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<$1.21.2008$>
"Play That Funky Music"
| Some of my readers asked me to lighten up a bit this year... a little less intensity. It seems they didn't want me to blow a gasket by regularly addressing the most serious matters of today's world. While I am quick to remind the reader that artists do not exist in a vacuum but are impacted by the world around them, I'm going to make an honest effort to lighten up. How's this? It seems like just yesterday when the world was braced for Y2K disasters. Everything from air traffic control systems to national power grids were expected to fail, and here we are at year 2008. We managed to survive the countdown to a new century. Then came 9/11; which we countered by B-2ing Afghanistan and occupying Iraq. There were no such simple solutions for Katrina. It seems that if bombing was not an option, the Bush administration was at a loss for policy. Well, just as Herod had his day and finally succumbed, making it safe to depart from Egypt, Bush is in his last term and we may all sigh a sigh of relief. However, as we enter this new election year we already face reports of hundreds dead due to unrest in Kenya, a result of charges of election fraud. We wrestle with reason as we sort through multiple accounts of the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto; resulting in civil unrest and delayed elections - or democracy deferred. To top it off, the price of crude has hit the much-anticipated price of 100 dollars a barrel; the implications of which touch nearly everything from the price of gasoline at the pump to the price of CDs; the discs themselves, the jewel case and the shrink wrap. Yes, by the way, we don't all download. Some of us still play CDs... purchased from stores. Come on folks. I know at least one of you is burning CDs for someone right now. The dollar is soft and all facets of the housing industry show signs of struggle. With this rather bleak view of the New Year there is still an air of optimism among us. There is still a sense that all is not lost and that we may have, in fact, weathered the storm. I believe the saying goes, "it's always darkest just before the dawn." I think that's right. Or is it coldest before the dawn? That reminds me of my favorite Bush quotes: "Fool me the first time, shame on me. Fool me the second time, ahhh, well, you know, you can't fool me a second time." O.K., I'm attempting to lighten up. That said I am dedicating 2008 to great music and the wonderful people who make it inspite of war, injustices and natural disasters. I am dedicating the year to the spirit of rebirth and new beginnings that music can bring. They tell me the number 7 means completion so the number 8 means new beginnings. I'm dedicating a year of writing to the Gulf region in general and New Orleans and the 9th Ward in specific. Add to this your own new beginnings whether it's in your personal or professional life, your family or your community - eventually it all impacts the world around us. I promise to reach out to as many artisans as possible without regard to category or genre. I want to bring to you our best and brightest of Jazz, Blues, Rap, Gospel, R&B and Classical. I'll even get out and about with some of the hottest HBCU bands.  I'm as excited as I am encouraged that my first few interviews are with vocal greats, Will Downing and Melba Moore. Will and I have been buddies for more than 20 years. I know the two bad boys from Brooklyn will be keeping it real. Melba is the first person to give me goose pimples in a performance. She was Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins in Ossie Davis' Purlie Victorious singing 'I Got Love." Whew! I just got goose pimples again just thinking about it. I'll be chasing down the veterans and the newcomers. I promise to listen to as much music as possible - old and new. I'll go as far as featuring many of the tracks on www.milesjayeradio.com. Check it out! I promise to make as many live concerts as possible. This one is tougher - I'm a bit of a hermit. But I'll do my best. I might even get on the plane to catch a few hot tour dates. I'll go behind the scenes to speak with independent label owners, media types and the technology gurus who live and breathe crazy things like Second Life. 2008 promises to be filled with as many changes as there are challenges and if you believe as I do that life comes with an accompanying soundtrack, I'll be the one cheering, "play that funky music till you die." Article also published in Dallas Weekly |
Artists can't help but be heavy. We are always expressing things that require more than words to understand. So don't taking it so lightly.
"2008 is the Year of the Self Promoted"
That's my motto for 2008.Self Promoted people represent independent thinkers, problem solvers and creators.
To those who say "lighten up" well, don't tell the brutha to change. Miles I know you can laugh and have fun, so keep speaking on what moves you. If you don't, the rocks will cry out !!!