we dusk devils are building a repertoire for the new yr, & tho some folks name it rockabilly, it's NOT just that, it's all the wonderful stuff we can gather under the umbrella of "american music" or primitive or uptempo vernacular or whatever it's all called. so much of what i truly love would be wrong for me to play, or i'd be unable, or it'd dishonor the original to even TRY... but some beauties, well, i CAN do 'em, & so i DO!
"angelina zooma zooma..." good lord!!! louis prima sings w/the wonderful infectious warmth of that favorite funny loving uncle, the one you want to sit w/all night, & eat & drink & laugh, & his expert orchestra-famiglia bumps, swings, sings, & swells w/loose & lively thrills, humor, happiness... truly, what ecstacy it is, just to flip your ears to & dig the cozy rollicking funride of a louis prima recording!! (ok, i'm tired & blubbery, so excuse my hyperbole, or don't...) i listen & long to have known him. i think at this second that must make him the best performer ever, if, like drummer rick says, performers & entertainers' duty is to make the listener escape, transcend the mundane, have hope, be happy!! (and phil alvin would more soberly add, to carry forth the collective experience & history of those who've gone before us...)
i've also been listening to big joe turner, buster brown, irma thomas, brenda lee, etta james, little junior parker, no bands, just swell swell swell blues & country vocalists par excellence, & olen taylor's exciting local project, now on myspace at www.myspace.com/mroscat ...
my friend didn't call, so here i am at home tonight instead of seeing 800 lb gorilla/shack shakers at fishlips, as well as trout's, so i sit here & it's a more relaxed but as i've gushed about so happy time, awash in "american" song - you know, "american" as in louis prima rasping in italian, or the conjunto/ ranchera/ norteno & french/african/scots-irish influence of 'billy & bop & dixieland & new orleans sound, a creative fountain of integrated joy & energy, made by warm & crazy & wily & heartfelt & blessedly talented humans... to be a tiny part of it, a listener, an interpreter, an enthusiast, a doer, well again, whatta kick, whatta surprise, whatta whatta. :) :) :) ... here's a link where you can buy louis prima songs online: http://www.amazon.com/Capitol-Collectors-Louis-Prima/dp/B000002UWF
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