News & Updates — Video

The Voice of the Galaxies, June Tyson was the cosmic lead vocalist in Sun Ra's band from '68 until her death. She was also a dancer and helped design costumes for the Arkestra members, as well as played some violin in later years. I highly recommend the classic low-budget blaxploitation sci-fi flick Space Is The Place. Check out June and the Arkestra in this clip: And here's a bonus interview with June:

Nephew of the great Cachao, bassist for Buena Vista Social Club and an incredible musician on all fronts, Orlando "Cachaíto" López was part of the great López musical family in Cuba, son of composer Orestes López. He came from a lineage of over 30 bassists. He helped create the descarga in the '50s and played in Orquesta Riverside. Cachaíto made one classic self-titled record on World Circuit that mixed Cuban son with funk, descargas with Mingus, dub with jazz. Also hear his work he did on Angá Diaz's album Echu Mingua. Here's a short film shot for his album, produced...

Roy Eldridge was a great trumpet stylist with the swing bands, who always wanted to up the ante. He was one of the first black men to hold regular position in white orchestras, doing so with Gene Krupa (who has been arrested for defending Eldridge in racist environments), Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. Consciously trying to play like a saxophonist, he was the Coleman Hawkins of the trumpet and was a huge inspiration to Dizzy Gillespie. He also played with Fletcher Henderson, Billie Holiday and was one of the protesting "Newport Rebels". If confronted, musically or otherwise, he may just...

The Charles Mingus 1968 documentary is now available in full on Youtube. Shot by then-23 year old Thomas Reichman captures Mingus being evicted (actually in '66, when times were tough for the Mingus family), dealing with police (he gets arrested) and his possessions on the sidewalk. Candid moments of Charles and his daughter are here, as well as some concert footage shot in Massachusetts at Lenny's-On-The-Turnpike. Players include Dannie Richmond, Walter Bishop, Charles McPherson. Reichman committed suicide in '75. Check it out while it is up: More info on the flick can be found here.

Often sited as one of the corniest, cheesiest, gayist, or even worst pop music video ever made in the MTV era, it is certainly hard to watch David Bowie & Mick Jagger's video without laughing. The tune is a cover of "Dancing In The Street", the Motown classic best with perhaps the definitive version being by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. Well, now, in a new version, animator William Osbourne has made a new Lego version! It was released just last week, check it out: Lego David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street from William Osborne on...