Playlist and Notes 19 September 2023

On today’s show, we talk about Billie Holiday and John Coltrane with Gil Scott-Heron, listen to blues from today and yesterday, and end up with some jazz that makes us feel like dancing. But first up, we celebrate Cannonball Adderly’s 95th birthday.

Cannonball Adderly – Stars Fell on Alabama

Bob James – Angela (The theme from “Taxi”)

Laufey – Everything I Know About Love

Gil Scott-Heron – Lady Day and John Coltrane

John Coltrane – Impressions (Take 1)

Billie Holiday – Gloomy Sunday

Keb’ Mo’ – Love in Vain

Niuver – Enamorados

Shemekia Copeland – Walk Until I Ride

Robert Johnson – Ramblin’ On My Mind

Quadro Nuevo – Mocca Swing

 

Notes:

Cannonball Adderly – b. 15 September 1928 in Tampa, FL; d. 8 August 1975. Playing alto sax, he was a major figure in the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. “Stars Fell on Alabama” is taken from the 1959 album he recorded with John Coltrane, but this is the only track on the album in which Coltrane does not play.

Laufey – b. 23 April 1999 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Check out her website and here’s a link to her current hit, “From the Start.”

Gil Scott-Heron – b. 1 April 1944 in Chicago; d. 2011. Poet, activist, and jazz musician. In 1970 record the spoken word piece, with accompaniment, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” which is seen as a crucial forerunner of the genre of rap. He was instrumental in helping to secure the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the early 1980s. His obituary from the Guardian in 2011.  

The BBC banned Billie Holiday's 1941 version of "Gloomy Sunday" because it was considered detrimental to wartime morale. 

Robert Johnson – b. 8 May 1911, Hazlehurst, MS; d. 1938. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “the first rock star.” His recording career on consisted of two sessions, on in San Antonio in 1936, the other in Dallas in 1937, where he recorded 29 distinct songs, and 13 alternative takes. Despite this limited output, the songs became fantastically influential and have been recorded by many artists.

 Shemekia Copeland – b. 1979, Harlem, NY. One of most important blues artists today, consistently winning awards and recording popular albums. Her 2020 release, Uncivil War, and Done Come Too Far released in 2022, were immensely successful.

 

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