No matter how long I watch this, I still find it so hard to reconcile the agile Buster Keaton of the 1920′s with the older, pack-a-day voice he possesses in his later years. Did he always talk like that?  I would love so much to see some footage of him with sound from 1927. But I’m guessing that didn’t exist then…   Still – a great glimpse into Mr. Keaton’s world.

In January 2008 I was in Chicago performing with Ted Hearne, and after a day in the city, someone alluded to the fact that Chicago was an accordion town (much more than Charleston, SC), and as such, I should visit an accordion shop while I was there.  My accordion was in need of a couple repairs, and the state of South Carolina has exactly zero accordion shops, and so I was pretty excited about the trip. Enter Anne Romagnoli at the Italo-Accordion Company, in Oak Lawn, IL. She was one of the more incredible people I’ve ever met, and without a doubt the most aggressive salesperson in any field I’ve ever encountered. Needless to say, I left Chicago with a new accordion, and while it didn’t last me as long as I would have liked before needing some repairs of its own, it certainly was a step-up from my previous box in many ways, and ended up teaching me much about home-made accordion repairs. I recently ran across an article in the Chicago Tribune about Anne and her shop. It captures the essence of this woman pretty much spot on, and is well worth the read. Also a page of great photos of her and the shop. Here’s to you Anne.

Saturday and Sunday, 12:30pm – 4:30pm
Oct 16 – 17
Redux Contemporary Art Center

Instructor: Bob Snead
Member $75 / Non-Member $100

The signs are clear, the end is near. Economic meltdown, war, and climate change may be indications that our world is changing in a dramatic way. It is time to prepare and this class will provide you with the tools to survive. Sessions will be split between technical demonstrations and group discussions focusing on the signs of impending doom, the traditional and religious views on the subject, and extreme recycling techniques that can be used in an urban environment for the production of energy, food, and water when those resources become scarce. By the end (of the class) students will have all the necessary information and resources to develop a self-sustaining radically simplified independent existence.

I’ve been revisiting these guys pretty hard lately. If you like Cuban songs, or Doo Wop music, or perhaps both at the same time, I recommend you do the same.  It’s such a smooth ride, it’s hard not to love.  I mean – what is the only way that vocal music of this era could be any better?  By everyone dancing salsa while they do it, that’s how. The hips don’t lie.

{and while I’m at it — save the date – October 10th will mark the return of Garage Cuban Band in all of it’s 5-member glory at the Pour House in Charleston}

It was a Real Buster Keaton on a Real Train, and the cameramen had orders to keep shooting until Buster yelled “Cut”, or was killed.

I’ve spent the better part of the last two weeks immersed in Buster Keaton’s performance in the 1927 film The General. Along with my good friends Caroline and Jeremy, we composed/improvised music to the film in a backyard outside of Boston this past weekend, on what turned out to be one of the finer evenings of the summer. Original movie poster below the fold…

I have the good fortune to be involved in a wonderful project by your friend and mine, Ted Hearne next week. After a couple years in the oven, Katrina Ballads will return to the performance stage next week, with shows at Le Poisson Rouge on August 24, and the Hobby Center in Houston, TX on August 28.

Although we recorded the piece in 2008, it’s just now seeing it’s hard copy release on New Amsterdam Records, coinciding with the 5th anniversary of the storm’s landfall on the Gulf Coast. The piece has gathered some amazing steam and personnel in the last few years. Films by Bill Morrison, production by Beth Morrison (no relation), and a new addition to the roster of voices, none other than the astounding Rene Marie. (I am particularly excited about being in the same room as Rene. She gives me the shivers in the best of ways.)

I could gush for hours about Katrina Ballads and Ted Hearne, but suffice it to say that this is one of the projects I’ve been most proud of in my life thus far. It’s a rich piece of art that will always be incredibly relevant to our society, and reflects on a hard time in a really compelling way. There’s a lot of soul and individuality that shines in this piece, as Ted is the glue among some perhaps disparate, but no less amazing, performers.

Come have a listen.
A little Rene Marie to send you on your way. (not the best video quality, but the audio is fair, and the performance is beyond words)

]]> http://nathankoci.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/katrina-ballads-rides-again/feed/ 0 nathankoci http://nathankoci.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/wind-up-the-world-the-other-way/ http://nathankoci.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/wind-up-the-world-the-other-way/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:41:10 +0000 nathankoci http://nathankoci.wordpress.com/?p=620 ]]>

I am pretty much floored by this letter by Charlie Parker.
{via lettersofnote}