Mike Janssen

I walked in to the Busboys and Poets at 5th and K Sts. in D.C. just as the show was getting underway. Reverend Billy was descending a spiral staircase in the middle of the two-story space, and the noise he and his entourage of 16 singers, dancers and performers — the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir — was turning heads throughout the restaurant. The Reverend was clad in a cerulean jacket with matching slacks, a black shirt, and a priest’s stiff white collar. Most of his performers, who ranged widely in age and appearance, wore shiny green robes. One was an … Continue Reading

Entertainment Weekly has picked their 50 best Beatles songs and worst five. And “All You Need Is Love” is … on the “worst” list. EW‘s take: “All You Need Is Love … which get [sic] repeated to the point of self-parody in this catchy but thoroughly maddening novelty song.” (I am not usually a siccer, but I’m happy to sic all over this statement.) Novelty song? Maybe “Octopus’s Garden”, “Yellow Submarine”, “Maxwell Silverhammer”, and “All Together Now” would fit in that category. But not “All You Need Is Love.” From the Wikpedia entry on the song:

“It was an inspired song … Continue Reading

Playlist for Overnight Jazz with Mike Janssen on 89.3 FM WPFW, 3-5 a.m., Sept. 29, 2009

1. “elevating device” (excerpt) — Nels Cline and G.E. Stinson, elevating device
2. “Canonic Living” — Quiet Orchestra [free download]
3. “Hum” — Digital Primitives, Hum Crackle & Pop
4. “The Grade” — Money Mark, Mark’s Keyboard Repair
5. “Evil” — James Brown, Soul Pride: The Instrumentals, 1960–1969
6. “One Mint Julep” — Ray Charles, The Very Best Of
7. “Grazing in the Grass” — Willie Bobo, Talkin’ Verve
8. “What’s It Gonna Be” — The Dynamites, Kaboom!
9. “Shadow of a Memory” — The 21st Century, *Funk/Soul Revival: Classic Tracks & … Continue Reading

Some new music I’ve been enjoying: * Koushik, Beep Tape (link to free download of .zip, don’t know how long the freebie will last though) * Nels Cline and G.E. Stinson, Elevating Device — an experimental 45-minute piece. I want to play it on my show, but should I play the whole thing or just an excerpt? Thanks to Chris Schlarb for dropping me a copy. Also, do you know David First? He was in the Notekillers. Unfortunately, their website does not offer free MP3 downloads. I saw them open for Tortoise a few years ago and was really blown away by the … Continue Reading

Playlist for Overnight Jazz with Mike Janssen on 89.3 FM WPFW, 3-5 a.m., Sept. 22, 2009

1. “Spiritual” — John Coltrane, Afro Blue Impressions
2. “Big Nick” — John Coltrane and Duke Ellington, s/t
3. “Remember” — Hank Mobley, Soul Station
4. “Here” — James Carter, Gold Sounds
5. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — The Bad Plus, Prog
6. “Flux in a Box” — Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Live at Le Poisson Rouge, July 15, 2009 free download of set
7. “Juana” — Guillermo Klein, Live in Barcelona
8. “Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance”
9. “What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body? (Reprise)”– Frank Zappa … Continue Reading

Had a character of a cab driver this morning. Glasses this odd sort with the lenses tilted away from the brow ridge, at about a 45 degree angle. She threw her arm over the back of the middle of the front seat and dangled her pudgy tan hand near the back of the passenger’s-side headrest, in front of me. I told her I was a writer, which I unintentionally said in a self-deprecating tone. Why don’t I take more pride in my craft? She discouraged this tone by saying that she appreciated writing, and even wrote herself. She had shown some … Continue Reading

Playlist for Overnight Jazz with Mike Janssen on 89.3 FM WPFW, 3–5 a.m., Sept. 15, 2009

1. “9 x 9″ — Paul Motian, The Story of Maryam
2. “The Pink Shoes of Marie Antoinette Are Sailing on a Ship of Thoughts” — Infinitus Ensemble, Clinical Jazz [download]
3. “Toads of the Short Forest” — Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Weasels Ripped My Flesh
4. “Son of Mr. Green Genes” — Frank Zappa, Hot Rats
5. “Advice for Medics” — Sun Ra, Supersonic Jazz
6. “Micael” — Juana Molina, Son
7. “Pavane” — Chicha Libre, Sonido Amazonico
8. “Si Me Quieres” — Los Hijos del sol, … Continue Reading

Playlist for Overnight Jazz with Mike Janssen on 89.3 FM WPFW, 3–5 a.m., Sept. 8, 2009

1. “Seattle” — Avishai Cohen, Gently Disturbed
2. “Lonely Woman” — Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come
3. “Something Sweet, Something Tender” — Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch
4. “Gyllene (For Lars Gullin)” — Vandermark 5, Elements of Style
5. “In C” (excerpt) — Terry Riley, performed by State University Center of Creative and Performing Arts
6. “The Grass, It Is Blue (Ain’t Nothin’ But a Polka)” — Guy Klucevsek, Planet Squeezebox
7. “On Our Way Home” — Dave Douglas, A Thousand Evenings
8. “Not Too Eggy” — New … Continue Reading

Playlist for Overnight Jazz with Mike Janssen on 89.3 FM WPFW, 1–5 a.m., Sept. 1, 2009

1. “Bolivar Blues” — Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Dream
2. “You Call It Joggin’” — Mose Allison, My Backyard
3. “Tom Sawyer” — The Bad Plus, Prog
4. “Last Beat” — Nomo, Ghost Rock
5. “Masanka Sankayi” — Wa Muluendu feat. Mutumilayi, Congotronics 2
6. “Lady” — Fela Kuti, The Best Best Of
7. “Dr. J. Abuya” — Daniel Owino Misiani and Shirati Band, Benga Blast!
8. “Ema Kowo Iasa Ile Wa” — MonoMono, Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Africa Sounds and Nigerian Blues
9. “Ngalam” — Orchestra Baobab, Pirates Choice
10. “Mbiriviri” — Simon … Continue Reading