Diaspora

09/12/2025

Music from Somali (and Sudan) has been hard to find after both countries crumbled into instability and chronic fighting. Khadija Jiijo Jeesto was an acclaimed singer who at one time fronted the popular Somalian band Dur Dur.

She fled Somalia three times as it spiraled downward and was forced back three times. With financial help from another fine Somalian band, Waaberi, she finally made it to Saudi Arabia, only to find she was not allowed to sing and couldn't find work. She cut the six tracks on the CD in secret to avoid arrest before she decided to head back to Somalia where women are not treated quite as badly.

6 track album

09/12/2025

Goa Hong's Chinese p**a playing is magical. She adept at cross-cultural explorations like her latest CD with Indian sitarist Baluji Shirastav. This new release, Neelam, is beautiful. It was quite unexpected to see the promo material have an encomium from Amy Klobuchar. There are links in this page to sample the album.

Conveniently buy, stream or download at Naxos anytime. Add EUCD2975 from ARC to your classical music collection today.

09/04/2025

Bill Malone is keeping busy after leaving WORT. He gave a talk last Fall at the Center for Texas Music History where he and Bobbie are now board members.

The latest issue of the Center's publication, the Journal of Texas Music History features a cover by Madison luthier Todd Cambio of Fraulini Guitars. It is on the pre-WWII Acosta Family of luthiers and musicians from Mexico and San Antonio.

All issues can be read for free from Texas State University. Issue 24 with Todd's story can be read here: https://www.txst.edu/ctmh/publications/journal/issues/jtmh-vol-24/vol-24-acosta-music-company.html

03/14/2025

Two of Madison's best kept secrets together. The unclassifiable band Mr. Chair playing in the beautiful Mansion Hill Inn. They were so hot last night they played 20 minutes beyond their break and finished saying "We've got time for one more song, but we'll play two."

Mr. Chair is Ben Ferris (bass), Jason Kutz (keyboards) and Mike Koszewksi (drums). Just before the break they played an achingly gorgeous "Poinciana." Originally a Cuban folk song called "La Cancion del Arbol," it first received notice the US in 1943 when Glenn Miller played it with the US Army Air Force Band. It became a Latin jazz standard after 1952 when it appeared in the movie "Dreamboat." It became a a jazz standard after 1958 when Ahmad Jamal played a jaw dropping version in his Chicago live performance released as "At the Pershing."

After they locked in the groove with "Poinciana," Mr. Chair continued to shower the tiny packed room with sparks the rest of the night. When they find the pocket, they stretch it every which way without tearing the fabric. It was a night to remember in one of Madison's most special venues.

You can catch Mr. Chair playing Hank Mobley's fabulous album "Soul Station" in its entirety during the dinner hours on Sunday, Mar. 16 at Lola's Hi/Lo Lounge. They'll also be playing their amazing version of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" on Saturday, April 26 at the another of Madison's best kept secrets, the beautiful North Street Cabaret.

02/08/2025

The Mansion Hill Inn is a magical place to hear jazz. An intimate room is a glorious old house. January 30 was the Ben Ferris Trio with Chris Rottmayer on keyboards. Ben Ferris and Mike Koszewski have got to be the tightest jazz rhythm section in town. Rottmayer's 10+ years as a pianist in bands on cruise ships of all sizes, all over the world has stocked his soul full of licks and tricks. It was a great show, even more amazing because they laid down amazing music even when the second set only had 4 people. You all missed an incredible performance.

01/25/2025

A new pirate radio station, in Finland on shortwave. It's low power makes it tough to hear in the US.

01/16/2025

Don't miss Faux Paws in Appleton at Gibson Music Hall tonight, at Leo & Leons's in Bangor, WI on Friday or in Cedar Rapids, IA on Saturday. They were incredible last night at the North Street Cabaret. Their time machine will take you back to when folk music was a groovy, jam based experience and spice the roiling stew with bits of bluegrass, Cajun, Quebecois and wild, jazzy solos. They've got chops to burn and they light up a stage. If you know anyone in La Crosse, tell them to drive out to Leo & Leona's in tiny Bangor for a fantastic experience. https://www.leoandleonas.com/ Be sure to catch them before their little tour ends on Saturday in Cedar Rapids.

12/19/2024

Mr. Chair is playing the complete Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack tomorrow night (Fri, Dec 20) at the North Street Cabaret starting at 7 pm with special guest Darren Sterud on trombone.

Last night we heard Mr. Chair play this set in the intimate setting of the Mansion Hill Inn. It was fantastic. Guaraldi was a jazz musician and he'd love Mr. Chair's jazzy version of this beloved Christmas TV special. From the uptempo romp of "Linus and Lucy" to the sensitive and beautiful "Christmas Time is Here", their performance is amazing.

As of today some tickets are still available: https://www.northstreetcabaret.com/events/2024/12/20/charlie-brown-christmas

01/11/2023

We're back at the Malt House for another evening of Irish music. Come on down for some decent music, good conversation and great beer.

01/11/2023

A fine eulogy for a great Irish musician, Seamus Begley, who just passed away.

It’s amazing being a musician, but honestly a lot of the reason we work hard and try is just so we can get near that inner circle of a session where we get to hear the notes up close, share the banter and craic, and at the end of the night walk out with that high of having been close to great music and great characters. Seamus was warm, funny, an incredible player, a beautiful singer, and the heart of any gathering he chose to bless with his presence.
I know those great guitar players, Steve Cooney and Jim Murray and Tim Edey, got the best seat, along with Teada, night after night, but I will forever be glad I got to know Seamus and got to experience that takeoff moment at the beginning of a session. “You sit there,” he’d say, and my insides churned wondering how am I going to keep up? And then we were off, full speed ahead, and it was magic…the music flying.
RIP Seamus Begley. My heart goes out to Seamus' wonderful wife and family.

12/14/2022

Join us for a pint!