Bluezzin T'il Dawn. Natalia M. King

Natalia M. King ken ik alleen van haar in 2002 verschenen debuut Milagro. Ik herinner me dat ik destijds zeer onder de indruk was van deze plaat, maar kan me niet herinneren dat ik er de afgelopen 13 jaar veel naar heb geluisterd.
 
Bluezzin T’il Dawn is daarom een hernieuwde kennismaking met de muziek van deze Amerikaanse muzikante.
 
Natalia M. King opereerde ten tijde van de release van haar debuut vanuit Parijs, maar is inmiddels weer teruggekeerd op Amerikaanse bodem. Aan Bluezzin T’il Dawn ging een lange stilte vooraf, maar gelukkig is Natalia M. King terug.
 
De nieuwe plaat werd opgenomen met een combo bestaande uit een drummer, een bassist, een pianist en twee blazers (die uit de voeten kunnen op de saxofoon, de trompet, de klarinet en de fluit). Natalia M. King speelt zelf gitaar, maar deze speelt over het algemeen een bescheiden rol in het instrumentarium, al hoor je het subtiele gitaarspel een stuk beter wanneer je Bluezzin T’il Dawn met de koptelefoon beluistert.
 
De stem van Natalia M. King speelt gelukkig een stuk minder bescheiden rol op de plaat, want wat kan deze dame met veel gevoel zingen. Bluezzin T’il Dawn begeeft zich voornamelijk op het terrein van de jazz en blues en zal ook vooral liefhebbers van deze genres aanspreken. Het zijn niet de genres die ik over het algemeen omarm, maar Bluezzin T’il Dawn doet zeker op de zondagochtend keer op keer wonderen.
 
De muzikanten die Natalia M. King omringen maken indruk met muziek die prachtig subtiel kan ontroeren, maar die af en toe ook lekker mag improviseren en ontsporen. Sinds Bowie’s Blackstar ben ik zeer gecharmeerd van jazzy saxofoonspel en dat is ook op deze plaat van Natalia M. King volop te horen.
 
Iedere keer als de band los gaat is het genieten en dat is het ook wanneer de band gas terugneemt; meestal het moment waarop de imponerende stem van Natalia M. King los mag gaan en garant staat voor kippenvel.
 
In een tijd van overvolle producties en stemmen die alleen maar voluit gaan, is de subtiliteit van Bluezzin T’il Dawn een ware traktatie. Iedere noot in de instrumentatie is raak en hetzelfde geldt voor de vocalen, die subtiel fluisteren of uit de tenen komen. Platen als Bluezzin T’il Dawn zijn normaal gesproken niet echt mijn kop thee, maar deze kop smaakt geweldig en bovendien naar veel en veel meer.

Erwin Zijleman

Je kunt hier luisteren naar 'I Need To See You':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7kQL_FMoNE&list=RDtaTJ8nI6Y24

Bettie Serveert, live. Hedon Zwolle, 3 december & De Peppel Zeist, 23 december

Thumbnail, Hedon

De Betties zijn weer on tour! Hun nieuwe cd Damaged Good is terecht door Wo. de hemel in geprezen en de verschijning ervan is aanleiding voor een uitgebreide tour door het Nederlandse clubcircuit, van de band die ook hun 25-jarig bestaan viert. Binnenkort (?, althans, zo is het idee, je weet het immers nooit met de WoNo*) vertellen Carol, Peter en Joppe over de nieuwe cd en vele andere zaken in een interview dat verschijnt in de allerlaatste pdf-versie van WoNo Magazine. Dit blog gaat natuurlijk gewoon door, dus geen vrees. Tenzij een lezer bang is voor aanvallen van nostalgie, uiteraard. 

Inmiddels is de tour zo’n beetje halverwege, dus hoogste tijd voor een recensie. In dit geval van de optredens in Zwolle en Zeist.

Een eerste bevinding is dat de alsmaar toenemende visualisering van de samenleving ook de concertzaal van de Betties heeft bereikt. De concerten worden namelijk geopend met een filmpje, waarin kort een impressie van de aankomst van de band in de betreffende plaats en de gang van zaken back stage wordt vertoond. Leuk! Ten tweede heeft de lichtvrouw haar zaakjes goed voor elkaar, zij levert een mooie bijdrage aan de show, af en toe zelfs op spectaculaire wijze.  Ten derde, het kan niet allemaal feest zijn, viel op dat Carol’s stem het in beide shows een of twee keer geheel liet afweten. Hopelijk was dit alleen het gevolg van een griepje ofzo.  Het had gelukkig geen grote invloed op de kwaliteit van beide concerten.

Thumbnail, Peppel

Het allerbelangrijkste echter: de nummers van Damaged Good zijn een goede toevoeging aan het live repertoire van Bettie Serveert. Ze passen er ook naadloos in, versterken de set en zijn live soms sterker dan op de cd. Een prachtig voorbeeld hiervan is het nummer Digital Sin (Nr 7). Voor mij niet het sterkste nummer op de cd, overigens ook niet zwak, gewoon prima. Maar in de live uitvoering wordt het een absoluut hoogtepunt. Dat is vooral op het conto van drummer Joppe Molenaar te schrijven. De toch al energieke performer maakt van Digital Sin een absolute krachttoer en laat op indrukwekkende wijze zien waartoe hij allemaal in staat is. Daartoe ruimhartig gefaciliteerd door de andere bandleden. Een ‘marathon nummer’ zoals Peter Visser het aanduidde in Zwolle, dat inderdaad een minuut of tien duurt, aan het einde van de set. Werkelijk prachtig.

Thumbnail 2, Hedon

De set verschilt per optreden, maar werd in beide gevallen gedragen door nummers van de albums Palomine, Pharmacy of Love, en Damaged Good, met een ondersteunende rol voor Oh Mayhem. Dus genieten van Balentine, Kids Allright, Tom Boy, Palomine, Deny All, the Pharmacy, Love Lee, B-Cuz, Brother in Loins, Love Sick, Mouth of Age, Damaged Good, en Mayhem. Bij elkaar natuurlijk ruim voldoende voor een prachtige avond. Maar daar komen nog allemaal pareltjes bij, zoals Rudder en in Zeist een heerlijke uitvoering van De Diva. Sowieso vond ik het concert in Zeist beter. Meer power, mooie uitvoeringen, en meer verbinding tussen band en publiek. Hoewel dat laatste ook te maken zal hebben gehad met de beperkte afmetingen van De Peppel (en ongetwijfeld ook mijn vooringenomenheid, omdat De Peppel voor mij als geboren Zeistenaar het eerste concertzaaltje was waar ik geregeld kwam, dus er ook sprake was van een trip down memory lane).

Thumbnail 2, Peppel

Beide concerten waren echter heel goed. Visser blijft de grote gangmaker, bassist Bunskoeke een rots in de branding en Van Dyk een fenomeen. Kortom: gaat dat zien, mensen!

(Alle foto's van) HareD




* Naschrift Wo. Pfff, die PDF versie is er inderdaad eerder, met alle complimenten voor en dank aan redacteur .No. Het interview staat komende week online. maar is al te lezen sinds 31-12-2016, door WoNo Magazine 16.1 te downloaden vanaf dit blog.

Wono Magazine's best read posts ever, 2016

In the past nearly five years we posted over 1775 posts. Come February this blog is five years on its way. The body of work is accumulating into an online library about years of music. Some posts were viewed by so little people that I have to wonder whether anyone in the world is interested to learn more about an album by that artist. Others are viewed more and a lot more. Fact is that when an artist, record label or fan takes interest in reviews, views soar. And then there are the mysterious Russians and Ukrainians driving up views periodically. It is hard to make a distinction here. What about Syrians who view a Bowie album 177 times in one minute. Why? Is something illegal happening (due) to a post? No one ever stopped by to ask.

Anyway, since we are so long under way I decided to lengthen the top 10 to a top 25, but promise that it will not be lengthened in the future. No Top x000 here. Too much work, friends. For now thanks, once again, for your interest and we hope to welcome you to these pages again in 2017.

These are the posts that were clicked on most as per 31-12-2016.

25. (-) All Comes Down live, at Gebr. De Nobel, Leiden (2015)

      (-) Night Thoughts. Suede (2016)

23. (-) Nachtschade. The Avonden (2016)

22. (-) Interview with David Sickman of The Hackensaw Boys (2012)

21. (-) Interview with Ward Harrison of The Hackensaw Boys (2012)

20. (-) 11.11 Xander and the Peace Pirates (2016)

19. (-) Teacher Deely. Interview with Chuck Deely (2012)

18. (9) Girlyman live, at Q-Bus Leiden (2012)

17. (10) Rivers and Coastlines. The Ride. TMGS (2013)

16. (-) Box Of Letters. James Scott Bullard and the Late Night Sweethearts (2016)

15. (-) Born Free. Stillmode (2016)

14. (8) Endless Love. Sivert Høyem (2014)

13. (4) Larry and his Flask live, Q-Bus Leiden (2012)

12. (-) Canshaker Pi. Canshaker Pi (2016)

11. (6) The Kyteman Orchestra. A masterpiece? (2012)

10. (5) The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy. Nada Surf (2012)

9.  (-)   Lay Low. Lou Doillon (2015)

8.  (-)   Wilder Mind. Mumford & Sons (2015)

7.  (6)  The Double EP. A Sea Of Split Peas. Courtney Barnett (2014)

6.  (3)  Gé Hofenk (2012)

5.  (2)  See You On The Ice. Carice van Houten (2012)

4.  (-)   Damaged Good. Bettie Serveert (2016)

3.  (-)   Je Doet Je Best Maar Verder. Aafke Romeijn (2016)

2.  (1) One Day (Reckoning Song), Asaf Avidan (Wankelmut RMX) (2012)



1. (-) The Analogues live, at Schouwburg IJmuiden (2016)

Wo.'s favourite live shows of 2016

Another year over, another opportunity to look at what shows I've been to and to reflect on them. It is of course impossible to compare live shows. They are over as soon as the last note is played and what remains is a memory, a feeling and some impressions. Although I saw slightly less shows in 2016 than in 2015, probably the circa 30 acts I saw, that is including the Mariachi bands in Mexico, is far above what the average person sees in a year. This is the list of the shows that I have the fondest memories of or were truly special.

10. Mariachi at the IGF in Guadalajara
Unfortunately I can not name one band by name. It is the general feeling, the melancholy nature of the mariachi that gives all these, to me nameless, bands a spot in this list. The music made an impression tied to the location of Guadalajara.

9. Gregory Page, De Oude School, Warmond
So full of style and grace (a show by) Gregory Page is. Emulating the music of my grandparents of the 20 and 30s, the show is special, despite the fact that it is only Gregory Page that we got to see. There's no need for me to play this music at home, but in the intimate surroundings of De Oude School it worked like a miracle.

Photo: Wo.

8. Elenne May, Amstelkerk, Amsterdam
At the cd release show in October, the band played 'Veggie Patch In The Desert' from beginning to end in a concentrated, yet perfect way. The acoustics and atmosphere of the wooden church became a part of the music of Elenne May, making the concert an experience as well as a show.




7. Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
Together with the younger men of Promise of the Real Neil Young played a 3,5 hour plus show, running though his whole back catalogue in the mid-tempo section. That led to some surprising choices that I have not heard before live. A 20 minute version was no exception, building up the tension perfectly.

6. The Maureens, Q-Bus, Leiden
The Maureens returned to the Q-Bus as a machine of perfection, after the tentative try out one year earlier. With the songs of that beautiful album 'Bang The Drum' now successfully in the bag, they played a near perfect show of perfect pop songs.

5. Steve Waitt, Q-Bus, Leiden
Years flew by without new Steve Waitt music. That all changed this year. Now with a band behind him, again Steve Waitt mesmerised the Q-Bus with his singer-songwriter songs based on his piano playing. The foursome rock where it should, rolled where it could and held back in all the right places. Steve Waitt is a talent who ought not to go by unnoticed.

Photo: Wo.

4. De Staat, Gebr, De Nobel, Leiden
"Op De Staat staat geen maat", means something like De Staat grows ever bigger and better. This show following the release of 'O', marked a departure. More is possible. Visuals are an integral part of the show and the music is ever bigger, more compact, tighter. Torre Florim is a crowd manipulator first class with an audience that surrenders, fully, in its participation. Almost scary were it not that it's harmless, in this context.


3. Broeder Dieleman, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
At the 12,5 year Snowstar Records party, Broeder Dieleman played a great show. Without compromise the songs were presented to the audience. Tonnie Dieleman led his band through all the eccentric parts of his private universe built around parts Dieleman memories, Zeeland lore, nature and family history. A screeching, bowed acoustic guitar plays a big part in the music, that was played by a few surprisingly familiar faces.

2. De Kift + Rats On Rafts - De Kift, Haarlemmerhout + Patronaat, Haarlem
Cheating again. Two shows in one. De Kift in the Haarlemmerhout was a huge party as a part of its 'Wee Mij' tour. So much energy was sent from the podium to a largely unsuspecting audience. It was almost a waste. + At the release show of the joint album of the two bands another form of energy was led loose, again on an in part unsuspecting audience. Two bands merged in a way that companies merging can only dream of. Rats On Rafts and De Kift each time add the best of themselves to the other band's songs, leading to hybrids with large clumps of balled energy. A triumph.

Photo: Wo.

1. The Analogues. Schouwburg, Velsen
The Beatles. Need I say more? Played to perfection by this Dutch band of musicians of different backgrounds. Identical instruments to the ones used by The Beatles while recording were found and played on, creating a sound that The Beatles could only achieve inside a studio. The Analogues recreate it on stage. Even more authentic than Paul McCartney plays The Beatles' songs in 2016. It was so impressive and the music so good that a number 1 spot is inevitable.

Wo's Album Top 10 of 2016

And the years roll on. We have closed the fifth year of this blog yesterday with the top 10 of the most views of 2016, so it is time to bare the bottom so to say and publish my favourite 10 records of 2016, but not before I wish all the readers a great 2017. May all your (musical) dreams come true.

2016 was a year that brought some great and some fantastic records. I had expected to have a giant struggle to come up with just ten records, but to my surprise that wasn't hard at all. Only between the number 10 and 11 it was hard.

You will see that the proportion records from my home country is incredibly high. I don't think that I've ever had this high a score in my year list. Six out of ten, not the number 1 position though, is a lot. Even in the runners up there still Dutch records to be found. Like 'Jupiter, part 1' by Blaudzun that came very close. A great year for NL music or as I wrote somewhere am I getting more patriotic? No, not by acquiring or listening to music. They simply really stick out.

There's one album that I would like to focus on specifically. Technically it's a re-issue, but it also sort of is not, as these songs were never together on an album before. 'X-Features' by New Zealand, circa 1980 punkers, Features is an album to check out if punk is your thing.

I'm sorry to say that 'Dearestly' by Lauren Mann became that number 11. A lovely record, with a great pop feel and many well-sung songs. It is just that I like this one just a little better.

10. Bliss. Shane Alexander

Every album by Shane Alexander is good, but not a single one convinced me as a whole like Bliss does. On Bliss he presents a mix of songwriting skills with a deeper level of emotion. Owning his own recording studio may have given that little extra push of being able of working at a song just this little longer as the bill is only running on himself, not the studio. With 'Heart Of California' as the centre piece of a well-balanced album full of introspective ballads and mildly rocking songs. Bliss is a winner deserving a lot of attention.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/07/bliss-shane-alexander.html


9. Fading Lines. Amber Arcades

A fading face on the cover of Fading Lines. Amber Arcades or Annelotte de Graaf, came up with a perfect debut album, after tickling the world first with an EP. Based on a mild form of psychedelia Amber Arcades takes us on a trip through indie and alternative rock songs as light as a feather due to her ethereal voice. It seems that Ms. De Graaf took the right decision to quit her day job and migrate to the evenings.



http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/07/fading-lines-amber-arcades.html


8. O. De Staat

With its fourth album De Staat finally makes it in my end of year list. Although I'm following the band live ever since its second album, it seemed the band was not able to really catch its live energy on record in a way that makes the record exceptional. With O that problem is solved. O bounces, jumps, kicks, sparkles and what not, in all the right places. Torre Florim and his men have produced a perfect mix of rock, dance, hip hop rhythms, metal and a dash of pop. And one of the most beautiful covers of the year, although mine has been customised at one of the shows.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/01/o-de-staat.html

7. Nachtschade. The Avonden

A supporting slot can lead to a spot in an end of year list. I would never have heard of The Avonden had I not attended the show of I Am Oak in November. The Avonden played a great show with its short, somewhat weirdly lyriced songs. The Ramones without the punk as far as the length of the songs were concerned. The Velvet Underground without the madness of John Cale, but with the otherwordly worldviews of Marc van der Holst. All this is captured beautifully on the band's second album.


http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/11/nachtschade-avonden.html


6. Blue & Lonesome. The Rolling Stones

How surprised the world is with this new album by this band that is around since 1962 has been noted enough. I am just surprised by the joy of playing caught on this album full of blues covers. Songs from the 50s and early 60s when the band was in its defining years, before it found its own voice. By sticking to the original sound captured with all the modern tools available, The Rolling Stones avoided the biggest trap in front of them. It's original and not modern blues, with a star role for Mick Jagger on harmonica and his singing. All else is played in his honour it seems.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/12/blue-lonesome-rolling-stones.html

5. Rats on Rafts - De Kift. Rats on Rafts - De Kift

Was there ever an album by two acts that blended together so perfectly? I honestly do not know. Rats on Rafts and De Kift augment their respective songs in a great way. Both are more alive than in the original recordings, which each have its distinct qualities. Rats on Rafts injects its noise guitar and rhythms into De Kift's songs while De Kift throws in its exuberance and its melancholy version of life at the same time. What comes out is a simply superb album.



http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/10/rats-on-rafts-de-kift.html

4. Country Songs. Karen Jonas

Should anyone care to ask, I'd answer that I don't like country songs. I've learned by now that old habits die hard. I just love Karen Jonas' music and voice. With Country Songs she takes her act to a higher level, which ought to result in a sort of breakthrough to a larger audience. It doesn't come much better than this in the music she plays. With her sidekick Tim Bray on guitar duties Country Songs is full of life, looked at from all sides. From happy to sad and just what it is, life comes by in all its facets. Brought to life by the woman with the best voice in country and things that lie close to it today.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/10/country-songs-karen-jonas.html

3. Veggie Patch In The Desert. Elenne May

Elenne May must be the act with the most posts this year on this blog. Three EPs and two live shows, but no review of the whole album. Perhaps I'll do one later, but everything has been said. Together Veggie Patch makes a beautiful album that I have played a lot since its October release. Adorned with a beautiful cover, i.e. all three beautiful covers, Elenne May's album shows what this band is capable of, which is a lot. Mysterious songs take a hold of me and play themselves out with lots of atmosphere and making use of silences where ever possible and necessary. This is the cover with which the adventure started. Blindfolded like I was at the time, unfamiliar with the beauty that was to follow in 2016. But Veggie Patch In The Desert is not the best Dutch album of 2016....

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/10/veggie-patch-in-desert-elenne-may.html

2. Damaged Good. Bettie Serveert

Meet Carol van Dyk and her "Mini Me". In any other year this album would have been on the number 1 spot, but not this year. Damaged Good sums up everything Bettie Serveert is good at. Indie or alternative rock, mixed with a little experiment here and there and Carol van Dyk. From the very start the songs tell it all and go at full speed. 25 Years in the business and still going this strong, is not something a lot of bands can brag about. Bettie Serveert can and quite rightly so.


http://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/10/damaged-good-bettie-serveert.html

1.★. David Bowie

Well, what to say? Perhaps it's better to say nothing and just bow my head for Blackstar and the career of David Bowie. If you do not get this album, you're missing one of the musical adventures of a lifetime.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.nl/2016/01/blackstar-david-bowie.html

Wo.