Dust-to-Digital / Parlortone

Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones at Second Mount...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:03:18 -0400

Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones at Second Mount Olive Baptist Church (7/25/10)

Joe Bussard’s Independence Day Show

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:53:17 -0400

Progress on the Fahey set

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:46:35 -0400

Glenn Jones was with us this past week to help put the finishing touches on the book for the John Fahey box set — in record stores on 9/28!

Joe Bussard's Father's Day Edition of Country Classics

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:35:37 -0400

Strings gets reviewed in Wire Magazine

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:13:50 -0400

Excavated Shellac: Strings
Various
Parlortone / Dust-to-Digital LP
The phenomenon of record collectors skimming their personal archives to assemble compilations isn’t exactly a new one. Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music paved the way in 1952 at the dawn of the long-playing era, and also set a precedent for compilers encoding records to achieve ends that go beyond sharing their favorite tunes. Smith sought to bring America back to parts of itself that it wanted to disavow. More recently the Sublime Frequencies label has tried to change academic and touristic attitudes to global musics, and the recent Pomegranates compilation enjoined residents of NATO states from dismissing Iranians as exotic others fit for nuking.

Strings is the first LP release by Parlortone, the vinyl wing of Dust-to-Digital. It begins a projected series of collections by Jonathan Ward. the author of the Excavated Shellac blog and one of a younger generation of 78 rpm collectors, this time focusing solely on performances on stringed instruments. Ward’s agenda counters decades of format fetishisation: the 14 tracks on Strings aren’t good because they’re old and encrusted with crackle, but because they’re killer cuts. This LP isn’t meant to take listeners back to a better place and time, but to bring nonpareil performances into ours.

Tho unidentified Vietnamese duo that plays “Nam Binh” on moon guitar and upright fiddle sound utterly assured, and Ugandans Galabuzi and Party blow through a rhythm workout as intense as anything played by Miles Davis in 1974 or Konono No 1 this year. The solos, which comprise nearly half the record, are even better. Indian yina player Sundaram Balachander, Armenian tar player Soghoman Seyranyan, Norwegian Hardanger fiddler Kjetil Flatin, and a pair of violinists from Iran and Turkey are all technically adept, emotionally devastating, and not at all veiled by surface noise.
- Bill Meyer

REV. JOHNNY L. “HURRICANE” JONES - Jesus Christ from...

Thu, 20 May 2010 12:59:00 -0400

REV. JOHNNY L. “HURRICANE” JONES - Jesus Christ from A to Z (Parlortone)
A hurricane is a force of nature with which to be reckoned, unapologetic, a mighty storm in force, speed, and effect. These descriptors hold true for Reverend Johnny L. Jones, nicknamed “Hurricane” because of his larger than life delivery of the word of God. Since the Eisenhower Era, Jones has been pastor at the Second Mount Olive Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta, where he has recorded and amassed a collection of tapes of his impassioned services. Through a series of seemingly unlikely events, Dust-to-Digital’s Lance Ledbetter crossed paths with Jones and began listening to and editing hours of these tapes. Jesus Christ from A to Z is the first fruit of said collaboration in what promises to be a series of LPs on the vinyl-only Parlortone imprint. Once a best-selling gospel recording artist for Shreveport’s Jewel Records, seventy-three-year-old Jones retired from making albums over thirty years ago. This record marks his triumphant return to the game, and what a grand homecoming it is.

“The Day Is Past and Gone” starts off the record with an organ drone like a low storm siren, which is promptly interrupted by the moans and groans of a man with something on his mind and in his soul. Somewhere between speaking and singing, language and primal communication, Jones proceeds to lay it out for a crowd of congregants getting happy and vocal about it — think Albert Ayler sermonizing and you’re close. The record continues with “Prayer,” a moving invocation for those in need, like “the people that didn’t rest at all last night because pain was racking their bodies, for the widow walking the floor all night long…” The centerpiece of the collection, as well as its title, is Jones’ liberation theology meditation using the letters of the alphabet as a road map; it is a tour-de-force, which when it concludes at almost fourteen minutes leaves a gaping void. The album finishes with the serene, almost sacred harp sounding “Old Ship of Zion,” the calm after the storm has passed. This very same calm comes to believers amidst life’s inevitable hurricanes from inspired and impassioned words and sentiments such as those heard on this record. Something tells me that Sunday morning would come much earlier for more folks if this type of experience were waiting for them at church.
- Kevin Coultas (via The Other Music Update)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Excavated Shellac: Strings (Parlortone) Going...

Thu, 20 May 2010 12:01:00 -0400

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Excavated Shellac: Strings (Parlortone)
Going on two years now, I’ve been geeking out whenever my RSS responded to a new post on Excavated Shellac, a webblog hosted by Jonathan Ward specializing in meticulously detailed commentary about and mind-blowing music from his impressive collection of 78s from around the globe. Naturally, I was thrilled but not at all surprised to find out that Atlanta’s stalwarts of all things musically great (Dust-to-Digital) was issuing some of this music via their vinyl-only imprint Parlortone. As it turns out, none of the tracks on Excavated Shellac: Strings are available elsewhere, including on the blog, so…bonus! The theme of this collection being stringed instruments, of course the collection features a wide array of tunes from the four corners of the world whose primary and/or sole instrument is stringed — guitar, oud, tar, violin, etc. While the LP is figuratively tied together with strings, Ward did a fantastic job of finding common ground within this vast category, despite the impossibly broad linguistic (Ganda to Vietnamese), temporal (1920s to 1950s, but really the whole of music history), and cultural (Bolivian to Norwegian) expanse; at the risk of new-age-y thinking, there is a palpable humanity in these sounds.

Some standouts include the first track by Armenian tar maestro Soghoman Seyranyan, the title of which translates simply to “dream.” There is a certain nocturnal quality to the piece, but I wouldn’t call it peaceful. One is immediately struck by the remarkable dynamic control and finesse of the soloist. The track was recorded in the 1950s, but echoes of the pain of atrocities perpetrated on Armenia from a few decades earlier resonate here. Switching gears, there is the delightful “Tko Se Bregom Sece” (translated: “Walking Up and Down the Hill”) by Braca Kapugi Tamburica Orchestar i Pjevacki Zbor. The tamburica ensemble moves along soothingly in love-song mode until the final moments of the tune when they punch it, and finish with a frothy and fevered “malo kolo,” or small circle dance. The record ends on a high note with Kemanî Amâ Recep’s “Çifte kiris ile Rast Taksim,” a work of undeniable violin virtuosity from Turkey. The tune is performed “ciftelli” meaning “double strings” (tuned GgDd), giving the illusion of two players performing together. The effect and the performance are breathtaking, as is the LP taken as a whole. Bravo to Ward and Dust-to-Digital for the continued attention to detail, from the excellent mastering job, to the thoughtful sequencing, all the way down to the awesome Parlortone label stickers. Great too that this is apparently just the beginning of Parlortone and Ward’s partnership, with an all-African boxset and an ongoing series of theme-based LPs already in the works.
- Kevin Coultas (via The Other Music Update)

Abdul-Wahad Ahmad – Qoyrat (Beshiri) « Excavated Shellac

Sun, 09 May 2010 04:00:13 -0400

Abdul-Wahad Ahmad – Qoyrat (Beshiri) « Excavated Shellac

Joe Bussard’s annual Mother’s Day episode of Country...

Fri, 07 May 2010 16:13:42 -0400

Joe Bussard’s annual Mother’s Day episode of Country Classics

Click here for an interview with George Gibson, and to hear one...

Fri, 07 May 2010 15:09:00 -0400

Click here for an interview with George Gibson, and to hear one of George Gibson’s banjo performances, check out the Art of Field Recording Volume II box set.

A Community Celebration of John Fahey

Fri, 07 May 2010 07:52:24 -0400

A Community Celebration of John Fahey
Friday, May 7, 2010
7:30pm at the Takoma Park Community Center

Celebrating the life and music of John Fahey, The Takoma Park/Silver Spring Experimental Film Festival will host a special evening devoted to guitarist John Fahey. This program will be the inaugural event in the recently-renovated, 150-seat auditorium, at the Takoma Park Community Center.

Raised in Takoma Park and using its environs as inspiration for his work, John Fahey is one of the most celebrated American acoustic guitarists. And although he moved away from Maryland in 1962, at the age of twenty-two, he continually referenced Takoma Park in his songs, going so far as naming his independent record label after his hometown. Under Fahey’s guidance, Takoma Records recorded and released over 125 albums over the course of three decades – a feat that no other artist-owned, artist-run record label can claim. Most importantly, Takoma Records recorded older artists like Bukka White and Skip James, ensuring that younger generations were exposed to their powerful music.

The program begins at 8pm with the film John Fahey: The Legacy of Blind Joe Death. This 30-minute film by local resident Marc Minsker provides an overview of Fahey’s life and comments on his contributions to the music world. Following the film, several special guests who will be on-hand: friends of Fahey who will be reminiscing about the guitarist and sharing some personal stories with the audience. Afterwards, there will be a musical tribute performed by longtime friend of Fahey and Takoma Records recording artist Peter Lang. Discovered by Fahey in 1972, Peter Lang has carried on the “American primitive” acoustic six-string tradition, picking and playing in a style similar to Fahey’s.

Although this event is free and open to the public, it is recommended that tickets be secured in advance. Tickets are available, on a first-come, first-serve basis at House of Musical Traditions (7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park) and Som Records (1843 14th Street, Washington, DC). The maximum number of tickets is four per person. A certain number of seats may also became available the night of the performance. For more information contact the House of Musical Traditions at 301-270-9090.

The Parlortone Picnic photo shoot (by Dust-to-Digital)

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:50:52 -0400

The Parlortone Picnic photo shoot (by Dust-to-Digital)

Jonathan Ward of Excavated Shellac on Rare Frequency 04/22/10

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:52:00 -0400

Jonathan Ward of Excavated Shellac on Rare Frequency 04/22/10

Podcast Special Ed. 45: Jonathan Ward of Excavated Shellac Live...

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:15:00 -0400

Podcast Special Ed. 45: Jonathan Ward of Excavated Shellac Live on Rare Frequency 04/22/10

S/FJ: BEST OF 2010

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:52:32 -0400

S/FJ: BEST OF 2010:

“Excavated Shellac: Strings” (Parlortone)

Parlortone releases Excavated Shellac global sampler

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:54:00 -0400

Parlortone releases Excavated Shellac global sampler

"Excavated Shellac: Strings" gets reviewed by Aquarius Records

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:39:00 -0400

First proper lp release from aQ pal, 78 collector, and curator of the awesome Excavated Shellac blog, Jonathan Ward, appropriately enough on Parlortone, “The Phonographic Arm and Limited Edition Leg” of longtime favorite reissue label Dust-to-Digital. And it’s a doozy, before we get into it, anyone who buys everything on Mississippi is gonna want one of these, if you loved the Black Mirror collection, or the Victrola Favorites, for anyone into world music, into lost gems, old sonic obscurities, this is about as good as it gets, the song selection, the curation, the sound, the detailed liner notes, utterly fantastic, and sonically breathtaking. But of course we would have expected nothing less.

For those not familiar with it, Excavated Shellac is a blog dedicated to “78rpm recordings of folkloric and vernacular music from around the world”, and besides having an incredible collection, Ward also is a fantastic write, who writes extensively about each record he posts (almost all unavailable anywhere else in any format), detailing the recording, the style of music, the history, a musical lesson in every post, and the music, well needless to say, it’s easy to get lost and subsequently obsessed.

So Excavated Shellac: Strings, is an analog extension of the ES blog, with all the things we love about the blog intact. Of course there’s the music, impeccably chosen, deftly cleaned up, and perfectly sequenced, the writing, informative and funny, educated and informed, about the record, the project, and each track and artist, and of course the object itself, beautifully laid out, pressed on thick vinyl, lots of amazing archival photos, so great.

This first volume focuses on string instruments from around the world, Armenia, India, Bolivia (listen to this track), Congo, Vietnam, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Uganda, Lebanon, Japan, Norway, Croatia and Paraguay. Every song a gem, haunting solos on Middle Eastern lutes, tangled frantic, droney sitar like buzz from India, playful festive dance music from Bolivia played on small guitars fashioned from gourds, gorgeous acoustic guitar music, lush and melodic, with soulful call and response vocals, from Congo, home recorded duets on 2 string fiddle and ‘moon guitar’ from Vietnam, solo violin from Iran, traditional folk music from Georgia, we could go on and on and on and on. But you know already if you need this, and it seems likely you probably do. We had been hearing rumblings about a Jon Ward / Dust-to-Digital project in the works, and had been anxiously awaiting it ever since. Now that we’re playing this to death, we find ourselves already looking forward to future volumes. So incredible, and so totally recommended.

Beautifully printed matte finish sleeve, heavy vinyl, with a printed cardstock 4 page insert, with liner notes and photos and more! - Aquarius Records

This first and inaugural episode of our latest original...

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:42:00 -0400

This first and inaugural episode of our latest original production featuring the Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones serves as an introduction to the Reverend’s life and origins in the field of preaching. Moving to Atlanta at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement as a fledgling preacher, Reverend Jones was part of one the most transformational times in our nation’s and in Atlanta’s history. For the 5 decades he has served as a preacher and leader in the community, he has meticulously recorded and cataloged all of his sermons, appearances, and concerts. (via WMLB 1690 | The Voice of The Arts » Episode 1 – An Introduction)

"This Thursday Jonathan Ward will be my guest on Rare Frequency. Check out his wonderful Excavated..."

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:53:15 -0400

“This Thursday Jonathan Ward will be my guest on Rare Frequency. Check out his wonderful Excavated Shellac blog to get sense of the musical magic that’s in store.”

- Facebook | Rare Frequency

A letter from David Giovannoni

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:15:48 -0400

Greetings from Paris, where today we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the recording of Au Clair de la Lune by Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville - the earliest audibly recognizable record of the human voice yet recovered. This week we visited each of the French institutions at which we’ve identified Scott’s manuscripts and recordings over the last two years, presenting each with copies of our high resolution scans of their holdings. Today we’re visiting a number of establishments that Edouard-Leon himself might have frequented for conversation, libation, and a good meal. Celebrate with us! Tonight (preferably by the light of the moon) open a window in time, raise a glass in the direction of Paris, and toast an inventor whose experiment - made 150 years ago today - succeeded far beyond his own expectations.And in a more sober moment, check out the documents that trace the inception, development, and maturation of Scott’s phonautographic work. They’re all at FirstSounds.org.