Chris K's Colorado Playlist

The last weekend of April … it’s going to snow overnight here north of Denver…. figures…. Miss Pattie and I planted a new dwarf spruce today in the front yard.  It’ll no doubt take several years to reach maturity of 6 foot.

I came across two new releases today by legendary and internationally known artists from Colorado that “DEMANDED” to be added … so they have become the last adds in April — here’s what to look forward to next month.

Not to forget — the May 1 News Notes & Charts comes out Monday.

John Oates – Mississippi Mile (PS Records)Website: www.johnoates.com
Notes:  Yes this John Oates = Hall & Oates.  John has made his home in Colorado for over 20 years.   Not since the early days of Hall & Oates have I been this excited about something John has worked on.  But then, John never did a record so deep in dirt and grittiness of voice.  Seems the extended stay at 10,000 feet has weathered John’s voice considerably.  It’s much grittier and dryer than the voice of the smoother Philly-blue-eyed-soul we’ve known him for.  The voice fits him well – as does the choice of material for the voice – including that remake of the old H&O classic, You Make My Dreams Come True. Speaking of remakes ……

Rene Marie – Voice Of My Beautiful Country (Motema) Website: www.renemarie.com/
Notes:  White Rabbit…  Drift Away…  John Henry…. … jazz … neo soul …. rootsy … emotional … not quite cerebral, but some of the solos did take me on a journey outside of myself so I guess there’s some cerebral going on.  Gotta say – the ladies are laying down the soul side of jazz HEAVILY around here lately…. This one goes down easily as one of the most imaginary records of year to date, and will no doubt be on my best of 2011 list at year’s end.

From her bio at www.renemarie.com:   “… Marie didn’t sing professionally until after she turned 40.  What followed was a whirlwind of success and great critical acclaim rarely seen in the jazz world, from The LA Times to the Washington Post, from the Miami Herald to the Chicago Tribune. She has received several awards throughout her career including Best International Jazz Vocal CD (besting Cassandra Wilson and Joni Mitchell) by the Academie Du Jazz (Paris, France) and has graced the Billboard Charts multiple times propelling her to headliner status at major festivals in the US & abroad including the prestigious Women In Jazz festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Spoleto festival in Charleston, SC, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival (Scotland), Shanghai Jazz Festival (China) among many others.”

Gary Bragg – High Plains Storm (Q&B Records)  Genre/Style – outlaw-country, americana, humor
Sampled focus tracks:  High Plains Storm, Locked & Loaded, She Canceled the Cable, Free Range
Website: www.garybragg.com
Notes:  Monday morning pretty much sucks in anyone’s world I think … so just when you think you’re going to excoriate or blow some poor bastard off in a fit of “road rage” slap this disc in and be prepared to a) guffaw, b) chorkle, c) snicker, d) cackle, or otherwise find yourself grinning broadly and no longer worrying about the driver in the next lane, and more focused on not driving off the road yourself.  Produced by Eric Thorin; recorded by Colin Bricker and Mario Castillo at Mighty Fine Productions (formerly Notably Fine Audio). 

***DISCLAIMER — Gary Bragg’s “High Plains Storm” will be serviced to non-comm radio and press statewide by Rocky Mountain Music Network.  If you are with one of those stations or publications, expect to receive a copy somewhere around Monday May 9th.