How Was Your Weekend?
It was rainy and cool here over the weekend. I was productive. I did some much needed work around the house, caught up on email, and listened to music. I managed to stay out of the record stores over the weekend which is a good thing. Saturday afternoon, I went to lunch, only to find out one of my favorite places for comfort food is gone. The Red Tractor Café in Oakland has closed its doors and they are already building a new restaurant in its former location. I really enjoyed their brunch and dinner and will definitely miss them in the neighborhood. Their only location now is in Dublin.
Friday night, we went to Ledisi’s CD release party at Bimbo’s 365 Club. The place was packed and there was standing room only. Bay Area artist Soul Folk opened for her. The highlight of his set was his duet with vocalist Sakai. I do not remember the name of the song but she saaaang! Ledisi and her band Anibade took the stage by storm. She opened with “Get Outta My Kitchen” and sang other songs from her new release, “Soulsinger – The Revival.” She also treated us to her soulful treatments of the Isley Brother’s classic “For The Love Of You” and The Beatles’ song “Yesterday.” Ledisi will be touring soon so she was very happy to be performing for her Bay Area family. She expressed her gratitude and thanked us for supporting her from the very beginning. The energy was high amongst the sold-out crowd as she sang “Take Time” and closed the set with “Good Lovin’.” She also encouraged us to contact our local radio stations so we can hear her music on the radio. I will definitely do my part cuz I love her music.
j-notes in the news: An article from my niece’s job’s newsletter…
“J-Notes: where music gets its voice (www.j-notes.com) – This site, run by a former Chicagoan and self-proclaimed jazz enthusiast, provides album and concert reviews, listings of local jazz performances, recommended playlists, other jazz websites and more. The daily updates give insight on how jazz music can takes a listener on a spiritual journey of sound. Be sure to check out the “Friday Flashback†which pays homage to the great jazz influences of the past. (Thank you to Leslie!)”
I am a very proud uncle to have such a wonderful niece.
An interesting article from PopMatters on anti-war entitled “Real, Compared to What”: Anti-War Soul. Thanks Dee!
Check out the artist lineups for the Bakersfield Jazz Festival, May 9-10 and the San Jose Jazz Festival, August 7-10.
Legendary bass player Ron Carter has a new website, www.roncarter.net. He has played on over 2500 albums including with Miles Davis, Lena Horne, James Brown, and Eric Dolphy. There is a plethora of information and full length sound clips from several of his albums.
Sounds like you had a productive weekend — I’m not sure why I read the entry already knowin’ what you did this weekend. Hopefully next weekend you can slide in a batch of cookies and mail them to Southern California — That’s sounds like a wonderful idea.
I spent Saturday burning a CD for one of my most favorite people in the whole world: My mom’s best friend whom I consider my aunt, lives in South Carolina and I just felt this overwhelming need to share some of my favorite music (much of the disc was influenced by your picks last week) with her. She has MS and I just want her to know exactly how much I love her and what an amazing influence she has had on me. And what better way than with music.
Man, I hope that wasn’t too much info for you. 🙂
i love “get outta my kitchen”. i knew when i first heard that song that i had to keep up with that sista.
i am so jealous (about your friday nite). but i already told you that.
I have to buy Ledisi. You should be her paid publicity maven, btw.
This past weekend was all about me. Friday night I was waiting in the line outside of the Soho Apple store for the presentation of the new iPods. (I think I saw a well-known Nubian Goddess in attendance once I got in.) I want me one of those pretty thangz soooo bad. Saturday I inadvertently flake out on a friend for First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum. First Friday slipped off my tongue for some reason. Sunday was spent just relaxing, listening to some real jazz and gospel and community radio on Kiss-FM.
I have to do that more often.