The New World Order... whatever that means.

So the times they are a changing, or not who really knows?  Then again who really even knows how this thing got started or where we are even at.  An interesting time no doubt and here is a link that  helps to explain: The Impact of the Financial Services Meltdown on the Global Economy and Private Equity Industry a presentation by The Carlyle Group.  Its a pretty easy to follow power point for those of you who are interested.  But the important part is the music, cause as we all know: there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.  Here are some songs about hard times and corporate greed that I think you may enjoy.

Down On Penny's Farm - The Bently Boys (from the Anthology of American Folk Music, compiled in 1942)

New World Water - Mos Def  (Black on Both Sides, 1999)

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Derek and The Dominos (?) 

Ash Weds. Sound Out-Loud Style!!

So I found out that today is ash weds. and I thought why not enlighten you as to how to make your own Jesus toast.    follow this link... 

And for the tech crowd.

And some music about the J man... kind of

Q-Tip The Rennaissance

This may be a little after the fact but I just got the new Q-Tip album, I had heard good things and was not disappointed.  It is a pretty soulful album, especially with appearances by Norah Jones and D'angelo.  I don't have much to say other than the fact that I like it.  Plus those moderately longer posts have been taking too much of my time.  At least this way I can easily keep the grammatical errors to a minimum.

Life is Better (feat. Norah Jones)- Q-Tip (2008)

Johnny is Dead - Q-Tip (2008)

You - Q-Tip (2008)

http://rapidshare.com/files/158629408/Q-Tip_-_The_Renaissance.part1.rar

Philip Cohran and The Artistic Heritage Ensemble

Yesterday was the anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X and I think it fit to share with you an album that I picked up over winter break.  It is a "The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music)" (1968) by Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble.  This is a really cool album that was recorded live at the Affro-Arts Theater in Chicago on Feb. 25 1968, just about three years after the death of Malcolm X.  Philip Cohran is a Chicago trumpet player that is probably most well known for his time with Sun Ra and the Arkestra and his involvement in the founding of the AACM (association for the advancement of creative musicians, I will probably talk more about this group in later posts).  Those of you from New York most likely know or can associate Cohran as the polygamist father of all seven of the brass players from the Hypnotic Brass Band aka that really great horn band in Union Square.   This album is really cool and serves as a sort of time capsule that allows us to listen to the sounds of Black Power, three years after the assassination of its most respected leader. So in this way the album can be seen as a kind of retrospective, but overall I think it is more representative of a time when jazz and urban black culture were undergoing a serious social movement affecting the consciousness of a people.  Black power in its essence was not a violent movement it was the embracing of "blackness" in rejection engendered white ideals to allow for the creation a black identity with power and self respect so as to oppose the effects of the uneven balance of power. The music takes elements from jazz, african, middle eastern, soul, and the avante garde  and blends them all into something that is undeniably relevant to the time. My favorite track is the last one (El Hajj Malik El Shabazz), not really because of the five minute drum solo but because of the epic vocals at that it builds to at the end... epic.

"The story of Brother Malcolm's life is one of the most widely known episodes in modern history. This tribute is based on Malcolm's life subdivided into four distinct parts and these four parts are a model of the four stages of the American Blacks elevation to a higher life."

-from the liner notes

Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble - Malcom X 

Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble - El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

Cheese? Yes please.

Cheesy music is usually a contentious topic among those who are passionate about music.  Naturally the issue of what constitutes good "bad" music is of a complicated nature.   So why not pose the question what constitutes good cheese?  Well this answer is simple.  Good cheese is old, smelly (e.g. funky), and expensive.  I find the same is good with cheesy music.  Maybe expensive doesn't really fit, but either way here is some cheesy music and a classic recipe for fondue originally from Gourmet Magazine in 1966 but I found on epicurious.com. 

Note: Kirsch is a brandy made from dark sour cherries and is a traditional flavoring in a swiss fondue (according to wikipedia) but is not necessary.  It is the final balance between the wine, cheese, and cornstarch that really determines the overall texture and thus success of the fondue. 

Cheese FondueGourmet | February 1966; reprinted September 2001

Yield: Makes 6 servings Total Time: 30 min   1 garlic clove, halved crosswise 1 1/2 cups dry white wine (preferably Swiss, such as Fendant) 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 teaspoons kirsch 1/2 lb Emmental cheese, coarsely grated (2 cups) 1/2 lb Gruyère , coarsely grated (2 cups) Accompaniment: cubes of French bread on fondue forks or long wooden skewers Special equipment: a fondue pot    Rub inside of a 4-quart heavy pot with cut sides of garlic, then discard garlic.  Add wine to pot and bring just to a simmer over moderate heat. Stir together cornstarch and kirsch in a cup. Gradually add cheese to pot and cook, stirring constantly in a zigzag pattern (not a  circular motion) to prevent cheese from balling up, until cheese is just melted and creamy (do not let boil).  Stir cornstarch mixture again and stir into fondue. Bring fondue to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to fondue pot set over a flame and serve with bread for dipping. A link to help you on your fondue journey... The Music: Nat Townsley Jr. - Sunshine on My Shoulders Dollar - Hand Held In Black and White Elton John - Island Girl

...and of course

Soul Music in The New Millenium: As bitchin as always, maybe more so

These days, (circa Marcus Newman's summer of soul 2008) I tend to think soul music is where its at, so needless to say I have been listening to a good bit of it lately. Among many purveyors of soul there are a lot of good soul blogs out there that are proliferating soul to the masses, the most popular one probably being Soul-Sides. Another central fixture in this trend, and what hooked me (along with the aforementioned declaration of a summer of soul), is Daptone Records founded by NYU alum (my alma mater, sooner or later) Gabirel Roth a.k.a. Bosco Mann. Essentially Daptone Records is how I learned to love soul. However I always did appreciate a good groove and was once a member of a funk band, and though there is a lot I can say about Daptone Records the woman who I owe my regards to is their flagship singer, none other than miss Sharon Jones. Her backing band, you may have heard of them, is the dap kings who were are most famously known for supplying Amy Winehouse with her signiture vintage sound. They are also on the Jay-Z remix from my first post. I saw Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings last Sat. a great show, it could've been more of a dance party than it turned out to be (too many white people I suppose). Sharon, however probably wont be making an appearance in New York for a while, but if you want to see some great live daptone soul in New York check out Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens of Brooklyn at the Fat Cat on Christopher st. and Seventh Ave. every Friday at eight.

Here are two soul tracks. One by my lady Sharon Jones (written by Bosco Mann). The other one is sung by the eminent Nina Simone, who I guess is not really a soul artist per-say but the album this song comes from is pretty soulful and I feel provides an appropriate contrast.

Sharon Jones - How Long Do I Have to Wait?(2005)

Nina Simone - He Ain't Comin Home No More(1967)

and why not another taste of Sharon...

Why Don't We All Stop Paying Taxes?

bad ass.

Also let me add that anyone who wishes to pass on a music selection, recipe, or even a complete post yourself they should feel free to send me thier contributions.

Celebratory Party Dip.

This is a simple recipe for guacamole, it is really more of a guide than a recipe but the proportions are approximately correct.  The opportunities for guacamole are endless... enjoy.

Josh's Guacamole

2 avocados

1 clove minced or pressed garlic (or one half onion, or some of both)

1/2 tomato (diced)

Juice of one lime

Salt to taste

1-2 tablespoons Cilantro (optional)

Jalapeno or other hot pepper to taste (optional)

1.  Cut avocados and remove flesh from pit into bowl.

2.  Mince (very finely chop) or press the garlic with a garlic press.  Add to avocado and mix/mash the garlic into the avocado.  

3.  To release the juices of the lime, roll the lime on the table firmly under your palm.  

Halve and squeeze the lime (no special machinery needed here just a strong hand or fork) into the slightly mashed avocado.  Pick out any seeds, and mix/mash further.

4.  Dice your tomato so that you have about 1/4 inch cubes and mix into guacamole.  

5.  Salt to taste, and add about 1 or two tablespoons of cilantro if you feel.  Also if you feel that your guacamole is perhaps a bit too tame, add some seeded and finely choped jalapeno (seranos, habaneros, and any other hot pepper could be use as well)