Yeah, I know I have been incredibly lazy with regard to updating this site. Well, I have been doing quite a bit of work -- just not on this! Okay, let me see what I can offer you of interest:
First of all, I've had the recent privilege to study and play a bit with two acclaimed musicians from Guinea, West Afrika -- Abass Camara and Alisco Diaoubate, both of who live right here in the fair city of Fort Wayne, Indiana!
If you want something very different, try out the weekly Jazz & Blues Worship Service at Calvary Third United Presbyterian Church from about 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays. The service features live jazz, blues and a unique style message by Pastor Joe Fields.
Okay, I'm posting a new video this month, with a special thanks to my dear friend Hugo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. No, I haven't forgotten my pals up there! And, speaking of new, my apologies to folks who have tried to e-mail me from this site. The e-mails were being directed to a now defunct account. Hopefully, that is now corrected on the appropriate pages.
As always, I do like to recommend that you check out folks who are doing some different things. Open your mind, turn on, tune. . . wait a minute. That went you in the 60s! As George Clinton once said:
Meanwhile, check out these folk:
ART & COMICS
Real friendship never ends. I haven't seen this couple of dear friends face to face in quite some time, but we all keep in touch. Check out the work of renowned comic artist Denys Cowan at his website which is being designed by the one and only Pat "The Dark Angel" Gabriele, better known as the "Great and Powerful Angel" a renowned comic artist in his own right. (PS you wrestling fans really need to check out the Angel for some real history and real insight at Powerslam Collectibles!) Denys has long list of accomplishments and credits and currently is an exec at BET. He and the Angel have worked together for years. By the way, Angel is available for web design. You can reach him at his Myspace site by clicking on his picture below:
POETRY:
James Grabill of Portland, Ore. (Man, that place is loaded with talent although Jim is originally from Ohio, so we can claim him in the Midwest!)
The "Blues Poet Sterling Plumpp whose words make the music jump in your head and heart.
Lawson Fusao Inada, who has written some revealing poetry about Japanese American life in the US during WWII as well as other beautiful works that sing like a jazz improvisation.
Speaking of great poets, I finally can provide a link to the man who has helped me to see and hear in a different manner--my dear friend and brother George Kalamaras. He still doesn't have a website, but the link provided here will start you down an enlightening and fullfilling path in more ways than one. Let me also point out that it was George who so graciously provided me the opportunity to meet and perform with the three aforementioned greats. Check it out for yourself. By the way, George is working on at least one new book. Need I say you should pick it up as soon as the word is out.
Joe McIntosh, aka Joethecabdriver. Whoa! This is some killer stuff that's like poetic cinema verité. It's a harsh, sometimes politically correct, but dead on honest look at aspects of our society some folks would rather we forget exists. "The Devil is in the Dollar" -- the opening piece in his collection "Writhing & Musing," published by space vs time publications -- is killer. Check him out. I get to work with Joe on a regular basis, given that he's one of the main attractions in the Fun Time Burlesque Show at Sazerac's.
MUSIC:
Famed Senegalese djali (griot in French) Morikeba Kouyate. Morikeba is a world-renowned master of the kora, an Afrikan harp that produces one of the most beautiful sounds on the planet. I had the opportunity to do some recording for Morikeba a while back and he's asked me to work with him on finishing his new record. Talk about an honor!
For some of the best in traditional Malinké drum music, Famoudou Konaté or Mamady Keita.
The Geo Trio These are three of the absolutely BADDEST cats you'll hear in these parts -- Geo Conner on guitar, Tim Beeler on bass and Kent Klee on drums. This stuff is awesome. Check in with the fellas and let them know you appreciate them.
-- Cathy Serrano has a new album (or CD) in the can. Check out her site and blog for more information.
The instrumental group Lights puts me in mind of some of my favorite instrumental rock/metal bands such as Japan's Mono. The fellows trusted me enough to sit behind the console during the recording. Check out their site and catch their upcoming shows. You can hear examples of their work on their site and find out where there next show is. Hope the fellows are doing well back in the fair city of Grand Haven, Mich.
--The Rockefeller Four. Whoa! What can I say? Check out these mad wags. The garage is still warm. . . Besides, "Sumthin' Wrong With Her" has got to be one of the all time great songs of some era! Scary, but great! By the way, they do have a new recording. Check their site for release information.
Speaking of blogs and great sites, don't forget to check out Dave Latchaw's site. Dave has been an inspiration and tremendous resource for me with regard to utilizing the Net for purposes of investigating and sharing musical ideas. Plus, he's got some great music of his own and friends for you to experience.
-- David Johnson . Check out his latest, "We Play The Music" . David is a real heavyweight -- former bassist for Roy Ayers (check out the album Virgo Red) and the O'Jays, among others and is a brilliant jazz guitarist with his own style and modern approach to the classic language. It's available at CDBaby.com. A sample can be found on David's website at Myspace.com. I think you'll really dig it! Also, we'd both like to thank James Saunders for the wonderful review in Frost Illustrated (Yeah, that's right, I got a chance to work on this one too!
--Frank-O Johnson, who is a real heavyweight. Check him out in various places on the web, because his accomplishments in the music business are far too many to list here. Frank-O gave me my first shot as a producer on an internationally distributed record with Ernie Johnson's Squeeze It. A humble man and never one to brag, Frank-O has done a lot for a lot of people and really deserves some kudos. So, check him out and look for his work.
--Carl Marshall is in a class of his own -- 21st century funk! Seriously, this is funk music for the new century. If you're one of those people who miss real funk on the radio, check this brother out. I had the opportunity to get a guest spot on Carl's "Let's Dance" hit and he just let me have another shot on his upcoming "Winding It Up." Carl is a super producer, a dynamite producer and a great human being. Also, check out Frank-O's "Cheating Town" release to hear more of Carl's production work. By the way, Carl has a hit out there right now called "Good Loving Will Make You Cry. Check it out! Carl also let me hear some of the material he's working on for a new record. Ohh wee! Good music will make you cry. Carl is the man!
-- Karen Moussou and her beautiful album"Grace." This is one of the most beautiful CDs you're ever going to hear. And, believe me, if you are need of "centering," give this a try.
And here's some other interesting links for you to check out:
PODCASTS:
Check out the Anderson Tapes, a great podcast I happen to like. Well, let me tell you a bit more, so that you don't think I'm some kind of egomaniac. I'm not one for self promotion, which some people tell me works to my extreme detriment at times, but I occasionally do a search or two to see what's happening with music I attempt to share. I found someone out of Philly playing some of my stuff--Kelvyn Anderson, who puts together amazing shows filled with avant garde and free jazz music, something dear to my heart. Don't get me wrong, I was very grateful that he was playing some of my stuff, but even more thrilled to here him playing me along with folks like Ornette Coleman and Marion Brown who are renowned icons. If you want to hear different and challenging music, I advise you to check him out!
|
Again, I remind you to go to itsaboutmusic.com and look around. It's a great site and the people there are doing wonderful things for musicians. I'm listed at itsaboutmusic.com/patterson.html) but don't just stop there--those folks are doing wonderful things for music these days, so spend some time on the site and check them out. For those of you who savor "classic" rock and roll, do yourself a real favor and check out "The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes." You could be in for a real surprise from this legendary album! I'll say no more at the moment. Some of you already have been surprised by what you've found.       I believe the Internet is going to be the future for independent artists, so give them some support. itune sales just surpassed one billion units! Besides, the prices are extremely reasonable for some dynamite music. I still have up some ancient music and tell me what you think. I got a lot of this from my pals Craig Harding and Phil Hausman. Long stories, you know. Don't forget others less fortunate than you -- like the folks hit by natural disasters, folks effected by war and famine throughout the world and people just down and out and down in spirit who might be living right next door. At the very least, count your blessings before you talk about how bad you have it. Some of these things now seem in the distant past, as with Katrina, but people still are suffering from the effects. Don't forget them. -- michael |