Friday 23 November 2007

Hazmat Modine play- Lost Fox Train



'The band features the dueling harmonicas of front-man Wade Schuman and his sparring partner Randy Weinstein, funky tuba powerhouse Joseph Daley, guitarists Michael Gomez and Pete Smith, trumpeter Pam Fleming and drummer Rich Huntley. HAZMAT holds down a smoldering groove behind Schuman’s raspy, bluesy voice and passionately energetic stage presence. (Schuman is one of the most dynamic performers on the New York scene). Their playful blend of genres also extends to their use of instrumentation, including the sheng (the ancient Chinese mouth organ), the unique and odd claviola, and sometimes the cimbalom (the Romanian hammered dulcimer). While they play mostly originals, their cover versions are choice and eclectic, including songs by Slim Gaillard, Jimmy Rogers, Jaybird Coleman, and Irving Berlin.'

Very much influenced by blues harp players like Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton and Junior Wells....just an amazing bit of playing.

Hazmat Modine play- Who Walked In



Just great.

Hazmat Modine play-Yesterday Morning

Hazmat Modine play- Bahamut



One of the bands I've recently listened o and enjoyed. A rather large group of very talented musicians. The is off Russian national TV program Prosvet. Love the tuba sound here.

Friday 16 November 2007

Raymond Scott - War Dance of the Wodden Indians



Raymond Scott and his original music was the nucleus of many a Carl Stalling score for the Warner Brother Shorts during golden age of the classically animated cinematic short. (Bugs Bunny,Porky and Daffy would never have stretched so ridiculously without it.)
This video is a very surreal piece of history; Forget the white guys tap dancing as American Indians and the height of insult to the true American Indian at the time, it's a product of it's Davey Crockett lovin' time. Watching it now is baffling and funny. It also makes me think Raymond's music was under-rated. There is so much more visual potential to discover/utilize with this frantic polka-like music than the Warner toons could have ever realized or afford to produce at the time.
It remains, for some dedicated animator to hit every beat in Raymond's fantastic soundscape of a repetoire and show the world just what a maestro he was.