Jarrett House NorthNow with 80% less politics!

James Brown, “Funky President (People It’s Bad)”
William S. Burroughs, “When Did I Stop Wanting to Be President”
The Cure, “Primary (Morgan Studio Outtake 9/80)”
Max Roach, “Freedom Now”
Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Virginia Glee Club, “I shall not die without a hope” (Testament of Freedom)
Jay-Z and Danger Mouse, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”
Youssou N’Dour, “Hope”
Branford Marsalis, “Freedom [...]

Yesterday was our “day off” between the Mass in C performance on Friday night and today’s 9th Symphony performance. Of course, the “day off” included the morning’s orchestra dress rehearsal of the 9th, which was a treat to be a part of. We had the best seat in the house to watch guest conductor Christoph [...]

I was two or three years out of college when I first listened to Isaac Hayes seriously. I had picked up Shaft in college but, aside from the title track, it didn’t speak to me. I mean, flutes? Really? I just couldn’t get past the instrumentation. I knew there was something funky there but it [...]

Courtesy the Boston Globe, here’s Amanda Palmer’s opening number from her performance at last night’s EdgeFest. I’m very envious of the TFC members who sang behind her for one of the numbers, though I am curious if she had them wear makeup…

… are the fun weeks, aren’t they? I feel like I’m up to my eyeballs in work and yet the week just started.
Miscellaneous notes:

I’m within striking distance of reaching zero unlistened to tracks in my iTunes library, after almost two years of dedicated listening to ensure that I listened to every track in the library [...]

Peter Gabriel’s RealWorld Studios have teamed up with Bowers & Wilkins (B&W speakers) to bring an online music club targeted at audiophiles. It’s not really a store, because the service offers only subscription pricing and the content is exclusive–up and coming musicians recording at RealWorld. The B&W Music Club is part of a set of [...]

Inaugurating the new blog in style, here’s my latest mix, which started as a party and ended as a lullaby. Of course, the Art of the Mix service is down right now, but here’s a quick tracklist:

Italian men, “Su Tenore A Ballu” (field recording)
M.I.A., “Bamboo Banga”
The Beatles, “She Said She Said”
The Arcade Fire, “Neighborhood #2 [...]