Page McConnell on The Art of Improvisation

mcconnell 200x133 Page McConnell on The Art of ImprovisationFollowing an earlier post, continuing on the theme of the improvisational prowess that is Phish, I noticed  that the Phish.Net blog has revisited  the posting of keyboardist Page McConnell’s college thesis ‘The Art of Improvisation.’ Originally submitted upon completion of his undergraduate studies for Goddard College, the thesis was first presented publicly in 1992 via a fan-maintained ListServ. Marking the 24-Yr Anniversary of it’s submission it has been reposted it to the Phish.Net website.

Click to read the full text, which is not a terribly long read [via Phish.Net]

Economy is a trait I admire in my influences. Bill Evans, probably my most important jazz piano influence, plays an entirely different style than Basie yet he incorporates economy: “He has worked unceasingly to arrive at a clearer, less cluttered jazz conception, one with no false starts, no side issues, no merely showy licks.

If you have no clue what I’m talking about, and are looking for something to do tonight, I would highly suggest putting US$15 towards checking out tonight’s live broadcast of Phish’s performance from New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Spotlight On: Skriptah

MAM33stepsdown jay Copy 97x200 Spotlight On: SkriptahNow for a post I’ve wanted to do for a while but unfortunately have been a bit busy lately. For our last podcast / artist feature of 2011 we have tapped San Francisco’s ‘Skriptah.’

Skriptah’s sound keys on deep, so-called ‘eyes-down’ or the particularly loathsome term ‘dungeon.’ Perhaps resulting from his oft-cited hearing loss, his productions and selections call for the tracks you feel before you hear.

Skriptah has provided a mix for us, available for streaming or download via Soundcloud below. For the full track-list of the mix and the short Q&A we got with him check beneath the fold

Skriptah [ Soundcloud | Twitter | Facebook ]

Continue reading

My Mix for Seclusiasis

Twhorunit sept 200x200 My Mix for Seclusiasis he crew at Seclusiasis recently asked me to contribute a short mix for their Who Run It podcast series. I put together around 30 minutes of deeper house and techno stuff I have been feeling. This one was recorded the night of the height of the London rioting a few weeks hence the deep selection ending the mix. Thanks to Seclusiasis for letting me put this together and getting it out.

My section comes in around 1:02:00 if you wonder how it breaks down. Please download and share!

To Stream The MIx Click Here

Who Run It Podcast feat. Sonkin / Krueger / Shortstack [Direct Download]

Bass Players As Better Producers

A question I have always pondered, why many notable producers seem to come from the world of bass players. Brian Wilson, Randy Jackson, Roger Waters… regardless of if you enjoy the music these people made, there is something about the fidelity of the recordings they produced.

A great watch here courtesy of ASCAP with some words from Don Was, Marcus Miller, and Larry Klein on groove, humility, and sameness of pop and jazz production.

Good sounding music is the greatest.

Fall Creek Boys Choir

This collaboration between James Blake and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon just premiered on BBC Radio 1. If you missed it or want to listen again, listen below. The track will be available for purchase through iTunes beginning 29 August

Terror Danjah – Full Attention (HDR006)

td fullattention 200x200 Terror Danjah   Full Attention (HDR006)New material from grime legend Terror Danjah on his Hardrive label with the club oriented vocal track ‘Full Attention.’ A full review, preview, and free mix from Terror Danjah await beneath the fold.

Continue reading

SomaFM OS X App Free for Limited Time

groovesalad120 SomaFM OS X App Free for Limited Time

Longtime Internet radio mainstay SomaFM have recently launched a native player to the Mac OS X App Store, while they do also maintain an iOS app, as well as Android and Palm devices, this app is designed for streaming from the computers running the desktop flavor Mac OS X.

Grab it in the next day or two to catch it while it is still a free download, put on some Groove Salad, and float the afternoon away.

Download the Mac OS X native SomaFM Player [via App Store]

SomaFM [ Website | Facebook | Twitter ]