Choice Nugs: Juan Cirerol

Although I am tempted to describe Juan Cirerol as a Mexican Johnny Cash stirred up with some Bob Dylanesque harmonica, Juan is his own man. He hails from Mexicali and plays Musica Norteña, which is traditional ranch music from the Mexican American border.  Nevertheless, Juan does not sing about cows.  He prefers songs about love, loneliness, and drugs. A complete singer/songwriter, Juan boasts a great voice, provocative lyrics, amazing skill on the guitar, and talent with a harmonica.  

On Saturday, I drove to Tijuana, with my friend Samalama, to see his show at the Black Box.  Before leaving, we checked Juan’s Facebook, and Twitter pages to confirm that he was going to play the show.  The day before, he posted multiple comments about having already arrived in Tijuana and his upcoming performance at the Black Box.  Upon arrival, we were greeted by bewildered concertgoers.  Why were the doors shut and ticket office closed?  A handwritten note on the venue door said that the concert was cancelled due to reasons out of the venue’s hands.  I got the feeling that this was not the first time Juan had been a no-show for his own party.  Over the past few years, he has earned quite the reputation for being a wild character. 

Like countless musicians before him (and despite or perhaps because of his brilliance), Juan seems to be on a path of self destruction.  I fear that he will not live to be very old. Next time he says that he is going to be in town I will be there even though I will not expect him to do the same.

Tribute to a Funk Master: Rick James

I have a confession to make.  I think that Rick James is one of the funkiest musicians of all time. 

My brother Moose has been bumping his jams for years.  However, I never really liked him until last week.  When I thought of Rick James, I thought of the mythical song “Super Freak,” which I have heard about 10,000 times and I think really sucks. 

However, one song I do love is Rick James’ 1981 classic, “Give It to Me Baby.”  I know that most of the readers have already heard the song before because it has been featured in a few movies.  Back in the day, it reached #1 on the R&B charts.  However, I would like to use my bully pulpit (JamandaHalf) to implore you to give it another listen.  It is truly funky.

The first song on the playlist is “Give It to Me Baby” followed by a recording of Rick’s epic concert in Long Beach from 1981.  If I could go back in time, I would, if only just to go to that show.  It was a true party complete with a tribute to the late, great, Bob Marley, who had just passed away.  

"You paid too much money to come in here and sit on your ass!... Raise your left hand, raise it up high.  Now pretend its the KKK and smack the shit out of it!  Now keep the groove up!"

JamandaHalf Does South Africa

Gator is one of the most potent DJs I have ever known.  Today, he graces JamandaHalf with an epic playlist as well as some knowledge about South African music and culture.  The Young Geezuz spent half of 2011 in his usual style, living like a king in Cape Town and studying African drum rhythms.  This is what he learned.  Thanks brother and much love!

  

If the United States is the melting pot of different cultures, than South Africa could be referred to as the pressure cooker.  With 11 different official languages recognized in the constitution (English being the 5^th most-spoken), the people of South Africa are truly an amalgamation of different cultures, each bringing its own values, beliefs, and music styles to the incredibly diverse modern state of South Africa. 

South African music reflects the country's muddled past, with artists combining different styles and techniques to create something new.  Many famous South African artists draw from the traditional techniques of the great native cultures of South Africa, such as the Xhosa, Zulu, and Sotho.  Other modern artists have been inspired by their European side, with house and techno vibes infused in their club thumping jams.  Most South African artists, however, have grown up listening to a wide variety of different genres and styles, and incorporate a bit of this and a bit of that to create something fresh.  This playlist ranges from Techno Pop songs to the traditional hymn that was used in The Lion King, so if you don’t like one jam, just go on to the next.  

Enjoy!

JamandaHalfxVagabrothers Destination 11: Turkey

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One of the most amazing experiences you can do for under $2 is crossing the Bosphorus river in Istanbul from the European side to the Asian side. Crossing the stretch of water is the best way to get a sense of the historical, physical, and cultural immenseness of the city. An amalgamation of East/West, Istanbul can perhaps best be defined by the "/". Turkish music, although less so, is also best described as a mix between the ancient and the modern, of strong musical roots based on thousands of years of civilization, and of swirling changes that puts it directly in 2013.

JamandaHalfxVagabrothers: Destination 2 Rio de Janeiro

Que Beleza!

Brazil is arguably the most musical (and overall radical) country in the world. I lived there in 2012 and arrived during carnival. My friend and super talented artist (future Jamandahalf post pending) Lu Negrao picked me up from the airport. After a quick shower, we hit the street to start drinking beers, Brazilian style, in a small corner bar. It was the middle of Carnival. There was a group sitting in the street playing samba music with hordes of people dancing around them. From there we went to one of the most local and rootsy samba spots in the world. We danced the night away to a live band of about 15 musicians; many of whom were playing traditional Brazilian instruments. It was one of the most fun nights of my life. In Brazil music is culture.

Samba is the iconic genre of Brazilian music. However, Brazilians are responsible for spawning dozens of different styles of music e.g. Forró, Funky, Samba Rock, Bossa Nova, MPB, Choro, etc.

The playlist that follows is not a complete representation of Brazilian music but it is a small taste of how diverse and amazing it is. Jorge Ben and Seu Jorge are the kings of samba rock, Natiruts kicks irie reggae vibes, Marcel D2 fuses rap and samba, and Tim Maia brought funk music to what is already a ridiculously funky country.

*Dont forget to check out the video of the most popular “Brazilian Funky” song ever, which talks about life in Brazil's favelas around in and around Rio.

GriffDawg's Choice Nugs: Los Delinqüentes

I moved to San Sebastian, Spain in January of 2012 on the recommendation of my great friends and Vagabrothers, Marko and Alex Ayling.  I moved for the wild adventures, excitement and new experiences.  Hemingway, stories about Spanish culture, bullfights, tapas, warm weather, and flamenco stoked my excitement. 

I took the train from Madrid to San Sebastian on a cold January night.  As our train pulled into the station, the conductor announced that we were arriving in “Donostia.”  I was confused because the next stop should have been San Sebastian.  I looked around wildly and noticed that no one looked as concerned as I did.  In a wave of panic, I ran to an elderly gentleman who was donning a funny little hat and asked,

“Disculpé señor pero, ¿¡¿ Cuándo llegaremos a San Sebastián?!?”

With a quizzical look on his face he replied,

“Pues, hijo, ya estamos en Donosti.”

That moment I realized I was on a different adventure from the one, which I had envisioned. Donostia, or Donosti for short, is the Basque name for San Sebastian. I quickly learned that natives proudly consider themselves Basque and not Spanish. They have culture, language, and history different from the other parts of Spain and they have oft been ostracized.

I love the Basque Country.  It is an amazing place that is as culturally and traditionally rich as it is naturally beautiful.  However, here, Spanish is not cool.   If you come here with a Real Madrid jersey you will probably be called a fascist.  No one listens to flamenco music, bull fighting is frowned upon, and tapas have been renamed “pintxos.”

When Basques allow something Spanish into their little world you know that is radical.[1]  My favorite examples of Spanish imports are; ham from Extremadura, wine from La Rioja[2], and the super radical band Los Delinqüentes from Andalusia.    

Los Delinqüentes, made music worthy of Spanish adventures, life on the streets, farms, and in the plazas of southern Spain.  The band’s members came from humble backgrounds and frequently busked in the Central Jerez Train Station.  Later, they adopted the tick as their symbol due to its association with farm and street life. The music, deeply rooted in flamenco and rock and roll, was crisp and energetic.  Their lyrics highlighted the tomfoolery omnipresent Spanish plazas and in their “tick” lifestyle. 

The band was formed in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz in 1998 by Marcos del Ojo and Miguel Benitez who were both 15 at the time.  Because Los Delinqüentes were always in the street their mentor and guitar teacher, Diego Pozo, gave Marcos and Migue guitar lessons on the front step of the Jerezano Movie Theater.  Later that year, Marcos y Migue incorporated Diego into the mythical band.  After recording their second demo, the band was signed to Virgin Records.

The trio, made three albums before Migue died of a heart attack at the age 21.  Migue had the attack shortly after a series of stints in rehab.  The band has since come out with three more albums and gained a certain amount of international exposure.   What follows are just some of their JAMANDAHALFS!

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[1]The autonomous community of the Basque Country is located the northeastern corner of Spain and is the about the size of Delaware.  The unofficially recognized Basque Country, which includes parts of other Spanish communities and a part of France, is closer in size to New Jersey. 

[2] Basques claim that the part of La Rioja which lies north of the Ebro River as their own.  

JamandaHalf-One Mo Gin

Longtime readers will have noticed that the jams haven't been coming as often as they used to/should. A move to Madrid, the start of my Master's program, and a serious job hunt (and I must admit, a lack of enthusiasm for music lately) have caused the jam river to slow to a trickle. But our 2nd year Birthday is tomorrow (whoot!) and with that comes new opportunities.

It's hard to believe that I started this little blog two years ago in my dorm room in sunny Claremont, California. I'm a long way away from there now, but this blog is even more special to me now. But like anything, it's not worth anything if it's not getting better.

First off to start a new year I'm posting an interview with the man himself, Adam Bradley, tomorrow. Distinguished Professor, noted hip-hop head, and prolific writer, Professor Bradley made a serious mark on my college career and recently hit the New York Times Bestseller's List by being a coauthor on Common's brand new memoir. To go on from there, I have a few things that I'm going to do a little differently this year:

1. Recruit new voices:If you know anyone that wants to contribute to these pages, let me know. JamandaHalf was originally supposed to be a forum where people could talk about the music they love. For that, I want anyone and everyone who wants to talk about the music that is special to them get involved.
2. A new focus: Most "big" blogs today have largely the same music, differentiated only by slight changes in genres. This year I want to continue to develop relationships with artists like Anthem, Blisses B, and J.Nolan, with a renewed focus on up and coming artists. I am also going to highlight some of the best street musicians from around Madrid who keep the metros, sidewalks, and plazas jamming. I want Jamandahalf.com to be a place that you feel you need to visit a few times every week, and a place where you know the jams will be fresh and different from your little brother's favorite blog.
3. A new look: I have a redesign in the works which will make it easier for people to share music and post whenever they get the feeling.

With Moodawg unfortunately not much of a part of this blog anymore, it's time to get new voices involved. So if you or anyone you know wants to talk about music that for some reason, you just know is a jamandahalf, let me know. And if not, hope you continue coming back for only the juiciest of jams. Thanks,

Leks