I do an open format radio show on Radio Regent online out of Regent Park in Toronto every Friday from 5 p.m. til 7,called CORBY's ORBIT playing everymusic, so far no Death Metal or light opera but who knows?http://www.radioregent.com/
Illustration by John Kricfalusi
Corby's Orbit
Listening in All the High Places illustration by John Kricfalusi
Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby ( Brought to you by Storms of Consciousness, Motor Cyclones and Tornado Paste ) Guests: Julian Taylor and Jay Cleary
Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/ Click On Pictures To Enlarge Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 5:00 Extra-Torrential Guitars
5:30 Cops & Ragas Hakim Bey feat. Bill Laswell ~ Boycott Cop Culture ~ T.A.Z. (1994) Miles From India Band feat. Dave Liebman ~ Ife (Fast) ~ Miles From India @ Koerner Hall ~ 3 October 2020
5:50 Taylor Made
* Julian Taylor ~ The Ridge / Interview / Ola, Let`s Dance / Love Enough ~ The Ridge (Howling Turtle) NEW DISK Julian Taylor The Ridge * Sherman Downey ~ To-Do List ~ New Beautiful NEW DISK https://www.shermandowney.ca/home 6:15 Fingazz Crosses Over * Ammoyรฉ (Reggadiction Remix) ~ Imperfections ~ NEW SINGLE * Andru Branch & Halfway Tree ~ Rock Steady ~ The Singles NEW RELEASE https://www.halfwaytree.ca/music
Interview with Jay Cleary / Memories of Desmond Wilson aka Fingazz R.I.P. photo: House Of David Gang with Jay (left) and Fingazz (center) * House Of David Gang feat. Desmond Wilson ~ Good Vibration
Little Axe ~ Midnight Dream ~ Putumayo Presents Blues Lounge
6:45 Heart-icle Accelerators * Jerry Leger ~ Tell A Lie ~ Time Out For Tomorrow * Noah Reid ~ Underwater ~ Gemini NEW DISK http://www.noahreid.com/gemini B.o.B. ~ Just A Sign ~ Strange Clouds The Byrds ~ We`ll Meet Again ~ Mr. Tambourine Man ~ for Dame Vera Lynn R.I.P.
On this week`s show, from Julian Taylor, a taste of his new record, The Ridge, and a salute by Jay Cleary to T.O. reggae keyboard massive Desmond Wilson aka Fingazz R.I.P.
As Bruce Cockburn reaches his 75th year, we can rejoice that he is still a stealer of fire, dancing his sunwheel dance in the falling dark of the dragon’s jaws. Roots Music Canada joins the rest of the world in celebrating his birthday, his music, his Junos, his doctorates, his investiture into the Order of Canada, his inductions into numerous musical Halls of Fame, his redemptive presence as a cosmic troubadour in Samuel R. Delany’s Dhalgren & The Shack by William P. Young, his performances on Saturday Night Live and at Pete Seeger’s birthday party, and his perilous witness, from the front lines of fear, at scenes of political violence around the globe.
Examine his talents. How much faceting can one diamond sustain? Lyrical master of specifically Canadian imagery, startlingly complex guitar explorer, bold mystic with Christian / Taoist / Buddhist / Sufi sleeves proudly spread, one of the original bilingual folk singers (ses textes ont รฉtรฉ imprimรฉs en franรงais depuis l’รฉpoque de Trudeau), international peace-seeker, singer of both delicacy and urgency, shy public figure, punky Gemini, outspoken political critic and beacon, muscular ecologist, memoirist (Rumours Of Glory, 2014), gentleman feminist, and member of the all-star Canadian chorus, the Northern Lights, that rose up to roar out the crucial ”Let’s show ‘em Canada still cares!” line on the African famine relief anthem “Tears Are Not Enough.”
Bruce is waiting out this current deterioration of normal at home in San Francisco, “quite a lot busier than what used to be normal,” he reported, “(fathering), listening and reading: Fernando Pessoa’s novel The Book of Disquiet, William Gibson’s Agency, and poetry by Charles Bukowski, Joan Logghe and Wislawa Szymborska. For music, it’s pretty random. Recent listens include YouTube videos of David Russell’s stunning guitar playing as well as various performances by Voces8, Charles Mingus’ Tijuana Moods (an old favorite), the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, and Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht.”
In honour of this birthday, one of Bruce’s first musical friends who celebrated his own 75th in March,, Sneezy Waters, recalled the beginning stages of his journey, saying “When I failed Grade 12 (from too much folly) my parents thought it would be a good idea to switch schools and buckle down. So at Nepean H.S. I ran into Bruce. He told me he played guitar, so I brought my Martin to school one day, and after school we went over to his house to jam. He brought out his guitar, which was a big Gibson hollow-body, just like Wes Montgomery played, and a lovely Ampeg jazz amp. He played so well but wasn’t the least [bit] boastful. He also loved Grant Green’s playing. We really had a good time and arranged many more jams.
“We eventually formed a band called The Children, along with my friends Nev Wells, Sandy Crawley and Chris Anderson. He played some keyboards for us and also played a 12-string, along with a Telecaster.
He was writing back then and encouraging the rest of us to write songs.
The rest, for both of us, is history.”
Fellow musician Ian Tamblyn, who worked with him on 2008’s Dancing Alone: The Songs of William Hawkins, remarked on Bruce’s “composure and openness” in the studio. He also had the honour, in 2014, of presenting Bruce with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Carlton University for his work in environmental, First Nations and social causes. In his presentation, Ian noted that “Bruce has had three overriding themes in his work: his great spiritual search, his dedicated call for social justice in the world, and his articulation of the collision of human relationships in these dangerous times.” He continued, “Bruce Cockburn has been both bold and courageous, whether it be in his work with Lloyd Axworthy to end the use of land mines, his environmental work with David Suzuki and Greenpeace, his work on behalf of the Unitarian Service, or his demands for democratic and environmental rights in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mozambique or Mali.”
His outstanding personal qualities have kept him rooted in long-lasting friendships. Publicist Jane Harbury, who has been buddies with him since their days together at Toronto’s fabled Riverboat, respects him for being always “funny, smart and gracious.” She elaborated: “He doesn’t change on a personal level. He has an ability to make people want to love him. And he remembers everything.” She recalled him best, “coming in the back door of the club in a fluffy old hat with his big dog Aroo.”
Illustrator Michael Wrycraft, who has designed the last nine of Bruce’s album covers, revealed that, “although he comes across as serious, Bruce is actually very light-hearted. Once you get past his professional presence, you find out he has a great laugh.” Their creative collaboration in bringing the unique visuals that accompany every new record together is consistently stress-free (with the exception of the altered American cover of You’ve Never Seen Everything, “which the record company thought looked like speed metal, or the devil.”). Of Bruce’s part in the process, Michael confided, “He plants a germ, a tiny seed of an idea, usually drawn from the album title; and after extensive chat, I come back with the work, and he says “That’s great!” Bruce’s loyalty to Michael’s vision has now stretched over 21 years. Manager Bernie Finkelstein has guided his career for over 50 years now, based upon a handshake.
Michael Reinhart is a composer/singer-songwriter and visual artist who has released five albums, the most recent being eCHO. He lives and works in both Montrรฉal, QC and Edmonton, AB. Recently he’s been creating several new instrumental guitar pieces. He has been a Cockburn fan since his teens. “I loved that on those seminal albums, with so many instrumentals featured, above all I could hear the rich wood tone of the guitar, moreso than the metal of the strings, an analogue sound I still aspire to myself. I’ve never been much interested in doing cover versions, but among the few that I have attempted, ‘Foxglove’ was one that, despite the initial frustrations and physical pain involved, was invaluable to my finding my own way, my own style, my own sound.”
Michael has composed a gamboling birthday air to pay tribute to his musical mentor —
On behalf of all of his friends and fans at Roots Music Canada, we would like to say “Steady on Mr. C., and well done.”
Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby Contains an edited re-broadcast of Corby's Orbit originally aired at CKLN.FM on 14 February 2014. Plus new stuff. ( Brought to you by Tardy Favours, Light Bloomers, & Journeys Come Lately ) Guests: Vivienne Wilder and Lynn Miles
Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/ Click On Pictures To Enlarge Canadians in Asterisk’d RED. 5:00 Afro-Requiem
Manu Dibango (12 December 1933 – 24 March 2020) ~ Dangwa ~ Soul Makossa Majek Fashek (March 1963 – June 1, 2020) ~ Let It Shine ~ Little Patience Rachid Taha (18 September 1958 – 12 September 2018) ~ Je Suis Africaine ~ Je Suis Africaine 5:20 Renewable Emergencies * Mike Janzen ~ Bit By Bit ~ NEW SINGLE * Emilie Claire Barlow ~ Stumpy's On The Loose Again ~ NEW SINGLE 5:30 Unspoiled Wilder-ness
* Vivienne Wilder ~ Jimmy / Interview / Ricky / Never Lovers ~ postromantic (Fallen Tree) NEW DISK 5:45 Blue Yonders * Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn ~ Knocking At your Door ~ Elmore's Blues NEW DISK * Raoul & The Big Time ~ Killing My World ~ You My People (2009) Harvey Mandel ~ Baby Batter ~ Baby Batter ~ For Greg Corby 6:00 Past Lynn Miles Ago
* Lynn Miles ~ Moth / Sad / Interview / How To Be Alone (live) / Love Is Red (live) / My Road (live) ~ Downpour (2013) * Ron Hynes ~ Cryer's Paradise ~ Cryer's Paradise (1993) 6:40 Intention Span * Michael Reinhart ~ Spring Fever (For Bruce Cockburn's 75th birthday) NEW COMPOSITION *Julian Taylor ~ Over The Moon ~ The Ridge NEW DISK Dion DiMucci feat. Paul Simon ~ Song For Sam Cooke ~ Blues With Friends NEW DISK Sam Cooke ~ Today I Sing The Blues ~ Encore (1958)
There will be another brand new/second hand Orbit broadcasting this Friday, June 12 on Radio Regent , mixing the newest of the new Canadian releases, a nod to Black History Month, and a vintage visit to a past Orbital flightpath.
This Friday is also the release date for Vivienne Wilder's rocktastic EP, postromantic on the Fallen Tree record label.She will confide about its resonances of love in a reviving world.
Then settle in for a classic interview / live performance with soul-folk fave Lynn Miles, recorded while she was touring in support of her key 2014 album of romantic pragmatism, Downpour.
Commissioner of Selection: Paul Corby An edited re-broadcast of Corby's Orbit originally aired at CKLN.FM on 6 May 2010 ( Brought to you by Metre Showers, Stand Up Comets and Tempo Tantrums ) Guests: John Walker, Raul Rekow, Dennis Chambers Nasyr Abdul Al-Khabyyr
Podcast here https://www.mixcloud.com/paul-corby/ Click On Pictures To Enlarge Canadians in Asterisk’d RED.
5:00 Maple Tomorrows * Truths & Rights 1981 ~ Get Up ~ Time For Us To Unite NEW DISK * Matty Stecks & Musical Tramps feat. Lenya Wilks ~ Wish ~ Long Time Ago Rumble NEW DISK * HiFiLo ~ FTL ~ Speak Your Name NEW DISK 5:15 Songcasters
Sarah Jarosz ~ I'll Be Gone ~ World Gone To Ground NEW DISK * Sarah Harmer ~ The Lookout ~ Are You Gone NEW DISK * Clara Engel ~ Old Feathered Devil ~ Hatching Under Stars NEW DISK
* Kari Van Der Kloot ~ It May Not Always Be So ~ The Architects NEW DISK * Layla Zoe ~ Black Oil ~ Retrospective Tour 2019 NEW DISK 5:45 A Drummer's Dream
Interview with John Walker, Raul Rekow, Dennis Chambers & Nasyr Abdul Al-Khabyyr Steely Dan feat. Dennis Chambers ~ Kid Charlemagne ~ Alive In America Orchestre Super Mazemebe ~ Samba ~ Mazembe
6:40 Physical Futures Belle-Skinner~ Big City Blues ~ NEW SINGLE * Charlie Acourt ~ I Get Joy ~ Come On Over * Mike McKenna Jr. ~ High Ground ~ At The Edge Of The World NEW DISK * Big Little Lions ~ Rise ~ NEW SINGLE
Ten years ago, Montrรฉal director John Walker's documentary, "A Drummer's Dream", exposed the thoughts and talents of world renowned drummers Nasyr Abdul Al-Khabyyr (Dizzy Gillespie), Dennis Chambers (Steely Dan & Santana), and (the late, great) Raul Rekow (Santana).
I was fortunate enough to be granted an hour-long interview on "Corby's Orbit" with these luminaries of percussion when we were still broadcasting out of CKLN.FM. We got up to some real talk about international drumming heroes, the inspirations of drumcraft and deep explorations of the universe of rhythm.
That hour is presented here again for your edification.
This week's show will also feature the best of new, progressive music that has been released into the ear-o-sphere since the great pandemic retreat began.
I will be including blues from the Maritimes, R&B from Manitoba and fresh excerpts from the global tunefulness that keeps nowadays songwriters busy all their lives.
There will be ample programming in recognition of June as Black Music Month.
Corby's Orbit airs Friday from 5-7 p.m. EDT on Radio Regent and at 9 p.m. Tuesday and midnight Wednesday on Blues & Roots Radio.
