News & Updates — Video

Here is another in a series of videos for tunes off of the Miracles & Criminals 2xLP by C.A.M.P.O.S., available now from the Peace & Rhythm webshop and wholesale from Forced Exposure. "Teosinte' might be one of the purest and most psychedelic songs of the year; it’s a heady track named for wild Mesoamerican corn and imbued with an almost ancient feeling somewhere among the electric guitars. A call of “Teosinte!” speaks to and from the soul while synths ramp up and launch the whole song into the stars." - Adriane Pontecorvo, PopMatters Purchase the vinyl here. Like CAMPOS on...

Puerto Rican trombonist Juan Tizol contributed two of the great songs of the classic jazz repertoire, "Caravan" and "Perdido", both of which he co-wrote. He joined the Ellington band at 29 and a second trombonist in the band for the first time allowed Duke another sound for his palette. Some credit Tizol as a pioneer in both modal jazz and latin jazz. His career was mostly spent with Ellington and Harry James. "Caravan" happens to be one of my very favorite songs.

Check out Jose Conde's new video! It's been a long time coming and the dream has been realized! Check it out. Ola Fresca bandleader and the project's visionary, Jose Conde: "In 1998, almost 20 years before the historic re-opening of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, I wrote a song called “Puente a Mi Gente” (Bridge to My People). Now, through the mediums of video and audio recording in a new arrangement of this song and a 6 minute video clip, the cultural bridge visualized in the song has been built! "Puente a Mi Gente" features Cuban musicians...

Happy birthday to DJ superstar Jason Mizell (aka Jam Master Jay) of Run DMC. He helped bring mainstream approval to DJs and hiphop in general. He also played the live instruments on Run DMC's records. He later produced Onyx and opened a DJ academy. He was shot to death in his Queens studio in 2002 but remains a popular music icon. "The best DJ in the US of A!".

One of my favorite 60s pop heroes, the NYC-born (Blackfoot Indian & Afro-Caribbean heritage) Richie Havens brought a rhythmic flair to folk guitar and with his searing vocals combined to bring new life to both classic & popular material, as well as his own tunes. His style melded urban doo-wop and gospel influence, 60s rock/pop, Indian music, Greenwich Village lefty folk, R&B, spirituals and protest blues. He was a mesmerizing solo performer deep into his years.