Here’s an interesting statistical breakdown of the rap game. It gets repetitive, but still good analysis.

I’m sure some of you are aware that despite my American citizenship, I am actually Bermudan (meaning born on the isle of Bermuda, not meaning that I enjoy short white shorts and colorful shorts). I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the island a few times recently because my cousins are now at the age where we’re all experiencing the heavy drinking Shane genes and enjoy some similarly outrageous nights. Last time I was down there I got to see a group called Homegrown perform at a bar. Here’s a little informative video about them. But the larger, stranger thing going on is that with Collie Buddz (Come Around - great great song) emerging on the music scene, Bermuda has a strangely large musical presence it seems right now. I enjoyed Homegrown’s music as much as one does, and really like Collie Buddz. I don’t really know of any other Bermudan musicians (more specifically any that have enjoyed a more international success), but it’s interesting to see some Bermudan influences out there.

And I don’t mean that in a vulgar way what so ever. I am, instead, talking about Wynton Marsalis who I had the pleasure of see at Jazz at Lincoln Center (which is in fact at the Time Warner Center). Watching Marsalis play and speak, it made me realize that every breathe this man took, every exhalation was meant to be put through a trumpet. The sheer joy he took from playing music, from being around music and musicians was so evident. You got the feeling that even if he wasn’t able to play in front of audiences in elaborate (and I’ll admit pretty beautiful) concert halls, he would still want to blow on that horn. There was so much passion in what he was doing, and it was interesting watching him amidst the rest of the orchestra. All of the orchestra (group?) were obviously talented musicians or they wouldn’t be there and they all obviously loved music, otherwise, again, they wouldn’t be there, but still it seemed like there was something different about Marsalis. Maybe it was simply that along with playing he was MCing the event, but when he came to the front of the stage to play, it was like the room changed. His playing literally gave me goosebumps at one point.

Now, admittedly, as an artist, this type of passion and commitment to your art and the history of your art and everything is somewhat daunting. Given Marsalis has over 24 years on me, but still, I was awed by his knowledge of jazz and then again, his passion for it. I love writing. I really do love it. But I got the feeling that if I took Marsalis trumpet away he’d be sweating like a junky in no time, and that’s intimidating for someone like me who has, perhaps, not yet found that fire. I know I want to write. I know I can write. And I know that there’s times when I’m writing and I’m on a roll and its the greatest feeling in the world. My heart will be racing, my legs will be twitching, and it takes all my energy just to keep me in my chair and to keep me pounding on the keys. But there’s so much more going on in life, and I suppose that’s where Marsalis and I seem to diverge. It truly seemed to me that he lived, ate, drank, and breathed Jazz and always had. (more…)

In-laws encouraging people not to buy albums of said rocker who is married to their son, new news. Isn’t the story supposed to be that the parents just want to live off the riches of the younger generations and don’t care what they do as long as they’re cashing in on their cash cow (interestingly enough I believe that the phrase cash cow was used in last night’s Weeds with hilarious results). From what I remember about Elvis and Johnny Cash (note: remember means this is complete hearsay or I learned it from some sort of semi-fictionalization of their stories with famous actors), people told them to lay off the drugs but never told the fans to lay off their records. The father-in-law must be some sort of economist because he’s basically asking the fans for economic sanctions against Amy Winehouse (seriously, with a name like Winehouse who isn’t an alocholic?). He’s attacking the supply side (I believe). Anyway, good stuff.