This brilliant version of “Roof Garden” just reminded me how & why I got into Al Jarreau

R.I.P., Whitney Houston!

It really saddens me to hear that Whitney Houston, one of the best pop/soul singers of all time (IMHO), has passed away at age 48. During my time as a music journalist, I only met her once (for an interview at Arista Records’ office in New York City). She was 19 at the time and had just recorded a song which, to me, still is one of the greatest performances she ever did: “Memories” on Material’s “One Down” album, featuring Archie Shepp on saxophone.

Heute (Heiligabend) noch nichts vor? Mamsie Tsosane bringt Funk, Soul, R&B und Afro-Pop

Wer heute (Heiligabend, 24. Dezember 2011) um 23 Uhr noch keine Pläne hat, dem kann ich ein ganz besonderes Club-Konzert empfehlen:

In der Trafalgar Lounge, Heidenkampsweg 32, 20097 Hamburg, tritt das südafrikanische Ausnahmetalent Mamsie Tsosane auf.

Mamsie ist in Hamburg vor allem als Darstellerin im Musical “Disneys Der König der Löwen” bekannt. Vorher tourte sie mit dem südafrikanischen Musical “Umoja” um die Welt, später war sie unter anderem an André Hellers erfolgreicher Zirkus-Show “Afrika! Afrika!” beteiligt.

Baltic Soul 2011: Das Soul- und Funk-Fest des Jahres

Die Kernzielgruppe muss man mittlerweile nicht mehr davon überzeugen, was für ein großartiges Event der Baltic Soul Weekender am Weißenhäuser Strand ist. Die meisten Hardcore-Soul-Fans werden ihre Reservierung fürs fünfte Mal (von Freitag, 15. April, bis Sonntag, 17. April 2011) schon in der Tasche haben.

Und das ist genau der Grund, warum ich heute diesen „Save the Date“-Beitrag schreibe: In diesem Jahr (2010) war ich so spät dran, dass wegen der wachsenden Popularität des Weekenders keine Zimmer mehr verfügbar waren. Der Besuch klappte nur noch per Tagesticket (mittags per Mietwagen hin, gegen vier Uhr morgens Rückfahrt nach Hamburg).

Bad Habits

Does anyone remember ’80s producers Allen George and Fred McFarlane? Their “Somebody Else’s Guy” (Jocelyn Brown) was great, but “Bad Habits” (Jenny Burton) was just as bad. ;-)

more about "Jenny Burton: Bad Habits", posted with vodpod

My Favorite Dr. John Encounter

A long-forgotten video posted by BLIP.fm member digitalfreestyleentertainment just reminded me of my favorite Dr. John anecdote.

Remembering Willy DeVille

I’m currently revisiting some of my favorite Willy DeVille songs – which remind me of a TV shoot I did with him in New Orleans in 1992, on the event of the German release of his album “Backstreets of Desire” (for the magazine “Das! Das Abendstudio” on the Northern German TV channel NDR). He had moved to the French Quarter around 1990 and recorded the album in the Big Easy (just like 1990’s “Victory Mixture”).

On the night before the shoot, I visited him and his wife Lisa at their home in the Quarter. Instead of doing the usual interview about the album, he suggested that we shoot him doing a tour of his favorite spots in New Orleans.

The King (of Pop) and I – (Almost) A Michael Jackson Home Story

Although my blog is primarily German, I’ll write this post in English. Since the passing of Michael Jackson, I had lots of inspiring exchanges about him with my stateside Facebook friends. I don’t want to exclude y’all (after all, I became friends with most of you even before Liz Taylor turned Michael Jackson into the “King of Pop” ;-) ).

So, what’s the deal with the “home story” angle of the headline?

When I was working as a music journalist from the early ‘80s to the mid-’90s, I spent about five months a year in New York City (Manhattan), Los Angeles (Hollywood, 90028) and varying additional U.S. cities. In L.A., I became friends with Shirley Brooks, a Japanese-African American who, among other duties, was CBS Records’ liaison for visiting foreign journalists like me.

Qype: Sommersalon in St. Pauli (Hamburg)

Hamburg – Essen & Trinken – Bars & Kneipen – Bars

Spielbudenplatz 22
20359 Hamburg
Telefon: (040) 31182250
www.sommersalon.de

Der Sommersalon ist für mich eine angenehme Alternative zu den musikalisch ähnlich gelagerten Clubs Bernsteinbar und Le Fonque, die ich nicht mehr so oft besuche, da mir dort zu viel geraucht wird.

The Funky Farmer: George Clinton Home Story (1986)

This is the English translation of a George Clinton home story which I did in 1986 when I was working as a music journalist (original German version):

One morning at 5 a.m. on the funky farm: sputter – sputter – zang – boom – crash. Strange sounds are emanating from the hall. A few minutes later George Clinton stands in the living room: “Damn, not even 4000 points! When I’m that bad, I know that it’s time to quit. Good night!” A last disappointed look at the Galaxian video game, and Clinton disappears into the bedroom. In the neighborhood the first cocks are crowing.