As it has turned out, I have had a reasonably long life listening to music though I don’t always really hear it.
The distinction is that I don’t always possess the quality of attention the works deserve. That said, the sounds are often so spectacular, that you can still be as shallow as a pie plate and still get certifiably gobsmacked.
Such might be the case with Moondog (aka Louis Hardin.) I will spare you his life story: the diversions about his blindness and Viking wardrobe. Hear instead the original radiance that apparently gripped him, and which time has never let go. And because on it goes with us in toe.
Another original and two covers.
Musician, photographer, ethnomusicologist John Cohen’s 2001 opus photo compendium.
And a sample from his early Dylan portraiture
As though that wasn’t enough, he formed, led and walked the walk with the 1960’s legendary folk band above
Sunny War
“
The day was bad glad to see it end
It seems the bed is your only friend
Choose where you go and see where you have been
Lucid Lucy you’ll see stars again
Tears in this world become waterfalls
Where there’s no borders where there are no walls
Where happiness is no dream at all
Lucid Lucy you’ll be ten feet tall
Keep your eyes closed
Closed real tight
Let them shuffle at the speed of light
Hold the nice ones even hold the mean
Tell your secrets tell them anything
No need to worry it’s only a dream
Lucid Lucy you’ll see everything
Dance in shadows dance with the deceased
See the west then go see the east
The waking hour you will like the least
Lucid Lucy you’ll be on your feet
Keep your eyes closed
Closed real tight”
“Sandeep Das – tabla
Rajib Karmakar – sitar
Mike Block - cello
October 1, 2016
Slosberg Hall Brandeis University
Sandeep Das and Mike Block have been members of the Silkroad Ensemble for over ten years and often perform as a duo, as they will on September 25th at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. For the Brandeis performance they were joined by Los Angeles based sitarist, Rajib Karmakar.
Yo-Yo Ma calls Das one of the greatest artists he’s ever met. Das’s concert career began at 17 when he accompanied virtuoso Ravi Shankar. He has done much to expand the role of the tabla into many different musical directions. For this and his phenomenal musicianship he was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship in 2020.
Where to begin about Mike Block? He has the ability and expertise to play all types and styles of music. Equally outstanding with classical, folk, bluegrass, jazz, rock or pop, please make an effort to see him perform. He just turned 40 and decided to stop his ten-year teaching job at Berklee a few months ago. He plays standing up and is a joy to behold.
I knew nothing about Rajib Karmakar before seeing him. At the time of this concert he was just 30 and displayed an immense talent that spanned styles from rock to Indian classical. He was an equal partner in this trio despite the fact that it was his initial performance with Das and Block.
Being able to witness musical inspiration from masters of their instruments in a small auditorium with excellent acoustics is a recipe for greatness. These three improvisers did not disappoint.”
You can find more info about filmmaker Cob Carlson’s great new documentary @ https://wpkn.org/about/documentary/