Sad news this morning — the queen of American folk music, former Afrobella of the Week, Odetta, has passed away at the age of 77. The New York Times obituary was truly touching, and Time Magazine has written a beautiful obit, which reads in part: “Her death on Dec. 2 in New York City at…
Jams
Sparrow Sang For Me
Almost exactly a year ago, I had the interview of a lifetime. The all time calypso king of the world, The Mighty Sparrow was set to come to Miami for a special show at the Arsht Center called Calypso at Dirty Jim’s. Non-Caribbean readers, let me explain how big this was for me. Sparrow is…
Fitzroy, Music, And Hair As Expression
Living in Miami for a decade has had its benefits — most notable of which has been a collection of really intelligent, talented, wonderful friends. One of the coolest people in the city (in my humble opinion), is Jason Fitzroy Jeffers. When I first got to know Jason, he was a respected local journalist. Then…
RIP, Alton Ellis
Sad news in the reggae world tonight, as one of Jamaican music’s pioneers has passed away. Rest in peace, Alton Ellis, the godfather of rocksteady. According to the
Barackin’ Out
When I first heard Jay Z was putting on a free concert for Barack Obama, I went on a mission. I contacted a posse of friends to go with. When I heard that tickets were going out to Campaign for Change offices Thursday morning, I planned to get to work late. But instead I stood…
How Late Am I to the Sam Sparro Party?
Was I under a rock of some kind? Since 2007? Courtesy of Best Week Ever, I just discovered the music of Sam Sparro this weekend, and fell head over heels for this Australian boy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra6t2n1H7KU Anyone who can cover Estelle that well gets a thumbs up from me. I like but don’t love 21st Century…
Throwback Thursday — That Retro Thing
My homies over at Soulbounce raised the concern that the current wave of retro soul is just as trendy as that Godawful inescapable auto-tune madness I’m confronted with every time I flip on 99 Jamz here in Miami. I’m sorry, friends who are fans…but I can snap my fingaz to T-Pain only so much. I…
Worth a Click
I wouldn’t describe myself as a crazy cat lady… I think having more than one cat is definitely the first step, no? Just the one is enough for me, thanks. Max gives me plenty of stress and stuff to clean up… and now he’s famous! My cat Max is officially a LOLcat! I submitted this…
Throwback Thursday — One in a Million
Seven years ago, on August 25, 2001 — the music world lost one of its brightest up and coming stars. Aaliyah’s death affected me profoundly then, and still her shadow looms so large over the music scene now. Who can blame lesser emulators for trying to jack her swagger? I just spent the evening browsing…
Throwback Thursday — A Decade Since Miseducation
The Root just did an amazing trilogy of Lauryn Hill tributes to commemorate a decade since Miseducation dropped. Rebecca Walker asks five questions (including the one everyone has been asking for almost a decade now, Are you coming back?), The Confessions of Lauryn Hill — lyrical analysis that revealed her true feelings about fame and…