Theresa Andersson - MBPYNHO

The latest installment of Music By People You've Never Heard Of.

An excellent combination of solo performance and creative mastery of current musical technology. I really like this girl. Be sure to watch to through the scat solo all the way to the end.



Check her out here.

And also this one. Crazy good...



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Ethnomusicological Stimulus - MBPYNHO

It's a veritable gold mine of Music By People You've Never Heard Of.

Go here to preview and download FOR FREE a couple of dozen World Music Sampler albums from Amazon.com.

I heard about this from ChordStrike, an Amazon blog about all kinds of music.

Free is good.

Rap Chop featuring Vince (Steve Porter Remix) - MBPYNHO

This edition of Music By People You've Never Heard Of features a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud hilarity as well as a slamming remix track by Steve Porter. This is crazy, but it is also wildly creative and very well done. I love what happens at about 2:58, with the guest vocal.



This makes me want to stay up late and buy crazy plastic stuff on TV in the middle of the night.

Jordan Lee Pike - MBPYNHO

Yeah, I know you've probably never heard of him, but the kid's got it.
Take a listen:

http://www.myspace.com/jordanleepike

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Nob Sugino - Lap Steel Artist - MBPYNHO

A few months back, around my birthday, I think, I purchased an album sound unheard (and sight unseen) by a Japanese lap steel guitarist named Nob Sugino. I had read his name somewhere and thought it might be interesting to hear how he played one of my favorite instruments. The album was "Wake", and you can ge it here.

The album is an eclectic and surprising blend of sounds, textures, and styles. I like it a lot. Sugino's approach to the instrument is aggressive and confident, but also nuanced and sensitive. It is a fascinating listen. I visited his website and learned more about his equipment and technique, signing up to receive updates as they became available.

Well, this morning, I received a nice personal email from Sugino, inviting me to check out three videos of new performances that he recently uploaded to YouTube. These are all really well done. Great performances on three different, unique instruments.







And check it out! He is using the Boss RC-20XL Looper Pedal! The same one that I've been playing with for the last couple of months and that I've written about here repeatedly.

U2's "With or Without You" by Neanderpaul - MBPYNHO

In this broadcast of Music By People You've Never Heard Of, I bring you this inspired and inspiring home-brewed version of the famous U2 anthem as performed by Neanderpaul. I'll tell you up front, this is not a great recording, even by the standards of YouTube. It won't matter, just check it out.



I know nothing about this guy, and I found him as I was searching for videos of artists using the Boss RC-20XL Loop Station. For those of you not hip to what the Loop Station is all about, Neanderpaul is an able demonstrator of it's considerable creative possibilities. He plays, sings, and records every sound you hear in this video in real time....this is a completely live performance.

There are a lot of folks using this kind of fun tool nowadays, and I've written about it before. In Neanderpaul's videos, though, I was especially struck by his unpretensious demeanor and his passionate approach to every performance, whether it is a cover tune like this one or an original. You get the sense that it doesn't matter who or even if anyone is listening. There is an implicit devotion to honesty, economy, and simplicity that is admirable. His commitment to the music really shines through.

I don't know the guy, but he's an artist, and I like what he's got going on. It's not about perfection, it's about passion.

DOOT-DOOT by Freur - MBPYNHO

From the Music By People You Never Heard Of wholly owned subsidiary of PikeSpeak, here is "Doot-Doot" by Freur, circa 1983.



Other than "doot doot", most of the lyrics are completely unintelligible. It doesn't matter, though, there is much to love about this song/video and I suspect that deep, thoughtful lyrics would probably just get in the way. Sure the haircuts and clothes look funny, but so what?

Things I like about this include the understated "slow-burn" groove, the synchronized echoey vocal sounds and the complex texture created by layering multiple simple parts.

My favorite section starts about 2:32 when the drummer comes in, attacking that classic Simmons drumkit with such drama. That is also where the synth strings come to the fore....and I really love the rich, warm sound of 80's analog strings.

h/t Chordstrike

"Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet..."

Via the ArtsJournal.com, here is an interesting piece from The Guardian examines why pop songs are so short. Apart from the fact that in many cases it is simply our own good sense or the the Lord's sweet mercy that delivers us from the worst of what passes for pop music, this article takes a fresh look at typical examples and historical reasons, as well as notable exceptions.

In this latter category, he describes the background of and offers a link to an emotionally arresting recording by Gavin Bryars, entitled "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet."

Rico Loop and the Boss RC-50 Looper - MBPYNHO

In this edition of Music By People You've Never Heard Of, check out this great solo performance by Rico Loop.  He's an amazing improviser and, in fact, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, this vocal piece not withstanding.  

Sure, that's undoubtedly not his real name, and yes, he's speaking German, and those are English subtitles.  And yes, it is a product demonstration featuring the also amazing Boss RC-50 Looper.  Most of the online video demos of this innovative product involve instrumentalists, typically guitarists, but Rico has something unique and very creative going on.

I like the clever way the video production emphasizes the overdubbing capabilities of this device with the picture-in-picture effect.  And I want one of those RC-50's.  Street price is around $525, I think.  Good thing I'm a Boss dealer, eh?  

Santa...you listening?

Accordion stuff

Hey, the accordion is making a comeback.  Don't take it from me, read this article about this accordion guy in Seattle who says it is true.   I am ever willing to suspend my disbelief.

Further corroborating evidence is this advertisement for the Monsters of Accordion Tour.  I've never heard of any of these people, but clearly, on the West Coast at least, the accordion is poised to conquer the entertainment world.  

Reading through the different bands and artists on this bill is pretty interesting.  If they ever do a midwest tour, I'll be there.

That's all, I'm going to go practice.

Wallpaper Airplanes - MBPYNHO

Everyone has to be from somewhere, of course, so don't be put off by the fact that these guys say they are from Hollywood, CA. Personally, I'm not 100% sure that anyone is actually from there, although there are certainly a lot of people who do try to wind up there. Nevertheless, be willing to suspend your disbelief and enjoy these tunes in today's installment of Music By People You've Never Heard Of.

(And, yes, I am aware that a more grammatically accurate appellation might be Music By People Of Whom You've Never Heard. But that's just silly and pedantic, so let it go....)

So, go listen a bit to the Wallpaper Airplanes. Their music reminds of several classic artists I like. I hear a little Pink Floyd, a little Psychedelic Furs, and a dash Radiohead, but that's just me. I like the creative and balanced song structure, the artfully woven layers of synth, guitar, groove, and, with one exception, vocals.  A lot of the synth timbres are kind of retro, but I like the way they are used compositionally.  There aren't that many indie rock bands nowadays that rely on synthesizers for this much texture, and it is refreshing.

I would buy the album, I think, overlooking the whole "we're from Hollywood" thing. I like all of these songs and I hope you do, too.

BROOKE FRASER - SHADOWFEET (MBPYNHO)

And out of the blue comes this installment of Music By People You've Never Heard Of.  This is Brooke Fraser singing her song "Shadowfeet" from her album, Albertine.  I really like the directness, the simplicity of the lyric and music.  And the video bears the same aesthetic, relying on the intrinsic strength found in the human face, portraits of real people.  

So what do you think?

One Month Ago

One month ago today we arrived in Rome, jetting in from Frankfurt. I blogged about that here.  On Sunday, the 20th, the following day, I made the following journal entry:

Slept late. Went to the market in southern Rome near Stazio Trastavere about 2:00. Cruised around, bought some stuff. On the way home, we ate pizza at a local sidewalk pizzaria called Pizza Boom, and it was wonderful.


Came back. took nap until about 6:00. Tried to go to Chiesa di Santa Maria in Trastavere (sp?) and did make it to that area, but were unable to find the actual church. We did find some wonderful shops and and restaurants nestled in the alley ways. We had a gelato, Strawberry and Kaffe And after walking and shopping a bit, decided to eat a marvelous little place called Pizzaria Pan ‘Uto. I had a antipasto, pasta with a ham, mini-lamb kebobs, chocolate cake, and espresso. NCP had a bruscetta w/roast artichoke tapenade and a wonderful pizza that consisted of salmon, mozzarella, light olive oil, and topped with some kind of fresh herb post cooking, then a fruit cheese cake, and an espresso. It was all wonderful. I enjoyed being able to see the cooks make the food, the pizza crust was incredible...made on site, of course.

Then we went to a record store, FM Non-Stop Music and bought a couple

of albums, G'lam House, Vol. 4, a collection of Italian remixes by various artists, compiled by Andrea Gelli. A lot of it is kind of downtempo and chill, but very nice. Great version of the Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” Some of it is kind of jazzy, kind of latin, all very groove-centered. Also bought “Illusioni Parallele” by Tiromancino, an up-and-coming band from Rome, recommended by the DJ/proprietor in the store, who was very cool about playing sample tracks and making thoughtful suggestions. He says Tiromancino’s music is electro-pop, but kind of alternative, not real mainstream. Can’t wait to hear more of both.

Hear some of Tiromancino's music here.

We rode the very last tram and then the very last bus home, getting in about 12:15 AM local time.

New Tune

JP's got a new tune.  Check it out!

Drumsong by Gavin Harrison

More Music By People You've Never Heard Of:

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

100 Days 100 Nights, the title cut from one of the coolest albums I've heard lately.  I love this stuff.

MBPYNHO: "It's For You He Came" by Mark Bovee

Music By People You've Never Heard Of - Christmas edition.

For several years now, one of my favorite Christmas albums has been "It's For You He Came" by my friend Mark Bovee. Mark is an excellent pianist as well as a prolific and accomplished orchestrator and arranger, as well. He has an impressive discography, but he is kind of a behind the scenes guy. Alot of his best work has been making someone else sound great. He is a very humble and gifted artist. His wife, Christi, is an outstanding singer, too.

There is a wide array of styles on this album, but it is decidedly jazzy in character, overall. One of my favorites is his Latin-jazz arrangement of "What Child Is This." At our church we perform this one pretty much every year, usually featuring my wife, Nancy, on the solo vocal. Silky smooth and slow-burning, like the orange embers in your fireplace on a cold winter's night.

You can listen to excerpts from this album and buy a copy here. They make excellent Christmas presents.

Home again...

Home again and happily so. It was a good trip, as business trips go, and will likely be fruitful. Travel and accommodations were perfectly fine, without snag or complaint. That is, until I got to my car in the parking lot at the James Cox International Airport in Dayton on my return Saturday afternoon at which point I found that I couldn't find my keys. They remain lost to date, presumably in Atlanta, but who knows...they still haven't turned up. Nevertheless, thanks to my son, I made it back home in time to catch the end of the worship rehearsal at church and the evening's service.

The highlight of the trip was, without a doubt, the worship concert that I attended Thursday night. Diante do Trono ("before the throne") is the worship team of Igreja Batista da LaGoinha, a large evangelical church in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, that I mentioned in a previous post. I had been invited by Randy Adams, who is the recording engineer for most of the Diante Do Trono's worship recording projects. (Go here to see a list of Randy's astounding discography.) The amazing thing was that these friends of mine from so far away, whom I had never met in person before, happened to be in Atlanta at the same time I was, performing at a local church that was less than a mile from my hotel.

My friend and colleague, Jeff McLeod, and I stood behind Andre Espindula, the chief engineer whom I have known telephonically and virtually for several years now. It was a joy to meet him in person at last. The worship was wonderful. They had a full rhythm section, background singers, six-piece horn section and a pair of young dancers. Ana Paula Valdao Bessa is the worship leader and she is a great leader, possessing a wonderful voice and a strong passion for the gospel.

Jeff and I speak enough Spanish between us that we could roughly interpret the Portuguese lyrics and speech, although the languages are, in fact, very much different. It is not the first time that I have worshipped in a non-native tongue and, hopefully won't be the last. I believe that Heaven will be very much like that. It is likely that in Heaven, the Lord will reverse the curse of Babel so that we will all speak and understand a common language, but it is undeniable that the children of God come from every time and every culture on Earth. And language is an integral, inseparable part of cultural identity.

An especially moving segment was when Ana spoke at length to the predominately Brazilian audience of some 1200 or so people about the need for them to remember that most Christian believers in Brazil were saved as a result of the efforts of American missionaries over the last 150 years. She encouraged them to now do all they can to, in turn, embrace and positively impact their adopted country. I was somewhat undone emotionally by the passion of her prayer for our country, the outpouring from the people, and the power of the worship song that followed, Águas Purificadoras.

After the concert, at Andre's request, the host-pastor of the Brazilian congregation took us back to the green room and introduced us to Ana. As it turns out, we share a number of friends in Texas, where she went to college in the early 90's. She was humble and gracious, and it was very considerate of her to spend time with us after a rigorous evening. They were to leave by bus later that night for Miami, Florida for the final concert on the tour before returning home.

What an unexpected blessing this was, and one I will remember often for years to come.

MBPYNHO: Erin Lang

I hate linking to myspace, because it is an ugly place. Nevertheless, in my relentless efforts to share Music By People You've Never Heard Of, I offer here a link to Erin Lang's myspace page whereon she has posted some wonderful songs to listen to. Spare and warm, with a very engaging and beautiful voice.


Check her out.

PSA - Music By People You've Never Head Of.

Public Service Announcement: Regular readers, and I am referring to both of you, know that one of my favorite things is new, fresh MBPYNHO (Music By People You've Never Heard Of).

Here is a deep and wide pool of it, with free live broadband concert video footage. Fabchannel features performances of many different flavors by artists who have appeared on the stage of the Paradiso, a nightclub in Amsterdam.


I really liked Emiliana Torrini a lot. Her music is both melancholy and happy, fragile and strong, innocent and experienced, all at the same time. The Whip was a fun listen, reminding me mostly of the Pyschedelic Furs, a punk-pop band of yesteryear of whom I very fond. I couldn't stand Late of the Pier...those boys can hardly play. Several of the techno/DJ acts were musically interesting. I haven't listened to anywhere near all of it, but there's metal, pop, folk, dance, blues, and much more to be seen and heard. And very nearly all of it is MBPYNHO.

Shawn Colvin does not qualify as an unknown artist by any means and her set is absolutely transcendant. She plays and sings so well. Be sure to check her out.