Many thanks to Kristian Knutsen and The Daily Page, the online relative of the Isthmus, for helping us get the word out about the Clyde Stubblefield Band temporarily relocating our ‘Funky Monday’ show to Madison’s Downtown for the next month or so.

Your ‘To Do’ List:

1. Please check out Kristian Knutsen’s article, and
2. Join the Clyde Stubblefield Band this Monday, January 28th at Madison’s Downtown starting at 9:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you at Madison’s next week for another funk-filled evening with Madison’s very own legend and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, James Brown’s ‘Original Funky Drummer,’ Mr. Clyde Stubblefield.

I received word of an article in the Capital Times about Anders Svanoe’s essay (really an academic study) on Sonny Red, an influential, but lesser known saxophone figure in jazz.

Check out the article:
http://www.madison.com/tct/entertainment/267860

Anders is one my favorite local jazz performers in town, and one of the most talented musicians I would consider a friend. His generous and thoughtful personality carries over to his playing style, which is rich with studied consideration and spontaneous creativity. You won’t meet a nicer guy full of talent. I highly recommend going to see Anders play with Tony Castaneda’s Latin Sextet or the Tim Whalen Nonet, and now reading Anders’ essay on Sonny Red, “Bluesville: The Journey of Sonny Red” by Scarecrow Press.

Thank you to Pedro-T from Barcelona, Spain on myspace, where we found this clip.

The Clyde Stubblefield Band is excited to announce that Andy Haker and his staff at Madison’s Downtown have agreed to host “Funky Mondays” and KEEP THE FUNK ALIVE until the King Club space reopens.

Join us for a funky good time, the same as it ever was…

When: Monday, January 21st, 9:00 p.m.
Where: Madison’s Downtown

(Just across the street from the King Club)
119 N. King St.
Madison, WI 53703
Hours: M-Sat 4pm-2am

Cover charge begins at 9:00 p.m. ($8, $5 w/ student ID)
Music begins at 10:00 p.m.

Both the music and the party will go until bar time!

The Legendary Funky Drummer, Mr. Clyde Stubblefield

The news is out that the King Club will be closing for a month (last day is January 21–a farewell Funky Monday for a few weeks) and reopening under new ownership (and new name? I’m not sure).

The good news is The Clyde Stubblefield Band will continue to host it’s weekly “Funky Monday” gig at the same venue, regardless of the ownership change and/or new venue direction.

So please continue to join us each Monday evening at 114 King Street to hear the legendary funky drummer, Clyde Stubblefield and his funky band. You can count on us to keep the funk alive, which we’ll be doing tonight in just a few hours. See you there!

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This Christmas I received a wonderful book called “Coltrane: The Story of a Sound” by Ben Ratliff of the New York Times. The more I read, the more depth I understand of Coltrane’s music, and simultaneously, how little I have genuinely listened to his music.

Many jazz saxophonists believe the path to truly knowing jazz and playing jazz on the saxophone begins (or at least must pass through) John Coltrane’s music. In fact, so many young jazz saxophone students in college programs around the world believe the only way to become a jazz tenor saxophonist is by immersing themselves in Coltrane’s music, often with a tinge of introspective darkness and cigarette in hand, it’s almost a cliche to say you are “studying Coltrane’s sound.”

I, for one, never went so far in my studies (probably at a great price to my own playing) and even scoffed at the notion of trying to sound like Coltrane, as so many so many strive to do. It’s with that understanding that I am at least appreciating how important it still is to listen carefully, closely and deeply to the notes and sound of Coltrane’s music.

But, damn, it takes a lot of work! Just deciding where to start listening is a challenge. I decided that just reading about Coltrane’s sound is not enough. I have to got out and buy more Coltrane albums. “Giant Steps,” “Ballads,” and “A Love Supreme” and “Best of the Blue Note” series just aren’t enough (yes, this is a sad public confession, especially for a horn player–actually, I have more Coltrane discs, but nothing near comphrensive).

There are MANY Coltrane recordings. To understand the breadth of Coltrane’s recording legacy, check out this discography that I found:

http://www.jazzdisco.org/trane/cat/

So I encourage you to read Ben Ratliff’s book, even if you don’t play the saxophone or if you’re not that familiar with John Coltrane’s music. There’s joy to be had in discovering something special, maybe even more so when it’s been overlooked but right there for you all along.