Episode 75:: Billy Bang (in Memoriam)

On April 11, 2011, the Jazz world lost one of its more unique voices, in a field that is over-crowded with genius, ability, and artistry. It's not that violinist and composer Billy Bang was, or ever had been, an essential part or nexus of modern Jazz. In fact quite the contrary - up until April 11th, he existed, as he ever has, more comfortably on the fringes: without a major record label, playing most often in bars and small clubs, and working with young unknown sidemen.

And yet Billy Bang was an important figure in modern Jazz - the living legacy of Jazz violin, a scion of the 1970s New York avant garde loft scene, and a musician who led the final sessions of such luminous contemporaries as Sun Ra and Frank Lowe.

Billy Bang had the rare gift to bring every ounce of his humanity into his music, and to share his challenges, triumphs, peace and joy with those willing to listen.

Are you?

Audio

Playlist

1. Billy Bang - Rainbow Gladiator - Live at Carlos'
2. Billy Bang Sextet - The Nagual Julian - The Fire From Within
3. Billy Bang - Saigon Phunk - Vietnam: Aftermath
4. Billy Bang - Reflections - Vietnam: Reflections
5. Billy Bang - Silent Observation - Big Bang Theory
6. Billy Bang Quintet feat. Frank Lowe - At Play in the Fields of the Lord - Above & Beyond
7. Billy Bang - Dance of the Manakin - Prayer for Peace

::WSRP:: Bang on!

Episode 74:: RxTX - Live From Studio A

For many years (2001-2008), in addition to my school work, part-time job, social activities, anti-social mischief, and eventual full-time employment, I had the great (and often frustrating) honor to be the Executive Producer for a weekly radio concert series called Live From Studio A.

While it was only rarely broadcast live, and in fact was recorded in Studio B since fall 2002, the name otherwise accurately captures the gist of what it was: a group of amateur sound techs and music fans brought in bands from the South Texas region (San Antonio, Austin, Houston); setup a bevy of microphones in a large, empty room; pressed the record button, and an hour later slapped the resulting audio onto the airwaves at 91.7 fm.

As you might imagine, the bands - and us technicians - had our good, and not-so-good weeks. Things broke, people were late, and the show must go on. In looking back, now 3+ years removed from my last session, I realized a few things:
1) I have probably listened to these 200-ish local bands more than anyone except their rotating drummers or ex-girlfriends (combined).
2) There was some darn fine music that I was lucky enough to sneak my way into experiencing.

After some ego desensatizing (the audio quality is not amazing, and at times embarrassing bad for someone who made a career in radio) and some soul-searching (the songs I love most are not necessarily the best), I am endeavoring to share them with you in recurring subseries of this radioblog we'll call Recommended Texas, or RxTx, devoted exclusively to this hyper-niche.

I don't expect to "change your mind" about TX music, or to "open new worlds" of musical possibility. These are local bands - some more talented than others - but none of them the next Beatles, Sex Pistols or (god forbid) Vampire Weekend.

My point is to commend the scores of struggling, often very talented musicians, across the country who continue to define their own respective scenes against the harsh reality of limited expectations, and few substantial returns.

I do hope you enjoy.

Audio

::WSRP:: Surprisingly grassroots for a disembodied inorganic webradioblog.