I always want to write a “Dad Post” when it comes around to Father’s Day, or my father’s real birthday, or for no reason other than the fact that he shaped my music taste so much. And he did a damn good job. I feel the need to thank him for playing artists like these non-stop in our home and car: Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and my personal favorite of the dad-post-list, Gene Ammons. These records give me warm happy nostalgia now, like comfort food and The Simpsons. I’m pretty sure that I would be a very different person without the soundtrack backing my development since birth.

So today I’m wishing dad a Happy Birthday! Through the years, I’ve already posted “Song For My Father” and later, another jazz song I knew had some meaning for him: “Chelsea Bridge” by Ben Webster.

“Solar” – Miles Davis (from Walkin‘)

“Solar” by Miles Davis was how my dad formally introduced me to the world of jazz musicianship. For you jazz musicians out there, you know how “Solar” is one of those fun songs with very slow easy chord changes, a beginner’s song. It was 1997 or so, and I had recently traded in my clarinet for a tenor saxophone. My school music teacher requested this switch for me, because a) he was convinced I was another golden child like my genius sax-playing older brother, and b) he needed a sax in his marching band, which was very weak.

One night, my dad opened the Fake Book to “Solar” and played a simple bluesy lick on my horn. (It was his horn before he gave up. He gave up when my brother surpassed him in skill.) Encouraging me to try improvisation, he said, “just find something that works, and play around with it.” It was very simple advice, but it worked and it was the start of my whole experience playing jazz.

But it was not the start, nor the end, of my dad teaching me how to do basically everything.

One last thing in honor of my cool cool Dad’s birthday: Here’s one of my favorite things he’s ever published online. Imagine my reaction when you read #7. Manny’s Place / Weird Things

[[[ I expect some kind of punishment if mom doesn't get a plug too now. Here you are: My mom has a blog too! She wants you to Stumble Upon her, so do it! Stumble Upon Diary of a Heretic. She also contributed to my musicality with one word: Prince. That's for another post ]]]

This girl.

via Blacksmith music. Go there for a free download of the Idle Warship album, Party Robot, plus this mixtape by Shalonda.

Shalonda- “Fever” from Just Go…

Artist is Diego Bernal, album is For Corners, and it’s available for free download in it’s entirety here. I’m still having a hard time understanding the concept, because usually just the shitty albums are available for free download.

“Dusty Sanchez”

It’s cool to hate CMJ: If I were an aspiring musician in the city, I would desperately want to get a CMJ gig. It wouldn’t be hard because there are a zillion showcases per night, and I would feel real big about it. But of course the reality is often these tiny sparse shows which are just depressing; I think that’s true for the artists and the industry drones alike. The ‘up-and-coming’ CMJ artists are expected to put on more than a show.  They have to compete with every other venue in the city (many many), handle every obstacle that might come along with live performance, and ultimately they have to make an impression on the stone-faced industry representatives.

Unsurprisingly I missed (or will miss) most of CMJ because it’s impossible to enjoy a show with a migraine, and I try to avoid agonizing pain when possible. But I did catch Reni Lane gracefully tackle an an early set, a tiny venue, and a boring, sober crowd Thurs night at The Delancey. Reni had a single on The L Word called “Place For Us”, which recently got even more love when RAC remixed it. [Download the remix here]. She also put together this video series based on the “10 random things” application on Facebook- renilane.com/10things. If you know me well …the marching-band-nerd video makes me a little competitive. One or two of you know I carried the IHS marching band. So I could definitely challange Reni Lane to a John-Philip-Sousa-off. Let’s go!

Tommy T is the bass player for Gogol Bordello.  His new solo album, The Prester John Sessions, is just one of those CDs that I can’t explain… but I’m sure you, whoever you are, you will like it. The free download avails now from Easy Star Records is the track called “The Response”, but there are so many different, fantastic songs on here, you really should just buy the whole thing on iTunes now.  If you still don’t believe me, listen to a few more tracks here: tommytmusic.com.

Tommy T – “The Response” from The Prester John Sessions

Two more singing UK imports: V V Brown and Alice Russell. Alice Russell’s new video from Pot of Gold doesn’t exactly live up to the perfectly tailored US standards of a music video (and consequently has soul), and V V Brown’s video, on the other hand, looks like it was made for exactly that. But now I really want tights with my name written down the legs.

Bonus Downloads:

The Heavy – “Short Change Hero” via URB

Wayna- “Billyclub ft Wale” Remix via Okayplayer

Oddisee- Odd Autumn EP via Oddisee

Jukebox Melange mix (Part 1 | Part 2) via Aurgasm

I didn’t expect to like a single song on John Forte’s EP Stylefree. But

John Forte- “Best That Love Could Be” ft Ben Harper

I’m back from hiatus y’all! There’s a lot of good music coming out, and I think what the world needs now… is another blog. And a disorganized disjointed one, with sentence fragments and copy-n-pasted press releases. Quick summary of the current playlists on my ipod: N’Dambi Pink Elephant; Robert Glasper Double Booked; Big Boi ft George Clinton & Too $hort “Fo Yo Sorrows”; Dr. No’s Ethiopium; Oddisee Mental Liberation; Stefon Harris/Blackout Urbanus; a little Ghostdini; a little Raekwon; Kid Sister “Right Hand Hi” and various remixes, waiting for her album; Jon Brion “Little Person” when I’m sad; Basement Jaxx Scars when I’m hyper; Fresh Daily Tomorrow is Today - I like his mixtape more than the album. It happens.

Big Boi ft George Clinton & Too $hort- “Fo Yo Sorrows” from the allegedly upcoming Sir Lucious Left Foot

Oh No - “Concentrate/ The Funk” from Dr No’s Ethiopium – available from Stones Throw Digi Store

Little Dragon – “After the Rain” from Little Dragon

I’ve also been into Melanie Fiona of course; that song “Give it to me Right” is an obvious hit. But my personal favorite is this reggae style song she did with ?uestlove- a version of “Somebody Come Get Me”.
Melanie Fiona- “Somebody Come Get Me” live with ?uestlove

Stefon Harris & Blackout: This video for the song “Gone” is part of a video remix contest- you download elements of this video, based on the CD artwork, then upload your personal mix to Youtube for a chance to win. Is it just me or are remix contests the new thing, supposedly saving the music industry? Who cares about these? Anyone? I like this one, I just don’t have any graphic design inclination whatsoever, so I’m gonna sit back and see what the others submit. Regardless, the album by Stefon Harris (vibraphonist/composer) and Blackout, Urbanus, is dope! Highly recommended.

This is all just a sliver of what I wanted to post, but hey look, I started blogging again. That means I’ll have more for you soon…
Jon Brion – Little Person (from the Soundtrack of Synechdoche, NY)

Soul P is on hiatus. I apologize to all my adoring fans, I just have no choice. I *will* be back and better than before, but I do not know how or when that will be. In the meantime, I post my thoughts and favorite songs-of-the-moment on my Twitter account.
Peace, Lily.