How about this recent photo with Braxton playing the bass saxophone, with the enormous conta bass saxophone looming in the background?!

Anthony Braxton is a brother-in-arms saxophonist and friend of Roscoe Mitchell’s. He is famous for his avant-garde saxophone style and composition. He also teaches at Wesleyan. Here’s a link to his university homepage with interesting information and his concert schedule.

There’s much more to be told about Anthony Braxton, but I’ll have to save that for another post. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore his site.

I found a nice review of Roscoe’s recent concert at University of Massachusetts on April 26, 2007. Enjoy the All About Jazz review.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25628

Always respect to my dear friend Roscoe…

Most people who live in Madison are familiar with the story of Otis Redding’s death. This recent Wisconsin State Journal article summarizes the fact surrounding the event. For instance, I didn’t realize Redding was only 26 years old when he was lost on December 10, 1967. It’s odd to think such a tragedy happened right here.

Actually, the State of Wisconsin has been pretty hard on famous musicians when you consider Stevie Ray Vaughn AND Otis Redding both died in airplane/helicopter related deaths. One can only imagine the music that isn’t with us today because of these artists’ untimely deaths.

Yeah! We want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to all the friends, family and fans who voted in this year’s Madison Area Music Awards. The Clyde Stubblefield Band took home it’s first MAMA award in the highly competitive blues artist category. We work hard playing each week at the King Club and at our various other gigs, and so we just want to say thank you for all your support. We really appreciate it!

And much respect to the organizers of the MAMAs. The organization is financially stable after its fourth season, and thousands of dollars were raised for our local youth music programs. It was a great party Saturday at the Barrymore Theater, filled with music and laughs from the areas finest music artists. Bravo to everyone involved, and especially the fans that voted! Thanks again!

Clyde and the band receive the 2007 Blues Artist of the Year award

The Clyde Stubblefield Band thanks the Gomers for being so great

One last wave of thanks to a wonderful crowd

Hot off the press!

The Clyde Stubblefield Band will be playing a couple nice local outdoor gigs at two of our favorite venues.

Thursday, June 7, 2007
The Monona Terrace
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
* This is a great gig to see us play if you don’t like to be out late (like Monday nights)

Friday, July 27, 2007
The Union Terrace
8:00 p.m. to midnight

See ya there with your groove on!!!

When I got home from Scotland, I was on cloud 9 for days (and possibly still am!). I had just finished living out a dream-like trip where I met, toured and played with some of the greatest musicians in history. It was simply amazing!

There wasn’t much time to rest after getting back to Madison. The next day the Clyde Stubblefield Band played the King Club, as we do each week. Just the week before, I was tingling with the anticipation of leaving the next morning. Now, here I was back where I started, and this time with Clyde home again behind his drum kit.

I had a realization that Monday night after Scotland. As incredible as it was meeting and playing with Jabo, Fred, Bernie and the rest of the Funkmasters, I really love being able to play each week with the Original Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield, right here in Madison. He’s a world-wide legend and admired by everyone everywhere, but Madison is his home and this is where he always returns.

We’re blessed to have him here, and it’s a heartwarming honor to be a part of Clyde’s hometown band. It’s right where I want to be.

Here’s a complimentary write-up of the Triptych Festival and the Funkmasters set in Glasgow, April 28, 2007.

From The Scotsman, Tuesday, May 1, 2007:
“Punk, funk and a German history lesson make for vintage Triptych”

I wish I had a photo of the crowd that night. The room was packed and full of energy. The reviewer noted this fact, singling out the reaction to Clyde Stubblefield’s frontman crooning of “Let’s Stay Together” which “sparked a collective euphoria in the crowd.” Indeed, it was a fun night and the crowd went home thoroughly funkified, as did I when I flew back to Madison, Wisconsin at 5:55 a.m. the next morning.

One of the more entertaining side encounters during the Funkmasters Triptych Festival tour was meeting Jesse Rae, a 25-year friend of Bernie Worrell. Jesse is something of a regional personality for his music and music video success in the mid-1980’s. He wrote a fairly popular song in 1984, “Over The Sea,” with Bernie Worrell backing him on keys and appearing in the video.

Today, Jesse Rae continues to work with music and media, running a radio show and doing a lot of freelance video projects. He is also running for Scottish Parliament in a heated election taking place right now, which, depending on the election outcome, may decide if Scotland votes to officially separate from England. Jesse Rae met up with Bernie to videotape his endorsement for his campaign, which was cool to witness. Jesse Rae arrived dressed in full regalia with his trademark kilt and huge broadsword, the same outfit he wore in his 1984 video. The more I learn about Jesse Rae, the more I can appreciate his humor, creativity and good spirit. Cheers, mate!

What I found about Jesse Rae:

• Artist’s summary page
• Jesse Rae discography
• Google search results for “Jesse Rae”

I just did a YouTube search and found that a fan has already posted a short video clip from the Aberdeen, Scotland show at the Lemon Tree, Thursday, April 26, 2007. Here’s it is…

Here are some fun photos from Scotland tour…

[Fred Wesley, Harold Adams, Clyde Stubblefield]

[Harold Adams, Robert Orr]

[Bernie Worrell, Clyde Stubblefield]