Strata Gallery Concert: Charles Mingus (The Lost Tapes)

We at Radio Free Amsterdam hold Charles Mingus, and his music with the uppermost reverence and respect.

I am delighted to share the news of a newly discovered recording of Mingus, recorded on radio WDET at Strata Gallery, 1973.

The following explains the historical cultural context:

–Steve Fly

The context of this multi-set evening—recorded by Detroit’s public-radio station WDET at Strata Gallery, a short-lived and artist-owned Mecca—is essential. The club date happened a year after the pair of star-studded Lincoln Center gigs that ended Mingus’ six-year near-disappearance from the stage, illustrious affairs that mostly presented his music in a traditional big-band setting. Influenced by the death of collaborator Eric Dolphy and a decline in his mental, physical, and financial wellbeing, Mingus stayed away from making music during that span.https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/charles-mingus-jazz-in-detroit-strata-concert-gallery-46-selden/

Charles Mingus – Peggy’s Blue Skylight

November 20, 2017November 30, 2017

John Sinclair Radio Show 732: Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go

Newly transferred from cassette masters, Episode 732 presents my final program of Blue Sensations on WDET-FM in Detroit on June 30, 1991 before I moved to New Orleans and took up my duties at WWOZ-FM for the next 12 years. Blue Sensations 85 is dedicated to music from Detroit and features cuts by Yusef Lateef, the Lyman Woodard Organization, Nolan Strong & The Diablos, One String Sam, Nathaniel Mayer, Singing Sammy Ward, Andre Williams, Little Willie John, John Lee Hooker, Eddie Burns, Todd Rhodes & Connie Allen, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Jackie Wilson, Junior Walker & The All Stars, and The Refugees From Hastings Street, plus a special guest appearance by my inspiration, mentor and successor, the great Frantic Ernie Durham, who took over my program slot at WDET the following week.

The John Sinclair Foundation Presents

LET’S GO, LET’S GO, LET’S GO

JOHN SINCLAIR RADIO SHOW 732

John Sinclair, WDET-FM, Detroit, June 30, 1991 [20-1747]

Yusef Lateef: Happyology

Lyman Woodard Organization: Don’t Stop The Groove

Nolan Strong & The Diablos: Mind Over Matter

One String Sam: I Need $100

Nathaniel Mayer: Village Of Love

Singing Sammy Ward: Bread Winner

Andre Williams: Going Down To Tiajuana

Little Willie John: Fever

John Lee Hooker: I’m In The Mood

Eddie Burns: That’ll Work Baby

Todd Rhodes & Connie Allen: Rocket 69

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters: Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go

Jackie Wilson: Lonely Teardrops

Junior Walker & The All Stars: How Sweet It Is

The Refugees From Hastings Street: The Joint Is Jumping

A JOINT PRODUCTION

Hosted by John Sinclair for Radio Free Amsterdam

Produced & recorded by John Sinclair at WDET-FM, Detroit

as Blue Sensations 85

Post-production, editing & annotation by John Sinclair

Executive Producer: Steve Pratt

Sponsored by Hempshopper & Ceres Seeds, Amsterdam

November 6, 2017November 30, 2017

John Sinclair Radio Show 730: It’s Too Funky In Here

Episode 730 is coming from Radio Free Amsterdam headquarters in Detroit with a second hour of music by James Brown transferred from a cassette of my Blue Sensations radio show from WDET in Detroit on June 23, 1991 that featured the 4-CD box set titled Star Time, including a mix of James’s It’s Too Funky In Here with Kalamu ya Salaam’s poem “If We Don’t Make This Constant Music.”

The John Sinclair Foundation Presents

IT’S TOO FUNKY IN HERE

JOHN SINCLAIR RADIO SHOW 730

WDET-FM, Detroit, June 23, 1991 [20-1745]

Yusef Lateef: Happyology

James Brown: Doin’ It To Death

James Brown: Stoned To The Bone

James Brown / Kalamu ya Salaam: It’s Too Funky In Here / If We Don’t

Make This Constant Music

James Brown: Get Up, Get Into It, And Get Involved

James Brown: Talking Loud And Saying Nothing

James Brown: King Heroin

Charlie Parker: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

A JOINT PRODUCTION

Hosted by John Sinclair for Radio Free Amsterdam

Produced, recorded & assembled by John Sinclair

Executive Producer: Steve Pratt

Sponsored by Hempshopper & Ceres Seeds, Amsterdam

Special thanks to Beyonce & Sunny Sinclair

October 25, 2017

John Sinclair Radio Show 729: Star Time

Episode 729 is coming from Radio Free Amsterdam headquarters in Detroit with an hour of music by James Brown that has just been transferred from a cassette of my Blue Sensations radio show from WDET in Detroit on June 23, 1991 that featured the 4-CD box set titled Star Time. There’s another hour of James that will follow on next week’s John Sinclair Radio Show, making this a double dose of dynamite to mark Halloween and All Soul’s Day this year.

The John Sinclair Foundation Presents

STAR TIME

JOHN SINCLAIR RADIO SHOW 729

WDET-FM, Detroit, June 23, 1991 [20-1744]

[01] Yusef Lateef: Happyology with John Sinclair Intro

[02] James Brown: Ain’t That A Groove

[03] James Brown: I Got The Feeling

[04] James Brown: Let Yourself Go

[05] James Brown: Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

[06] James Brown: There It Is

[07] James Brown: I Don’t Mind

[08] James Brown: Lost Someone

[09] James Brown: Baby, You’re Right

[10] Nate Kendricks & The Swans: Do The Mashed Potatoes

[11] James Brown: Why Do You Do Me

[12] The Poets: Devil’s Den

[13] James Brown: Tell Me What I Did Wrong

[14] James Brown: Out of the Blue

[15] James Brown: Grits

A JOINT PRODUCTION

Hosted by John Sinclair for Radio Free Amsterdam

Produced, recorded & assembled by John Sinclair

Executive Producer: Steve Pratt

Sponsored by Hempshopper & Ceres Seeds, Amsterdam

Special thanks to Beyonce & Sunny Sinclair

October 25, 2017

John Sinclair Radio Show 728: Blues Sensations

Episode 728 is coming from Radio Free Amsterdam headquarters in Detroit, where I just came across a box of cassettes of some of my radio shows from WWOZ in New Orleans between 1992-2003 and from WDET in Detroit in 1991. Using my trusty Super USB Cassette Capture device, I transferred the WDET Blue Sensations program from May 11, 1991 into the digital realm and hereby present it as Episode 728 of my current series, with selections by Yusef Lateef, The Meters, the Wild Magnolias with the Rebirth Brass Band, Professor Longhair, Earl King, Eddie Bo, Dr. John, James Brown, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Lenny Bruce, Kenny “Pancho” Hagood with the II-V-I Orchestra,Clifford Brown & Max Roach, and the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop. I’m transferring more programs now and will share some more episodes fro the past with you when the transfers are completed.

The John Sinclair Foundation Presents