Mark Smotroff

Latin pianist/bandleader, reportedly a stepping stone for the likes of Machito, Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente and even Doc Severinsen. Good stuff...

Thrifty Synergy - Athrift shop worker recommended this Noro Morales 78 he was putting out. Never heard of him before. Later that day I found this 10-inch LP at a different thrift. Funny how that happens. Latin pianist/bandleader, apparently a stepping stone for the likes of Machito, Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente and even Doc Severinsen. Good stuff...

Thrifty Synergy - A thrift shop worker recommended this Noro Morales 78 he was putting out. Never heard of him before. Later that day I found this 10-inch LP at a different thrift. Funny how that happens. Cont'd #musicsky #music #jazzsky #jazz #vinyl

Lady Blackbird w/ Chris Seefried opens her show at Cafe Du Nord last night with an unexpected, timely, poignant and jaw-dropping interpretation of Pink Floyd's "Mother" (from The Wall). Look for more pix from the show in an adjacent post.

It was great seeing DJ Rotten Robbie again who opened the show with a fun set of vintage booty shakin' sides.

After the show I bumped into other fans who remembered me from past shows (including one in San Jose in a park jazz festival). A Lady Blackbird fan community is genuinely building!

But it was show opener that was the particular stunner: a timely cover of Pink Floyd's "Mother" from The Wall. I did not see that coming and I only wish it went on longer. What a way to start a show! Look for my adjacent posts of that and other clips from the performance. More...

Cafe DuNord was nearly sold out last night and the audience was definitely growing/changing from past shows, skewing a bit younger and more diverse which is great to see! Her set list was fun too, presenting new songs in progress, a fun Bowie cover ("Space Oddity") & deep album/EP cuts. More...

Here in the US she's been getting a slow-building rollout while in Europe she is playing larger venues/festival stages backed by a full band (look for her on BBC's Graham Norton a couple years back on YT for an idea of the level of reception received there alongside Bono & Taylor Swift!). More...

Had a wonderful time last night seeing the incredible Lady Blackbird at Cafe DuNord here in San Francisco. This time she was backed not only by her musical partner / producer / arranger Chris Seefried but also a keyboardist and percussionist (previously/often they played duo shows here in the US). Here in the states she's been getting a slow-building steady rollout while in Europe she is already playing larger venues and festival stages backed by a full band (look for her appearance on Graham Norton a couple years back on YT to give you an idea of the level of reception received there alongside Bono and Taylor Swift!). Cafe DuNord was nearly sold out last night and the audience was definitely growing/changing from past shows, skewing a bit younger and more diverse which is great to see! Her set list was fun too, presenting some new songs in progress, a fun Bowie cover ("Space Oddity") and some deep album and EP cuts they'd not performed live much in the past. But it was show opener that was the particular stunner: a timely cover of Pink Floyd's "Mother" from The Wall. I did not see that coming and I only wish it went on longer. What a way to start a show! Look for my adjacent posts of that and other clips from the performance. My only sadness is that my partner who is also a big fan couldn't join us last night as he is away on business. But he was with us in spirit for sure. It was great seeing DJ Rotten Robbie again who opened the show with a fun set of vintage booty shakin' sides. And after the show I even bumped into some of other fans who remembered me from past shows a couple years back (including one in San Jose in a park jazz festival) so that was neat to feel a Lady Blackbird fan community genuinely building.

Had a wonderful time last night seeing the incredible #LadyBlackbird at Cafe DuNord in San Francisco. She was backed not only by her musical partner / producer / arranger Chris Seefried but also a keyboardist & percussionist (often they played duo shows here in the US). Cont'd #musicsky #music

Trump has launched a war in the Middle East without our consent, without a plan, without a strategy, and without any clear idea about where it leads or how it ends.

He cannot be trusted. Congress must rein him in. Call your reps: (202) 224-3121

This is the mono mix which finally issued in 2008 but only on picture discs (which sound remarkably good actually, euro-made). 4 different images were on the 4000 US copies (1000 each). Europe got a different 5th version. I have two. Sure, I'd like to have all the variants but I'm ok for now.

Whizzing & Pasting & Pooting Through The Day.... I was reminded that 58 years ago today Frank Zappa's landmark LP "We're Only In It For The Money" was released. Still fresh and unlike anything before or since, topically it remains sadly relevant even today. This is the mono mix which finally issued in 2008 but only on picture discs (which sound remarkably good actually, euro-made). 4 different images were on the 4000 US copies (1000 each). Europe got a different 5th version. I have two. Sure, I'd like to have all the variants but I'm ok for now.

Whizzing & Pasting & Pooting Through The Day.... I was reminded that 58 years ago today Frank Zappa's landmark LP "We're Only In It For The Money" was released. Still fresh and unlike anything before or since, topically it remains sadly relevant even today. 1of2 #musicsky #music #zappa #vinyl

BREAKING: New York City reports the lowest levels of shootings, shooting victims, and murders ever recorded for the first two months of a year. Major crime is down nearly 8% citywide, burglary hit a record low, and retail theft dropped 25%

More Songs About Getting Lost - Another spin of just released lost sessions from Bruce Weber's acclaimed 1988 Chet Baker documentary Lets Get Lost. Swimming By Moonlight is a fine RTI pressed collection of live and studio late period Baker recordings, which I've reviewed on eCoustics (dot com).

More Songs About Getting Lost - Another spin of lost sessions from Bruce Weber's acclaimed 1988 Chet Baker documentary Lets Get Lost. Swimming By Moonlight is a fine RTI pressed 2LP #vinyl set of live/studio late period Baker. My review on eCoustics (dot com). #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz

Probably from a period of transition using up old supplies. Sounding sweet even with a couple surface scuffs.

Traded some records with a friend today and got a few real nice things. Notably a very nice 1957 Horace Silver LP. 1500 series, probably a 1960-62 repress. Deep grooves. RVG stamp, 9M hand etch & Plastylite “ear” in deadwax. Non matching labels: 63rd St. on one. Pristine cover with 61st St. addy. Probably from a period of transition using up old supplies. Sounding sweet even with a couple surface scuffs.

Traded records with a friend today, got some nice things. Notably a seeet 1957 Horace Silver LP. 1500 series, probably 1960-62 repress. Deep groove. RVG stamp, 9M hand etch & Plastylite “ear” in deadwax. Non matching labels: 63rd St. on one. Pristine cover w/ 61st St. addy. 1of2 #musicsky #jazzsky

Marine insurers cancel war risk cover, tanker costs to rise as Iran conflict intensifies Marine insurers are cancelling war risk coverage for vessels and oil shipping rates are set to surge further after the widening Iran conflict left at least three tankers damaged, a seafarer killed and...

They also didn't plan for insurance issues
www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Marine insurers cancel war risk cover, tanker costs to rise as Iran conflict intensifies Marine insurers are cancelling war risk coverage for vessels and oil shipping rates are set to surge further after the widening Iran conflict left at least three tankers damaged, a seafarer killed and...

Perhaps it is because of this...
www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Is this bad? It seems bad.

Just a random reminder that over 50 members of Congress collectively own millions of dollars in defense contractor stocks.

They stand to personally profit from wars that enrich these contractors.

Make no mistake, this is legalized corruption.

Watch how they vote this week.

Every now and then I pull out this 1979 Dizzy Gillespie album (which is actually a very solid album despite the cheesy title) and glow in the memory of having Dizzy sign it for me after a 1981 show in Syracuse while I was in college.

Every now and then I pull out this 1979 Dizzy Gillespie album (which is actually a very solid album despite the cheesy title) and glow in the memory of having Dizzy sign it for me after a 1981 show in Syracuse while I was in college. #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz

Well, that may be one way to put a damper on war these days: cancelled insurance! https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ship-insurers-cancel-war-risk-cover-due-iran-conflict-2026-03-02/

Well, that may be one way to put a damper on war these days: cancelled insurance!

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

A lot of folks, myself included, thought Bobby Charles' recorded output stopped with his sought after 1972 album where he is backed by The Band. But the man who wrote "See Ya Later, Alligator" kept recording intermittently and putting out albums on his own eventually in the 90s and beyond.

A lot of folks, myself included, thought Bobby Charles' recorded output stopped with his sought after 197w album where he is backed by The Band. But the man who wrote "See Ya Later, Alligator" kept recording intermittently and putting out albums on his own eventually in the 90s and beyond. Now playing a first time vinyl reissue of his 2004 collection, courtesy of The Last Music Company, "Last Train To Memphis" which is excellent, falling somewhere between late period Solomon Burke, Dan Penn (who is on this) and, yes, The Band. My review is now on eCoustics (dot com). https://www.ecoustics.com/music/bobby-charles-last-train-memphis/

Now playing the excellent first time vinyl reissue of Bobby Charles' 2004 collection "Last Train To Memphis" which falls somewhere between late period Solomon Burke, Dan Penn (who is on this) & The Band. My review is on eCoustics (dot com). 1of2 #musicsky #music
www.ecoustics.com/music/bobby-...

Interesting trivia from the Wiki: apparently the band's LoFi raw edit recording style was intended to sound like Beatles bootlegs. And y'know what? It does!

Monday Evening Energy: Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand (The Director's Cut). 3LP set issued in 2004, no its not "better" than the original 1LP vision but it is certainly a very interesting alternate view of how they got to that LoFi classic. Interesting trivia from the Wiki: apparently the band's LoFi raw edit recording style was intended to sound like Beatles bootlegs. And y'know what? It does!

Monday Evening Energy: Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand (The Director's Cut). 3LP set issued in 2004, no its not "better" than the original 1LP vision but it is certainly a very interesting alternate view of how they got to that LoFi classic. Cont'd #musicsky #vinylsky #vinyl #gbv

This is the back cover. The front cover is more timely and poignant in some ways but I know if I post that I'll have issues with the algorithms which already squashes my posts. Was amazed to have found this in the bargyn bin at Amoeba.

Was reminded by author friend Pat Thomas that today is the the birthday of Elaine Brown, the only woman to have been Chairman of the Black Panther Party during their 1970s heyday. Last year I found this copy of her 1970 singer-songwriter album so it felt like a good time to play it. This is the back cover. The front cover is more timely and poignant in some ways but I know if I post that I'll have issues with the algorithms which already squashes my posts. Was amazed to have found this in the bargyn bin at Amoeba.

Was reminded by author friend Pat Thomas that today is the the birthday of Elaine Brown, the only woman to have been Chairman of the Black Panther Party during their 1970s heyday. Last year I found this, her 1970 singer-songwriter album so it felt like a good time to play it. Cont'd #musicsky #music

My listening reports on two excellent reissue/restorations as part of Chess Records' 75th Anniversary celebration is now on Analog Planet. There I explore two core blues albums which happen to be very rare and collectible in their original form, the debut LPs by Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Both were collections of single releases from the early 1950s and sound pretty remarkable. https://www.analogplanet.com/content/chess-records%E2%80%99-75th-anniversary-series-180g-lps-kicks-pair-indisputable-blues-gems-howlin%E2%80%99

My listening reports on 2 excellent reissues as part of Chess Records' 75th Anniversary celebration is now on Analog Planet: the debut LPs by Howlin' Wolf & Muddy Waters, both collections of early '50s single releases. #musicsky #blues #bluessky #music #vinyl

www.analogplanet.com/content/ches...

Screamin' into Monday with Howlin' Wolf's wonderful new reissue of his debut LP 'Moanin' In The Moonlight.' Very hard to find originals. My listening report on this & the equally fine restoration also rare 'Best Of Muddy Waters' is on Analog Planet (dot com) celebrating Chess Records 75th Anniversary.

Screamin' into Monday w/ Howlin' Wolf's wonderful reissue of his debut LP 'Moanin' In The Moonlight.' Hard to find originals. My listening report on this & the equally fine, also rare 'Best Of Muddy Waters' is on Analog Planet (dot com) celebrating Chess Records 75th Anniversary. #musicsky #music

Yesterday I found a "sealed" UK OG that had been opened by a customer so Grooves gave me a hearty discount I couldn't resist. Lovely stuff. Sorta like Kaleidoscope in slow motion...