Tinariwen-Tassili Desert Sessions- From The Ashes Of Hate A Flower Blooms

Tinariwen

         Tinariwen is a band from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. Their name comes from “Kel Tinariwen” which translates into “desert boys,” They were formed in 1979 by Ibrahim Ag Alhabib.  Ibrahim’s life lacks no hardship and horror . He witnessed the brutal execution of his father at age 4 during an uprising in Mali. His childhood was an experience filled with poverty and the ever looming possibility of being murdered by warring political and religious factions.  While rummaging through a garbage strewn field in his early teens, Ibrahim built his own guitar out of a tin can, a stick and bicycle brake wire. He received his first acoustic guitar while in a refugee camp in Algeria. In the late 70’s Ibrahim joined with other local musicians exploring local African protest music while at the same time being heavily influenced by western artists like Led Zeppelin, Santana, Hendrix and Dire Straits. Despite enduring the oppression of military training imposed on them by Gaddafi,Tinariwen were able maintain their unified musical vision. Undeterred and driven by their shared passion, they slowly began to gather international recognition.

         For those of you who aren’t aware of Tinariwen, their music is a fascinating fusion of West African music and elements of western Classic Rock.They are a true study in mankind’s’s ability to overcome extreme adversity and create beauty. WARNING: This may very well be the most fascinating music you will ever hear. 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Come And Go Blues (acoustic) – Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes- U of Music Song Of The Day

Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes

Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes perform a live acoustic rendition of Come And Go Blues at Red Rocks in Colorado.

“People say that you’re no good,
But I wouldn’t cut you loose, baby, if I could.
Well, I seem to stay down on the ground,
Baby, I’m too far gone to turn around.”

Ray LaMontagne- Let It Be Me- The Potential Of The Human Spirit

       

Ray LaMontagne

            Ray Charles LaMontagne is an inspiring study in the unlimited potential that a person can realize when he follows the path of his heart. He was born in New Hampshire in 1973 and grew up in Utah where he preferred spending his time doodling dragons over his schoolwork.  He then moved to Maine and worked in a shoe factory. In his early 20’s Ray gave his first listen to Stephen Stills’  Manassas album. He was so inspired by the songs that he quit his day job and was driven to explore the unearthed territory of his passion for making music. Four albums later he was being compared by critics to such artists  as The Band, Van Morrison and Nick Drake. While there is an aspect to his earthy style that begs to be labeled as pure  American traditional folk, it is naturally his own and his delivery is so emotionally inspiring that it transcends boundaries and becomes, as the artists above mentioned and like all great music, universal and uncategorizable . In short, when Ray LaMontagne sings listeners feel something. A direct connection  and intimacy is formed between Ray and his audience  because   for many of us his story and music stand for the potential we all have when we give voice to the innate calling of  our souls. See for yourself….

Black Friday- Steely Dan- Corruption Unveiled

     

Steely Dan

 

 

Gould and Fisk

      In 1869 a railroad developer named Jay Gould and a Wall Street financier named James Fisk conspired to form an elaborate plan to manipulate the price of gold. They enlisted the services of Abel Corbin, the brother in law of president Ulysses S. Grant.  While Abel persuaded the president not to sell the government’s share of gold, Fisk and Gould began buying large amounts, draining supply and causing the price of gold to spike. Due to this manipulation, on Friday, September 24, 1869, gold skyrocketed to its peak.  Grant, realizing the scheme, responded by aggressively selling the government’s store of gold ahead of the conniving team, driving the price of gold back down and put an end to this devious plot. This event became known as Black Friday.

    With this event in mind Steely Dan was inspired to write the song Black Friday from their 1975 album Katy Lied. The opening and underlying piano line is busy with the hum of evil machination. As a direct reference to Gould and Fisk, Donald Fagen wrote,

“When Black Friday comes
I’ll collect everything I’m owed
And before my friends find out 
I’ll be on the road.”

 

Hallelujah-Jeff Buckley- U of Music Song Of The Day

Jeff Buckley

Buckley covers Leonard Cohen Classic

 

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah