R.I.P. guitar great Duane Eddy, 1938-2024

Sadly, twangy guitar legend Duane Eddy – a master of economy – has passed away at the age of 86. He'll be greatly missed. 

Markus Holkko shares Finnish boogaloo joint "Funky Ranking"

Jazzaggression is releasing just 50 copies of saxophonist Markus Holkko's "Funky Ranking" lathe-cut single.

Here's the scoop from Jazzaggression HQ...

From Markus Holkko's EYE OF THE UNIVERSE sessions comes something for the jockeys and dancers! "Funky Ranking" is a polished boogaloo shaker, intricately built around an infectious melody line. Accompanied by funky rhodes, sax, flute and a little swirlin organ, there is a vocal version and instrumental on this hand-cut lathe 45, and we only made 50 copies so these won't last long. 

For more information on Markus Holkko's Eye Of The Universe visit Jazzaggression Records right here. Check out "Funky Ranking" and the Eye Of The Universe 10" below. 

Happy Birthday Little Walter Jacobs!

Raising a glass to Louisiana-born harp hero Little Walter with "Rollin' and Tumblin" cut with Baby Face Leroy and Muddy Waters.

Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted documentary screens @ Hot Docs Cinema, Wednesday

The much-anticipated Jerry Williams doc Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted finally screens in Toronto tonight at 8:15pm. 

Here's the scoop...

If you were to swap the quartet of white women who share a house in Miami in The Golden Girls for a trio of Black men jamming, tripping and co-habiting in the San Fernando Valley, you’d get Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted! Legendary cult singer/songwriter and producer Jerry Williams aka "Swamp Dogg" has transformed his home into an artistic playground and “bachelor pad for aging musicians," where he and his roommates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty enjoy their retirement while continuing to experiment with music and sound. 

With over 50 years in the recording industry, Swamp Dogg has written, arranged, performed and produced more than 2,000 songs, worked on nearly 500 albums with hundreds of artists, and released 26 albums of his own. Despite this prolific output, he continues to create, because fun—not fame—is the name of the game. This wonderfully bizarre and inspiring reminiscence weaves Swamp Dogg and his friends’ current output, their friendships and funny non sequiturs together with past accomplishments and accolades in a music doc unlike any other.

Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted screens at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on Wednesday (May 1) at 8:15 pm and Friday (May 3) at 5:15 pm. For more info, check the Hot Docs site right here. 
 

 

Twin/Tone co-founder Peter Jesperson reflects on 50 years in the music biz

Check out a recent zoom interview with Peter Jesperson conducted by Tom Barnas for "Stories From The 78"

Here's the scoop from Tom Barnas...

Recently, I had the privilege of delving into the world of music with the iconic Peter Jesperson—a multifaceted figure known for his roles as a music enthusiast, producer, DJ, record executive, and now, an author. Our conversation was nothing short of captivating.

Peter Jesperson's journey into the Minneapolis music scene in the vibrant 1970s and '80s was serendipitous. Alongside managing the influential Oar Folkjokeopus record store and spinning tracks at Jay’s Longhorn bar, Jesperson co-founded Twin/Tone Records. This pivotal label propelled groundbreaking artists like the Replacements, Soul Asylum, The Suburbs, Babes In Toyland, and the Jayhawks into the spotlight, among many others.

His life took a transformative turn in the early '80s with the discovery of the Replacements. As an A&R visionary and later their manager, Jesperson navigated the chaotic yet immensely talented band's journey. Amidst this whirlwind, he also found himself managing the rising stars from Athens, Georgia—R.E.M. Yet, amidst professional success, Jesperson grappled with personal challenges, battling substance abuse.

Fueled by his unwavering passion for music, Jesperson staged a triumphant comeback, eventually transitioning to Los Angeles for the next chapter of his career. Collaborating with luminaries such as Dwight Yoakam, Kris Kristofferson, Vic Chesnutt, and Steve Earle, he witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts in the 1990s music industry landscape.

With over five decades of invaluable experience in the music business, Jesperson's memoir, "Euphoric Recall," promises a rich tapestry of insights, anecdotes, and lessons gleaned from his extraordinary journey. The book features a foreword by esteemed music journalist David Fricke, adding another layer of depth to this compelling narrative.

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram or visit the site right here. Check out the Peter Jesperson interview below.

Remembering Jay Reatard on his birthday

Here's a Jay Reatard performance with the Lost Sounds at the Silver Dollar in Toronto from 2004 and a Sneaky Dee's show in 2009.

Pearl Charles shares strings-enhanced "Smoke In The Limousine"

Check out the new Pearl Charles/Michael Rault song "Smoke In The Limousine" followed by a recent performance in London. 

Here's the scoop...

Smoke In the Limousine, like a tarot card spread or a palm reading, speaks of our past, present and future, as well as the conscious and subconscious interpretations we project onto all three states of time. And just like these traditional forms of divination, it doesn’t speak in absolutes, leaving unclear “golden hazy dreams” loosely defined, projected from the liminal space of cloudy rooms. Envisioned “smoke and mirrors” inside limousines that both promise grandeur and luxury, but also may not be all that they initially seem to be - if they ever even come to be at all. Still, we find ourselves hanging onto hope for the future, even if it may turn out to be entirely illusory, “who’s to say it’ll never be…”

Check out Pearl Charles' recording of "Smoke In The Limousine" – with a fab string arrangement by producer Lewis Pesacov and Michael Rault performed by the Magic Mirror Quartet – along with a recent performance in London below. Get a copy of the track via Bandcamp right here.