Dream Variants: July 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Latin Jazz

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Cuento Na Ma: Cuban Music in the Congo

Franco & OK Jazz covered an old Cuban son by Miguelito Cuni beautifully. They even sing the original in Spanish though the pronunciation may be off... The main difference here is the guitar usually plays what the pianist would play in Cuban son or son montuno. Franco does an excellent job with guitar and the bassist almost sounds...funky in the American 1960s since.

Here is their cover, a Johnny Pacheco cover from the 1960s, and the original Cuban song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts8XO3Sd7-8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gf58YifSZc

Boogaloo Avenue, New York, New York

A list of my favorite boogaloo songs. Boogaloo mixed Latin and African American R&B together and was a brief craze among blacks, Latinos, and whites. They rubbed shoulders (and other things) at the dance clubs with these hot numbers! The genre is also the first truly Nuyorican music, largely created by Puerto Rican and other Latino musicians in New York during the 1960s. Moreover, the genre also influenced jazz in the late 1960s since many funky cuts recorded by cats like Lee Morgan (check out "The Sidewinder") and Lou Donaldson reflected this funky, Latin-influenced music. The genre is similar to Latin soul, or brown-eyed soul, but boogaloo refers to Puerto-Rican (and Cuban) folks in New York in the 1960s. Brown-eyed soul or Latin soul could refer to any R&B-styled music by Latino musicians, such as Mexican-American soul in southern California. Though it's great dancing music, it is also very repetitive and too formulaic, which may have been part of the reason it fell out of favor for salsa, which was more 'traditionally' Latin and had the institutional support of Latin radio and record labels such as Fania in New York.

1. Joe Cuba's "El Pito (I'll Never Go Back to Georgia) is a classic. The English part of the title comes from a chant in Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo's "Manteca." "I"ll never go back to Georgia!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdHu26Hb9Co&feature=related

2. Pete Rodriguez's "I Like It Like That" is a classic that must be heard. Another Puerto-Rican jam everyone back in the late 1960s got down to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIJfdVPACyw&feature=related

3. Joe Cuba's "Bang Bang"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphaqVoV9RA&feature=related

4. Joe Cuba's "Oh Yeah!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLsSV7sQnG8&feature=related

5. Joe Cuba's "Sock It To Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyVYJo8ztLs

6. Joe Cuba's "Push Push Push"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TClq1ASjIHw&feature=related

7. Joe Cuba's version of "Oye Como Va" is not boogaloo but I like it so much I'm going to put it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dc_MyPe1vg

8. Joe Bataan, who is not even Puerto-Rican or Latino, but black and filippino, also have several great Latin soul/boogaloo cuts. "Special Girl" is one example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zisYy2a2QQ

9. Bataan's "So Fine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceMM6jakjnI

10. Bataan's "Gypsy Woman"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhOIpQP8yY&feature=related

11. Bataan's "Subway Joe"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDsVJCS2g3Y&feature=related

12. Bataan's "If I Were King" really is Latin soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uazOlPW4KA&feature=related

13. Bataan's "Fuego" is really more salsa than boogaloo but quite good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evum7Ob_x6o&feature=related

14. Ray Terrace's "El Cuchy Frito Man" refers to the vendor of fried pork
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb6-GeENG_w
Ray Barreto also did a nice version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFAk7k0C1BE

15. L'African Team's "Africa Boogaloo" is a Latin jazz fusion group composed of African musicians, including Manu Dibango. Interesting to hear the funk guitar in this. The singer was in African Jazz, as was Dibango, which was Franco's OK Jazz's biggest rival in the Congolese music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6BwIQ596hw

16. Lee Morgan's "Untitled Boogaloo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2eO6nJkBWk

17. Lee Morgan's "The Rumproller"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQy2Fborfek&feature=related

18. Morgan's "The Sidewinder"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf1Eo-6sDIE&feature=related

19. Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" is a Herbie Hancock cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpicRePazIw

20. Santamaria's "Para Ti"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3VD6Uhnxo

21. Monguito Santamaria's "Groovetime"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Whc5vasFNc

22. Mongo Santamaria's "We Got Latin Soul"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wartkumrJc8&feature=related

23. Pete Terrace's "Shotgun Boogaloo" is a cover of the more famous Motown Jr. Walker's hit.
ww.youtube.com/watch?v=reb3DenS7z8&feature

24. Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease" influenced Carlos Santana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ENz_yZO4UU

25. Ray Barreto's "Midnight Boogaloo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qE3ypeup0g&feature=related

26. Bobby Valentin's "Use It Before You Lose It" is my jam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VPgAZhXSGA

27. Joe Cuba's "My Man Speedy" has that great "jive-talkin" in the beginning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBAcNx2TxS0

28. The Latin Souls' "The Party's Over"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTpcTg1i6MU

29. Hector Rivera's "At the Party"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMq82nK5fIY

30. Ray Barretto's "El Watusi"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Sp3wgpqP0

31. Pete Rodriguez's "Oh, That's Nice"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o94ONWhKwX4

32. Pete Rodriguez's "Azucar"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGkhl8IEaeY&feature=related

33. Hector Rivera's "Playing It Cool"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFA6ii5cPs&feature

34. Ray Barretto's "Mercy, Mercy, Baby"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guqlhpKgxFs&feature=related

35. Ray Barretto's "Soul Drummers"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPWjwWhLdc4&feature=related

36. Ray Barretto's "Deeper Shade of Soul"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT6_iY0QUk0&feature=related

37. Ray Barretto's "New York Soul"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tGLELUSi2c

38. Joe Torres' "Get Out of My Way"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-IrOULxwwY

39. Maravillas de Mali's "Boogaloo Sera Mali" is an interesting Malian band's interpretation of the form
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaqn_gi-dmk

40. Ray Barretto's "Babalu"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKVqlBts_1s

41. Joe Cuba's "Do You Feel It"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBjycDQE1vI&feature=related

42. Joe Cuba's "To Be With You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBWgwc7T5PY&feature=related

43. Joe Cuba's "The Talk About Luv"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS-9wLI3zoY&feature=related

44. Joe Cuba's "What a Baby"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS-9wLI3zoY&feature=related

45. Joe Cuba's "Gimme Some Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNSTDaITU_c&feature=related

46. Willie Bobo's "I Don't Know"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=Tv3JiOGVemA&NR=1

47. Willie Bobo's "It's Not Unusual"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ijT82WgOs&feature=related

48. Joe Cuba's "Psychedelic Baby"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHzY7xlFb5I

49. Cannonball Adderley's "Jive Samba" is based on samba rhythms but is arguably "boogaloo" because of the fusion of Latin and jazz/R&B.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFK4tfQX9Ho

50. Lee Morgan's "Cornbread"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpaBpm3_R-8

51. Art Blakey's "Calling Ms. Khadija" was composed by Lee Morgan and follows the blues/R&B and Latin fusion part of boogaloo although it is jazz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1iYARikFJg

52. Willie Colon's "El Malo" is more proto-salsa but interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoNHe8BKc0o

53. Willie Colon's "Skinny Papa" is more of the boogaloo genre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvjCtKwjsXs

54. Tito Puente's "Fat Mama" was the inspiration for the above tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDCJX_RQTC0

55. Willie Colon's "Willie Baby"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23m4tSSKndg

56. Willie Colon's "Willie Whopper"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Vc7f3toNs

57. Lou Donaldson's "Alligator Boogaloo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa5FfnqF24w

58. Ralph Robles' "Come and Get It"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cogVUr8NEk8&feature=related

59. Ralph Robles' "Soul Nitty Gritty"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sNwfQwwRq0

60. Monguito Santamaria's "Hey Sister" may remind people of a Beatles song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg7gWENUGLM

61. Orlando Marin's "Out of My Mind"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs4rNwQOt9g

62. The Lebron Brothers' "Lets's Get Stoned"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SWmABCfn6Q

63. Charlie Palmieri's "Cab Driver"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smh0mEfd4Kw

64. Johnny Colon's "You Gotta Love Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HesI80NYsKs

65. Pete Rodriguez's "Pete's Boogaloo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBOkoHnSxIY&feature=related

66. The Lebron Brothers' "Boogaloo Lebron"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idHvYIjsDAg

67. Pete Bonet's "Puerto Rican Soul"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SUhVked4BM

68. The Fantastic Johnny C's "Boogaloo Down Broadway"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48FY89F4i6g

69. Monguito Santamaria's "El Dorado"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO4yIkpMsJA

70. Monguito Santamaria's "Mi Guajira"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YvtvyWhLs

71. Monguito Santamaria's "Work Out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbcbl-SMujc

72. Monguito Santamaria's "Boogaloo Sabroso"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAXSSMNuToA

73. Monguito Santamaria's "Beans and Greens"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWgGgBPch0Y

74. Mongo Santamaria's cover of "Cold Sweat" is really Latin funk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVOI3HdiqNM&feature=related

75. Joe Bataan's "Mambo de Bataan"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R167uckNyZ0

76. Ismael Rivera's "Ismael Y Monchito"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLXg7FU3mBc

77. Charlie Palmieri's "Boogaloo Mania"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSdvVYWbwtI

78. Bobby Valentin's "Batman's Boogaloo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugbmsbb5aS4

79. Gilberto Sextet's "Good Lovin"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm-DrBk1umM

80. Joe Bataan's "Under the Streetlamp"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLb3RS77QJM

81. Johnny Colon's "Mira Ven Aca"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WV8RpT5o_w&feature=related

82. Spanglish Fly's "The Popo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkRscmJ9muA

83. Johnny Colon's "Boogaloo Blues"

84. Joe Bataan's "It's a Good Feeling (Riot)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poFXwf25TNo

85. Joe Bataan's "Magic Rose"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEacetKnxcE

86. Johnny Colon's "Boogaloo Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQm-QzJ7ig

87. Johnny Colon's "Guantanamera"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23BHGZzQdwY

88. Joe Torres' "La Bruja Negra"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_xr8WL3wb4&feature=related

89. Ray Barretto's "Do You Dig It"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pa14-obu1c

90. Joe Torres' "Soul Cha"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOeHEqLGL8Q

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Amazing Song: Franco et le TP OK Jazz's "Tcha Tcha Tcha de Mi Amor

Amazing song with lyrics partly in Spanish. Franco plays some nice guitar licks as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RKxe0z4s08

Another gem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kez8AxEXZA

Monday, July 23, 2012

African Jazz's "Table Ronde" and the End of Belgian Colonialism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDXC0yK31M
A classic composed in honor of Congolese independence in 1960.
"Table Ronde
Independence"

"Independence Cha Cha" was also written in honor of Congolese independence from Belgium and African anti-imperialism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reModLpEloc
“Indépendance cha-cha. Tozoui,              “Here we are, independent at last,
Oh! Kimpuanza cha cha, Tubakidi,          Long love Liberty, cha-cha,
Oh! Table Ronde cha cha, Tua gagné       Victory at the political roundtable,
Oh! Dipanda cha-cha, Tozui e e.                Long Live independence, We have won“

"Africa Mokili Mobimba" is also about African Jazz all over the world, all over the Congo. "Africa!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpkOaVMm14o

Vive le Congo! Vive Lumbumba et l'Afrique libre! Vive la rumba Congolaise!

"Vive Patrice Lumumba" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0Y8Q7Di6Q&feature=BFa&list=PL07E8ABE39E65D5ED

"MNC Uhuru" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2A726KAof8&feature=autoplay&list=PL07E8ABE39E65D5ED&playnext=1

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Best of Jorge Ben Jor

Jorge Ben's "Chove Chuva" and "Onde Anda o Meu Amor"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlnTUJ8JCo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsFhqAjWRt8

"Patapatapata" and "A Tamba" and "Tim Dom Dom"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlUAyvgpDLo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ypphRODPQU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olZ_KpDEOYQ

"Mas que Nada" and "Rosa, Menina, Rosa"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDlVZNfxVtE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e4aF8ZczuQ&feature=related

"Agora Ninguem Chora Mais" and "Vem, Morena, Vem"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naAalzfvZKM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HykvKnGaomM

"Que Pena" and "Take It Easy, My Brother Charles"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i46osqhlcY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tihuetXMG8U&feature=related

"Por Causa de Voce," "Capoeira," "Deixa o menino brincar, "Quase Colorida"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpYFL3qtysI&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y85xQPE8SQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sinIWw2gPw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdo2xyof9Aw&feature=related

"Pulo, Pulo,""Carnival Triste," "Jorge Well,""Anjo Azul," "Bebette Vaobora," "Lalari Olala,""Frases," "Cade Tereza,""Todo Colorida," 'Guerreiro do Rei"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5olPL7Dc7NA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neX6i_epnj8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96_jUOxUrXc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt2ZaFxPEuE&feature=related

http://soundcloud.com/acaua_fonseca/03-lalari-olala-jorge-ben

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6MjMT51IU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiDJr6duECw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV7m7mfZ09U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TuUtLOSMlc

"Bom mesmo e Amar" and "Pais Tropical"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gssbacOiXbg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoca1Jb33Ts

"Criola" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3w8MFpZ8CU

"Telefone de Brotinho" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5zckR95Dcc

"Nena Nana" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuNMduC-n0M

"Negro e lindo" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0OUcpjMaGU

"Xica da Silva" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P-85wYV-e8

"Cassius Marcellus Clay"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzO830fOpiY

"Samba Menina" http://grooveshark.com/s/Samba+Menina/2sKgS6?src=5

"Menina Gata Augusta" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc8Jr9sgiKE

"Quero Esquecer Voce" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkCSnQNsJLg&feature=related

"Gabriela" http://grooveshark.com/s/Gabriela/2sJUNA?src=5

"Samba Legal" http://grooveshark.com/s/Samba+Legal/2sJWxC?src=5

"Bicho do Mato" http://grooveshark.com/s/Bicho+Do+Mato/2sK14X?src=5

"Descalco no Parque" http://grooveshark.com/s/Descalso+No+Parque/2sKada?src=5

"Acendo o Fogo" http://grooveshark.com/s/Acendo+O+Fogo/2sK48Q?src=5

"Maria Conga" http://grooveshark.com/s/Maria+Conga/2sK2gA?src=5

"O Homem Que Matou" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38POy8X5Ewg

"Mulher Brasileira" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQDVzMLb8J0

"A Princesa e o Plebeu" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oTltl-iVOs&feature=related

"Vou de Samba com Voce" http://grooveshark.com/s/Vou+De+Samba+Com+Voc/327tKf?src=5

"Na Bahia Tem" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NBG7vrAtck

"Vamos Enbora" http://grooveshark.com/s/Vamos+Enbora+and+quot+U+u+and+quot/442OiG?src=5

"Saido do Porto" http://grooveshark.com/s/Saida+Do+Porto/2sJVPo?src=5

"Os Alquimistas Estao Chegando" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6WADHwxQpA

"Uala Ualala" http://grooveshark.com/s/Uala+Ualala/3MpfcK?src=5

"E So Sambar" http://grooveshark.com/s/S+Sambar/33w2lf?src=5

"Comanche" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuF1w1SYGfo

"Magnolia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwakAsxLIo

"Oba La Vem Ela" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YikALKVpb0o&feature=related

"Ponta da Lanca Africana" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gunfjJY6o-Q

"Hermes Tresmigisto" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKhJXF5Mqds

"Terezinha" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpj5ey-ZEw

"Tereza" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpj5ey-ZEw

"Quem Foi Que Roubou A Sopeira"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NamLshTpWgA&feature=related

"My Lady" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v_74VVDMOs&feature=related

"Palomaris" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIZfgQNkLSE&feature=related

"Rita Jeep" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1qxBKYlob8&feature=related

"Maria Domingas" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2468asePF8Q&feature=related

"Dorothy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsvTZp2cgU&feature=related

"Aleluia E Nome De Mulher" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v5QFKrvY3E

"Salva Se Que Puder" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3BW-wm12D4&feature=related

"Luz Polarizada" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZUOAnV04SU&feature=related

"Domingaz" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGSd-uyb39U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnvkhetHGPw&feature=related

"Charles, Anjo 45" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItWwSu9CLY4

'Minha Teimosia..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdbesA6x-es

"Quem Mandou (Pe Na Estrada)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ajNnEjxQrc&feature=related

"Filhos de Gandhi" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7MHBZmdvis&feature=related

"Essa e Pra Tocar no Radio"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEbx-8CYw3o&feature=related

"Taj Mahal" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-MWkMb07A&feature=related

"Meu Glorioso Sao Cristovau" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3oPXKQqO24&feature=related
"Nega" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZg-qS9M494

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Genius of Spike Lee: Remembering School Daze

Spike Lee's School Daze is a classic in black film. Like most of Spike's 1980s output, I highly recommend this film to anyone interested in true black film (not Tyler Perry). This film is focused on a HBCU college in the South during the 1980s, at the height of anti-apartheid movements on college campuses and the struggle for funding that many HBCUs find themselves engaged in. Moreover, the film looks at colorism, class, and internal racial conflicts amongst African-American college students. In addition, Giancarlo Esposito, Samuel Jackson, the light-skinned black woman from Martin, Jasmine Guy, and Laurence Fishburne star in this film, alongside Spike Lee playing a nerdy character entering a fraternity. The film also explores particular African-American cultural traditions such as stepping, music, and the conflict between college-educated blacks and those unable to attend.

This particular clip features dark-skinned, natural hair black women competing with light-skinned sistas who straighten their hair. The beautiful jazz song was composed by Lee's father, Bill Lee, a jazz bassist who has also played with folk legends such as Bob Dylan and Odetta. The choreography is also well done and these women are dancing their hearts out. The true genius of this song, whose lyrics were composed by Spike, is the strong black nationalist sentiment woven into the entire film. Lee satirizes light-skinned black women who try to forget their blackness and look down on darker-skinned blacks, using offensive epithets such as "jiggaboo" and invoking the image of the mammy to ridicule black sisters. There is no doubt that Spike Lee sympathizes with us darker-complected Negroes and calls for unity among all blacks while simultaneously arguing against a monolithic blackness.

In Spike's mind, the black student body and administration must wake up, remain united by transcending the petty differences between us, and remain committed to a politicized blackness that maintains the collective racial uplift ideology embedded in the history of HBCUs. Lee's black nationalist ideology demands black self-respect, a dedicated desire to uplift blacks culturally, socio-economically, and doing so on the international level (hence the desire by Fishburne's character's desire for divestment from apartheid South Africa). Lee also wishes to demonstrate the persistence of racial uplift, a prevalent belief and practice among the black Talented Tenth to not forget their roots or the majority of African Americans still struggling.

Now, I have not seen this movie in two years and am now must watch it again. Rediscovering the hilarious "Good & Bad Hair" clip has rekindled my passion for Spike Lee's early work. Indeed, almost all of his early films are great, including She's Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Mo' Better Blues, etc. It's also nice to see Laurence Fishburne in a black film as well as Giancarlo Esposito's continued relationship with Spike. However, from a New York Times article recently in the paper, Esposito, who is half-Italian, divulged his disagreement with Spike's black nationalist vision and aesthetic. I'm curious to how Fishburne and Samuel Jackson perceive Spike's black nationalist aesthetic and ideology as well, since those are two actors I rarely see in black films. However, I must say that the black nationalist/Afrocentric assumption that all blacks who straighten their hair out of some desire to attain whiteness or distance themselves from their African heritage, though often grounded in truth, are unfair since many African-Americans simply like the style and different hair textures. Thus, it is problematic to call those black women "wannabe" although many of them probably do straighten their hair out of a conscious desire to avoid the pejorative connotations of nappy hair.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/theater/giancarlo-esposito-an-actor-known-for-divergent-roles.html?_r=1

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/spike-lee-project?before=1340985263
This review raises some important problems regarding the patriarchal black nationalist discourse that dominates Spike Lee's film. Though I agree that women in the film are portrayed in such a way that suggests they lack a political consciousness or awareness, whereas the men are involved in things beyond sexuality that include 'real issues' like fighting racism, apartheid, or poverty. I disagree with this writer's statement that the women are not politicized since the Afrocentric and Afro-headed women clearly have political motives for wearing their hair in a certain style or not. Nevertheless, there is legitimacy to the rather patriarchal world Lee always portrays without really criticizing on its sexism.

Other great scenes in School Daze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zv7Js0HK7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg8Oq_Sd3Bw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJOsjlXXfVo&feature=related

"Wake up!"

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Earl Lovelace's The Dragon Can't Dance

"But, for all his apparent casualness, he had read Marx and grounded on Fanon and Malcolm X and he was on the outskirts of what called itself a Socialist Movement, involving professionals and fellows from the University of the West Indies." (182)

Earl Lovelace’s The Dragon Can’t Dance, is widely considered one of the best novels to come out of not only Trinidad but the Caribbean. Indeed, it is a well-written, poetic novel about self-liberation from the colonial psyche set in the fictional slum of Calvary Hill in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Lovelace explores the impact of the colonial psyche and discovering one’s identity through multiple characters, such as the protagonist, Aldrick, Pariag, a man of Indian descent who leaves the countryside for Port-of-Spain, Philo, a calypso singer, and many others. Lovelace also uses Trinidadian dialect for dialogue combined with a standard English prose imbued with lyrical genius. Thus, the novel has some similar themes with Toni Morrison’s Tar Baby, specifically regarding how people of African descent respond to the extreme rationalism and regimented, authoritarian social orders and labor systems associated with plantation slavery and the industrial West.

Aldrick, the novel’s protagonist, initially saw the way of life of the people of the slums as the best response: avoiding the strict, western hegemonic rationality and devoting one’s life to idleness and living day to day. Son, in Morrison’s Tar Baby, has the same initial response as Aldrick, the dragon masquerader in Carnival, but through his relationship with Jadine, who wholly absorbs the Eurocentric mould, eventually is forced to make a decision altering his life forever. Likewise, Aldrick eventually realizes the errors of his past ways after partaking in hijacking and kidnapping of a police jeep and 2 officers, in a vain attempt to lift the consciousness of the people of Trinidad, demanding freedom, liberty, democracy. He acknowledges that driving around in a car, asking for freedom and respect will never end slavery or neocolonialism; in order to liberate the masses, people in Calvary Hill and other slums of Port-of-Spain must rise up by acting like free, human beings.

The false dichotomy of selling oneself for the so-called free, but troubled existence of idleness or giving into the Eurocentric approach to life, represented by Guy in the novel, will not bring liberation. Indeed, Lovelace also cleverly but not so subtly critiques Afrocentric, black nationalist, Afro-wearing blacks, socialists, and other self-proclaimed radicals who do nothing to seize their humanity.

Lovelace has a unique style and literary voice. I recommend this novel although it may be hard for those unaccustomed to Trinidadian culture, especially regarding food, language, and cultural elements pertaining to Carnival, calypso, and the multiracial character of Trinidad. This is seen in the novel through the mulatto, Cleothilda, and Pariag, the Indo-Trinidadian who wants to befriend Afro-Trinidadian Creoles in Calvary Hill but the ethnic differences continue to divide. Overall, this is a fascinating read that deserves multiple readings to truly comprehend the metaphor of Carnival for Trinidad’s persistent colonized mentality and the African-derived traditions influencing the masquerade and Carnival celebration. Moreover, with the focus on characters of lower socio-economic status, Lovelace depicts the lumpenproletariat as saviors of themselves, with the only avenue to liberation coming from themselves alone.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Pete Rodriguez's I Like It Like That

A very catchy number. As a friend of mine once said, "This is a toe-stomping number!" A boogaloo hit by a Puerto-Rican New York group.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIJfdVPACyw

Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Best of the Blues

"You Don't Love Me" by Willie Cobbs is an example of a great blues song in my opinion, but not the stereotypical type of blues most people think of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJMfYDUNCE

Bessie Smith's "I Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl" is a classic raunchy blues song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meuwKhPGItk

Nina Simone's tribute to the above song, "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" is also a great blues song in my opinion, even though it straddles R&B and blues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbKlvWvpD2g

Slim Harpo's "King Bee" is also a great raunchy blues number that more closely resembles the stereotypical guitarist/vocalist blues form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWLvm11MAaM

Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago" is a classic everyone knows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8hqGu-leFc

Billie Holiday's televised version of her own "Fine and Mellow" is a classic moment in blues/jazz history

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXRYdcQ6bbM

Art Blakey's "Moanin" is also a classic in hard bop, a sub-genre of jazz that emphasized blues and gospel influences in bebop that was the most popular form of jazz among African-American audiences in the 1950s and 1960s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXsnDvILmI

I also find Art Blakey's "Roots and Herbs" great, soulful bluesy jazz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fyjuvh2LHM

Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" is a well known blues standard. Classic Chicago blues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFxrLOVwsEE

Jimmy Smith's "The Sermon" is a good, but very long blues/jazz jam for fans of electric organs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw

Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin" is another great example of the blues form used in jazz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqwdRBWvPs0

Mingus's "Moanin" is possibly better than Art Blakey's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OSyznVDOY&feature=related

John Coltrane's "Dahomey Dance" is also quite good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CADclq82tlY

Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" is also a great bluesy jazz number

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WE2VbPAag

Bessie Smith's "Backwater Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgBWGR0E83Y

Bessie Smith's "Taint Nobody's Business If I Do" will take you back to early, urban blues which was dominated by black women singers with strong voices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cngx_KKiWE

Leadbelly's "The Bourgeois Blues" is a classic. Leadbelly is a legend in folk/blues music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6aHlN3wKI

Odetta's rendition of "Midnight Special" is also quite amazing. She's a black folk singer who started performing in the 1950s and led the folk music revival movement before Bob Dylan and other white folk singers became very popular. She has an amazing voice and sings spirituals, folk music, and blues. May she rest in peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZADA6p07K_A

Odetta's "Timber" ain't exactly blues but great folk singing. If more of the white folk singers had voices like hers I would listen to folk more often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2lx29CHyXE

John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" is also a blues classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wBDzQARQnQ

Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W232OsTAMo8

Miles Davis's "All Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5IlQtW33Zk

Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPdfPxAF8BM

Memphis Minnie's "When the Levees Break" was famously covered by Led Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5VmVvsjyKw

Thelonious Monk's "Straight No Chaser"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVb9e1DgKJ4

Alice Coltrane's "Turiya and Ramakrishna"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lg7pUCXxVo

Cannonball Adderley's "One for Daddy-o" is a great blues featuring Miles Davis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xx3YTu2ac

Charles Mingus's "Haitian Fight Song"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-GFi66qwK0

Mingus's "Hog Callin' Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv1Yewr6Z5s

Mingus's "So Long Eric"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sLOZ_ZClfc

Clifford Brown and Max Roach's "Blues Walk"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC2z9BNTFTM

Dizzy Gillespie's "Blue 'N Boogie"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C8n_gO72pQ

Hank Mobley's "Soul Station"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmtHdBPzi_w

Jackie McLean's "Riff Raff"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdpzCA6Sgb4

Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90kM0sXl8ug

Wayne Shorter's "Fee Fi Fo Fum"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hznTW4fVfY

Max Roach's "Driva Man"

http://www.youtube .com/watch?v=EpTKLan7Mm4

Miles Davis's "Walkin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbpqeevkhm0

Sonny Rollins's "Blue 7"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah-j6fALiGw

Otis Redding's "Rock Me Baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKpI3o-1CSM

Otis Redding's "Hawg For You Baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JzqCwvn8ck

Ray Charles' "Drown In My Own Tears"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ekn9dAYfz0

Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTruv-lVoLk

"Honky Tonk" by Bill Doggett and the James Brown funky cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq4NhcfurgU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmlmZzAhGMo

James Brown's "Night Train"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVgeEHfuG0

Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me" is based on a blues song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl5usKhGz60

Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vr-DR5HdKw

Andrew Hill's "Black Fire" is rooted in the blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSwhHSlOoBc

Bobby Hutcherson's "Ghetto Lights"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2mYaOkKQtI

Willie Dixon's "If the Sea Was Whiskey"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIWNHwedSQ

Dinah Washington's "Big Long Slidin' Thing" is another instance of raunchy blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaFfJSC6uz8

Dinah's "Long John Blues" is more raunchy blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOwgkMmlUc

Dinah's "Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH61ksZtpqM

Joe William's "Get Out My Life, Woman" is funky, big band jazz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpBdOmm35Sw

Etta James' "At Last" has so much soul and is based on doo wop/blues progressions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uunRdQ61M

John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM3PuXDpKiA

Lowell Fulson's "Three O'Clock Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD4aXYHZ1OE

Lowell Fulson's "Tramp" is so funky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X83QM-FknII

Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVIrTHqKm5w

Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAGoqMZRLB4

Bo Diddley's "I Am A Man" (based on Hoochie Coochie Man)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaC5ZKRjLUM

Syl Johnson's "Is It Because I'm Black"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JNwqRF32ZI

Howlin' Wolf's "Back Door Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTAc62476f4

Howlin' Wolf's "I Ain't Superstitious"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb8bzRZCGDY

Howlin' Wolf's "Wang Dang Doodle"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjUfu9-W-w&feature=related

Howlin' Wolf's "Spoonful"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQLdztuMd1g&feature=related

Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuM45h04jO4

Memphis Minnie's "Bumble Bee"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBzv5lWLQs

Etta James' "I Just Wanna Make Love With You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUgvVAFFzN8

Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Black Snake Moan"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8

Little Walter's "My Babe" is based on "This Train is bound for glory"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GID8SPUMDxQ

Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" (Baby, baby, baby...")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YApNirMC9gM

Muddy Waters' "I Just Wanna Make Love To You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnlvHP1AXPo

Etta James' "All I Could Do Was Cry"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il3h8qcDpBc

Leadbelly's "Midnight Special"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqgysixP_48&feature=related

Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW1SRJrNZZw&feature=related

Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightnin'"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLzTD2wTzg&feature=related

Robert Petaway's "Catfish Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9z7eCCRAtY&feature=related

Muddy Waters' "Rolling Stone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2hygHu8CI

Muddy Waters' "She Moves Me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmbTLK0yPB8&feature=related

Muddy Waters' "Baby Please Don't Go"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EOwNItKOyo&feature=related

Bobby Bland's "I'll Take Care of You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jDezN6ZudU

Muddy Waters' "You Can't Lose What You Never Had"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWNgzbgrDe0&feature=relmfu

Little Walter's "Fast Boogie"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vuKMxVkS24&feature=related

Little Walter's "Chicken Shack"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGfNC5-_x0M&feature=related

Little Walter's "Mellow Down Easy" (I Love this guy now, but only just discovered him tonight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h08d803TAJ0&feature=relmfu

Little Walter's "Moonshine Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edaKAaapG7I&feature=relmfu

Little Walter's "Off the Wall"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXMCAKYukbI

Little Walter's "You Better Watch Yourself"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuV6Cq5DvXk&feature=related

Little Walter's "I Got to Find My Baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT6Z8j8wRX0&feature=related

Little Walter's "Blue Midnight"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0Ku-gzHS8&feature=related

Little Walter's "I Don't Play"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgu6lyWish8&feature=related

Little Walter's "Everything Gonna Be Alright"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYXXb-82Ig&feature=related

Little Walter's "Juke"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiGpv-UeiDI&feature=related

Little Walter's "Last Night I Lost the Best Friend"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NlTI3qrZZk&feature=related

Little Walter's "Temperature"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yioq377_JMs&feature=related

Little Walter's "Thunderbird"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9TLyWUpW4o&feature=relmfu

Little Walker's "Shake Dancer"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K599WHlr8M&feature=relmfu

Little Walker's "Going Down Slow"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-IypdIECTY&feature=related

Little Walter's "Don't Have to Hunt No More"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4qJmNQo2s&feature=related

Little Walter's "Little Girl"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8i938eiUUc&feature=related

Little Walter's "Ah'w Baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV34AcnHua4&feature=related

Little Walter's "Flying Saucer"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nQOFEZniOo&feature=related

Little Walter's "Confessin' the Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shh-XofqG14&feature=related

Little Walter's "Nobody But You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTEA7RT3uDo&feature=related

Little Walter's "Teenage Beat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXVQzwVvSLA&feature=relmfu

Little Walter's "Lights Out"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycjUSvxcUrE&feature=relmfu

Little Walter's "Who"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfWQuMa668s&feature=related

Bobby Bland's "Farther Up the Road"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmW4tagQpVY

Bobby Bland's "Turn Your Love Light On"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omibc6VzRho

Slim Harpo's "Rainin In My Heart"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UxgUSSTmUU&feature=related

Slim Harpo's "Baby Scratch My Back"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezJY_qqz_x8&feature=related

Otis Redding's cover, "Scratch My Back"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefwZO-h2Sg

Dinah Washington's "Come Rain or Come Shine"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPgpcvbze7s

Dinah Washington's "Baby Get Lost"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv1IPiDf99g

Dinah Washington's "Evil Gal Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RatGuS-byw8

Dinah Washington's "Willow Weep for Me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swRYBqst9Yw&feature=related

Dinah Washington's "This Bitter Earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=judyCgN2daA

Dinah Washington's "Romance in the Dark"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=0yz_vmUrQiQ

Dinah Washington's "Teach Me Tonight"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iw-8vlSuFY&feature=related

Dinah Washington's "I Don't Hurt Anymore" is a country cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUx-fH4eDRw&feature=related

Art Blakey's "Politely"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG6Rm5j9m9g

Count Basie's "Swinging the Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYLbrZAko7E

Duke Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPgYo19AsQ&feature=related

Duke's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYgow060zOg

Dinah's "I Wanna Be Around"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6e-RlMkRx8&feature=related

Dinah's "Since I Fell For You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RhWkK0lODE&feature=related

Dinah's "Backwater Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoB_EP6vFzM

Dinah's "A Bad Case of the Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpb-1vH2F5g

Duke Ellington's "Blues of the Vagabond"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1-GhIrn6Nk

Dinah's "The Blues Ain't Nothing But a Woman Crying for Her Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgbTB2DXGw

Dinah's "Feel Like I Wanna Cry"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIdNKpOtuX8

Dinah's "I'll Never Be Free"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13lYoB7FDmM&feature=related

Dinah's "I Could Write a Book"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6XCS9MXYHY&feature=related

Dinah's "Our Love is Here to Stay"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IznqcHMVA6o&feature=related

Dinah's "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONzHE1d11v4

Bessie Smith's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo&feature=related

Solomon Burke's "Get Out My Life, Woman"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo&feature=related

Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working"