Page 8- The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 6, 1987
Records
Stanley Jordan mouths of purists, he also tackles
Standards Volume 1 "Georgia on my Mind," "Silent
Blue Note Night," and "My Favorite Things"
(yes,that one, from The Sound of
Music.) Luckily, Jordan's entranc-
In an era of boring "new age" ing, evocative style saves the
music that amounts to nothing album from its sickening potential.
more than tranquilizing background, With only two hands and one
it is refreshing to hear a mellow guitar, he somehow manages to
instrumental work that has play bass, rhythm, and lead - with
character. no overdubs. This phenomenom is
Everyone's favorite up-and-com- attributed to his "touch technique"
ing jazz guitarist virtuoso is a fan of guitar. Jordan taps instead of
of some surprisingly traditional pop plucks, almost like a piano player,
music. This disc features Stanley or Eddie Van Halen. The result is
Jordan's interpretations of songs by more than gimmicky, it is no less
Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, than astonishing at first listen.
and Stevie Wonder. And if that is Even after several plays, the effect
not enough to put a bad taste in the leaves the audience dazzled.
Jordan does possess more than
HELP WANTED technique, a genuine emotion flows
$3.65 hr throughout. "Georgia" and Stevie
Al Shifts - Flexible hrs. Wonder's "Send One Your Love"
Apply at are especially touching. The
BURGER KING integrity of the songs is main-
530 E. LIBERTY tained, though Jordan dissects and
reconstructs melodies almost be-
yond recognition. He goes a little
too far in his creative license, how-
ever, on "Sounds of Silence," and
seems to wrestle the tune to the
ground and present it in a slightly
dazed, battered form.
Jordan's decision to play without
backup on all of these tracks
exposes both the aforementioned
technical prowess, as well as the
,need for at least minimal ac-
companiment. More variety, depth,
and richness would improve the
overall affect of his style. After all,
even Jimi Hendrix, a musician
whom Jordan reportedly admires,
had a band.
The title of the album, Standards
I' -
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Is
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Volume 1, suggests that this is the
beginning of a series. Records of
this quality are of course welcome,
but hopefully factors other than
Jordan's playing (i.e. song choice
and musical backup) will change on
subsequent albums.
-Mark Swartz
New Grass Revival
New Grass Revival
EMI/America
In light of the tremendous
success of country music's "new
traditionalist" wing (Steve Earle,
Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam,
etc.) it shouldn't be a big surprise
to see a bluegrass outfit get a major
label deal. That the New Grass
Revival got the early nod, with
their highly polished sound and
instrumental virtuousity, is at once
obvious and somewhat incon-
gruous.
New Grass Revival was formed
in 1972, taking its name from a
movement bursting out at the time,
whose adherents were incorporating
rock and jazz elements into
bluegrass. Time has somewhat
lessened the outrage initially felt in
the hearts of the purists, such that
the two wings of bluegrass exist in
relative harmony. Still, the two
schools are quite distinct, and it is
somewhat incongruous that the
success of the more traditional
country artists prompts the signing
of the less traditional bluegrass act,
especially in view of the enormous
success of the roots-conscious
Ricky Skaggs.
Whatever the commercial con-
siderations may be, for my money
EMI got themselves a highly
polished wedge of vinyl, sort of
like Alabama with mandolin and
banjo. I haven't got much use for
it, either. This despite the fact that
New Grass Revival is undeniably
an instrumental powerhouse,
especially Bela Fleck on banjo and
founder Sam Bush on mandolin.
However, despite their attempts to
infuse their songs with spirit and
soul (bassist John Cowan even did
an EP of soul covers last year),
their songs are way too slick for
their own good, and their vocals are
just too wholesome somehow.
They may well find their com-
mercial niche, and I wish them
well, but I think the talents of these
four gents are better displayed on
their solo LPs, Sam Bush's in
particular.
-Jeff Stanzler
O'Kanes
O'Kanes
Columbia
It seems like a fine idea.
The O'Kanes set out to meld
their Everly-styled harmonies with
a largely acoustic accompaniment,
featuring instruments (like accord-
ion, banjo, and mandolin) rarely
heard on country records these days.
Indeed, they are successful at
creating a distinctive framework for
their songs. Even in the more
traditional circles of country music,
you rarely hear records that borrow
as much from bluegrass and post-
war country. If they had tied all this
to meatier material, we might be
talking serious... as it is, their re-
cord is a rather uneven proposition.
As a general rule, the uptempo
material tends to accentuate their
less appealing tendencies. One
example of this is "Just Lovin'
You," a happy-timey romp rife
with treacly sentiment. Although
they don't slather on the sugar
nearly this indiscriminately else-
where, there are several occasions
where their smooth harmonies don't
add up to much more than "nice,"
even when paired with their instru-
mental innovations. The result is
that songs like "Oh Darlin',"
"Gonna Walk That Line," and their
cover of "That's All Right, Mama".
are pleasant, but not particularly
substantial.
They take their best shots on the
slower material, particularly on the
songs that close out each side.
"Bluegrass Blues" is a tale of lost
love with some bits, pretty but
never saccharine. "When I Found
You" is an oddly mournful ex-
pression of gratitude at finding a
reason to let go of an old love.
Possessed of an ample hint of tex-
mex sound, this is an elegant ex-
pression of relief, if not happiness.
However, apart from the
infectuous shuffle of "Oh Lone-
some You," nowhere else do the
O'Kanes really get airborne. I think
there's ample reason to wait for
their second offering, though. A
little more edge could make the
O'Kanes quite potent.
-JeffStanzler
The Scene is Now
Total Jive
Lost Records/T'win Tone
Total Jive is an uncomprom-
ising, pop/twang/something-or-oth-
er sort of record that's so quirky
that it grows more and more lik-
able with each listening. Trying to
come up with descriptive terms for
The Scene is Now's sound would
be like trying to decipher the
contents of your vacuum cleaner
bag; everything makes it in there in
a compact but jumbled lump, even
stuff you didn't know was lying out
for the taking.
Produced by the ever innovative
Elliott Sharp, The Scene, is Now
scams, shuffles, and siphons their
tunes through a low powered
musical Cuisinart. All the tracks
bear a distinctive trademark thanks
to the skewered vocals and
meandering lyrics, but leave plenty
of room for the individual
percussive and electric instruments
to come through. "Two Spoonfuls"
serpentines through a drunken
melody that has nohhook, yet is
unforgettably catchy nonetheless.
"Coughing Kettle" careens all over
the place in ecstatic joy with
knocking percussion sounds, and
"The Great Lakes" is a giddy ode to
the beckoning shores that stretch
from "Muskegon to Sault St.
Marie..."
There's too many great and far
out moments on Total Jive to
possibly detail; besides, it would
kill all of the surprise of impact.
But this record, like their g(and
first), Burn All Your Recodr;takes
a little getting used to - if only to
find yourself listening with an
abandon equal to that of the band's
own spirit.
- Beth Fertig
WEEKEND
MAGAZINE
Fridays in The Daily
763-0379
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V"
University Library Workshops
The University Library offers workshops Prerequisite: None
on searching online databases via DIALOG Dates and Times:,"
and BRS. These brokers offer access to 9 Feb. 10:30-11:00 a.m.
more than 300 databases. Databases 11 Mar. 10:30-11:00 a.m.
are available in the following broad 8 Apr. 10:30-11:00 a.m.
subject fields: business, education, life Location: Harlan Hatcher Graduate . .
sciences, medicine, physical and applied Library Classroom 806
sciences, social sciences and humanities. Instructor: University Library Staff
Examples of individual databases are: Registration: Required, use the MTS
" MANAGEMENT CONTENTS, ERIC message system to send to "University
(Educational Resources Information Library Courses" or call 936-2408
Center), BIOSIS (Biological Abstracts), Fee: No charge
MEDLINE (Index Medicus), COMPENDEX"
(Engineering Index), DISSERTATION DIALOG System Seminar -
ABSTRACTS ONLINE, and ARTS AND This workshop is designed for novice
HUMANITIES SEARCH. DIALOG users who have little or no
Faculty, students and staff are invited to previous experience searching the "
enroll to learn how to do your own online databases available on DIALOG. DIALOG
searching, and/or to understand what is information Services, Inc. is a commercial
involved when library staff does an online company which brokers access to
database search for you. Library staff bibliographic and full-text databases. ."
can assist you in acquiring your own BRS Basic system commands, Boolean
and/or DIALOG account. For additional search techniques, and database selection
information, contact any campus library are covered. The lecture includes a
* or send a message via MTS to "ONLINE discussion of sample search questions "
SEARCH SERVICES". and how to construct search strategies.
The two-hour session also provides online
ORS System Seminar practice time."
This workshop is designed for novice Prerequisite: None
BRS users who have little or no previous Dates and Times:
experience searching the databases 19 Feb. 2:00-4:00 p.m..
available on BRS. BRS Information 19 Mar. 7:00-9:00 p.m. "
Technologies is a commercial company 14 Apr. 2:00-4:00 p.m.
which brokers access to bibliographic and Location: Undergraduate Microcomputer
full-text databases. Center (fourth floor)
" The seminar covers basic system Instructor: James Crooks 0
commands, Boolean search techniques, Registration: Required, use the MTS
and database selection. The lecture message system to send to "University
includes a discussion of sample search Library Courses" or call 936-2408
" questions and how to construct search Fee: No charge
strategies. Online practice time is
provided. BRS/Saunders Colleague System
Prerequisite: None Seminar -
" Dates and Times: This workshop is designed for people
10 Feb. 2:00-4:00 p.m. with existing access to BRS/Saunders
12 Mar. 7:00-9:00 p.m. Colleague. Participants learn basic system
9 Apr. 2:00-4:00 p.m. features and Boolean search techniques,
Location: Undergraduate Microcomputer and also' receive an introduction to the
Center (fourth floor) MEDLINE database.
Instructor: James Crooks After a short introductory lecture
+" Registration: Required, use the MTS participants use their own Colleague
message system to send to "University passwords to access the system. During
Library Courses" or call 936-2408 the practice time, librarians are available to
Fee: No charge provide assistance with system commands
and search strategy design. Additional
Going Online - sessions can be scheduled for groups of
The 15 minute video Going Online: five or more.
An Introduction to the World of Online Prerequisite: Participants should have .
Information (published by Learned access to BRS/Saunders Colleague
information, Inc.) offers a concise, Dates and Times:
highly comprehensible overview of online 12 or 26 Jan. 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
" searching. It explains the online searching 9 or 23 Feb. 11:30a.m.-1:00 p.m.
process in theory and demonstrates 9 or 23 Mar. 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p m.
it in practice. Viewers get a clear-cut 13 or 27 Apr. 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
I
The University of Michigan School of Music
presents
CHAMBER CHOIR FRI., MAR
Thomas Hilbish, conductor
Music of Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, Schoenberg, Barger, Ives, Shifrin,
and Black American spirituals
Hill, 8:00 p.m.
RCH 6
WIND ENSEMBLE
H. Robert Reynolds, conductor
Music of Andriessen, Varese, Weill, Beethoven, Hindemith
Rackham, 4:00 p.m.
SUN., MARCH 8
FACULTY BUXTEHUDE SERIES
Marilyn Mason, organ
Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, School of Music, 4:00 p.m.
If you've ever dreamed of being behind the controls If you're cut out for it, we'll give you free civilian
of an airplane, this is your chance to find out what flight training, maybe even $100 a month cash while
it's really like. you're in school. And someday you could be flying
A Marine Corps pilot is coming to campus who a Harrier, Cobra or F/A-18.
can take you up for trial flights. Get a taste of what life is like
We're looking for a few 11LL _11 at the top. The flight's on us.
d