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Big Sam’s Funky Nation has long since established their presence on the forefront of the New Orleans music scene. Trombone powerhouse and band leader “Big Sam” Williams, formerly of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, has been celebrated as “the top man on the slide trombone in the birthplace of jazz” by the San Francisco Chronicle and the band has been touted for consistently “bringing a straight raw party” by Jambase. 2010 has already been a busy year for The Nation, beginning with an East Coast tour, ten days touring Greece, a recurring role in the new HBO original series “Treme,” and various appearances during South By Southwest. BSFN shows no signs of slowing down; on the horizon is a busy touring schedule including festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Bonnaroo Arts & Music Festival, Doheney Blues Festival and Gathering of the Vibes, just to brush the surface. The momentum BSFN has already accumulated will only continue to grow with the release of their fourth and most prolific album to date, King Of The Party. Be on the lookout for BSFN’s masterful blend of a rock, with an improv-style associated with jazz and a horn-heavy front section that’s the hallmark of funk. The energy level is always high voltage when BSFN takes the stage.

Great Museums Documentary

“New Orleans: A Living Museum of Music”

Students: As per usual, please blog an initial 250 words about the documentary as soon after class as possible. Then blog another 250 words in response to the other students before next week’s class. If you were not able to attend class, please contact Stephanie (smayne@thenojo.com) for a link to watch the documentary.

We will not have class this week, September 15th.

Students:

Your assignment for the week is to review the 20 songs below from the ten albums that Professor Mayfield released on Basin Street Records. Then, please blog no less than 500 words about the following: which 10 songs should be chosen for a “Best of” CD, the order in which they should be placed and why you chose those songs.

The Basin Street Records website and Ilike will allow you to listen to the songs.

Half Past Autumn Suite, Irvin Mayfield

Jazz Poetry (3:23)

Wind Song (with Gordon Parks, 4:59)

How Passion Falls, Irvin Mayfield

The Illusion (8:34)

Othello & Desdemona (6:18)

Irvin Mayfield, Irvin Mayfield

Midnight Theme (9:07)

Strange Fruit, Irvin Mayfield & The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

The Beginning of the End (4:53)

Oral Traditions of the South (4:03)

Ballads, Standards and Love Songs, Irvin Mayfield & Ellis Marsalis

Mo Better Blues (5:33)

Romeo & Juliet (2:57)

Los Hombres Calientes, Los Hombres Calientes featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

Bill’s Q Yvette (3:33)

Irvin’s Crisis (5:02)

Vol. 2, Los Hombres Calientes featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

Ron’s Groove (5:12)

Vol. 3: New Congo Square, Los Hombres Calientes featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

El Negro Part 2 (3:34)

El Negro Part 3 (3:07)

Vol. 4: Vodou Dance, Los Hombres Calientes featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

Tinidad Nocturne (with Pamberi Steel Orchestra) (4:50)

I’ll Fly Away (2:28)

Vol. 5: Carnival, Los Hombres Calientes featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

Latin Tinge II (5:55)

James Booker (8:54)

The Mardi Gras Second Line (8:09)

Carnival Lullaby (nite nite little Irvin, 7:21)

Interview: Professor Victor Atkins

Musicians:

Wes Anderson, trombone

Austin Johnson, piano

Nick Hughes, drums

Jasen Weaver, bass

Website: http://music.uno.edu/