Tools 4 Music From August September 2016

A unique and solemn spell seems to shroud every spot as soon as Portuguese alchemists Moonspell enter the stage – and it was a very special evening indeed when the band played an exceptional show at the Campo Pequeno arena in their hometown Lissabon on February 4th, 2017…

A quick internet search brings up some extraordinary footage of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry producing a session at the Black Ark. Taken from the film ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae’, directed by Jeremy Marre, the sequence shows Junior Murvin collaborating with members of the Congos and the Heptones on a song improvised on the spot for the film crew. Before the vocals are recorded, the Upsetters lay down the backing track. The musical director of the session is the afro-haired bass player, Boris Gardiner; unusually, it is he who counts in the band to start each take. After a long conversation with Boris a few years back, I asked Lee about his contribution to the Black Ark sound.

Ray Crawford - It's About Time (1977) {Absord Music Japan ABCJ-623 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 395 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 165 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 101 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977-78, 2011 Interplay Records / Absord Music Japan | ABCJ-623
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Guitar

When tuberculosis forced Ray Crawford to give up his gig playing tenor sax and clarinet in Fletcher Henderson’s band of the early 1940’s, he decided to switch to guitar. Ray became an important cog in pianist Ahmad Jamal’s early groups and his unique, percussive style was soon appropriated by other guitarists including the great Herb Ellis. Ray went on to record with Gil Evans towards the end of the 1950’s, and after settling in Los Angeles he started to work for the legendary organist Jimmy Smith — an association that would last well into the 1980’s.

Frank Zappa - 200 Motels (1971) {2CD Rykodisc RCD 10513-14 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 547 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 217 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 2.00 Gb | Data -> 73 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1971, 1997 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust / MGM | RCD 10513~14
Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock

Finally released on a pair of CDs in 1997 (26 years after it's initial release on vinyl), 200 MOTELS is the soundtrack to Frank Zappa's wacky 1971 motion picture of the same name, which starred Ringo Starr and Keith Moon, among others. Although it enjoyed success as a "midnight movie" in the '70s/early '80s, 200 MOTELS is a difficult movie to comprehend, since the storyline is very abstract (some have hinted that it was made up on the spot!). But even when his music is difficult to understand, Zappa includes many interesting twists and turns, and the soundtrack for 200 MOTELS is no different.

Giacomo Meyerbeer - Meyerbeer on Record, 1899-1913 (2009) {3CD Set EMI-Marston 53009-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 545 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 509 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 1.08 Gb | 5% repair rar
© 2009 Marston | 53009-2
Classical / Vocal / Opera / Historic Recording

Giacomo Meyerbeer was one of the most important composers in Paris during the mid-1800s. He is considered the founder of the French Grand Opera and his works dominated the French stage. Meyerbeer changed the face of opera in Paris, and yet, much criticism is directed toward him and much of his music is seldom heard today. This 3-CD set is the first of two volumes, which together honor Meyerbeer and reacquaint the listener with his marvelous music and some very interesting singing. These two volumes contain at least one version of every recorded Meyerbeer excerpt sung by French singers.

Frank Zappa - Road Tapes, Venue #1 (2012) {2CD Vaulternative Records VR 20122 rec 1968}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 298 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 183 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 243 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 2012 Vaulternative Records / ZFT | VR 20122
Rock / Experimental Rock / Avant-Garde / Art Rock / Jazz Rock

Official Release #92. Road Tapes, Venue #1 is a double live album by Frank Zappa, released posthumously on 31 October 2012, by the Zappa Family Trust on Vaulternative Records. It was recorded at Kerrisdale Arena, Vancouver, on August 25, 1968. Fantastic audio artifact of the Mothers of Invention in their live prime, in my opinion. A total must for Zappa fans, and the whole conceptual continuity thing. Even my wife, who generally loathes Frank's music, particularly when he sings, found the whole record compelling, except for Help I'm a Rock, which can rub even the most jaded musical obscurist the wrong way. I liked it just fine. Loved the Orange County Lumber Truck medley. Pick this one up, Zappa fans, you will not be disappointed.