The Puttin’ On The Ritz music video is a creative collaboration between Alpert, artist Glenn Kaino and filmmaker Afshin Shahidi with choreographers Napoleon & Tabitha D’umo from So You Think You Can Dance and produced by Kerith Lemon. One long camera shot follows the lead dancer, Vincent Noiseux on a musical journey and features musicians Lani Hall, Bill Cantos, Hussain Jiffry and Michael Shapiro as well as corps dancers like Kherington Payne and others that have been seen on So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancing with the Stars, This is It, Step Up and more.
I should say English folk trio Hunter Muskett come recommended to fans of Tir Na Nog, Fairfield Parlour, Heron and Duncan Browne–but it’s 2024 and I know it’s unlikely more than a few who read this have heard of any of the aforementioned five-decades-old acts.
So I write for the few who are hip to the wistful, sad and beautiful sounds these artists produced in the heyday of the British folk revival of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and for the few musically adventurous souls who would seek out something rare, precious, old…and yet new to their ears.
Terry Hiscock, Chris George and Doug Morter formed Hunter Muskett in south London and played folk clubs and colleges in that city until being discovered and signed to the Decca Nova record label, resulting in this 1970 debut album.
Since Decca Nova lasted less than a year, it was the band’s only release for the label.
Given the ephemeral nature of folk acts of the time, you’d think the story would likely end soon after.
But amazingly the band endures to this day, with recent album releases and a full slate of folk club tour dates around England through November of 2024 and presumably beyond.
And their music? I hope you’ll listen, because any description attempted here will probably fall short.
It’s quiet, contemplative, and evocative of an England that mostly no longer exists. And really the perfect antidote to our mad, unquiet 21st century existence.
To be topical for a moment, I write this one day after an assassination attempt on an American presidential candidate. Like 9/11 and Kennedy in ’63, a measure of innocence seems lost and today the world feels less safe than it did yesterday.
It’s perfectly sane to feel the need to retreat to a quiet place of the soul in times like these. I think music–particularly of this type–is a healthy antitoxin and countermeasure. It’s safe. It’s affordable. And it’s without side effects.
On a personal note, Hunter Muskett brings my oldest brother Jim to mind, who I lost about 20 years ago. I don’t know if he knew the band, but they were right in the wheelhouse of his musical taste, and I know he and I would have had an enthusiastic conversation about them.
You’ll know literally 30 seconds into the title song if this is for you. The gentle melancholy of acoustic guitar, acoustic bass and poetic lyrics sung in hushed harmony are arresting.
And by the time gently sympathetic strings insinuate themselves you just might be transported to a more pleasant, more obsolescent–more English destination…
I have a fire, I have my chair/I have an old man’s dream of other years/My silver watch was made a grandfather ago/My wife still laughs when I tell her I’m too old to make her smile
I have tobacco, I have my pipe/And at the Rambler’s Rest I share a pint/I have a photograph of me when still a boy/I have a medal and a book I once enjoyed some years ago
For years, I neglected my CD collection. Most of the music I listened to was through streaming services like Spotify, and while I have a modest CD collection and a small record collection, I’ve been very digital-first, and not caring much about the quality of my music.
But lately, that’s been changing. Lots of people are returning to retro tech, and that made me think about my CDs, a beautiful format with fantastic audio quality, portability, and longevity. To hold a physical representation of my music in my hands, to display it, and to treasure it feels more meaningful than a Spotify subscription, so I’m happy to be revisiting my CDs again in 2024. Here are some of my main reasons for doing that…
The Session Man is a captivating music documentary that dives deep into the life and career of Nicky Hopkins, one of rock and roll’s most influential yet often overlooked pianists. Known for his exceptional work as a session musician, Hopkins contributed to some of the greatest hits of the 20th century, collaborating with iconic bands and artists. This film aims to shed light on his remarkable journey and lasting impact on the music industry.
The filmmakers have taken a balanced approach, blending technical analysis of Hopkins’ music with personal stories and historical context. This not only highlights his professional achievements but also provides insight into his personality and the challenges he faced. The narrative is driven by a combination of voice-over narration (courtesy of “Whispering Bob” Harris) and on-screen interviews, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for the viewer.
6-time Juno Award-winning Canadians Sam Roberts and company just keep making earnest, honest pop rock records.
Although the theme of their latest album is, for Roberts, one of reinvention, a do-over, and breaking from one’s past, fortunately the music has their familiar ring of well-crafted, ear-friendly pop.
Ok with me if you keep doing what you’re doing, guys.
Every Moment Has A Song 