“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

When he came in to take over after my show, Stephen said that mine had been jazzier than usual. I guess he’s right: the last hour is pretty solidly in that bucket. Before that, the usual birdsongs: some great local contemporary funk and soul from Australia (the Bamboos) and right here in Chicago (JC Brooks), plus hip-hop, some afrofunk and some afro-crooners, a nice set of favorites from the Bahamas, a blues sequence, and a few things that just had to get played somewhere…

Enjoy!

PS I left the first couple of tracks from Stephen’s show as bonus.

download program (144MB, 2 hrs 37 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Automator: “4:17” – A Much Better Tomorrow (75 Ark)
The Bamboos: “Got to Get It Over” – 4 (Tru Thoughts)
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound: “Baltimore is the New Brooklyn” – Beat of Our Own Drum (JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound)
Up, Bustle & Out: “Los Locos Cubanos (Snowboy Mix)” – Xen Cuts (Ninja Tune)
EPMD: “You Gots to Chill” – Hip Hop Forever (BBE)
Lyrics Born: “Cold Call (featuring Gift of Gab)” – Later That Day (Quannum)
Max Tannone: “Johnny Too Beef” – Mos Dub (self-released)
Alèmayèhu Eshèté: “Nèy-Nèy wèlèba” – Ethiopiques 22: More Vintage! (Buda Musique)
Amadou Balake: “Super Bar Konon Mousso” – Bar Konon Mousso Bar (Sacodis)
Docteur Nico & African Fiesta: “Doris” – 1967: Merveilles du Passe (Sonodisc)
Tabu Ley Rochereau: “Kaful Mayay” – The Voice of Lightness (Stern’s)
Melody Aces: “Emmasse Puro O” – Ignace De Souza: The Great Unknowns (Original Music)
Alick Nkhata: “Shalapo” – Shalapo & Other Love Songs: Original Zambian Hits From The 1950′s (Retroafric)
Elizabeth Cotten: “Hallelujah, It is Done” – Shake Sugaree (Smithsonian Folkways)
Israel Forbes: “God Sent Jonah” – The Bahamas: Islands of Song (Smithsonian Folkways)
Joseph Spence: “Jump in the Line” – The Complete Folkways Recordings, 1958 (Smithsonian Folkways)
Ed Moxey’s Rake ‘n’ Scrape: “The Timestable” – The Bahamas: Islands of Song (Smithsonian Folkways)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Rock Me” – 50 Sublimes Chanteuses De Jazz (1940-1953) (Body & Soul)
Little Brother Montgomery: “Vicksburg Blues” – Classic Blues (Smithsonian Folkways)
Sun Ra: “Great Balls of Fire” – The Singles (Evidence)
Bobby Rush: “Bowlegged Woman” – Light: On the South Side – Pepper’s Jukebox (Numero Group)
Erykah Badu: “Southern Gul” – Southern Music Issue compilation, 2005 (Oxford American)
Toto La Momposina y sus Tambores: “Tres Golpes” – Colombia: Musique De La Côte Atlantique (A.S.P.I.C. France)
Maestro Subgum & the Whole: “Amazy Grace” – At the Warthog Museum (Fot)
Mary Lou Williams: “Syl-O-Gism” – American Roots Collection (Smithsonian Folkways)
Steve Lacy-Roswell Rudd Quartet: “Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are” – School Days (Hat Jazz)
Noertker’s Moxie: “Dancer” – Sketches of Catalonia, Vol. 2: Suite for Miró Miro (Edgetone)
Charles Mingus: “Duet Solo Dancers “Hearts’ Beat and Shades in Physical Embraces”” – The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Impulse)
Duke Ellington: “Mood Indigo” – Indigos (Columbia)
David Murray: “Chazz” – Ballads for Bass Clarinet (DIW)
Eri Yamamoto Trio: “Swimming Song” – The Next Page (AUM Fidelity)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-05-15 (complete) [ 2:36:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This weeks show wasn’t plotted out thematically—it’s mostly a selection of recent acquisitions with a few older things mixed in—but I felt like especially the first hour found an interesting flow.

Enjoy!

download program (131MB, 2 hrs 23 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
The Vibrettes: “Humpty Bump (Parts 1 and 2)” – Eddie Bo’s Funky New Orleans (Funky Delicacies)
Stik Figa: “Corner Store” – As Himself (Mello)
Father’s Children: “Phoney People” – Eccentric Soul: A Red Black and Green Production (Numero Group)
Mamo Lagbema: “Love, Music and Dance” – Bambara Mystic Soul – The Raw Sound of Burkina Faso 1974-1979 (Analog Africa)
Brownout: “Rub a Dub” – Oozy (Nat Geo Music)
Augustus Pablo + Rockers: “Sun Ray Dub” – Rockers Come East (Shanachie)
King Tubby: “Confinement Dub” – Shining Dub (Esoldun)
Outside: “Journeyman Part 1” – The Rough and the Smooth (Dorado)
Sonny Cox: “The Wailer” – Off the Wall: Essential Argo/Cadet Grooves (Affinity)
The Pac-Keys: “Hip Pocket” – Late Late Party (1965-67) (Light In The Attic)
Ella Fitzgerald: “I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues” – Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook (Verve)
Aretha Franklin: “You Send Me” – Aretha Now (Atlantic)
Willie Tee: “Walking Up a One Way Street” – Teasin’ You (1965-1971) (Night Train)
Bill Withers: “Sweet Wanomi” – Just As I Am (Columbia)
The Shades of Black: “Mystery of Black (pt. 1)” – Quantic Presents: The World’s Rarest Funk 45s (Jazzman)
Scott Fee & Cybil Ant: “Mango Maracatu” – Headz 2A (Mo Wax)
Satanás y su Grupo: “Cumbia de la Montaña” – The Original Sound Of Cumbia: The History Of Colombian Cumbia & Porro As Told By The Phonograph 1948-79 (Soundway)
Fruko y Sus Tesos: “Tihuanaco” – The Afrosound of Colombia, Vol. 1 (Vampisoul)
Long John Hunter: “Grandma” – Ooh Wee Pretty Baby! (Norton)
Headlines: “He’s Looking For A Love” – Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, OH (Numero Group)
Adikwa Depala: “Moni, Moni Non Dey” – The World is Shaking: Cubanismo in the Congo (Honest Jon’s)
Miriam Makeba and the Skylarks with Spokes Mashiyane: “Inkomo Zodwa” – Soul Safari Presents Township Jive & Kwela Jazz (1940-1960) (Ubuntu)
The Soulmates: “Them a Laugh And A Kiki” – “Tighten Up” Box (Trojan)
Steve Coleman & Dave Holland: “Dream of the Elders” – Phase Space (DIW)
Herculaneum: “Mad Anthony” – Olives and Orchids (EF)
Jenny Scheinman: “Ali Farka Touché” – Mischief and Mayhem (Jenny Scheinman / TuneCore)
Nâ Hawa Doumbia : “Kungo Sogoni” – La Grande Cantatrice Malienne, Vol. 3 (Awesome Tapes from Africa)
Ateg ould Syed: “l’Ensijab” – Wallahi Le Zein!! Wezin, Jakwar And Guitar Boogie From The Islamic Republic Of Mauritania (Latitudes)
Hedzoleh Soundz: “Mee Bee (When)” – Hedzoleh (Soundway)
Seu Jorge: “Japonesa” – Músicas Para Churrasco Vol. 1 (Wrasse)
São Paulo Underground: “Três Cabeças Loucuras” – Carambola (Cuneiform)
Eri Yamamoto Trio: “Just Walking” – The Next Page (AUM Fidelity)
Jeff Parker Trio: “Freakadelic” – Bright Light in Winter (Delmark)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-05-11 (complete) [ 2:23:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

Just a pile of everything, wrapping up with a minor feature for Don Cherry, just because. Oh yeah, and thanks to the caller who rang in to express his enthusiasm for the Debashish Bhattacharya piece—it’s always nice to know when the music strikes a chord with someone… which includes you, faithful listener. Let me know what you enjoy and don’t enjoy, either in comments here or on the tweets @JoeGermuska…

Enjoy!

Note: next week I’m swapping days with another DJ, so the live Birds will be 5 am Friday, May 11 instead of the usual Tuesday…

download program (139MB, 2 hrs 31 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Fanfare Pourpour: “Coucou!” – Le Bal (Ambiances Magnétiques)
Barney Rachabane Combo: “Love For Sale” – Archive Africa: Jazz, Jive and Jibe (Afribeat)
Digable Planets: “Jettin’” – Blowout Comb (Pendulum)
The JBs: “You Can Have Watergate” – Funky Good Time: The Anthology (Universal)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: “Mushallah” – New York City Live (Pheelco)
Super Biton de Segou: “Nie Nema Mine” – Afro Jazz du Mali (Bolibana)
Rail Band: “Mali Tebaga Mogoma” – Belle Epoque Vol. 1 – Soundiata (Stern’s)
Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck: “Maacina Tooro” – Think Global: West Africa Unwired (World Music Network)
Lukas Ligeti & Beta Foly: “Brontologik 3.44” – Lukas Ligeti & Beta Foly (Intuition)
Mississippi John Hurt: “Frankie” – Anthology of American Folk Music (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dave Van Ronk: “Betty & Dupree” – The Folkways Years 1959-61 (Smithsonian Folkways)
Charlie Feathers: “Frankie & Johnny” – Get With It: Essential Recordings (1954-1969) (Revenant)
Slim Ducket & Pig Norwood: “I Want To Go Where Jesus Is” – How Can I Keep From Singing, Vol 1 (Yazoo)
Rev. H.B. Jackson: “Everytime I Feel the Spirit” – How Can I Keep From Singing, Vol 1 (Yazoo)
Tennessee Mountaineers: “Standing on the Promises” – How Can I Keep From Singing, Vol 1 (Yazoo)
Rev. C.J. Johnson & Family: “I Want To Go Where Jesus Is” – Wade In The Water, Vol. 2: African American Congregational Singing (Smithsonian)
SNCC Freedom Singers led by Matthew Jones: “Odinga Oginga” – Voices of the Civil Rights Movement (Smithsonian Folkways)
Peter Gabriel: “Before Night Falls” – Passion: Music for the Last Temptation of Christ (Real World)
Grupo Anmataff: “Tinariwen” – Music from Saharan Cellphones (Sahel Sounds)
Otis Redding: “The Hucklebuck” – The Dock of the Bay (Atlantic)
The Five Keys: “Hucklebuck with Jimmy” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
La Sonora de Lucho Macedo: “Macedo’s Boogaloo” – ¡Gózalo! Bugalú Tropical, Vol. 3 (Vampisoul)
Ry-Co Jazz: “Aux Antilles” – Bon Voyage !! (Retro Afric)
Debashish Bhattacharya: “Maha Shakti” – Calcutta Slide Guitar (Riverboat)
Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake: “Sakti/Shiva” – From the River to the Ocean (Thrill Jockey)
Roy Campbell Pyramid: “Chant for Don Cherry” – Communion (Silkheart)
DKV Trio: “Complete Communion Suite, Part 2” – Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998 (Okkadisk)
Don Cherry: “Degi-Degi” – Brown Rice (A&M)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-05-01 (complete) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show was a free-for-all, including yet another from the Larks, who I’ve been digging on lately, as well as a handful of reggae (I was wondering if there might be an all-reggae show sometime in the future…) plus some old-new-school rap, and the usual mishmash of soul, latin, jazz, etc etc.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (139MB, 2 hrs 31 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Cumbia en Moog: “Cumbia de sal” – The Afrosound of Colombia, Vol 1 (Vampisoul)
Run–D.M.C.: “Sucka MCs” – Run–D.M.C. (Profile)
Jonny Teupen: “Love Me” – Talkin’ Jazz: More Themes From the Black Forest (Talkin’ Loud)
Bobby Hutcherson: “(Se Acabo) La Malanga” – Montara (Blue Note)
The Larks: “Ooh… It Feels So Good” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
Erroll Garner: “I Never Knew” – Body & Soul (Columbia)
Bob Marley: “Sun is Shining” – Kaya (Island)
The Congos: “Thief is in the Vineyard” – Congo Ashanti (Blood & Fire)
Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus: “None A Jah Jah Children No Cry” – Rastafari Dub (ROIR)
Pato Banton: “Never Give In” – Never Give In (Cornerstone)
Queen Latifah: “Ladies First” – Say It Loud! A Celebration of Black Music in America (Rhino)
Triumphs: “Burnt Biscuits” – The Complete Stax Volt Singles 1959-1968 (Atlantic)
Nomo: “Moving in Circles” – Nomo (Ypsilanti )
Lefties Soul Connection: “Organ Donor” – Hutspot (Excelsior)
Orquesta Aragón: “Pregúntame” – Carnaval in Cuba (Smithsonian Folkways)
Momo Wandel Soumah: “Bokme” – Matchowe (Buda Musique)
St. Vincents Latinaires: “Broasted or Fried” – Tropical Funk Experience (Sofrito)
Earl Bostic: “Mambostic” – Loose Caboose (A New Kind of Mambo, Vol. 8) (Johnny Q)
Dr. John: “Don’t Want No Monkey in My Business” – The Crazy Cajun Recordings (Edsel)
Grand Kalle & l’African Jazz: “Butsana Mama” – 1966/1967 (Syllart)
Pivi et ses Balladins: “Kongo Coura” – Guineé 40ème Anniversaire Syliphone, Vol 1 (Syliphone)
Black Beats: “Amma Mere Wo” – Telephone Lobi: More Giants of Danceband Highlife (Original Music)
Stella Chiweshe: “Tapera (We Are Perishing)” – Talking Mbira: Spirits of Liberation (Piranha)
Dollar Brand/Johnny Dyani: “Good News – Swazi – Waya-Wa-Egoli” – Good News From Africa (ECM)
Dave Burrell and Leena Conquest: “The Box” – Rome, December 4, 2008 (Inconstant Sol)
Joyce with Dori Caymmi: “Saudade da Bahia” – Rio-Bahia (Far Out)
Thelonious Monk Quartet: “Five Spot Blues” – Monk’s Dream (Columbia)
Atomic: “Poor Denmark” – Happy New Ears! (Jazzland)
Louie Belogenis Trio: “Divination” – Tiresias (Porter)
Nick Mazzarella Trio: “Newsprint” – This is Only a Test: Live at the Hungry Brain (Sonichla)
Vijay Iyer Trio: “Wildflower” – Accelerando (ACT)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-04-24 (complete) [ 2:31:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

To celebrate my impending tax refund, I went and had a bit of a binge at Dusty Groove last weekend, so today’s show features a bunch of stuff I obtained, plus various other relatively new stuff. There’s nothing thematic at all, but a lot of funky grooves and a hearty dose of doo-woppy vocal numbers.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (144MB, 2 hrs 38 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Watts Rhythm Band: “What Can You Bring Me?” – Oxford American Music Issue #13 – Mississippi (Oxford American)
Eddie Bo & the Chain Gang: “Disco Party (parts 1 and 2)” – Eddie Bo’s Funky New Orleans (Funky Delicacies)
Kashmere Stage Band: “Take Five” – Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974 (Now Again)
Compaoré Issouf: “Dambakale” – Bambara Mystic Soul – The Raw Sound of Burkina Faso 1974-1979 (Analog Africa)
Dengue Fever: “Tip My Canoe” – Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (Soundtrack) (Minky Records)
People Under the Stairs: “You” – Stepfather (Basement Records)
Hedzoleh Soundz: “Kaa Ye Oyai (Don’t Be in a Hurry)” – Hedzoleh (Soundway)
Little Joe Washington: “Bossa Nova & Grits” – Ritual Dance (A New Kind of Mambo, v. 47) (Twilight Zone)
Sroeng Santi: “Baa Baa Buam Buam” – Thai? Dai! (Finders Keepers)
Aka: “Shake Me” – Those Shocking, Shaking Days (Now Again)
Le Super Borgou de Parakou: “Gandigui” – The Bariba Sound 1970-1976 (Analog Africa)
Alliace Makiadi: “Passeio Por Luanda” – Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound of Luanda 1968-1976 (Analog Africa)
Esperanza Spalding: “Inútil Paisagem” – Chamber Music Society (Heads Up)
The Larks: “I Ain’t Fattening Frogs for Snakes” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
The Syncopaters: “River Stay Away From My Door” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
The Four Rockets: “Loch Lomond” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
The Ink Spots: “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” – The Dawn of Doo-Wop (Proper)
Golden Gate Jubille Quartet: “John the Revelator” – Good News (Proper)
Blind Willie Johnson: “Church, I’m Fully Saved Today” – Sweeter as the Years Go By (Yazoo)
Dora Alexander: “Times Done Changed” – Music of New Orleans, Vol. 1: Music of the Streets: Music of Mardi Gras (Smithsonian Folkways)
Laura Henton: “I Can Tell The World About This” – How Can I Keep From Singing, Vol. 1 (Yazoo)
Southern Six of Springfield, SC: “Leave Your Burdens There” – The Pitch/Gusman Records Story (Fat Possum)
Victory 5: “Have You Been to the Pool” – Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, Ohio (Numero Group)
Rene Mbu: “Boma Limbala” – The World is Shaking: Cubanismo from the Congo, 1954-55 (Honest Jon’s)
Steven Amechi and his Empire Rhythm: “Nylon Dress” – Marvellous Boy: Calypso from West Africa (Honest Jon’s)
Spokes Mashiyane & his Golden Saxophone: “Bothe Bothe” – Soul Safari Presents Township Jive & Kwela Jazz (1940-1960) (Ubuntu)
Los Tigres con Morgan Blanco: “La Culebra” – The Original Sound of Cumbia: The History of Colombian Cumbia & Porro As Told By The Phonograph 1948 – 79 (Soundway)
Yambu: “Profesor” – Subway Salsa: The Montuno Records Story (Vampisoul)
Los Nombres: “Untitled Instrumental” – Los Nombres (Asterisk)
Los Po-Boy-Citos: “Fat Mama/Mother-in-Law” – New Orleans Latin Soul (Superultramega)
Lord Kelvin: “Kelvin Meets Girl” – Dances in the Smoke (Jazzland)
Hot Chocolate: “Good for the Gander” – Live from Agency (Numero Group)
Ebo Taylor & the Sweet Beans: “Odofo Nyi Akyiri Biara” – Afro-Beat Airways: West African Shock Waves, Ghana & Togo 1972-1978 (Analog Africa)
Paul Chambers: “Dexterity” – Mosaic Select (Mosaic)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-04-10 (complete) [ 2:37:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

After this week, it appears I’ll be shifting back to Tuesday mornings. I hope this hasn’t been too confusing for anyone. This weeks show features a block of songs about healthy for faithful listener #1, who has been convalescing for a while now. Hopefully it will help a bit.

Also, the Sugar Pie DeSanto/Etta James number “In the Basement” goes out to to the folks at Free Geek Chicago, who told me it’s their new official them song. If you have old computers or other electronics that you don’t know what to do with, check out FGC—they’ll help you clear out that closet or desk.

Otherwise, it’s just a pretty regular hodge podge of soul, reggae, brazilian, blues, and jazz stuff… but a bunch of good things, so listen all the way to the end!

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (138MB, 2 hrs 31 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Bad Medicine: “Trespasser” – Funky 16 Corners (Stones Throw)
Erykah Badu: “The Healer/Hip-Hop” – New Amerykah: Part 1 (4th World War) (Universal Motown)
Dead Prez: “Be Healthy” – Let’s Get Free (Loud Records)
Talking Heads: “Girlfriend is Better” – Speaking in Tongues (Sire)
Hot 8 Brass Band: “Sexual Healing” – Brass Bands and Mardi Gras Indians (unknown)
Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra: “Medicine for a Nightmare” – Angels and Demons at Play (Evidence)
Sugar Pie DeSanto and Etta James: “In the Basement (Part 1)” – Her Best – The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (Chess)
The Blue Rhythm Combo: “Take the Funky Feeling” – Tropical Funk Experience: Island Jump Up – Caribbean Funk, Soul, Reggae, Calypso & Afro Grooves 1968 to 1975 (Sofrito/Nascente)
Brothers and Sisters: “Don’t Let ‘Em Tell You” – Eccentric Soul: The Nickel & Penny Labels (Numero Group)
Jerome Brailey and Mutiny: “Romeo (Hope You’re Feeling Better)” – Mutiny on the Mamaship (Columbia)
Joe Gibbs All Stars: “Hijacked” – Trojan Producer Series Box Set (Trojan)
Bob Marley and the Wailers: “Playboy” – Simmer Down at Studio One (Heartbeat)
The Paragons: “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” – On the Beach (Trojan)
The Fantastic Four: “If You Need Me Call Me (And I’ll Come Running)” – The Westbound Sound of Detroit: Sensational Motor City Groups 1969-1975 (Westbound)
Sam Cooke: “Get Yourself Another Fool” – Night Beat (RCA)
Oumou Sangare: “Koroko” – Seya (Nonesuch)
Letta Mbulu: “Melodi (Sounds of Home)” – Hugh Masekela presents the Chisa Years 1965-1976 (BBE)
Alèmayèhu Eshèté: “Afèr Yemègneshal” – Éthiopiques 8 : Swinging Addis (Buda Musique)
El Kinto: “Que Me Importa” – Complete Collection (Lion)
Luiz Bonfa: “Pernambuco” – Solo in Rio 1959 (Smithsonian Folkways)
Bola Sete: “Gaucho – Meu Ogum” – Live at Grace Cathedral, 1976 San Francisco (Samba Moon)
Rev. Gary Davis: “You Got to Go Down” – Gospel, Blues and Street Songs (Riverside/Original Blues Classics)
Skip James: “Sick Bed Blues” – Heroes of the Blues (Shout Factory)
Reverend Louis Overstreet: “Two Little Fishes” – With his sons and the congregation of St. Luke’s Powerhouse Church of God in Christ (Arhoolie)
Sidney Bechet’s Blue Note Jazz Men: “Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll” – Runnin’ Wild (Blue Note)
Brother Bones: “Chinatown” – 7″ (Tempo)
Ballin’ the Jack: “Noche Loisada” – The Big Head (Knitting Factory)
Roberto Juan Rodriguez: “El Danzon de Moises” – El Danzon de Moises (Tzadik)
Sephardic Tinge: “She’s Doing It Again” – Morenica (Tzadik)
Errol Parker Tentet: “Ol’ Man River” – A Night in Tunisia (Sahara)
Hamiet Bluiett: “For Macho” – The Clarinet Family (Black Saint)
Sam Rivers and the Rivbea Orchestra: “Beads” – Aurora (Rivbea Sound Company)
Andrew Hill: “Diddy Wah” – Mosaic Select (Mosaic)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-04-04 (complete) [ 2:31:15 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

This week’s show starts off with a couple of tunes in honor of the primary elections happening today in Illinois. There’s also a healthy set of tunes about changes by request of a faithful listener. Besides that, a decent chunk of soul music including a couple from the latest Numero Group gem, a couple of tunes for the other Super Sunday (and here’s the Mardi Gras Indian photo gallery I promised on air) and a smattering of miscellany.

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (141MB, 2 hrs 34 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Lord Beginner: “General Election” – London Is The Place For Me 2: Calypso & Kwela, Highlife & Jazz From Young Black London (Honest Jons Records)
King Tubby: “Politricks Dub” – I Am The King (Sprint)
Nina Simone: “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free” – How It Feels To Be Free (Hear Music)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: “Volunteered Slavery” – (I, Eye, Aye) – Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland 1972 (Rhino)
Johnny Lewis Quartet: “Them Changes” – Shuckin’ ‘N Jivin’ (Luv N’ Haight)
Gift of Gab: “Evolution” – 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up (Quannum)
LCD Soundsystem: “I Can Change” – This is Happening (DFA)
Nostalgia 77: “Changes” – The Garden (Tru Thoughts)
Modill: “Change Form!” – Midnight Green (EV Productions)
The Wild Magnolias: “(My Big Chief Has A) Golden Crown” – The Wild Magnolias (Polydor)
Big Chief Monk Boudreau & the Golden Eagles: “Black Johnny” – Mr. Stranger Man (Shanachie)
The New Mastersounds: “The Vandenburg Suite” – This Is What We Do (One Note)
James Carr: “You Got My Mind Messed Up” – You Got My Mind Messed Up (Kent)
The Spinners: “The Rubberband Man” – The Rubberband Man (Atlantic)
Tyrone Davis: “Can I Change My Mind” – Beg, Scream & Shout!: The Big Ol’ Box Of 60′s Soul (Rhino)
Lonie Jones: “Treat Your Baby Right” – Jenmark 101 7″ (Jenmark)
The Esquires: “Get On Up” – Beg, Scream & Shout!: The Big Ol’ Box Of 60′s Soul (Rhino)
The Isley Brothers: “Get Into Something” – Get Into Something (Legacy)
Hot Chocolate: “Ain’t That A Groove” – Hot Chocolate (Numero Group)
Wildfire: “Tend To Your Business” – Understand Each Other (Numero Group)
Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes with Quarteto Em Cy & Coro Misto: “Canto do Xango” – Os Afro Sambas (Cherry Red)
Cesaria Evora: “Tchintchirote” – Cabo Verde (Lusafrica)
Mindel Band: “Cercode” – The Soul of Cape Verde (Lusafrica)
Roberto Rodriguez: “Timba Talmud” – Timba Talmud (Tzadik)
Red Baarat: “Tunak Tunak Tun” – Chaal Baby (CD Baby)
World Saxophone Quartet and African Drums: “Metamorphosis” – Metamorphosis (Nonesuch)
John Coltrane: “Bessie’s Blues” – Crescent (Impulse)
Rova: “Chanting the Light of Foresight” – Chanting the Light of Foresight (New Albion)
Vijay Iyer Trio: “Optimism” – Accelerando (ACT)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-03-20 (complete) [ 2:34:17 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“Conference of the Birds” is my weekly radio program on WNUR-FM. It airs on Tuesdays from 5-7:30 am Chicago time (UTC-5). And, of course, when technology cooperates, you can just come here for the archives. You can subscribe to the podcast with this URL (click here to subscribe in iTunes).

Beyond belatedly observing Ornette Coleman’s 82nd birthday (last Friday, March 9), this week’s show was theme free. In fact, it was all over the place, as was observed on the phone by the listener who called in with the Barney Kessel request. But it was fun, and there’s plenty of good music to hear inside…

Enjoy!

Listen:

download program (131MB, 2 hrs 23 min)

Artist: “Track” – Album (Label)
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: “Ornette” – Dance With the Ancestors (Chameleon)
Ornette Coleman: “Theme From a Symphony (Variation Two)” – Dancing In Your Head (A&M)
Universal Congress Of: “Law Years” – This Is Mecolodics (SST)
Eric Boeren 4tet: “Peace” – Joy of a Toy (BVHaast)
Ornette Coleman: “Lonely Woman” – Beauty Is A Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (Atlantic)
Steve Coleman & David Holland: “See Saw” – Phase Space (DIW)
Konono No. 1: “Wumbanzanga” – Assume Crash Position (Crammed Disc)
Johnny Mbizo Dyani: “Namibia” – Born Under the Heat (Dragon)
William Parker & Hamid Drake: “Nur Al Anwar” – Volume 1: Piercing the Veil (AUM Fidelity)
Beans featuring William Parker & Hamid Drake: “56” – Only (Thirsty Ear)
Slim Gaillard: “Make It Do” – Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years (Polygram)
Matana Roberts: “How Much Would You Cost?” – Coin Coin Chapter 1: Les Gens De Coleur Libre (Constellation)
Claudia: “Menina Fulô” – Você, Cláudia, Você (Odeon)
Ry Cooder: “Chinito Chinito” – Chávez Ravine (Nonesuch)
Calexico: “Guero Canelo” – Feast of Wire (Quarter Stick)
Staff Benda Bilili: “Tonkara” – Tres Tres Fort (Crammed Disc)
Sonny Okosuns: “Adessua” – Ozidizm (Capitol/EMI)
Orquesta Atipica: “Zita” – Tango Dogs (Eats Shoots and Leaves)
Jenny Scheinman: “Wiseacre” – Shalagaster (Tzadik)
Baden Powell: “Round About Midnight” – Tristeza on Guitar (PAUSA)
Barney Kessel: “Brazil” – Solo (Concord)
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane : “Bye-Ya” – At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note)
Vijay Iyer Trio: “Little Pocket Size Demons” – Accelerando (ACT)
Darius Jones Trio: “Chasing the Ghost” – Big Gurl (AUM Fidelity)

WNUR Conference of the Birds, 2012-03-13 (complete) [ 2:23:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download