RSS
 

Spooning in a garden of pillows

22 Aug
  • First up, big thanks to those who made it our (Ndelible’s) performances at Liv and Jazz Under the Stars. Both were amazing shows where we met some great folk. Hope to have videos/photos up soon.
  • True Blood is entirely too addictive. This is problematic because…
  • School starts soon. I’m liking UMD’s School of Public Policy thus far (sans the random and unanticipated fees). It feels a little weird to be a Terp after four years of UMBC’ing. On a music note…
  • Kem and Esperanza Spalding both released purchase-worthy new albums last week. Spalding’s newest work is a lot different from her last album…it’s more strings-centered than her 2008 effort, but I like it nontheless. And Kem’s CD is dope as well. He’s one of the few singers I know who can say something like “don’t you want to spoon… in a garden of pillows,” and get away with it. lol.
  • Switching tracks a bit…I don’t understand this uproar over the planned NY mosque. Sensitivity concerns are legitimate, but we weren’t attacked in 2001 by Islam as a whole. We were hit by a radical contingent. That’s like saying no more churches should be built in Oklahoma because Timothy McVeigh once described himself as Catholic. Distortions of faith (and avoidance of their primary tenets) are no more representative of Islam than they are of Christianity. Besides, there’s already a mosque near the memorial.

…

Dahwell, enough random thoughts for the day. Hope everybody’s well. The Ndelible mixtape shall soon be upon you. Foe free!

 
No Comments

Posted in Joe's Music News, Politics, Random Thoughts

 

Bring Your Blankets, Chairs, and Fried Chicken (for me…)

11 Aug

We’ll be playing yonder August 21st. 7-9pm. Looking forward to seeing some of ya’ll out there. 
For the uninitiated, wanna hear us first to make sure we don’t sound like this? Well, check out www.ndelible.com. There’s a jam session from practice in your upper right hand corner as well. Hit me up if you have any questions! Thanks to the Beltsville Recreation Council!

 
No Comments

Posted in Joe's Music News

 

Progress: Obama honors Paul McCartney at the White House

11 Aug

Though I don’t agree with everything Mr. Obama does, I gotta say he’s made me happier than any politician I’ve ever known. How could I be mad at a dude who brought in Stevie Wonder last year, honoring him with the Gershwin prize and gracing millions of us (through PBS) with a wonderful tribute to my favorite musician.

This year’s prize winner doesn’t disappoint either. Stevie’s back, but this time he’s doing the honoring. Sir Paul McCartney is this year’s recipient of the Library of Congress’s George Gershwin Prize. This was a great tribute…Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae team up for a dope version of Blackbird; Jerry Seinfeld had a funny monologue; shoot, even the Jonas Brothers had me tapping my foot, if only for a second. And then of course there’s Stevie, who does a great rendition of  We Can Work It Out…the whole thing is definitely worth a watch. Keep it up, Mr. Obama…

The enormity of this man’s presidency can’t be understated. We’re not a “race-neutral nation” by any means…and that long-overdue “discussion on race” will probably keep getting pushed back. But as you’re watching the concert, pay attention to the paintings on the walls. Progress is possible.

Watch the entire video below…

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

 
No Comments

Posted in Must See/Hear

 

Answering Questions

31 Jul

Thanks to everybody for the bday wishes. Thanks to Elani for a dope gift! She got me a looper pedal, which I’m slowly but surely learning how to use. Fun times…

…
..

 
No Comments

Posted in Joe's Music News

 

So, I Guess I’m Racist…

15 Jul

It’s been hard to ignore the Lebron James saga that culminated in “The Decision” last week. It’s a story with plenty of legs, the most recent of which has “the voice for all black people” Jesse Jackson declaring that Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavs and writer of an angry rant about James, is a racist with a “slave-owner mentality.”

Evidently I have one too.

This has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve heard from the man the media seems to think speaks for all of us (newsflash, he doesn’t. Black people are segmented and of varying opinions, just like any other race). How can you compare slavery with somebody’s who’s worth more than we’ll ever imagine?

Gilbert called James “narcissistic” and “cowardly,” among other things.

…and I gotta agree. I mean to surround yourself with children and stage a one-hour “event” that spits in the face of your hometown…that takes a lot of balls. I mean really? Kids? Are they supposed to tug at our hearts? Make us feel empathy for you? This isn’t a “We Are the World” special. It’s basketball.

I don’t argue with James’s right to head to Miami. I’m looking forward to seeing (how quickly the Heat’s arrogance culminates in a karma-induced injury) how they compete with the rest of the league. But come on man…there’s no doubt James is a beast who’ll be in the Hall of Fame. He’ll just forever be marked as the dude who broke the hearts of a city for attention.

That’s like me jumping on my radio station of choice (NPR son! I would say WKYS or something, but there’s too many songs about false wealth and bling. NPR’s bling content ratio isn’t that high), and telling a girlfriend: “Umm, so this has been a really hard decision for me. And I’ve thought this over, asking everybody (especially my mama) for their opinion. It hurts me to say this, but I’m dumping you and moving on to hotter girl X. Mama agrees, you’re not that hot.” Discretion man…and the lack thereof.

That completes my rant for the day. And now, to practice…

Speaking of which, the Ndelible mixtape is in the final stages! Free musical goodies in preparation for the second album shall soon be here.

 
No Comments

Posted in Politics, Sports

 

The BET Awards Saved My Life

08 Jul

After a show last week this guy came up to me and started doing some extreme talking, the kind that alcohol brings on so well. He wanted to know all about me, how long I’d been playing sax, what bands I’m in, etc…all cool. But then I started talking about school, and things went downhill. I told him I’m planning on getting my Masters of Public Policy at University of MD, to which he replied: “Why in the helllllllllllll would you do something like that? You need to just be doing music man! That school stuff is for the birds.”

I tried to explain how I have dual interests: music and public policy. These aren’t mutually exclusive. I assured him that I’ll continue playing music for the rest of my days, but feel compelled to a life of public service as well.

After struggling to explain my plans to him (and myself?) for another 10 minutes, it clicked. I don’t know what in the world I’m doing. I need a clearer plan.

Inspiration came in the form of the BET Awards. (That’s a sentence I never thought I’d write. That’s like the “Redskins” and “playoffs” getting along well). *

John Legend has an initiative called the Show Me Campaign that BET profiled.  It’s a great org that fights for quality education, both here and abroad. Unlike a lot of celebs with foundations, this dude actually knew what he was talking about. It seemed like this was far more than a puff piece for him.

So yes, I wanna be John Legend.

Well, maybe not. My singing is a shower-only deal. I wanna be like John Legend, someone who’s as equally involved in music as policy. More importantly he realizes the indelible (plug!) connection between art and activism. As musicians/singers we can’t be a voice in the community without saying something at least a little bit substantive. It doesn’t have to be this heavy-handed thing of uberconsciousness 24/7, but there’s gotta be some balance.

So yes, a man under the influence of copious amounts of Blues Alley drink’age and the BET Awards have helped my life plan. Goes to show good can be found where least expected.

*here’s hoping that McNabb, Wall, and Strasburg will lead masterful revitalizations of their respective franchises, ushering in a new era of sportly success in DC. Ha..I can dream.

 
No Comments

Posted in Joe's Music News, Random Thoughts

 

John Legend / The Roots: Video from their upcoming release

25 Jun

Good googly moogly. This joint goes hard. Can’t wait for their collab album.

 
No Comments

Posted in Must See/Hear

 

Upcoming Shows (with Walter Beasley and Ndelible)

24 Jun

I know I’ve done an incredibly bad job of updating this blog on my own shows. But I’m gonna change! If only for tonight…

  • I’m sitting in with Walter Beasley at Blues Alley this Saturday June 26th at 8 and 10pm. He’s featured there through Sunday. Tickets are 35.00 and available here. For those new to the site, a brief history. I met Walt a couple years back through Sean Chase (a dope drummer from church). Walt’s kind enough to let me play with him when he comes to town. He’s a masterful    artist and teacher. I always learn something by watching him play. There’s some old video of us at the Birchmere at the bottom of this post.

-

  • Ndelible’s playing at DC’s Bohemian Caverns next Wednesday, June 30. Doors open at 8pm. I believe the cover’s around $10. By the dub, our (free!) mixtape’s coming along nicely! I’m really excited for ya’ll to hear it.

-

  • This isn’t music-related so much, but I wanted to thank everyone who sent kind words regarding my Nana. All the texts, emails, and calls were definitely appreciated. I have to admit, playing at the funeral was a struggle for me. But all in all, it was a celebratory day. A beautiful woman is at peace…and I can’t be mad (or sad) about that.

————————————————————————————————–

 
No Comments

Posted in Joe's Music News

 

Donny Hathaway: Neglected Heart Of Soul

21 Jun

NPR has a dope reflection on Mr. Hathaway. The link is below. I still think he’s one of the greatest vocalists of all time. He mixed purity of tone with grit in such an amazing way (one I’ve only seen matched by Stevie Wonder). RIP. Tragic death, but he left us with some wonderful work.

 
No Comments

Posted in Must See/Hear

 

The Roots: Dear God 2.0

20 Jun

And the greatest band in the land delivers yet again (with orchestra and choir in tow)

“hold the line please
Call me crazy, I thought maybe He could mind read”

 
No Comments

Posted in Must See/Hear

 
« Older Entries