Travis – I’m jumping into Travis’s selection after my ride home from NJ, but I doubt he even announced what he was playing. Reminds me a little of mid-90’s Jazz/Funk/Soul – Maysa/Incognito, Brand New Heavies; maybe new? In the spirit of? But it has some cool dirty synth sounds with an interesting fusion thread in it and almost gospel vocal parts. More intense than I’d expect something like this to get to. Maybe just the drummer is making that happen. Possibly someone I feel I should know…. Emma-Jean Thackray – “Say Something”
Dan – Richard & Linda Thompson – “The Great Valerio” Maybe the darkest song ever… Deep lyrics:
“But we learn to watch together
And feed on what we see above
Till our hearts turn like the seasons
And we are acrobats of love”
Linda’s voice is stark and harrowing.
And the lyrics bring an incredible array of images. Thinking about it as a love song I can imagine the tight rope walker being the lover lying to you. Talking their way out of things. But the active imagery is rich too. The tight rope walker, the feeding audience, the juggler unprepared to truly help. Some interesting perspective shifts along the way.
Rich – is playing a some punkified Russian folk music. Auktyon – “Всё вертится” “Spinning By”. This song rules, totally light and loving contrast to my play’s dark vibe. Really cool mix of ideas: the bubbling bass line, some weird banjo-like instrument and some well placed hand claps create some great things. Love it and I need to play it for my school students!
Nawi – Nawis doing a hidden play. Very 70’s but not familiar to me. Something a little country about it but with a funkier bass line. Cool tune. The levels on the vocals feel off compared to the fantastic sounding guitar. It makes the singer less impactful, but there are cool lyrics somewhat hidden away. Sort of reminds me of 90’s alternative bands vocally, layered on top of a 70’s ripping instrumental. Mick Ronson – “I’ve Got No Secrets” – That makes sense the guitar really rips, he is a great song writer who helped write “Jack & Diane” and he produced some things including one of Morrissey’s Your Arsenal! I can totally see this as his creation.
Bart – Bart’s is some musical comedy. The voice of Trump makes me writhe and I forgot how much I hated it, but at least the Free Jazz jams it up. Hard to jam with Trump. This arrives at a weird joyous melody and then some sillier vocals from a Sun Ra song. I feel I’ve heard of this but do not know whom it is. Matt Wilson Quartet – “Space Force March/Interplanetary Music” Also makes sense as it mashes up two things I wasn’t really expecting and I believe the Trump layer was something I’ve heard discussed but had never heard the fruits of Matt’s labors. Certain Sun Ra pieces seem like strange choices to cover.
Found Sounds 
