Interview with Peter Eldridge

Had a great time doing an interview with singer/songwriter Peter Eldridge (of the New York Voices) today.  Keep an eye out for it on jazz.about.com in the coming days.

Wye Oak Covers Danzig

Wye Oak covers Danzig

Yes, we're well aware that you voted for this year's Undercover to include only bands that hadn't played last year. But if you look at the numbers carefully, you'll see that lots of people (47%) were okay with returning acts, particularly if they were one of the top vote-getters from last year. But really the reason we wanted to invite Baltimore duo Wye Oak back into the round room is that they're awesome. Their new album is called Civilian, and it's an early-ish contender for best of the year in at least one book around here. And oh man, Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack (along with Callers' Don "Donzig" Godwin on tenor horn) didn't disappoint. They tackled Danzig's "Mother" with exactly the amount of seriousness it deserves. Jenn even wore a special black hoodie and allowed herself to be temporarily tattooed in an homage to the former Misfits frontman. This song was chosen for Undercover by way of reader suggestion: About six of you thought it would be a good one, and you were right. (Oh, by the way, Wye Oak will be the only repeat performer from last year. Respect.)

Great cover by a super cool/talented band.  The AV Club is great, if you haven't checked it out yet.

Helming the Overwhelmed

As we embark on this endeavor, I am often discouraged by the scope of what we're trying to accomplish.

Our goal is to intelligently write about music, but beyond that simple but challenging goal, we are trying to broadly write intelligently about Quality; and not only identify and categorize Quality, but explain and derive its source.  Too add to our struggles, we aim to derive its source in ourselfs and each other.  While all the time being intelligent.  As if that alone wasn't challenging enough.

Our contributors are looking to me for guidance.  As Editor, my task is to not only determine the content that we produce, but more importantly, ensure that we are speaking to our goal(s) with every entry.  I assume this will become more manageable with time, but most likely only because time will have passed and will therefore seem easier with time.  And perhaps after time, more goals will arise, or the current goals will strengthen.  Like designing the website, hopefully the more pieces assembled the easier it will be to place them.

But as for now, all we can do is keep plugging ahead.  I take solace in our goal(s) and continue to pursue their promise.

Some Thoughts on Quality

Full disclosure - these ideas are mostly pulled from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig.


Quality:  Goodness, worth, excellence 


Quality is undefinable.  But we know it when we see it.

A world without Quality would be much different than the one we see around us.  No art, music, flavor...

Quality is just what you like?  Instead: Quality is what you like.

Quality is the wedge between Classic and Romantic, Technological and Humanistic, thinking.

"People disagreed about Quality because some just used their immediate emotions whereas others applied their overall knowledge" 

Perhaps it is a combination.

Quality lies outside of mind or matter - it is a third stream.




Something else I've been thinking about lately comes from the Natural History Museum in NY:

TRUTH

KNOWLEDGE

VISION

They are the goals of all art.  And maybe more, all humanity.

I've been working on reducing language down to only most fundamental.

All Tiny Creatures - Harbors

As I casually listened to some new music this fine Friday morning, I stumbled upon an album with spectacular artwork:

As soon as I hit play I started to feel this familiarity wash over me.  I had heard this before - yet I hadn't.  I began to have this conversation in my head: "Do I like this?" "I think I just might."  But why, why did I like it.  Of all the albums I've recently acquired, this was the one I felt most comfortable approving of.

So I started to do some research.  Why did I like this music?  It's been a topic I've been obsessed with for weeks.  Not, why is this music good?  But, why do I like it?  The internet told me why - one of the singers on this album is... wait for it...  Bon Iver frontman, Justin Vernon.  Big surprise.  All Tiny Creatures is a band from Madison, WI, (basically the same band that made Volcano Choir, Unmap), featuring probably one of my favorite singers.

So duh.  I felt a little stupid for not knowing about this album before I heard it.  Something most music conscious listeners would probably commiserate with.  As music people we're supposed to know when good stuff is coming out - especially from bands we know and like.  

And maybe that's a misnomer.  How should I know before hand that I'm going to like something?  When good people are involved, should they make good music?  We've seen this theory disproved many times.  Great musicians sometimes make horrible music.  Mistakes are made - risks are taken.  Outside forces control certain aspects at times that take away from the musical process.

In today's Digital Media, Internet Distribution ecosystem, musicians can create music fast and send it out even faster.  This can certainly reduce those outside influences (as the record industry is almost non-existant in internet distribution), but it can also encourage musical risk, which unchecked, can be a bad thing.  If a musician cannot edit themselves effectively, they need a great producer there to take up that responsibility.

This all being said, I had a big revelation today.  Not only was I unaware of All Tiny Creatures, but I ended up going back and listening to Unmap.  It sounds great - more so that I remember before (honestly, I hadn't really listened to it much).  But why do I think it's good now?  Because I know Bon Iver is in it?  Yeah, maybe.  Dumb.

Set List Circa 2007

Here's a blast from the past.  Looking back all the way to 2007, and the Charlie Christenson Quartet.  This set featured Linda Oh (bass), Roy Assaf (piano), and Jaska Lukkarinen (drums).

Set List 2/2/2007 

Charlie Christenson Group

1. 500 Miles High 
2. New Years 
3. I’ve Never Been in Love Before 
4. For All We Know 
5. Seven Steps to Heaven 
6. Always Knew 
7. I’m Old Fashioned (Linda to start) 
8. Atlanta 

-Break-

1. Milestones 
2. Poinsettia 
3. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most 
4. Eagles Goth 
5. No More Blues 
6. Blower’s Daughter 
7. Bye Bye Blackbird 
8. Blame it on My Youth (Roy Duo) 
9. I Love You 
10. Old Plans on the Shelf 

Songs to be added in : Stella by Starlight, The Way You Look Tonight

Introducing The Faure Dot Com

Just like to formally announce my new pet-project.  TheFaure.com

Continue below for our artsy mission statement.  Way more info to come.

Gabriel Faure - Composer

Imagine for a moment a place - a place where musical minds of different ages, genres, temperaments and tastes could come together, work out their differences whilst celebrating those differences simultaneously. Imagine being able to change someone's mind for the better - not by shouting them down, but by opening their eyes. Imagine having an artistic voice - and having that voice not only heard, but listened to and acknowledged.

No one can give you these things - they must be stolen in the night - and you must be organized. This is our goal: to elevate the whole of musical taste. Not just the educated, not just the upper crust, not just the young and the wealthy, the whole. All of it together.

And so our club is formed.

Rachelle Ferrell Autumn Leaves 1989

Rachelle Ferrell is as unique as a singer comes - but not because of musical genre. She’s one of those hybrid jazz, r&b, pop divas that have been on the scene about as long as there has been a scene. Ferrell’s got vocal chops galore. The highs, the lows, the screeches, you heard that right, screeches. She’s got it all. That’s the good news and the bad news all wrapped up into one. She can do whatever she wants, and typically does.

This particular performance of Autumn Leaves from 1989 starts off generically enough with the standard intro from the Cannonball/Miles version, but quickly gets out. When you see her mouth go all crazy around the 30 second mark you know this isn’t going to be your grandpa’s version of Leaves. And, as much as a singer with braces can get tribal, it gets a bit tribal in there before the intro is through. You don’t see many jazz/r&b/pop singers getting crazy on stage in front of a big crowd much these days, and I have to say, it feels quite refreshing. But on to the song. We’ve still got about eight minutes to go.

That sound she makes the first time she sings the word “autumn” is what we in the vocal biz call a “Brittany Spears.” It’s not really singing. It’s more of a guttural speaking of the word that certainly is meant to have a great deal of feeling, but always ends up sounding a bit digestive instead. Al Jarreau does this too, but, I dare say is the only one that can do it and still sound legitimate (Jarreau is not just another one of these jazz/r&b/pop singers - he’s the king).

Please pause a moment at the 1:55 mark and consider her pronunciation of the word “saouwuoung.” Thank you.

I’m definitely proud of her for improvising. It’s a tricky thing for a singer for a number of reasons, and many don’t even attempt it. Although I’ve heard some great solos by Ferrell, this one starts out with a combination of r&b stylized moans and, for the most part, random frills and runs. Not a lot of real melody there. Or rhythm. But when it comes to feeling, forget about it.

The high notes sound great and they really ramp well into the next chorus, but then we realize the frightening truth that all that high singing has temporarily turned Ferrell into a brain eating zombie. And then, just when you think she’s going to break out of your computer and knock on your front door the aforementioned screech pulls the whole glorious solo together.

At least the piano player has some class (4:30).

Once the saxophone takes over I’ve suddenly forgot what makes this performance so unique, as I seem to have stumbled into a Jamie Abersold after school special.

It’s gets real nice and ghetto the last time through the chorus and this most unique of unique vocal jazz rides is about to come to an end. But through it all we learned a bit about what is possible and can still hopefully fall asleep at night without the threat of a zombie Rachelle Ferrell knocking on our door.

Is Burning CD's Stealing?

Here's a brief caption from an interview the AV Club Twin Cities did a bit ago with singer, pianist, and composer Ben Folds regarding his most recent album with Nick Hornby.

He mentions towards the end of the interview that in the old days he used to sign as many burned CD's as real ones.  The interviewer asked him if he though that was stealing.  His response is copied below, and I think it's both telling and true.

AV Club: You never felt like burning CDs was stealing?

Ben Folds: Yeah, I’ve always been fine with it; I let people know that right up front. I feel bad for record companies now. No matter what kind of karma they had coming to them, I still feel bad about how they have to scrap to make a living, and how many of my friends have been laid off. [...] It’s not a pretty place. But having said that, I also know how much I made from royalties from record sales alone. It’s not very much. Most artists would be surprised at how much money they make from selling records. So the question becomes “Hundreds of thousands of people will listen to your music, but they’ll be stealing it from your record company,” and you say, “Well, what does that mean to me?” Nothing. Really, nothing. That aspect of my business didn’t make that much, so I don’t care.Metallica said that they care, and maybe they were making more off of record sales, I don’t know. But all those artists who signed those petitions to stop people from stealing their music, well, maybe they should have checked to see how much they were making from royalties first. But it doesn’t bother me, I’d rather have the hundreds of thousands of people hear my music. [Laughs.] To me, having a record company is the way you look famous and important, to let people know that you’re sanctioned by “the man,” and when you go play gigs, it’s like “as seen on TV,” that kind of thing. But I know that stealing music has been bad for people, I’m not going to say I’m happy for it, but it’s not a bad thing for music. It’s a bad thing for the music industry. And those two things are different.

You can find the rest of the interview here.

If You're Having A Hard Time

If You're Having A Hard Time downloading the new Christmas Album - and I realize Christmas is way over...  try this instead of the link below:

public.me.com/cchristenson

New Website

You may have noticed (although probably not) that my website has been down for some time now.  Well...  I finally wrestled it back from it's captures and am in the process of rebuilding it.

Which by the way, is really hard.

Christmas Album Released

Okay, so the album is finally out and ready to download.  To start the download, please go here.

Previous Christmas Albums have also been consolidated into one file for download here.

Have a Happy Holidays!!

Charlie

Christmas Cover Art

Here's a little taste of the cover art.

(scott poupis 2010)

 
At this point, we're only a couple of days away from the debut of this year's Christmas album.

Stay tuned.

Christmas Album Update #1

Been working hard on the Christmas Album.  So far, getting pretty close on these songs:

• Happy XMAS (War is Over)
• Wisconsin (B. Iver)
• White Winter Hymnal
• Jolly Old St. Nick

Still working on some originals, but it's kind of hard going.  I find it hard to write christmas songs without snow - a horrible weakness I have. : )

Again, if you have a chance my christmas albums past have been posted here for FREE.

Christmas Album 2010

That's right folks, brand new Christmas Album coming out this year. Surprise, surprise, right?

Anyhow, you can look for it around the 20th of December. I'll be sure to keep you posted. This year's album cover comes courtesy of Scout Poupis.

While you wait, check out Christmas' Past by downloading other albums here.

From my family to yours, happy holidays.

Melody of the Day # 3 - "Off to the Side"

Well, the bad news is that I didn't get to write a new melody today. The good news is that it's because I was busy putting together my awesome new bike.

Here's a melody from the vault. Written more than a year ago for my album "The Joy of Driving." It seemed fitting seeing as I wrote this song about travel and I have a new way of getting around.

Melody a Day #2 - "Chains"

After talking to my friend Nick M. today about the Bad Plus, I was in the mood to write a song with a little bass line and a few surprises (don't steal that musical assessment of the Bad Plus from me Pandora - you bastards).

Check it out. I considered calling it "Teeth," but upon reflection, that title seemed gross.

Melody a Day #1 - "Bleek Man"

Here we go. The next big project. I used to do an album every two months, now I'm doing a melody a day. Check back here every day for a new melody!

Here's the first - a modest attempt. Maybe I'm rusty.

(Just click on the scan to enlarge)

The Health Care Debate - Facebook Style

I just wanted to post my response to one of my friends recent posts on facebook. He's a great guy and a hard worker, but I feel like he's the prime target of a lot of misinformation spiraling around regarding healthcare. Now, I don't believe I'm an expert on the subject or anything, but I've heard enough from both sides of the argument to take a position. And, as someone currently without healthcare, I am most definitely an interested party.

Here's his post followed by my response(s).

Mike Robinson Thanks Obama and other various crazy-assed left politicians. The health care "reform" will end up taxing the hell out of us who actually worked hard for a decent job/career that provides health care. Hope you can buy back your senate seat from Blagoi..????..vich.

Charlie Christenson

You're drunk.

Mike Robinson

Not yet...but soon. I'm just worried, because all the big corps that employee all of us college grads, are announcing that they have to cut back on a lot because of new "tax issues" concerning the new legislation on health care.

Charlie Christenson

Oh, Michael. Most likely they're lying to you... Those big companies want to lay you off to try to save a buck and their corporate asses, and poor people who can't afford health care are the ones they blame for it. Don't be mad at the poor people, or the ones trying to help. Be mad at the greed. Be mad at the insurance companies who have denied coverage to sick and dying children for years. Be mad at the financial policy makers of the last 16 years. And know that these "new taxes" will only apply to the disgustingly wealthy (who have ridiculous health care plans), and won't kick in for another two years. Everything else is a lie. The people creating these lies want to maintain the status quo of big big business and are leading us down a path were the middle class (you and I and our parents) no longer exist. There'll be just rich and poor. And I'd rather not be poor... (or poorer) right?

More money to the G-men, screws all of us.

This is in no way to try to humiliate Mike - instead, I thought we could continue the discussion on the blog?

Super.

Fabian Almazan and the LA LA Land

Last week I got a chance to check out the Terence Blanchard Quintet and hang out with one of my favorite people in the world, pianist Fabian Almazan.

While my revue of their venue (Catalina Jazz Club) wasn't on the rosy side, my review of their set(s) definitely was. They played with imagination and energy and were a bit of a breath of fresh air for someone who hasn't heard a high level of live music lately.

The next day we hung out at a great little taco place (which just so happens is owned by the cousin of jazz singer Diane Reeves) and hit up what is probably the final living saint of record stores, Amoeba Music... it's the highlander, there can be only one.

(the great thing about dropping names in a blog is that you can hyperlink all of them - or is that the worst?)

In a related story, Nick, Fabian and I saw one of the ZZ Tops and heard a guy utter what is, so far, probably the worst iPad joke - "Forget iPad, check out my iC@ck!"

Classy, as always.