PAOLO CONTE - VIA CON ME!

Paolo Conte is an Italian singer, pianist, composer, and lawyer notable for his grainy, resonant voice, his colourful and dreamy compositions (evocative of Italian and Mediterranean sounds, as well as of jazz music, South American atmospheres, and of French-language singers like Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens) and his wistful, sometimes melancholic lyrics.

ON THE AIR: PINK MARTINI LIVE IN BASEL!

Pink Martini is a musical group that was formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon. Describing itself as a "little orchestra," its music crosses genres such as classical, latin, jazz and classic pop. The lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Pink Martini is China Forbes.

During 2010–2011, Storm Large (in the show below) appeared as a vocalist with Pink Martini while China Forbes recovered from vocal cord surgery. Both Large and Forbes continue to perform with Pink Martini.

On September 24, 2013 the band released their sixth studio album "Get Happy", including a cover of a traditional Romanian song "Până când nu te iubeam" written by Anton Pann and extraordinarily performed by Maria Tanase

Enjoy Pink Martini's latest live performance and have a good night!

WHITE LIGHT, WHITE HEAT!

ON THE AIR: THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, ENJOY THE 'WILD SIDE' LOU!

The reason why I didn't put it in the title or start this with "RIP Lou Reed" is this quote, that I found just in time: "It always bothers me to see people writing 'RIP' when a person dies. It just feels so insincere and like a cop-out. To me, 'RIP' is the microwave dinner of posthumous honours." - Lou Reed

Lou Reed, who took rock 'n' roll into dark corners as a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist for the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist, died on Sunday. He was 71.

Reed was a rock pioneer who went from record label songwriter to a member of the short-lived but innovative and influential Velvet Underground. The band and Reed's solo work tackled taboo topics like drug addiction, paranoia and sexual deviancy in songs that were largely spare, muscular and often saturated in feedback.

"Lou Reed's influence is one that there are really only a tiny handful of other figures who you can compare to him," said Simon Vozick-Levinson, a senior editor at Rolling Stone. "He spoke incredibly frankly about the realities of being an artist, being a person who lived life on one's own terms. He didn't prettify things. He didn't sugarcoat things. He showed life as it really is and that's something that made him a true original, and one of our great all-time artists," he said.

Reed, violist/keyboard player John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker played their first show as the Velvet Underground in 1965 and soon drew the attention of pop artist Andy Warhol, who became their manager. Rock mythology has it that even though the group sold few albums, everyone who bought one started a band.

Nevertheless, Rolling Stone ranks the group's debut album, "The Velvet Underground and Nico," as the 13th greatest of all time. Tunes like "Sweet Jane," from the group's 1970 album "Loaded," have become rock standards. Performers from David Bowie to R.E.M. and U2 have cited them as inspiration, and the Velvet Underground was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 1970, Reed left the Velvets for a long solo career. He had his only Top 40 hit with "Walk on the Wild Side," from the Bowie-produced 1972 album "Transformer," and Rolling Stone put both that album and 1973's "Berlin" on its top 500 list.

"People say rock 'n' roll is constricting, but you can do anything you want, any way you want,'' he said. "And my goal has been to make an album that would speak to people the way Shakespeare speaks to me, the way Joyce speaks to me. Something with that kind of power; something with bite to it." And Tucker said Reed "influenced probably millions of people into maybe reading more, into playing music." "When I have been on tour, there have been kids from 15 years old to 60 years old commenting on how they were influenced by Lou and the Velvets," she said.

Reed won a Grammy award in 1998 for best long-form music video, for a documentary on his career up to that point. Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy, called him "an exceptionally gifted singer, songwriter, and musician who has had a profound impact on rock music and our culture,"

Reed's former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale wrote on his website: "The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet… I've lost my 'school-yard buddy.'"

THE STRANGLERS - GOLDEN BROWN!

JOSEPHINE - PORTRAIT!

STYLE SETTERS: MR CHARLIE CHAPLIN!

A look at the comic screen icon for whom the term "dressing the part" was surely tailor made.

It is true to say that for most of the 20th century, and possibly even today, the name Charlie Chaplin was better known around the world than that of any other public figure. Even more tellingly, so was his appearance in the many films he made in the early years of the movies when he was known as the king of comedy. In fact, Sir Charlie was one of the first people in any walk of life to understand the importance of branding. He also knew the dangers of changing, upgrading or modernising the brand. Once he had finalised the elements of his "look", the Tramp was always the same recognisably hard done by, inadequate nonentity whose inability to cope with life and his bewilderment and sadness at getting everything wrong had people across the entire globe laughing and crying with every maladroit movement he made. 

As with Mr Johnny Depp's unchanging costume in Pirates of the Caribbean, for Sir Charlie the uniform was as much a character as the actor inside it, which is why he took so much care to get it right. Take his grotesquely oversized shoes, which gave him his characteristic screen walk. The fact is that inside them he was wearing a pair of the correct size for his feet. Interestingly, for someone who as a boy lived in poverty in south London and was twice confined to the workhouse, shoes were one of his obsessions - not surprisingly, perhaps, as for much of his childhood they were a luxury way beyond the grasp of his impoverished mother. And the insecurity affected him throughout his life. He was known to be a compulsive buyer, especially of clothes. At the height of his Hollywood success, a friend recalled that when Sir Charlie's wardrobe was opened it revealed rows of shoes, all identical, with suede shoes on the top row and black ones below, all in immaculate condition. He would never go barefoot again.

Some of the most important things that brought Sir Charlie a sense of order and place in life were good clothes - and plenty of them. He had favourite suits duplicated even to the extent of having many identical ones in his wardrobe, usually grey flannel and always to be worn with a pair of his many high-button shoes. Off the screen, his appearance was always immaculate. He normally wore a natty suit, to use the jargon of the 1920s, although he was equally as elegant in a cashmere sweater and plus fours. It comes as a surprise, however, to learn from his friend, the director Mr King Wallis Vidor, that this most professional of men, when it came to his appearance on or off the set, actually cut his own hair for his role as the little tramp in the very early days - and all his life he took the greatest care with his hair. 

READ MORE AFTER THE BREAK!!!

ON THE AIR: IBRAHIM MAALOUF LIVE AT PALÉO FESTIVAL!

Ibrahim Maalouf (Arabic: ابراهيم معلوف‎) is a trumpet player and teacher, composer and arranger. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and now lives in Paris, France.

Maalouf was born into a family of intellectuals and artists; he is the son of trumpeter Nassim Maalouf and pianist Nada Maalouf, nephew of the writer Amin Maalouf and grandson of journalist, poet and musicologist Rushdi Maalouf. He is noted for playing Arabic music with quarter tones on the trumpet, which is a rare skill, pioneered by his father and Don Ellis in the 1960s. Other trumpeters using such microtones include Marko Marković, Dejan Avdić, Demiran Ćerimović and Franz Hautzinger.

Maalouf has also earned prizes in the major classical trumpet competitions in the world. In July 2010, he was awarded the Instrumental Revelation of the Year Victory Prize (Frank Ténot prize) at the “Victoires du Jazz” competition in Juan-les-Pins.

His music and his trumpet playing are strongly inspired by his Arabic culture, but the instruments around him (bass, electric guitar, drums, Arabic percussion and vibraphones) and the musicians with whom he performs give a more contemporary rock, electro and Jazz-funk flavor to his music. His concerts are generally built around stimulating music that makes people want to get up and dance. But there is always a short, more contemplative, mystical interlude during his concerts, which he calls "a collective universal prayer". Maalouf gets a lot of his inspiration from his culture of origin. This subject has been explored in the documentary Souffle! (Blow), directed by Christophe Trahand and produced by Cocottes Minutes between 2005 and 2006. Christophe Trahand followed Ibrahim for several months in pursuit of the key to his inspiration and to explore his relationship with his native country and the distance that separates him from it. This documentary was broadcast by TV5 MONDE and is available on DVD in the collection Docnet Films.

Studio Discography: 2007 Diasporas, 2009 Diachronism, 2011 Diagnostic, 2012 Wind

There's an amazing moment happening somewhere around min 20:00. Enjoy and have a good night!

YO-YO MA!

Yo-Yo Ma is an American (born in France) cellist. He was a child prodigy and was performing by age five. He completed a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University. He has played as a soloist with many major orchestras. His 75 albums have received fifteen Grammy Awards.

Ma possesses a more eclectic repertoire than is typical for classical musicians. In addition to numerous recordings of the standard Classical repertoire, he has recorded American bluegrass music; traditional Chinese melodies; the tangos of Argentinian composer Ástor Piazzolla; Brazilian music; and an eclectic and unusual collaboration with Bobby McFerrin. 

Ma's primary performance instrument is a Montagnana cello built in 1733 valued at US$2.5 million. 

He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2001, Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, and the Polar Music Prize in 2012.

IBRAHIM MAALOUF!

1. Questions and answers 2. Surprises. From 2012 'Wind' album.

MR GARY CLARK JR, THE NEW FACE OF THE BLUES!

PATTI SMITH - BEACAUSE THE NIGHT!

ON THE AIR: BEBO VALDÉS & EL CIGALA 'LÁGRIMAS NEGRAS'!

Lágrimas Negras is a 2003 album by Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger Bebo Valdés and famous Spanish flamenco singer Diego El Cigala. Lágrimas Negras is a fusion of Cuban rhythms and flamenco vocals, produced by Spanish book editor, screenwriter, film director and producer Fernando Trueba and released by Calle 54 Records, S.L. and BMG Music Spain.

As reviewed by Jon Lusk in BBC Music: "It's kind of ironic, but sometimes ideas are so blindingly obvious that, for a long time, nobody "sees" them, although not invisible to any human.'' That's the case when, in late 2002, thirty six-year-old Diego Jimenez Salazar, nicknamed 'El Cigala' with his extraordinary sobbing voice team up with Bebo Valdés who was old enough (then 83 years old) to be Cigala's grandfather, his pensive piano is the perfect foil for the fiery young singer. 

"They're joined by a small crew of musical extras who deftly colour in these virtuoso all-acoustic sketches without ever intruding. So much so that on first listen, you hardly notice when they're not thereon "Vete de Mí", the only song with just piano and voice. Javier Colina - bass; Israel Porrina " Pirana" - cajon; El Nino Josele - guitar.

Dionisio Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro (1918-2013), better known as Bebo Valdés, was a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, led two famous big bands, and was one of the "house" arrangers for the Tropicana Club. During his career Bebo Valdés ] won seven Grammy Awards: two for El Arte del Sabor (2002), one for Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears), and two for Bebo de Cuba in 2006 (in the categories "Best Traditional Tropical Album" and "Best Latin Jazz Album".)

Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar (born Madrid, 27 December 1968), known as El Cigala (Spanish for 'Norway Lobster', a shellfish popular in Spain), is a famous Spanish Romani Flamenco singer. As he himself has said, the nickname was given to him by three guitar players, Los Losada, for being very thin, not by Camarón de la Isla as commonly believed.

Born into a family of Spanish Gypsy artists and intellectuals in Madrid, El Cigala started singing in flamenco peñas (enthusiasts' clubs) and tablaos, until his excellent meter and ability to mark the rhythm caught the attention of world-class bailaores like Mario Maya, Faíco, Farruco, El Güito, Manuela Carrasco, Cristóbal Reyes, Carmen Cortés, Joaquín Cortés and he began touring as part of their companies. By the late nineties, having collaborated on recordings by Camarón, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo, he was ready to record his own CD. With the success of "Undebel" he launched his career as solo singer. He has now recorded 8 CDs and has won two Grammys and 5 Latin Grammy nominations

Original track listing:

1. Inolvidable (Unforgettable) Music & Lyrics by: Julio Gutierrez 3:20

2. Veinte Años (Twenty Years) Music & Lyrics by: María Teresa Vera 4:03

3. Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears) Music & Lyrics by: Miguel Matamoros 5:31

4. Nieblas del Riachuelo (Stream Fogs) Lyrics by: Enrique Cadícamo & Music by: Juan Carlos Cobián 3:07 5. Corazón Loco (Crazy Heart) Music & Lyrics by: Richard Dannenberg 3:54

6. Se Me Olvidó Que Te Olvidé (I Forgot That I Forget You) Music & Lyrics by: Lolita De La Colina 3:15 7. Vete de Mí (Go Away From Me) Music & Lyrics by: Homero Expósito, Virgilio Expósito 2:56

8. La Bien Pagá (The Well Rewarded) Lyrics by: Ramón Perelló / Music by: Juan Mostazo 8:58

9. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar / Coraçao Vagabundo (I Know I'll Love You / Vagabound Heart) Lyrics by: Vinicius De Moraes Music by: Antonio Carlos Jobim / Music & Lyrics by: Caetano Veloso 4:19

I think (hope) all the tracks (plus a few more) are below, however in a slightly different order! If not, just buy the CD+DVD here!

WHAT IF HE DIDN'T DIE?

Few months ago, 12 previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix recordings from 1968 and 1969 were made available as People, Hell and Angels. The legendary guitarist was experimenting with new sounds and musical directions for First Rays of the New Rising Sun, the planned double-album follow-up to Electric Ladyland, and on "Somewhere," Hendrix sits down with Buddy Miles on drums and Stephen Stills on bass for a far-reaching psychedelic blues jam. Recorded in 1968, "Somewhere" rides signature Hendrix wails, long exploratory solos and free-flowing wordplay. Rolling Stone's Greatest Guitarist of All Time shows why he's earned that title with unparalleled skill and eternally innovative sounds, but "Somewhere" suggests his most complex work may have only been ahead of him..

ON THE AIR: THE STONE ROSES!

The Stone Roses are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band's most successful lineup consists of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, and drummer Alan "Reni" Wren. 

The Stone Roses's influences included garage rock, Northern soul, punk rock, and artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Johnny Marr, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth, Sex Pistols and The Clash. The band were part of the Madchester movement, a style of alternative rock that mixed acid house rhythms with guitar pop sounds.

They released their debut album, The Stone Roses, in 1989. The album was a breakthrough success for the band and garnered critical acclaim, with many critics regarding it as one of the greatest British albums ever recorded (In 2004 an Observer Music Monthly poll consisting of musicians and critics voted the album the greatest of all time, as did the writers of NME in 2006, declaring it to be the greatest British album of all time)

Soon after the group decided to capitalise on their success by signing to a major label; then, their current record label Silvertone would not let them out of their contract, which led to a long legal battle that culminated with the band signing with Geffen Records in 1991, and then releasing their second album Second Coming, which was met with lacklustre reviews in 1994. The group soon disbanded after several lineup changes throughout the supporting tour, which began with Reni first departing, followed by Squire.

Following much intensified media speculation, The Stone Roses called a press conference on 18 October 2011 to announce that the band had reunited and would perform a reunion tour of the world in 2012, including three homecoming shows in Heaton Park, Manchester.In June 2013, a documentary about the band's reformation entitled The Stone Roses: Made of Stone (watch the trailer below) was released, directed by Shane Meadows,which tracks the Manchester rockers' reunion and delves into their history and rise as one of British rock's most celebrated bands.

The Stone Roses played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Isle of Wight Festival and Glasgow Green this year!

The Stone Roses will be "the biggest band ever." - Ian Brown, 2012

The Stone Roses have said they're working on songs for a new album they expect to release in 2015. Chris Coghill, the writer of the new film (watch the trailer below) which is set during the Stone Roses 1990 Spike Island show, revealed that the band “have at least three or four new tracks recorded.” In the meantime, Made of Stone will screen in select theaters in November, and will be available on December 3rd on DVD and Blu-ray. The release will follow a premiere on Thursday 30 May in Manchester at a location to be announced, with the band set to make a rare public appearance alongside director Shane Meadows and producer Mark Herbert.4

0:00 - I wanna be adored 4:52 - She bangs the drums 8:38 - Waterfall 13:19 - Don't stop 18:39 - Bye bye badman 22:45 - Elizabeth my dear 23:40 - Sugar spun sister 27:06 - Made of stone 31:22 - Shoot you down 35:35 - This is the one 40:34 - I am the resurrection. ENJOY!

NO LIMIT!

  Film by Tomson. maitoprod.com/ 
  facebook.com/Tomson.Media 

  Artist Marcio facebook.com/BBoyMarcio?fref=ts 

  Music: Adagio For Tron by Daft Punk

GET TO KNOW: LORDE!

  Keep in mind she's just 16. And she's gonna be huge pretty soon! Listen to Royals here!

BURNING MAN 2013!

This year, Burning Man brought 60,000 to the harsh deserts of Black Rock City near Reno for a week long experiment in art, music, self-expression and living. Here are some scenes from around the playa at Burning Man 2013. 

Major art includes BELIEVE, The Man, French CORE: Stairway to Heaven, Minnesota CORE: The Year the Playa Stood Still, New Orleans CORE: Altar of the Wetlands: Recreating Nature in a Post-Industrial Society, Fractal Planet, The Janky Barge, Truth is Beauty, Coyote, East Bay CORE: First Home, NYC CORE: Star of the City, Like4Real, The Temple of Whollyness, Photo Chapel. 

Soundtrack: Elixir by Fingers in the Noise. https://soundcloud.com/fitn

Be sure to watch in HD at full screen for maximum awesomeness! For Burning Man 2012 check our previous post here!

3 X NANCY SINATRA!

  Have a good night sleep and a glass of Nancy!

MADE IN AMERICA!

Showtime's documentary "Made In America," (premiered Friday night on Showtime) from director Ron Howard, goes behind the scenes of the making of one of the biggest concert events of the year -- Jay Z's Made In America festival in Philadelphia (September 1, 2012).

The documentary follows the artists (From Jay Z to Run-D.M.C., The Hives to Pearl Jam, Kanye West to Jill Scott, Santigold to Passion Pit and more) as they prepare for and play their sets, but it also gets perspective from festival security guards, crew members, promoters and food vendors, and even the mayor of Philadelphia.

It's a fascinating look at Jay Z's rise -- including a scene where he visits his old apartment, which now has a view of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn that houses his 40/40 Club -- and at what artists are doing to help revive local economies and bring people from all walks of life together.

Jay Z explains that his impetus for Made in America was to create a multi-genre festival in which people of all backgrounds can mesh. "Made in America could become a place where people of all cultures gather and have fun being themselves," he says. The rapper vehemently states that he’s "not an elected official," yet his words could foreshadow a new hip-hop political platform: "America is now being accepting of all cultures," he says. "We have a black president now. . . . We’ve made steps as far as racism. Now we have to make steps towards sexism, gay rights. . . . We’re all people at the end of the day. . . . We all have that belief that you can make it here in the land of the free and the home of the brave." Rolling Stone recaps the most memorable moments here. 

Ron Howard with Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z backstage during the Budweiser Made In America Festival

Just ignore the small pop-up and press play