January 7, 2007 - January 13, 2007

Song du Jour: "Porch Light Song"

Brianna Lane, "Porch Light Song."

Had a handslap-on-the-forehead moment with this songwriter last night; one of those "how could I not know about you?" things that's happening more and more these days, what with all the accomplished songwriters/hacks/first-timers/vets/geniuses coming up and out of their basements, up from the underground and catacombs and music labs and then back down into the basements (where all cool things start, including make-out and jam sessions) of places like Java Jack's and the Artist's Quarter, where Happy Apple drum shaman Dave King said last night, "2007 is the year of healing."

I'm glad someone finally said it out loud. Brother's talking about hope. Me, too. Specifically, I'm here to talk about Brianna Lane, a North Carolina-by-way-of-Minneapolis artist, survivor of the Academy Of Holy Angels, and a star in the making. Note I didn't say "women's music star," because it seems to me that great music doesn't come with a velvet rope of any kind; it invites every ear abd heart with open arms and says: this is how it feels to me.

"Porch Light Song" is one of those, about the age-old stalker ritual of driving by a lover's house. Those kinds of songs usually leave me with more than a pang of restlessness, but because it was delivered so gently and with such warm wisdom -- the hard-won knowledge that no matter how much love is in your world, you and the world can never get enough -- it gave me great peace to know that someone else feels the way I do sometimes.

Which is one of the magical things about great songs, of which Ms. Lane (as the New York Times will someday refer to her) has at least a dozen. She's poised, ambitious, a great writer, a soul singer of the first order, and a lithe, accomplished guitarist (plus she's got great knees that stick out of her ripped jeans, making her look like Dave Pirner and Michelle Shocked's bastardette niece).

Near the end of her hootenanny performance, someone in the crowd asked Lane if she thought songs about broken hearts can be "faked." She didn't say much, so I will.

Some can. Maybe. I guess. Depending on your definition of "fake." But not this one; there's not a fake bone in its birth mama's body.

Posted by Jim Walsh at January 13, 2007 9:06 AM | Comments (2)

Mark Your MOFO Calendars...

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Turf Club

BILL BATSON'S 50th BIRTHDAY PARTY

Hypstrz
Mighty Mofos
Superhopper

Posted by Jim Walsh at January 11, 2007 9:48 AM | Comments (1)

Song du Jour: Duke Ellington, "Caravan"

Lorraine Fideler Heyer

Heyer, Lorraine Fideler of Mpls., passed away Jan. 2, 2007. Survived by daughters, Barbara (David) Brown and Jean (Jim Walsh) Heyer; grandchildren, Sara and Madalyn Brown, Henry and Helen Heyer-Walsh; siblings, Marijane Larsen, Louis (Mitzi) Fideler, Sr. Lou Marie Fideler, BVM, Quintin Fideler, Donna (Robert) Vial; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by husband, Charles. Growing up in Iowa, Lorraine and her siblings worked at the family- owned Frost-Top root beer stand. Always ahead of her time, she had careers at both Black's Department Store and Walden Books. She moved to Minneapolis when she married, and following the death of her husband was a stay-at-home mom for many years. Later, she worked at Walgreen's and in the crystal department of Dayton's downtown, providing the sort of customer service that, as she frequently and correctly lamented, went out of style a long time ago. Lorraine's greatest pride and joy was her daughters. When her grandchildren came along, she doted on them in her cozy home with the same love and guidance she used to raise her daughters. Lorraine had impeccable style, a whiplash smile, more red in her wardrobe than the Communist Party, and a lust for life and people that will only grow with her passing. The family would like to thank Dr. John Seng, Beth Schmidt (R.N.), and Chara Anderson (N.P.) of Minnesota Oncology, and Dr. Mary McMillan of the Isles Medical Group. Mass of Christian Burial Monday January 8 11 AM with visitation one hour prior at St. Leonard's Catholic Church, 3949 Clinton Ave, Mpls. Memorials to St Joseph's Home for Children, Mpls. First Memorial Waterston 612-825-4567
Published in the Star Tribune from 1/5/2007 - 1/7/2007.
Guest Book • Flowers • Charities

Lori's favorite song:

Caravan

First recording: Duke Ellington, Master Records single 131
Winifred Atwell, The Magic Fingers of Winifred Atwell, Vol. 1, London LL 1246
Luis Arcaraz and his Orchestra, Sweet and Swing, BMG Music Spain, S.A., 74321580592
The Don Baker Trio, Cocktail Hammond, Capitol T-1099
Vinnie Bell, Big Sixteen Guitar Favorites, Musicor MS3047
Vincent Bell, The Best of Vinnie Bell, Musicor MS3192 (reissue of MS3047)
Vincent (Vinnie) Bell, The Soundtronic Guitar of Vincent Bell, Independent 8012
Stanley Black, Exotic Percussion, London Phase 4 SP 44004
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Caravan, Riverside 9438
Noel Boggs, Magic Steel Guitar, Shasta SH-LP-601
Al Bollington, Presenting Al Bollington at the Conn Organ, Decca DL 74223
Kenny Burrell, Ellington is Forever, vol. 1, Fantasy 79005
John Buzon Trio, Inferno!, Liberty LRP-3108
Billy Byers, Impressions of Duke Ellington, Mercury/Wing SRW 16397
Al Caiola and Don Arnone, Great Pickin', Chancellor CHLS-5008
Candido, Candido in Indigo, ABC-Paramount ABC-236
Eddie Cano Sextet, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Me, BMG Tropical 3459
Erdogan Capli, Exciting Rhythms of Piano Pasha, Time S/2074
David Carroll, Percussion Orientale, Mercury PPS 2002
Jody Carver and Johnny Cucci, The Hot Club of America, Coral CRL 57616
Brothers Castro, Recorded Live at Harrah's Tahoe, Capitol T 2015
George Cates, Take Five, Dot DLP 25400
Chaquito and his orchestra, Hot Cha-Cha-Cha, Columbia CL 1293
Roy Clark, Guitar Spectacular, Capitol ST-2425
Buddy Cole, Pipes, Pedals and Fidelity, Columbia CS 8065
Buddy Cole, Ingenuity in Sound, Ingenuity In Sound, Warner Brothers WBS 1442
Ray Conniff, You Make Me Feel So Young, Columbia CL 2116
Jack Costanzo, Jack Costanzo and His Afro Cuban Band, Crescendo GNP-19
Irv Cottler, Around The World in Percussion, Somerset P-13900
Lenny Dee, Dee-Lirious, Decca DLP 8165
Lenny Dee, The Lenny Dee Show, Decca DLP 8913
Martin Denny, Exotica Vol. 3, Liberty LST-7116
Glenn Derringer, Plays Great American Music People, Ovation OV 1707
Ismael Diaz and his Orchestra, Honeymoon in Acapulco, Forum F9036
Bill Doggett, A Salute to Ellington, King 533
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Warren Covington, The Swingin' Era, Decca DL 8914
Kenny Drew Trio, Kenny Drew Trio, Riverside 224
Johnny Dupont, All Stops Out!, Columbia CS 9350
Kurt Edelhagen, Jazz from Germany, Decca DLP 8231
El Coco, Caravan, American Variety AVI 1040
Les and Larry Elgart, The New Elgart Touch, Columbia CS 9101
Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington Vol. 3, Everest Records FS 266
Duke Ellington/Max Roach/Charles Mingus, Money Jungle, Blue Note 46398
John Elliott and his Diatonic 4, Organ Rhythms, Promenade QX1
John Evans, Exotic Percussion and Brilliant Brass, Directional Sound DS 500
Fabulous Jokers, The Fabulous Jokers, Monument SLP 18059
Johnny Farina, Pure Steel, Vol. 1, Aniraf Inc. JF-17
Ferrante and Teicher, Hi-Fireworks, Columbia CL 573
Ella Fitzgerald, The Duke Ellington Songbook, Verve VE2-2535
Tommy Flanagan, The Tokyo Recital, Pablo 2310-724
Erroll Garner, Erroll Garner, Columbia CL 535
Marty Gold, Skin Tight, RCA Victor LPM-2230
Morton Gould, Jungle Drums, RCA Victor LM-1994
Earl Grant, Yes Sirree!, Decca DL 74405
Bill Haley & His Comets, Mr. Rock & Roll, Charly CDCD 1080
Chico Hamilton Quintet, The Chico Hamilton Quintet in Stereo, World Pacific S-1005
Alfred Hause, Hausball, Polydor 237 129
Al Hirt, Al Hirt at Dan's Pier 600, Audio Fidelity AFSD5877
Hollywood Pops Orchestra, Stereo Motion in Percussion, Marble Arch MALS 775
Freddie Hubbard, The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard, Impulse LP
Dick Hyman, A Zillion Strings, Everest ELP 1074
Milt Jackson/Ray Brown/Joe Pass, The Duke Ellington Album, Pablo 2312-117
Milt Jackson, Mostly Duke, Palbo 2310-944
Illinois Jacquet, The King!, Prestige 7597
Harry James, Still Harry After All These Years, Sheffield Labs CD-11
Gordon Jenkins, Blue Preludes, Sunset SUS 5149
Jackie Jocko, Like Wow, Strand SLS-1053
Sir Julian, The Thirteen Fingers of Sir Julian, RCA Victor LSP-2372
Bert Kaempfert, Love That Bert Kaempfert, Decca DL 74986
Phil Kraus/Bob Rosengarden, Like Bongos, Time S/2025
James Last, Trumpet a Go Go Vol. 2, Polydor 249 161
Eddie Layton, Caravan, Mercury SR 60098
Don Lee, Crazy Rhythm, Jubilee JGM-1067
Enoch Light, Future Sound Shock, Project 3 PR5077SD
Enoch Light, Persuasive Percussion 1966, Command RS 895 SD
Living Guitars, Guitar Man, RCA Camden CAS-2245
Los Admiradores, Bongos/Flutes/Guitars, Command RS 812 SD
Robert Lowden, Motion in Percussion, Somerset LP
Arthur Lyman, Taboo, HiFi Record R806
Kurt Maier, Plays Encores of Harlem, Allegro 1673
Herbie Mann, Flautista, Verve V-8336
Robert Maxwell, The very best of Robert Maxwell, MGM E-4246
Ralph Marterie, Big Band Themes with 88 Strings and a Golden Horn, United Artists UAS 6177
Buddy Merrill, The Guitar Sounds of Buddy Merrill, Accent AC 5010 SLP
Buddy Merrill, Guitars on Fire, Accent SQBO 91997
The Mighty Accordion Band, They Said It Couldn't Be Done, Capitol T1212
The Mills Brothers, Swing Is the Thing, Decca MOR 535
Thelonious Monk, Plays Duke Ellington, Riverside 201
Hugo Montenegro, Ellington Fantasy, Vik LX-1106
Hugo Montenegro, Others By Brothers, RCA APL1-0784
Wes Montgomery, Movin' Wes, Verve 810 045-1
Art Mooney, Cha-Cha-Cha, Spinorama MK 3079
Hal Mooney/Gene Lowell Singers, Voices in Song and Percussion, Time S/2008
Roger King Mozain, El Twist, Columbia CS-5076
Sandy Nelson, Drums Are My Beat, Imperial LP-12083
Sandy Nelson, Manhattan Spiritual, Imperial LP-12439
101 Strings, 101 Strings Plus Dynamic Percussion, Alshire S-5145
David Parker, Balalaika, World-Pacific Records ST1824
Joe Pass, Portraits of Duke Ellington, Pablo 2310-716
Les Paul, Les Paul NOW!, London Phase 4 SP44101
Les Paul, The Genius of Les Paul: Multi-Trackin', London LC 50016 (reissue of London Phase 4 LP)
Perez Prado, Our Man in Latin America, RCA Victor LSP-2610
Project Pimento, Magical Moods of the Theremin, Tru Baby CD
Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Tough!, Prestige 24138
Tito Puente, Tito Puente and Friend, Tropical TRLP 5138
Gene Rains Group, Far Across the Sea, Decca DL 74164
Rhythm Rockers, Soul Surfin', Challenge CH 617
Jerome Richardson, Midnight Oil, New Jazz 8205
Nelson Riddle, Love Tide, Capitol ST 1571
The River Boat Five, From Natchez to Mobile, Mercury-Wing MGW-12251-W
David Rose, 21 Channel Sound, MGM SE4004
Santo & Johnny, Santo & Johnny, Canadian-American SCALP-1001
Buddy Sarkissian & his Mecca Four, Soul of the East, Cameo C-1023
Heinz Schachtner, Trumpet in Gold Vol. 3, Polydor 543.008
Lalo Schifrin, Piano Espanol, Tico LP-1070
Dick Schory, Music to Break Any Mood, RCA Victor LSP-2125
George Shearing, Shearing on Stage!, Capitol T-1187
Jack Sheldon, Live! on the Pacific Ocean, Butterfly BCD-7704
The Sheik's Men, The Belly Dancer, Reprise R-6056
Tak Shindo, Brass and Bamboo, Capitol T-1345
Felix Slatkin, Fantastic Percussion!, Liberty LST 7150
Axel Stordahl, Jasmine Jade, Dot DLP 3282
Gabor Szabo, Jazz Raga, Impulse A-9128
Art Tatum, The Best of Art Tatum, Pablo 2405-418
Jimi Tenor, Intervision, Warp Records (UK) WARP CD48
Bobbie Thomas, Guitarist Extraordinary, Brave Records B-2051
The Three Suns, Movin' 'n' Groovin', RCA Victor Stereo Action LSA-2532
Tom and Jerry, Guitar's Greatest Hits, Mercury MG-20626
Shay Torrent, Shay Torrent at the Hammond organ, Mercury MG-20415
John Scott Trotter, Escape to the Magic Mediterranean, Warner Bros WS 1266
Billy Vaughn, Pearly Shells, Dot DLP-25605
The Ventures, Walk--Don't Run, Dolton BST-8003
Ventures, Live In Japan '65, EMI 7243 8 32820 2 9
Ventures, Live on Stage, Dolton BST 8035
Wal-Berg and his Orchestra, Exotic Music from the Far East, Mercury SR 60601
Walter Wanderley, Perpetual Motion Love, GNP Crescendo GNPS 2142
Dinah Washington, The Swingin' Miss D, Emarcy 6336 714
Ben Webster, At the Renaissance, Contemporary 7646
Frances Wayne, The Warm Sound, Atlantic 1263
Roger Williams, It's a Big, Wide Wonderful World, Kapp KL-1008
George Wright, The Wright Touch, Dot DLP 3447
Si Zentner, Si Zenter and His Orchestra Play Desafinado, Liberty LST-7273

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Posted by Jim Walsh at January 7, 2007 9:23 AM | Comments (1)

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