Hello, hello! Happy Friday and such!  Presenting to you, one of Lower Allston's finest! This next band has been handling the bidness for over 6 yrs in and around the Boston area.  Up until last year they had a Saturday night residency at the Middle East corner room.  They have since been touring the country sharing their brand of funk, rock, and jazz with any and all who would listen, all the while working on new music.  Even more awesome, is that for all of August into September, they will be working New England like it owes them something.  Mainly, a Thursday night residency at TOAD in Porter Square (which by the way is free music 7 days a week).  I caught their show last night, and was reminded of why my Saturdays are now a shade of what they used to be.  Tyler Drabick (guitar), Sam Gilman (hammond, keys), and Blake Goedde (drums, percussion) are OTIS GROVE...


www.myspace.com/otisgrove
www.otisgrove.net

Make this yours... Otis Grove - Crank it up

Greetings and salutations friends!  Today, i'm kicking off a week of new music for your ears. Each day i'll be writing about a group that deserves your utmost attention, and to get it going we'll start with a amazing group from my hometown.

Smoke the Groove


I was at the homestead last week to visit the parentals, and while there i had the opportunity to be at probably the coolest party i'd ever been to in Harrisburg.  A good friend of mine had been invited by the lead singer, Joanna Kirby, to check out this party they'd be playing at.  I was in town and i figured why not.  We get there and realize that a whole block had been shut down for the "party".  Which upon closer observation proved itself to be a concert venue in the middle of the street; perfect.  A few other bands played before they came on; but once they were on, i had a strong urge to find me some glowsticks and dance my ass off.  Unfortunately i didn't really think that far ahead, so no shiny lights.

One song in particular, Isabel, had me moving way before i even realized i was moving, i just had to move.  And by the time they jumped into the best version of Mary J. Blige's "Real Love" i've ever heard, i was kicking myself for not having brought a camera.  Their blend of jazz, soul, and funk is tempered by a very independent vision of their sound.  You really just have check it out for yourself.  You can download a live set they performed at Harrisburg's Der Maennorchor here. 

If you like what you hear, you can also follow them on Facebook or MySpace to get the latest on Smoke the Groove.  I chatted with Joanna and Sonja Bontrager (keyboards) after they played, and they're really cool people on top of their excellent musicianship.  So if you happen to catch them at a Smoke the Groove show, or at one of their various independent ventures, do say hi. 

Joanna Kirby with DJ Ben Freeman

Santana - Singing Winds, Crying Beasts

Hey there people!  Happy Monday!  Hopefully yours is unfolding all smooth and easy-like.   By design, it's been a while since wrote one of these.  But last weekend i heard a song, watched a show, got to thinking, and decided this was the best way to share my mind in this particlular case.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This next artist has been featured on here a few times.  Her debut album had more of an old-school Lady 'Day feel to it, but her latest album (Epiphany - in stores now) has been infused with more updated sounds and such.  I'm all for versatility regardless of what you do, and this album is testament to that.  This is the title  track on the album; from the lyrics to the beat and everthing else in between, it's pretty sweet, just like the artist herself... Chrisette Michele - Epiphany


B-Side
This is possibly one of the easiest songs ever written, and i don't mean easy as in not difficult.  Despite the fact that i've known this song for ages, it always sounds ageless whenever i hear it.  From her impossibly superb debut album, Come Away with Me, this is... Norah Jones - Don't know why



And that will do it this time.  Hope the rest of the week is awesome.  Keep on keepin' on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

A few choice cuts from the catalog of... singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/actress Nellie McKay

Hello from the tundra!  Hope your day isn't buried underneath a snow pile somewhere.  If so, hopefully this helps dig you out.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This is an artist to pay attention to in 09.  She burst onto the scene last year with the song, Chasing Pavements.  I heard that song when it came out, and just knew 'that voice is going places'.  Anyway, i was helping to celebrate my friend's b-day this weekend, she had her album playing in the car and i was reminded of why i thought that.  She reminds me of a younger Alice Russell, absolutely soulful.  But maybe a little less self-assured.  Regardless, if she keeps going the way she is, you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the future.  Here's two tracks from her debut album, 19.  Adele - Best for Last/ Right as Rain


B-Side
Now to a group that sort of defies classification.  Post-rock, experimental pop, loungy, indie-electronic-loungy-pop, it all fits.  Formed in London in 1990, they've been independently handling business since.  I can't really describe them any more, you just have to listen to them to form your own opinion.  My guess is that they'll probably rub you the right way.  Stereolab - Flourescences/ Excursions into Oh-Ah/ Cybele's Reverie/ Percolator



Seriously, who names a song "excursions into oh-ah"?  Oh well, that's it for today.  Keep on keepin' on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Oooh, this one just tastes gooood! And the track is a whole hour? What can be better right now??

 

Groove wid'it

The Culprits present Jazzanova (Hour 1) - Jazzanova

Finally, with the conclusion to the swing-jazz-big band related posts, for now at least.  It's been a while coming, but i'm just glad i can get this out before the new year is upon us.  So while you're getting all decked out and classy for your new year's celebrations you can get down to these swanky sounds inspired by the men (and women) who were at the forefront of this genre of music, The Rat Pack.  No one partied harder, lived more fully, and loved more passionately than they did. To quote an article from about.com; "...however history judges them, their talent cannot be denied.  The last species of early 20th century American Man, they claimed their territory like gods."  For if they hadn't, the early 21th century American Man would be worser for it.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Swank

That'll do it then ladies and gents.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.

Afolabi

I've been trying to get this post up for so long that i'm not even going to write too much else.  All i know is that i am more than determined to get this one and the post for the 19th up before 08 comes to a close.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Sarah Vaughan - Nina Simone - Etta James

I have not the words to fully encompass the talent that is within this set of songs.  From Sarah "Sassy" Vaughan, to the High Preistess of Soul, Nina Simone, and Mama herself, Etta James.  These ladies represent everything that any female singer today claims to be or aspires to be. On that note, i'll step aside and let them do their thing like only they can.

Greetings and salutations!  Happy Tuesday! If you're just jumping on this, i'll catch you up.  This week's theme, swingin' jazz and the like.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Sammy Davis Jr. and Bobby Darin

I feel like a lot of people know who Sammy Davis Jr. is, but if you ask them to name a song he sang there'd be a lot of blank stares. It would behoove you to jump on his catalog immediately. Arguably the hardest working member of the Rat Pack, he helped break a lot of racial barriers for black musicians and performers all over the United States.  Mr. Bobby Darin, on the other hand, is probably the opposite.  He sang some of the most memorable tunes to date. Most people can name songs that he sang, they might even know the words and melody of entire songs by him, but then you'd get blank stares if you asked who sang the song.  It'd probably be worse if they were asked to identify him.  Needless to say, here's a set with music from both these artists to help you get to know them a little better.

 

The last two songs in the set are actually from the musical, Guys and Dolls, which i personally think is the second best musical of all time.  Check out the Brando-Sinatra version if you get a chance.   Well, that will do it for today.  Until next time, be easy.

Afolabi