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Jonathan Kane is one of those people for whom music has been such an integral part of who he is that it probably would be impossible to separate him from it or it from him.

Kane played the role of a drummer and percussionist since the 1970's, but recently took the leap to recording his first solo record with last fall's release of "February" (Table of the Elements Records) and his newest disc, "I Looked at the Sun" (Table of the Elements' new Radium imprint).

As a long-time fan of Swans, I knew Kane had played drums in the band, but didn't know about all the other esteemed musicians that Kane had worked with until after meeting his wife, Holly Anderson, who I had a chance to meet via her collaboration with Clint Conley and consonant for a very early episode of Well-Rounded Radio. Having known Kane's earlier work, I was surprised to learn that his first musical love was actually the blues, and its been a form that he's experimented with over the years.

Kane’s musical roots stretch back to his teen years when he played with his sibling Anthony in the Kane Bros. Blues Bandin upstate New York, paying homage to blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, James Cotton, Willie Dixon, and Albert, Freddy, and B.B. King. (And the brothers are working together again: they released a disc on their own Mythco Records in 2005.)

Finding himself in New York in the mid to late 70s led to meeting Michael Gira and forming Swans, which in turn led to him working with experimental composers such as Rhys Chatham, La Monte Young (and his Forever Bad Blues Band), and guitarist/songwriter Gary Lucas. In the interview, we talk about how each of these musicians contributed to his current approach longer, blues pieces that build upon some of the main tenets of minimalism.

Kane’s musical relationship with Chatham has lasted nearly twenty years and has influenced Kane, so a bit of background on Chatham is in order: Chatham began playing in the New York noise scene in the 1970s and 80s, performing with the likes of Glenn Branca, Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, and Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth, Wharton Tiers, Fred Maher, Anton Fier, and artist Robert Longo. His pieces have typically been long in duration and symphonic in nature, even when the instruments are electric guitars or Chinese gongs. Chatham is particularly well-known for his use of 100 guitarists in pieces such as “An Angel Moves Too Fast to See,” which we’ll hear an excerpt of in the interview.

Kane’s new two-song EP (which comes in at about twenty minutes in length) is entitled "I Looked at the Sun," the title track being a cover of Mississippi Fred McDowell’s 1966 song.

But, the truth is much of the music included in this interview is hard to communicate with short snippets, so I have let some go longer so you can really feel how these musicians take the minimalism form and build upon it to great effect.

Though we didn’t discuss it in the interview, Kane is also the son of the famed photographer, Art Kane, known for his work in the 1950s and 60s including "A Great Day in Harlem," Bob Dylan, The Who, and fashion photography You can see more of his work at artkane.com and is well worth taking a stroll through the online gallery if you’re not already familiar with his work.

I recently met with Kane in Jackson Heights, New York to discuss:
* how his experience with Chatham and Young also led to his new solo recordings
* which blues artists he admires most and how they have influenced his playing
* what the connection is between minimalism and the blues

Music selects featured in the interview include:
1) Jonathan Kane: Sis (February) (in preview)
2) Jonathan Kane: Pops (February)
3) Kane Bros. Blues Band: Rocket 88 (Kane Bros. Blues Band)
4) Swans: Right Wrong (Filth)
5) Swans: Big Strong Boss (Filth)
6) Swans: Thank You (Filth)
7) Swans: Stay Here (Filth)
8) Swans: Power for Power (Filth)
9) La Monte Young + Forever Bad Blues Band: Just Stompin' (Live at the Kitchen)
10) Rhys Chatham: An Angel Moves Too Fast To See: Prelude (Compendium)
11) Rhys Chatham: Guitar Trio (Compendium) then fades into Jonathan Kane: Guitar Trio (February)
12) Jonathan Kane: Curl (February)
13) Jonathan Kane: Motherless Child (February)
14) Jonathan Kane: I Looked at the Sun (I Looked at the Sun)
15) Rhys Chatham: An Angel Moves Too Fast To See: Allegro (Compendium)
16) Rhys Chatham: An Angel Moves Too Fast To See: Intro (Compendium)
17) Jonathan Kane: BQE (I Looked at the Sun) (full song)

Photo: Holly Anderson

If you like this interview, give a listen to the Well-Rounded Radio Interviews with Mark Dwinell and Tarbox Ramblers.

Jonathan Kane recommends New Randy, Igor Cubrilovic, David Daniell, Paul Duncan, Clara Venus, Chris Brokaw, ragtime, Yiddish vaudeville + Henry Mancini’s Moon River.

Well-Rounded Radio recommends Planet Records and Sally's Place, Records, Tapes, and CDs at 190 Main Street in Westport Connecticut, 203.454.0303.

Well-Rounded Radio also recommends learning more and taking action about net neutrality. Listen to this recent show on Radio Open Source.

Posted by Charlie at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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This is the kind of story that reminds you why it's important not to give up on your dreams.

I first heard Hector Cuevas and The Boston Latin Band by way of Calabash Music after I had found myself listening to a number of Afro Cuban records, including Buena Vista Social Club, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo, Manuel Galban, and a bunch of compilation CDs tracing the roots and history of Cuban music, including The Music of Cuba: 1909-1951, Cuba Si!, the three Hecho en Cuba discs, and Cuba: The Essential Album.

Hunting around on Calabash Music, I discovered Hector Cuevas and was somewhat surprised to discover that they were based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Hector Cuevas was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up listening to Cuban music from Johnny Ventura, Sonora Matancera, Alberto Beltran, Bennie More, Vicentico Valdez, Rolando La Serie and other music that his father and mother exposed him to over the years.

Aspiring to be a musician from a young age and taking lessons in the Dominican Republic, he had the chance to move to America in the early '70s and arrived in New York City at the age of 17 to study accounting--and also to play music.

Over the years he played as a percussionist with the likes of Tito Puentes, Eddie Palmieri, Hanzel and Raul, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Guagua Rivera and many more. In addition to New York, Cuevas lived in New Orleans, Miami, and Boston and in our interview he'll explain how his tenure in each of these cities effected his musical future.

In 2003, the Boston Latin Band released Cubarengue, produced by Hector Jesus Alejandro Perez and recorded in Montreal. The debut CD covers a number of styles of Cuban music, including salsa, bolero, and merengue, and realizes Cuevas' goal to reach back to the roots of these Cuban distinct musical styles.

Cuevas worked with his wife, Janet Miller Wiseman, on the creation of The Boston Latin Band. They now work closely together on its currently booking and business management. Wiseman also participates in the interview as she has been a significant influence over the group and their history.

I recently met with Cuevas and Miller Wiseman in Lexington, Massachusetts to discuss:

* what initially inspired him to form and front The Boston Latin Band and start writing his own material
* where he found the various musicians who make up The Boston Latin Band.
* how the band plays at a wide variety of venues and why he enjoys the diverse settings

Music featured in the interview from Hector Cuevas includes:
1) Cubarengue (Cubarengue) (in preview)
2) Dios lo Cria (Cubarengue)
3) Aunque Cuesta me Cuestra la Vida (Cubarengue)
4) The Boston Latin Band (Cubarengue)
5) Merengulina (In Dreams...)
6) Tributo A Pacheco (In Dreams...)
7) Por Culpa de Ella (Cubarengue)
8) Chencha (Cubarengue)
9) Merengue Jazz (Cubarengue)
10) Homenaje a Sammy Sosa (single)
11) Envidia (Cubarengue)

If you like this interview, give a listen to the Well-Rounded Radio Interviews with Brad Powell of Calabash Music and Greg Hopkins.

Hector Cuevas and The Boston Latin Band available via Calabash Music, Well-Rounded Radio's Amazon.com Associates site, or Museo del Disco.

Hector recommends Beny More.

Well-Rounded Radio recommends Little Brother is Watching.

Posted by Charlie at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)