BROOK BENTON - Rainy Night In Georgia (live 1982)

One of the all time great Soul / R'n'B song stylists -  MR. BROOK BENTON  -  in this early eighties live performance fulfils our need for something new to view. 

Brook is also featured in the 2008 Groovin' Blue Christmas shows that are still available on WAGRadio [PODBEAN].
DJZigZag

LEAN TIMES CHANGE 2009 NEW WORLD AFRICAN MUSIC SCENE

It seems, in the last part of 2008 and the beginning of this year, that there have been fewer New World African Music videos produced.   

Copyright laws have also counter-productively influenced the promoting of (by blogs like ours) certain new videos.  

Jamaica, hit hard by the recession, has almost ceased producing any newly-mown, home-grown music promos of worth.  Add to this the already too-long trend of contemporary Jazz videos being virtually non-existant - and the phrase 'lean times' seems to be in no-way descriptive enuff.

Therefore WAGRadio fans, you may be seeing more NWAM nostalgia-clips posted (than you're used to): at least until the world gets back on its financial feet.  Our mandate is that any old film shorts or 'kines' we offer you are as close as possible to the artistic quality and high-style performance of the Flamingos 'Jump Children' (from "Go Johnny Go").

We would ask that if you view any New World African Music videos that you deem worthy of blog inclusion (especially contemporary)  - advise us -  as a   COMMENT   or e-mail

radio@wagradio.com   

WAGRadio Management

Cartoon: Robert Leighton   [courtesy: Douglas Miller]

Down In Jamaica ft. Kabbalist (Official Video Trailer)

Short 1:46 video of KABBALIST and his huge smash "Down In Jamaica" gives us time to tell ya that in the next few weeks a new Groovin' Blue [09-07] will be on its way to you  - -  along with an ALL-JAZZ Groovin' Blue & an ALL JAM-ROCK Groovin' Blue 

plus SUNNY 'Sweet Daddy Fonk WONG tells us that he and DJZIGZAG are workin' hard on a brand new  GROOVIN' BLUE FUNK SHUI CRESCENT CITY SPECIAL ! !   They say it'll feature ERNIE K-DOE, EARL KING, BENNY SPELLMAN, JOHNNY ADAMS, CHRIS KENNER, BERNA-DEAN, EDDIE BO and many more of our favourite back befo' back-in-the-day NEW ORLEANS artistes.  We're excited ! 
WAGRadio Management

BACKBEAT: EARL PALMER'S STORY - A great summer read !

In late 1949 / early 1950, the top Blues and Rhythm record on many charts was FATS DOMINO's 'THE FAT MAN'. The drummer on the recording was EARL PALMER. In 1959, one of DJZigZag's favourite Rock 'n' Roll 45's (of all-time) - 'BAD BOY' by LARRY WILLIAMS - featured Mr. Palmer's drum kit. All of the most well-known LITTLE RICHARD singles and the many recordings by our New Orleans music heroes were the home territory of one E. PALMER.

What is mind-blowingly amazing though, is the sheer volume of singles and albums that EARL PALMER added his joy to beyond the magic circle of New World African Music. The Beach Boys, Duane Eddy, Ricky Nelson, Doris Day, the Everly Brothers, Jan and Dean, Ritchie Valens, the Monkees, Willie Nelson, Jackie DeShannon, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Andy Williams, Bobby Vee, Bobby Darin. Frank Sinatra etc etc etc etc etc etc etc all benefited from the subtle artistry of the king of NEW ORLEANS R'n'B drummers.

Written by Mr. Tony Scherman with a foreward by Wynton Marsalis we would heartily recommend "Backbeat: Earl Palmer's Story" as a two day 196 page (including index and discography) summer vacation read - which you can then pass on to spouse, kids or family members and friends - its a great finally-told story for everyone who loves popular American music.

WAGRadio Management

LATEST WAGRadio FAVOURITE SOUL MUSIC MAGAZINE - 'IN THE BASEMENT' - PUBLISHES SPRING 2009 ISSUE

One of our favourite magazines has just published its 2009 spring issue - and it is, as always, chock-full of shared knowledge about soul music.  

In this 'In The Basement' [#54] - can be found the esoteric - 'THE STORY OF VIRGINIA SOUL MUSIC' - as well as the well-known, oft-told -  JIMMY HUGHES - QUALIFIED SOUL MAN . . . but then again, within that well known bio are facts like Mr. Hughes' being the cousin of PERCY SLEDGE.  Even if we knew that - we'd forgotten. 

Sweet Daddy Fonk Wong is known to 'borrow' ZigZagZ copy of the mag and read it from cover to cover at least four or five times and "...he still don't take it all in".

Along with the ton of well written articles this 78 page issue reviews over eighty brand new soul Cd's as well as older 45's and vinyl.  Said Sweet Daddy: "This is a true treasure trove of trivia that I wish I had in my basement." 

IN THE BASEMENT doesn't sell on any Canadian West Coast book or magazine store shelves.  Ya can't buy it off the rack in Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon or any of the major U.S. cities on the Western North American Seaboard either.  In other words, it has to be subscribed to.

To do that . . . 

email:  itb@basement-group.co.uk

WAGRadio Management

REDBONE - Come and Get Your Love

SUMMER IS COMING . .

LOVING PALS REMEMBERED.

REJUVENATION IS HERE . . .

WAGRadio

A RESTLESS WAGRadio SPRING HERALDS A CREATIVE SUMMER

The early morning movement of ships - the ever changing tide - the pushing in and out of trains and planes attest to the spirit of restlessness that filters through the soul at this time every year. We at WAGRadio need to jump into something CREATIVELY NEW and different . . . . .

Maybe an all Jamaican show.

Maybe an all Jazz show.

Any ideas out there?

LEAVE A COMMENT (CONTACT)

 or  email us at radio@wagradio.com

Photo: F. Hende

Flamingos--Jump Children

We goin' way back for this one.  Back, back, back - yeah - back before there was a 'Back, before back in the day'.

Whenever DJZigZag visits his mentor - Mike Cvetkovich (The East End King'aDaBlues) - the meet ain't really complete without Mike playing DJZZ the VHS tape version of the Flamingos  - "Jump Children" from the 1959 movie "Go Johnny Go".   Aside from the tune having as its cornerstone the most exciting 1950's group dance routine caught on film, the highlight for the two pals is a life altering sax solo by "Little" Charlie Ferguson.  Starting with a quote from 'I'm Beginning To See The Light", Mr. Ferguson rocks into the front of your head and rolls out the back with one of the most dynamic honkin' sax solos of the post war era.  DJZigZag and Big Mike have heard the solo literally hundreds of times and recently (once again) mutually agreed that they still find it as fresh and exciting as the first hearing.  

Also, for DJZZ, the Oxford Street 'King'aDaBlues' visit MUST include a lunch-time serving of Maggie C's antipasto and home-made pizza -- but that's another DJZigZag East Van story.  

For now . . .  just pretend you're in an originally-1960's-decorated East End Vancouver, Canada basement and Mr. C. has just turned on the VHS machine and put in the much loved tape. 

WAGRadio Management  

"Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay, Wastin' time . . ."

WAGRadio mascot Hudson Bear reflects & listens to the music drifting on shore from one of the Fraser River fishing boats off Sapperton Bar, British Columbia, Canada.  Its the sounds of the latest 'Groovin' Blue' [GB 09-06].

H. Bear sez he likes to "sit at the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away...".  We appreciate the soulful sentiment but don't have the heart to tell him that while the mighty Fraser is tidal - there is no 'bay' because its a river.  

Radio insider Ted Wendland informs WAGRadio that the laid back bruin hasn't had a real job since the so-called Summer of Love (1967) when he performed some audio tape clean-up work for Jolly John Tanner and Bren Traff at Canada's first Underground Rock Radio station - CKLG-FM.

Photo: Bear Keester 

! ! PULL YOURSELF UP ! ! AND DIG IN ! ! CUZ iT iS GROOVIN' BLUE [GB 09-06] FOR Y'ALL ! !

Seems like ya just filled ya'self up and along comes anotha GROOVIN' BLUE ! !

This time DJZigZag is in a reflective husky kinda mood with SHIRLEY SCOTT, BROTHER JACK McDUFF, QUEEN IFRICA, SNOOP DOGG, KING PLEASURE, TARRUS RILEY, J HOLIDAY, MAYSA LEAK  and many many more NEW WORLD AFRICAN MUSIC ARTISTS . . .

So what'cha waitin' for - get out your various instruments of soulful sound supplication and surround yo'selves ! ! ! !

... and if you have a pal you want to hip WAGRadio to  - -  just send  their email address

to   radio@wagradio.com   and we will put them on our mailing list . . . 

WAGRadio Management

Photo: Frederich Hende

HOT & TASTY TOO ! ! ! THE ALL - NEW GROOVIN' BLUE [GB 09-05]

Believe me please . . . this is well worth the wait . . .

HOT & DELICIOUS  GROOVIN' BLUE 09 - 05  

features . . .  WILLIE BOBO, N.E.R.D., CHARLIE WILSON, INDIA ARIE, KALI BLAXX, BROOKLYN FUNK ESSENTIALS, EDDIE HARRIS, DANIEL MERRIWEATHER  etc etc etc . . . . . 

ENJOY ! ! ! !   

DJZigZag

Photo: Frederich Hende

 

Mr Frazier - Video Dating

The overdue Groovin' Blue 09-05 - - should be up and posted anytime now.
In the meantime - here's Mr. Frazier ! ! - To keep you smiling !
WAGRadio Management

konshens tarrus good girl gone bad official video

CAN YA HOLD ON JUST A FEW MORE HOURS ! ? ? ! ! ! ...
BRAND NEW GROOVIN' BLUE ALMOST 'PON Y'ALL ! !
In the meantime - here is the opening chune from the Groovin' Blue that will premiere after this new one that is almost premiering . . . ? ? ?  

GAWD , , , , NOW I'M CONFUSED ...........................

DJZZ

Famous - Ain't No Use

We 'bout three days away from a nu Groovin' Blue 

[GB 09-05]  

In the meantime - here's a bit of well-produced somethin' sump'n' that slipped past when it was originally released . . .

DJZZ

Brandy Sings: 'Departed'

Boyz! BOYZ ! ! We are watchin' BRANDY - - 

NOT 

THE BOUNCY, BOUNTIFUL, BOUNCINESS OF THE BACKGROUND BEAUTIES ! !

Try to get a grip ! - - A GRIP ON THE MUSIC ! ! !  

Can't get enuff of this joyous girl ! !
And
STOP WATCHIN' THE BACKGROUND SINGER
- CAMERA LEFT ! ! !             WITH THE TAM ON....  
DJZigZag