Deep Focus

People talk about “the rhythm of New York.” Is there really such a thing? Can you see it in the way people walk? The way they talk? Is it in their music? Are New York drummers a distinct group? Drummer Ben Perowsky says there’s no doubt about it, and who is a better example of it than native New Yorker Al Foster? On tonight’s Deep Focus, Ben and host Mitch Goldman will listen to rare recordings of Al with Miles Davis and with Joe Henderson from the WKCR archives.

 

#WKCR #MitchGoldman #DeepFocus #BenPerowsky #AlFoster #JazzRadio #JazzInterview

 

Photo credit: Al_Foster Giacomo Petronio Trieste, Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org-licenses-by-sa-2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Liberty Ellman on John McLaughlin part 2: The One Truth Band? Zakir Hussain? Trilok Gurtu? Miles Davis?? WOT?!"Is he serious?"

"I guess he must be.  I mean, he definitely said it."

"Well, I have to hear this...".

Liberty Ellman on John McLaughlin part 2: The One Truth Band? Zakir Hussain? Trilok Gurtu? Miles Davis?? WOT?!"Is he serious?"

"I guess he must be.  I mean, he definitely said it."

"Well, I have to hear this...".

Liberty Ellman on John McLaughlin part 2: The One Truth Band? Zakir Hussain? Trilok Gurtu? Miles Davis?? WOT?!"Is he serious?"

"I guess he must be.  I mean, he definitely said it."

"Well, I have to hear this...".

Just a suggestion: if you're going to name your band (in Hindi), "Absolute protector of the universe beyond human comprehension and all attributes," you'd better have the nuts to back it up. I mean, your stuff had better be incontrovertibly immaculate. You had better be doing something no one else has ever done and that no one else will do for at least another 50 years. You would look like a complete ass if you delivered anything less than that nearly impossible achievement.

In this edition of Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus from 2016 with guest Liberty Ellman, find out if John McLaughlin is revered to this day by every knowledgeable plectrist or is a complete laughing stock (hint: no one's laughing and Mahavishnu Orchestra's reign is unending).

And do the WKCR archives deliver unassailable evidence that even the band's greatest fans have never heard? What kind of a question is that?!

#WKCR #MitchGoldman #DeepFocus #LibertyEllman #JohnMcLaughlin #MahavishnuOrchestra #JazzRadio #JazzInterview

Photo credit: JohnMcLaughlin - Zirkus Krone, Munich, West Germany - 1973 June 9 PublicDomain File

Just a suggestion: if you're going to name your band (in Hindi), "Absolute protector of the universe beyond human comprehension and all attributes," you'd better have the nuts to back it up. I mean, your stuff had better be incontrovertibly immaculate. You had better be doing something no one else has ever done and that no one else will do for at least another 50 years. You would look like a complete ass if you delivered anything less than that nearly impossible achievement.

In this edition of Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus from 2016 with guest Liberty Ellman, find out if John McLaughlin is revered to this day by every knowledgeable plectrist or is a complete laughing stock (hint: no one's laughing and Mahavishnu Orchestra's reign is unending).

And do the WKCR archives deliver unassailable evidence that even the band's greatest fans have never heard? What kind of a question is that?!

#WKCR #MitchGoldman #DeepFocus #LibertyEllman #JohnMcLaughlin #MahavishnuOrchestra #JazzRadio #JazzInterview

Photo credit: JohnMcLaughlin - Zirkus Krone, Munich, West Germany - 1973 June 9 PublicDomain File

Just a suggestion: if you're going to name your band (in Hindi), "Absolute protector of the universe beyond human comprehension and all attributes," you'd better have the nuts to back it up. I mean, your stuff had better be incontrovertibly immaculate. You had better be doing something no one else has ever done and that no one else will do for at least another 50 years. You would look like a complete ass if you delivered anything less than that nearly impossible achievement.

In this edition of Mitch Goldman's Deep Focus from 2016 with guest Liberty Ellman, find out if John McLaughlin is revered to this day by every knowledgeable plectrist or is a complete laughing stock (hint: no one's laughing and Mahavishnu Orchestra's reign is unending).

And do the WKCR archives deliver unassailable evidence that even the band's greatest fans have never heard? What kind of a question is that?!

#WKCR #MitchGoldman #DeepFocus #LibertyEllman #JohnMcLaughlin #MahavishnuOrchestra #JazzRadio #JazzInterview

Photo credit: JohnMcLaughlin - Zirkus Krone, Munich, West Germany - 1973 June 9 PublicDomain File

If tenor saxophone giant Lester Young said someone has "big ears" it was a high compliment.  It meant they were hearing everything that was there to be heard.  They had acumen and they had discernment (and what higher aspiration is there for a studious listener?).  

 

If Lester Young had heard the music of guitarist Gary Lucas, he would certainly have cited his auricular capaciousness. Captain Beefheart? Sure.  1930's Chinese pop? Certainly.  Classical composition? Why not.  Gary takes all his food on the same plate, and everything is the subject of profound scrutiny. 

 

In this Deep Focus from 2018, Gary Lucas turns his attention to Charles Mingus.  Know this, adepts and newbies alike: nothing will prepare you for the impact of what you will hear on this show (unless, of course, you heard this show in 2018).  

 

#WKCR #JazzAlternatvies #DeepFocus #MitchGoldman #GaryLucas #CharlesMingus @JazzRadio #JazzInterview

 

Photo credit: Charles_Mingus_1976 Tom Marcello Webster - New York - CC BY-SA 2.0

If tenor saxophone giant Lester Young said someone has "big ears" it was a high compliment.  It meant they were hearing everything that was there to be heard.  They had acumen and they had discernment (and what higher aspiration is there for a studious listener?).  

 

If Lester Young had heard the music of guitarist Gary Lucas, he would certainly have cited his auricular capaciousness. Captain Beefheart? Sure.  1930's Chinese pop? Certainly.  Classical composition? Why not.  Gary takes all his food on the same plate, and everything is the subject of profound scrutiny. 

 

In this Deep Focus from 2018, Gary Lucas turns his attention to Charles Mingus.  Know this, adepts and newbies alike: nothing will prepare you for the impact of what you will hear on this show (unless, of course, you heard this show in 2018).  

 

#WKCR #JazzAlternatvies #DeepFocus #MitchGoldman #GaryLucas #CharlesMingus @JazzRadio #JazzInterview

 

Photo credit: Charles_Mingus_1976 Tom Marcello Webster - New York - CC BY-SA 2.0

In the Jazz world, Steve Lacy is like Broadway: doesn't fit neatly into the grid but, wherever he intersects it, magical things happen. No wonder he loved Monk and no wonder Phillip Johnston is an acolyte. Phillip and I put Steve Lacy in Deep Focus.  Roswell Rudd's trombone also contributes some open-handed wonder.#WKCR #DeepFocus #MitchGoldman #PhillipJohnston #SteveLacy #JazzRadio #JazzInterview #JazzPodcastPhoto credit: Steve Lacy by Lioneldecoster, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org-licenses-by-sa-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.jpeg