There’s a new movie out called Mellodrama: The Story of the Mellotron that documents the history of the Mellotron and it’s forerunner, the Chamberlain. I haven’t seen the documentary, which just opened at a film festical, but some interesting tidbits are gleaned from the trailer and an interview with the director, Dianna Dillworth. Who’d have…
Category: Reviews & Commentary
Reviews & Commentary
A Shaman Enters the Next World: Jorge Reyes’ Last Rattle
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https://media.blubrry.com/echoespodcast/echoes.org/audio/JorgeReyesEchoesInterview1995.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIt’s been a while since we’ve played any music by Jorge Reyes on Echoes. Something I now regret upon hearing of his passing this past Saturday, February 7, 2009 from an apparent heart attack. He was 57. There is an obit on-line. Jorge was a big part of…
Reviews & Commentary
Grammy Goof: New Age and Polka Dots
I skipped watching the Grammys Sunday night to catch a live performance by Jon Hassell that took a deep diving expedition guided by fourth world semaphores and jazz signposts. (See earlier blog.) But after I got home, as I booted up my DVR to catch the awards show, I opened an email from Will Ackerman…
Reviews & Commentary
51st Grammys: Echoes at the Edges
The 51st Annual Grammy will be broadcast this Sunday, February 8 and as usual, don’t expect to see any Echoes artists on it. Not that there aren’t some cool artists nominated in major categories, among them Coldplay, Radiohead, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Beck. But you’ll find Echoes artists turning up in unusual categories…
Reviews & Commentary
Ambient Improvisations
This is off the Ambient list, a very cool blog called Live Ambient Scene . Much of their materiel is generated from another site called Ambient-Art-Lounge. It’s all in German, but they’ve got a host of live performances, videos, video art and more. Interestingly, a lot of it seems like actual “live” ambient performance with…
Reviews & Commentary
John Martyn Passes
British singer-songwriter John Martyn passed away this morning, January 29. He was 60. I’ve drifted away from Martyn’s music over the years, but in the 1970s and early 80s, he was a favorite. He had a soft, slurred whiskey tinged voice that he coupled with finger-style melodies. Later on, he began using an Echoplex, an…
Reviews & Commentary
Echo Location: Erik Scott’s Cosmic Bass Guitar
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http://media.blubrry.com/echoespodcast/www.xpn.org/podcasts/echoes/echoes20090128.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSFrom Alice Cooper to Other Planets– Erik Scott takes a cosmic bass trip. You can hear an audio version of this blog, with music. There have been a lot of virtuoso electric bass albums released over the years. Musicians like Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke tried to become…
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Drummer Bill Bruford Retires
Bill Bruford is an icon of Progressive Rock drumming. He came to renown as an original member of Yes, recording several albums with them before moving on to King Crimson. Over the years he’s spent more and more time with his cerebral jazz band Earthworks. But now he says he’s packing in live performances, concentrating…
Reviews & Commentary
Echo Location: Jon Hassell Drops His Clothes
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http://media.blubrry.com/echoespodcast/www.xpn.org/podcasts/echoes/echoes20090121.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Jon Hassell returns with first US tour in 20 years and new CD You can hear an audio version of this blog, with music. Listen to records by Björk, Baaba Maal, Talking Heads, Ani DiFranco, Ry Cooder, or K.D. Lang, and you’ll hear the trumpet of Jon…
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Echo Location: Blooming Buddhas with Eno and FM3
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http://media.blubrry.com/echoespodcast/www.xpn.org/podcasts/echoes/echoes20080723.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBack in the 1960s, Max Mathews, one of the pioneers of computer music, reputedly proclaimed that one day, even your plumber would be able to create music. His dream was realized sometime ago with computer programs and electronic keyboards. Now a new generation of music generating toys is…