Author Archive
Kendra Morris is Back and is as Souful as Ever
Once upon a time on a blog that I wrote for long ago, I introduced Seattle to a stand out young crooner from the big apple, Kendra Morris. She’s out of the closet, where she once recorded her jams and has stepped up into the big time with a new self titled collection of soulful and heart-gripping tunes. You’ll hear tinges of Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu mixed in with 60s soul; what comes out is purely and uniquely Kendra.
-
One might never expect such a rich and mighty voice to emerge from Kendra Morris’ petite frame. Her potency as a singer and performer grew from a childhood immersed in music, traveling with her family to perform gospel in the prison ministries and asylums of St. Petersburg, Florida. Kendra moved to New York in 2003, making music inside a tiny closet with only a guitar and 8-track recorder, always keeping it simple – an aesthetic that continues to shape her sound. The southern influence of the soul and humidity in her voice adds a raw energy that one would attribute to a generation long lost to the internet and digital media.
-
Morris’ voice is a courier to a world where story telling is the only means for passing on life’s lessons, humor, and drama. After releasing two self-produced EP’s she teamed up with seasoned producer Jeremy Page (The Cars, Ed OG, That Handsome Devil) to work on this self-titled EP. The collaboration has birthed a collage of tracks that echo the music and experiences of her childhood. Kendra’s real strength lies in combining mysticism and the strange emotions invoked by the human spirit.
-
Kendra’s powerful voice has been featured on projects for MTV networks, Nair, Electro-Harmonix and an upcoming collaboration with rapper AZ. You can purchase the EP for $5 (and hear it too in its entirety) at: www.kendramorrismusic.com.
-
Beyond Ipanema: A Story of Brazil's Musical Exports
Hey, we have a guest writer! Written by my friend Heidi ….
-
Today I had the pleasure of viewing Beyond Ipanema at the Seattle International Film Festival. This film is a music documentary that transcends barriers of classification due to the fact that is less a love letter to Brazil than it is a sharing of musical ideas and influences between the United States and Brazil. Many musicians who became well known and influential for their impact on the styles had to do so outside of their own country to be recognized on a larger scale. Carmen Miranda was the first major influence from Brazilian culture to impact Hollywood and was a smashing success as an export from Brazil to the United States. Next came the Tropicalista movement, and musician David Byrne, unearthed many names from Brazil including Tom Ze.
-
-
“I found myself becoming more intrigued by how these artists all influenced each other and the evolution of their craft.”
This was all leading up to the biggest explosion….Bossa Nova. This came in to its popularity when American Jazz was really on its way out due to the increasing popularity of rock music by the Beatles and Rolling Stones. This Bossa Nova had a bass line that incorporated new rhythms that nobody had heard before and it took off like lightning! Sergio Mendes, Caetano Velosa, Joao Gilberto and the Mutantes were all huge exponents of this nuevo style. It was also really beyond music in that it was about politics, culture, technology and the development of a real “world music” — whereas before it seemed to be music you couldn’t fit into any category. There are so many musicians I learned about in this film that I would like to discover for myself through hearing their music.
-
The film also introduces viewers to the Frederick Douglass Academy, where Samba is part of the regular music program. Hundreds of students have mastered Brazilian rhythms under the guidance of (non-Brazilian) music teacher Dana Monteiro. From the regular classes, a group of about 40 kids was formed and they have been performing under the name Harlem Samba. The public high school has also organized educational trips to Brazil, where students were exposed to Samba masters.
-
Director, Guto Barra, does a fantastic job of melding together the different and varied stories of Brazil’s musical exports and tells us about the many projects that take place when people from different cultures get together to create new styles. Actually, this is when the most fascinating part of the story takes place. I found myself becoming more intrigued by how these artists all influenced each other and the evolution of their craft. Now with the advent of the internet and the global nature of our world it is not so necessary to travel so far to get the real influence of the culture. I recall a line in the film where someone said (I don’t recall who it was), “Geography is not so important now but rather it is the artist’s essence”. That stayed with me.
-
There’s one more showing of this film, June 4 @ 5 pm at the Kirkland Performance Center
-
Beyond Ipanema: An Exploration of Brazilian Music at the SIFF
The Seattle International Film Festival is in full swing. And with showers in the forecast all weekend, going to a movie sounds like the perfect treat. This coming Monday, aka Memorial Day – I’ll be heading on over to the SIFF Cinema to check out Beyond Ipanema. It’s an exploration on how Brazilian music has made waves across the global culture. Also what’s so great about seeing a SIFF film is that the director, Guto Barram will also be in attendance. Rainy Day, Brazilian music… I’m sure I’ll be craving a Caipirinha after!
-
More from the SIFF website:
“For decades, music has been the prime cultural export of Brazil—not something that can be said about just any country. From samba and bossa nova to tropicalia and baile funk (as recently documented in SIFF 2009 film Favela On Blast), Brazilian music has made waves globally since the 1940s when Hollywood went bananas for Carmen Miranda and her fruity hat. After Miranda hit the stage, Astrud Gilberto’s breezy hit, “The Girl from Ipanema” launched a bossa nova craze that infiltrated suburban cocktail hours all over America in the 1950s. And, more recently, a renewed interest in tropicalia hit the indie rock sphere, from inspiring Beck’s album, “Mutations” to the reunion of Os Mutantes at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2006, playing to a crowd of thousands of dancing hipsters. Beyond Ipanema features interviews with musicians like David Byrne, Caetano Veloso and M.I.A. for a thorough, stylish, and breezy exploration of Brazilian music and the waves it’s made in global culture.”
-
Screenings:
SIFF Cinema
May 29, 2010 9:00 PM
May 31, 2010 1:00 PM
Kirkland Performance Center
June 4, 2010 5:00 PM
Beyond Ipanema: An Exploration of Brazilian Music at the SIFF
The Seattle International Film Festival is in full swing. And with showers in the forecast all weekend, going to a movie sounds like the perfect treat. This coming Monday, aka Memorial Day – I’ll be heading on over to the SIFF Cinema to check out Beyond Ipanema. It’s an exploration on how Brazilian music has made waves across the global culture. Also what’s so great about seeing a SIFF film is that the director, Guto Barram will also be in attendance. Rainy Day, Brazilian music… I’m sure I’ll be craving a Caipirinha after!
-
More from the SIFF website:
“For decades, music has been the prime cultural export of Brazil—not something that can be said about just any country. From samba and bossa nova to tropicalia and baile funk (as recently documented in SIFF 2009 film Favela On Blast), Brazilian music has made waves globally since the 1940s when Hollywood went bananas for Carmen Miranda and her fruity hat. After Miranda hit the stage, Astrud Gilberto’s breezy hit, “The Girl from Ipanema” launched a bossa nova craze that infiltrated suburban cocktail hours all over America in the 1950s. And, more recently, a renewed interest in tropicalia hit the indie rock sphere, from inspiring Beck’s album, “Mutations” to the reunion of Os Mutantes at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2006, playing to a crowd of thousands of dancing hipsters. Beyond Ipanema features interviews with musicians like David Byrne, Caetano Veloso and M.I.A. for a thorough, stylish, and breezy exploration of Brazilian music and the waves it’s made in global culture.”
-
Screenings:
SIFF Cinema
May 29, 2010 9:00 PM
May 31, 2010 1:00 PM
Kirkland Performance Center
June 4, 2010 5:00 PM
A Short & Sweet Post for Spoon
You can listen to Spoon’s latest — Transference streaming on NPR. It’s going to be released on January 19th so it’s a special sneak peek.
-
See, what did I tell you, short & sweet.
Michael Vermillion at the Sunset
Singer/Songwriter Michael Vermillion will be playing with his full band at the Sunset Saturday, Jan 9. There’s also someone’s (named Jeremy from the Whiskey Swillers) 30th birthday celebration too. Ahhh to be 30 again. I’ve seen Michael V. once before playing with the Vince Mira assemble. From what I remember his music style is sort of alt-countr-ish, johnny cash-ish, Jim Croce-ish. Also, my friend’s boyfriend is in the band, Ben. Hope to see you Saturday!
King Kahn & BBQ @ Chop Suey
If you’re in town Nov 21st be sure to check out King Kahn and BBQ show at Chop Suey! All the way from Montreal, Quebec — this duo mixes doo-wop and punk in a blend you won’t forget.
.
Pavement to Play Sasquatch
Pavement will make it to the NW after all. They’ll be the headliners of the Sasquatch Festival next Memorial Day weekend (MAY 29th-31st). Looks like I’ll have to reschedule my Chicago trip! Discounted 3-day passes went on sale this past Saturday and no other acts have been announced.
DJ Throatslice is Back to Bring Out Your Inner Zombie
Leaves are changing, the weather has gone from 80-something one day to high 50s the next, the gray has set in and so has the rain. October is full bloom in Seattle and Halloween is a mere 15 days away. I wonder how many versions of the late, great Michael Jackson we’ll see this year? Thriller Michael, Billie Jean Michael, Alien Michael. Just so many to choose from! And… Halloween does fall on a Saturday this year, perfection for a spook-a-rific rager.
.
To get your Halloween dance party started, DJ Throatslice is back with another ghastly endeavor with Flesh Eating Freaks. Flesh Eating Freaks is a culmination of spooky sound effects and techno beats married with cinematic elements and prankster “gotcha” moments. It’s an entertaining listening experience that will not only bring back those childhood memories of goofiness and cheap thrills but will get your inner zombie twitching like M.J. on the dance floor.
.
.
Paralyzed by Fear, Maggot Smile and Back to Hell! are just some of the titles you’ll find if you’re in a mood for a little terror. And with any great Halloween album, Flesh Eating Freaks has no shortage of screeching cats, howling wind, screaming damsels in distress, and ghoulish laughter and taunting.
.
.
Born from the fetid bowels of Detroit, Boston, and Portland, Maine, DJ Throatslice came onto the scene at the start of the millennium and has been kicking corpses ever since. With beat-driven horror songs and Halloween-flavored tunes, the only question he asks is “why aren’t you playing this music at Halloween parties?” Looking to fill homes with fear and dread, DJ Throatslice turns out yearly Halloween mini-albums and proper recordings for your listening dread.
Visqueen at the Tractor Tavern on 10/24; Doors open @ 8pm
I never really paid that much attention to Visqueen in prior years however their latest release Message to Garcia has made a big blip on my music radar as of late. Their newest album is a collection of songs that is a loving homage to front woman Rachel Flotard’s father who passed away from cancer earlier this year. It’s filled with power pop guitar riffs while leading lady Rachel Flotard’s unique voice is apparent singing straight from the heart and rocking at the same time. An eclectic cast of musicians lent a helping hand–Neko Case, pedal steel wizard Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters–to create an extra-special electricity that resonates throughout the album.
Hand Me Down
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Hand-Me-Down.mp3]
-
Visqueen will be playing at the Tractor Tavern on October 24th with Shonen Knife. Doors open at 8pm
