Funky! Funky! FUNKY!

Oh, Nina Simone -- where have you been my whole life?

As this sultry summer keeps rolling along, I figured I would rub a little funk on this blog in a big way.

Not only is this track a ferociously funky stab at a triflin' fool of a man , but "Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter" also bears one of the most fantastic song titles that I've ever run across. 

So expressive, don't you think? ;)

Anyway -- Nina (who recently passed away in 2003 at the age of 70) commands the mic and growls the lyrics with an urgency that lets you know that she's walked down that road too many times (and seriously -- what woman can't relate?).

However, she didn't originally pen the tune.

This track originated with Allene Bollock  -- who is the sister of Anna Mae Bollock.

For the uninitiated, Anna Mae Bollock is the birth name for the equally fierce, foxy n' funky diva in her own right: Tina Turner! 

Ike and Tina would be the first ones out of the gate to record this track in 1971. It first appeared on their album "Workin' Together" (and later on the 2002 Ike and Tina compilation disc entitled "Funkier than a Mosquito's Tweeter")

You can check out the Ike and Tina version HERE. 

 I have incredible love for Tina Turner (Ike?  Not so much ;).  

 Tina Turner certainly lent a fine level of sass and soul to "Funkier than ...".  (How could she not? She's Tina Turner! )

However, I believe that it wasn't until Nina Simone released the above live version of the track on her 1974 release "It is Finished" that it really started living up to that wonderful song title.

Nina's version just drips with disgust and frustration, and FUNK.   As I mentioned before, you get the feeling that this track is just saturated with personal experience.

I'm sure that it was to some degree.

I feel that Nina's version also swing's a lot harder than the Ike and Tina version.  The groove sits on an African rhythm section that just makes me want to take off my shoes and dance around my living room with the blinds open.

Now what could be better than that? :)

"Anna and the Spiders"

Another day, another illustration, more Photoshop fun and spiders that resemble.....KITTENS?

*Shrugs*

Okay -- so maybe I got a little carried away. ;)

"Michael" -- and My Adventures with Digital Painting

As if the market isn't already saturated with all kinds of MJ news, criticism, tabloid sensationalism, tributes and art .... here I go adding one more small tribute.

Believe it or not -- I hadn't really planned on doing any more Michael Jackson related art beyond my original post-mortem tribute for the reason that I alluded to above -- it's being done to death right now.

However, I sketched out this little stick figure-ish version one day while I was tuned into the news (and the marathon Michael Jackson death coverage). He's a quirky little thing -- not unlike the real MJ -- but I liked him enough to go ahead and flesh him out in Photoshop.

I'm kind of excited about how this one came out. As I continue to play around with Photoshop and digital painting techniques, I am having a pretty good time trying to find new ways to re-interpret old ideas as well as trying to find ways to use Photoshop and Illustrator together to begin pushing my work in entirely new directions.

This illustration recalls a little bit of Mark Romanek's eerie deep space isolation that was conveyed in MJ's "Scream" video. Honestly -- that was a happy accident on my part.

I wasn't really looking at one particular Michael Jackson video or era whenever I began filling in the line art for this one. I just played with idea that Michael was much leaner (some have reported "emaciated") towards the end of his life and added in his usual iconic underpinnings (the white glove, the mask, the aviator shades, and the black loafers).

If it happens to bear any resemblance to "Scream", then I feel good about that-- but that was not what I originally intended. :)

As I continue to delve into more and more pixel based (as opposed to vector based) artwork , one tool that I am wishing that I had more than ever is a Wiacom tablet.

I do not currently own a tablet , but now that I am working in Photoshop more and experimenting with creating textures (such as hair -- which is damn near impossible without at least a mouse) I find myself running into issues in that department.

I don't even currently own a mouse --everything that I have done to date involving digital shading and texture is being done with the touch pad of my Macbook Pro. While I am making do with what I have on hand for now, my wrists and hands certainly begin to lose momentum after several hours of manic shading.

Plus -- without pressure sensitivity and the control that a tablet would afford me, it's difficult to do some of what I would like to do without the tablet.

For right now, I'm window shopping for a tablet (although, I may not actually purchase one until my finances improve some). Hopefully, I will have one in my creative arsenal before too long . :)

Meanwhile, I am *not* going to post the "Scream" music video (because seriously -- who hasn't seen it?).
What I am going to share is one of my very favorite live Michael Jackson moments. I apologize in advance for the extremely horrendous quality of this clip.

However, this break-neck synthesizer drenched live version of The Jackson's classic "This Place Hotel" (also referred to as "Heartbreak Hotel") is by far one of my favorite memories of seeing Michael on TV as I was growing up. :)

"Honnou"

Recently,  I have been re-visiting some older musical loves of mine that have, sadly, not received the attention they deserve on my ipod in recent years.

One of these tragically neglected albums is "Shousso Strip" by Japanese composer, musician and Jrock chameleon, Shiina Ringo.

One of Japan's most iconic and quirky popular musicians, Ringo's entire solo  discography (as well as her work with her band, Tokyo Jhien )  are a must listen if you get the opportunity to check her out.

However -- "Shousso Strip" and specificly the single "Honnou" were my first introductions to Ringo several years ago. 

Ringo (who counts Bjork, Madonna, and the recently deceased King of Pop as just a few of her Western musical influences)  is also known for her incredibly iconic music videos that are always incredibly fresh , visually striking and innovative.

Shiina Ringo's musical scope is also quite extensive.  Throughout her career (both solo and on Tokyo Jhien projects), she has dipped her toes into every style from alternative rock, jazz, swing , pop and everything in between.  

It should also be noted that her vocal delivery is also quite a departure from a lot of her Jrock contemporaries.  She is well known for rolling her "r"s when she sings, which is an incredibly unusual characteristic for a Japanese singer altogether.

After re-watching "Honnou" for the first time in years, I decided that I had to pay a little homage to it and just one Ringo's many incarnations (see above illustration).

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure how I feel about how this illustration came out.  At one point, I became incredibly frustrated and desaturated the entire piece (see below). 

 I believe that it may be a stronger piece  without color than with but then again, maybe the original (color) version may hold a little truer to the original inspiration.  

I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this one -- but feel free to comment and share your opinion about either version if you would like. :)

In the meantime, below is the music video for "Honnou" (which is the original inspiration for the illustration).

I am also sharing her video clip for "Le Salle de Bain" -- just because it is just an incredibly beautiful clip and just one of the many examples of how Shiina Ringo continues to push creative and musical expectations (which is something that I deeply admire).  

Good Morning, Jaco....

Well as final exam day is upon me today (Jazz Apprieciation class), I decided that I wanted to share this beautiful gem with all of you.

Entitled "Portrait of Tracy" it is one of the most beautiful and moving  electric bass guitar solos that I have ever had the pleasure to lay ears on.

Pastorius was a true innovator in his craft -- utilizing harmonics on his fretless bass to turn the bass into a melodic instrument.  A big part of Jaco's genius is that he could make the bass "sing" unlike anyone that I have ever heard of.  Previously the bass had largely been a rhythm instrument -- but with Jaco , it was the main attraction.

It is not surprising that he was recently voted "The Greatest Bass Guitar Player Who Ever Lived" in a 2006 issue of Bass Guitar magazine.

The above track is taken from his self-titled debeut album (1976).  I have been listening trough  a lot of the tracks on that album and have just been completely blown away and moved.  If you want to hear something that will take your breath away -- then I highly suggest looking into this classic album (and his full discography for that matter -- it's all amazing stuff).

Pastorius moved on to create more amazing music as the bass player for jazz mega-group, Weather Report.

However, drugs, alcohol and severe mental illness shortened his life and career tremendously. Jaco was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in 1982, but had since been nursing a bad alcohol problem well before that diagnosis. 

 Towards the end of  his life he was  living on the streets -- pretty much out of his mind from all of the drugs and the mental instability. He died tragically in 1987 as a result of head injuries he received in a fight with a bouncer at the  Midnight Bottle Club (Florida).

He was only 35 years old. 

If there really is a fine line between insanity and genius -- then I believe that Jaco ultimately personified a life spent tip-toeing on top of that line.

Still -- there is no denying the musical legacy he left us with.  His technical innovations opened up a world of possibilities for bass players and musicians everywhere and the music that he left us with is just astounding.  

Definitely pick up this guy's albums and do a little homework on him some time.  He's definitely worth the listen and the investment of your time. :)