Boozoo Chavis has died, and Richard’s in Opelousas, Louisiana, has closed, but we used to go there and see him and dance. Axé.

Here are Joan Baez and Bob Dylan with Woody Guthrie’s famous song. This performance took place during the Rolling Thunder Revue tour of 1976. Axé.

Here is Muddy Waters with some friends we may recognize by now, circa 1963. I saw Junior Wells perform this song in the 1990’s, but I have not found a video of him singing it as well as he did that day. At this point I really am sitting on the couch and leaning into … More Got My Mojo Working

I had surgery this morning, but was not awarded any opiates. The dentist believes I am now sitting on the couch with an ice pack on my head, and drinking smoothies. Without opiates, however, I find myself eating Creole soul food from the shop on the corner, and hopping around the living room in excitement. … More Blues Carnival

Au bout du petit matin we are grooving with Sonny Boy Williamson on Who’s Gonna Take Care of You? Listen to the syncopation, and look at his fingers. Axé.

For this evening, here is Charlie Parker on Celebrity (1950). You are invited to listen, and then scroll down to see the other two brilliant performances we have had today. Axé.

Since I am posting very dramatic music videos, I offer this, by my favorite fadista, Mariza. I do not particularly like the orchestra version of the music, but observe her performance. Here is an English rendering of the key lines: Oh my countrymen / Now I understand / That the sadness I carry / I … More Mariza em Lisboa

It is definitely time to call upon light gods, and to sing. Here, for your listening and viewing pleasure, is tango and milonga singer Carlos Gardel performing the famous Cuesta abajo (lyrics by Alfredo de la Pera). One of the things I most intensely dislike about academia is the the nastiness of so many low … More Cuesta abajo

We watched the news last night and I saw an advertisement for an airline sponsored credit card that accumulates frequent flyer miles with every purchase. After explaining how the card works, the announcer sums things up: “Toda tu vida sirve para acumular millas y viajar gratis.” “Your entire life serves to accumulate mileage and travel … More Toda tu vida sirve…

I should have known that the FNAC would have a recording I would like, and we could hear, of ladino folk songs. I am fascinated by Ladino or Judaeo-Spanish because it is so creolized, and so full of archaisms. As in this lyric: Avre este abajour, bijou, avre la tu ventana; por ver tu kara … More Avre este abajour