genres that comprise American music – everything from jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, country, zydeco, blues, gospel, etc.  And since the show is broadcast out of New Orleans, there is often a real focus on New Orleans music and culture. In Philadelphia the show is presented on 90.9 FM WHYY.  The show plays from 2-3pm (a short version) on Saturdays and again on Sundays from 6-8pm – I usually listen on Sundays while we cook and eat dinner.  In the summertime when I like to be outside grilling up dinner, American Routes has become a tradition, the soundtrack to my cooking.  Between the music and the beer I like to drink when grilling, it’s a wonder that I get anything cooked. 

I’ve learned a lot while listening to Nick Spitzer’s show.  He really is a music freak.  There’s probably not a lot of people out there that know as much about American music as Nick and when he conducts his artist interviews he really knows how to get some interesting information out of his guests.  Listening to the show is almost like getting an education in our culture and heritage.  I’ve been tipped off to some wonderful musicians whose music was unfamiliar to me before American Routes.  And I’ve learned more about some artists whose music I already know.  I’ve never heard a bad show and that has to be due to Spitzer’s meticulous research and obvious love of the history and culture that shape American music.  Great music and the opportunity to learn – what’s better than that?

Like me, Nick Spitzer is a University of Pennsylvania alumnus and one day a few years ago I actually got to have lunch with him.  I had so many questions for him but I didn’t want to appear too overzealous so I tried to keep myself in check.  Ever heard that question: if you could have dinner (conversation) with anyone in the world who would it be?  Well, if I could make a list of people with whom I would like to have dinner and an accompanying conversation, Spitzer would certainly be on my list.  He knows so much and has been so close to so many musicians that I admire, I know that I would have lots to ask and there would be a lot to learn.

So if you are in Philly, check out American Routes on WHYY.  If you are elsewhere, check here to see what station near you carries the show.  Here is the link to the Archives of past shows – you can search for musicians and check out their interviews/music.  And so we can keep this post trumpet-related – not a necessity, but what the heck – here is a link to an American Routes interview with Freddie Hubbard.  And here is one with Clark Terry.  And to keep things New Orleans and trumpet-related here’s an interview with Dave Bartholomew (and Fats Domino).

Music Listening

Short post today.  Just want to share a link, really.  I like to hear new music all the time.  That can be an expensive habit so I’ve found some places online that can satisfy my cravings for free.  One great spot I’ve found is the NPR First Listen Website.  You can stream whole entire albums of artists’ new releases for a week or two before the albums are even released.  All different genres.  It’s a great way to hear new stuff, see if you like something, and if you do, you might be more inclined to purchase the CD.  I recently listened to Neil Young’s latest as well as the new Bad Plus album.  Both are excellent.  Today I checked out First Listen with Joe Lovano’s “Bird Songs” – some interesting takes on some Charlie Parker tunes – sped up, slowed down, jumbled around.  Pretty good.  Great band Joe’s got!  Definitely book mark this site – it’s worth your while to check back every now and again to see what the site is featuring.

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Album Spotlight

Ever notice that often the music your parents played when you were a kid ends up being some of your favorite music for life?  Well one of my favorite records when I was growing up was Simon and Garfunkel’s “Greatest Hits.”  My parents played it a lot and when I left home and started my own record collection I stole their copy.  Not cool, I know, but that’s just a great album and I wanted it (don’t worry, my mom “borrowed” my two CD set of S&G’s greatest hits a couple years ago and I never got it back.  Are we even now?).


So this morning, while we were getting the boys ready for school, Sara asked “why don’t we listen to Simon and Garfunkel anymore?”  A quick trip to the record shelves fixed that problem.  What a great way to get ready in the morning.  I love Simon on his own, for sure (I have all of his records from the 70’s and a couple from the 80’s), but Paul and Art together is just magic.  Their voices are so perfect together.  I’ve heard that at times their relationship was acrimonious, but once they start singing with each other they become angels.  Singing (and/or playing) with someone isn’t always easy but when you find that special partner it feels like a gift.  In my mind, the combined voices of Simon and Garfunkel are certainly a gift.  And the older I get, the more power and meaning I find in the words.  These songs have become a soundtrack for my life.  And what makes me really happy is that these songs are becoming a soundtrack for my kids’ lives too.  Good pick this morning, Sara!

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