All That and Six Bags of Chips…
Well, I feel rejuvenated this morning. I’ll couple that sentiment with accomplished. I’ve been out and about lately and at the same time taking care of some household tasks. On the accomplishment side, me and my significantly significant other made our once-a-year pilgrimage to IKEA. Because of our recent vinyl acquisition, we needed vinyl storage. We never look forward to the drive, but the bounty we secure is always worth the trip. We grabbed some pot holders, a lamp, a towel rack for my bathroom, and a double KALLAX shelf unit for the vinyl. Yeah.
On the rejuvenated side, I caught the second to last US show by GoGo Penguin before they jetted off to Europe. It was at the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre in overly gentrified Somerville, MA (here ya go: how many bike lanes does one city need? Somerville’s answer – too gosh-darn many!) Up the stairs I galloped into a standing-room-only venue with two full bars to handle the crowd. I found it an odd pairing of opener singer Melanie Charles ("Welcome to the world of the girl with the green shoes.") with GoGo. After a soulful vocal delivery accompanied by electronic reverb, her almost 25-minute set was peppered with singing/scatting, notes on her Brooklyn and Haitian ties, her mission to “bring Jazz back to the people” and being “not down with the institutional stuff”, the title of her latest release (saying it to a crowd of mostly Caucasian individuals – HA!!), her brother’s battle with mental instability, and NYC street performer Jordan Neely’s death/murder/murder/murder. What I just listed isn’ta criticism at all; Ms. Charles could have continued on with her own presentation, but it wasn’t her gig. Twenty minutes later, GoGo Penquin took hold with the percussive number "We May Not Stay", and the next forty minutes was an arrestingly rhythmic improvisational techno-romp through their most recent release. Though musically the night felt uneven, I did enjoy seeing these artists up close. They are the future of this music and the future is NOW.
A mention of two recent deaths:
- R.I.P. - Our rhododendron. It was planted before we moved into our house thirteen years ago.
- R.I.P. - Composer and arranger Don Sebesky. When I read of his death (April 29), I selected a few CTI releases to listen to. I love those CTI releases, strings and all.
I’ll end with the goody-good news – I’m back with Global Community Radio. Situation Fluxus will air at the same time as before, Sundays 4 a.m. – 5 a.m. To find where you can gleefully listen to Situation Fluxus and The Jazz Disturbance, click here.
Cool, everyone.
Enjoy your week!…oh, wait…about those bags of chips…
I warn you now - if you love something, buy it in bulk. I cannot tell you (and my friends are tired of hearing me howl about it) how many beloved snacks have been unforgivingly taken from me (Trader Joe’s mole sauce, I knew you well.) I discovered these most delicious of chips on a trip to Montreal, Canada last year. Yes, I was familiar with Sun Chips, but this flavor was new to me. And now it has become a welcomed comfort food. And, it’s labeled “Heart Healthy”; meaning if one bag can keep me alive for five more years...times six bags…………………………………..………………is this right?