After reading Jon Pareles’ review of the african pop band Konk I just may have admitted that I want to get back into pop music? Not the Spice Girls or Backstreet again, but this intriguing sound of the African Connection and Konk. Not only are they the only African pop band in NYC, but the only one I know of. And if Pareles claims they are an irresistible groove, I’m there! I’m always down for a little groovin’…
What could be better than the combination of drums, congas, timbales, cowbelss, and TWO salsa singers?! nothing, that’s what.
So if you’re in a rut, don’t get yourself IN a funk, get funky! To Konk and African Connection I go.
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Ben Ratliff gives a very historically informative review of Scofield’s performance at the Blue Note in nyc. However, I’m a bit skeptical now… Ratliff claims that the performance was better than the album.
I am attracted to anything electrical and on a guitar, so Ratliff’s note that Scofield used his electric guitar in more than a few ways caught my eye and soon to be my ear. I like how Ratliff notes that Mr. Scofield “exaggerates notes and phrases, making them excessively comic, ugly, beautiful, rocking or refined”. Sometimes ugly, syncopated notes in jazz are the most beautiful and thought-provoking sounds.
I’m told in this article that Mr. Scofield’s band is a good one for those listeners that love the guitar, and I sure do. I will definitely be grabbing one of his albums, even if the performances are said to be better. I’m not going to be alive forever, so why not???
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