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Posts tagged as “Marlon West”

MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Christmas Playlist for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: An Afroclectic Christmas Playlist for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on December 20, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Holiday Season, you all! I am thrilled to offer this “afroclectic” of music to round out 2021’s Christmastime. With more that a little help from my friends I’ve assembled another freewheeling collection.

There are tracks from fellow contributor, Jeff Meier’s ULTIMATE SOUL OF THE SEASON SOUNDTRACK, and our fearless leader, Lori Lakin Hutcherson’s A MERRY MOTOWN playlist, plus dozens of favorites and recent discoveries of my own.

Of course, Donny Hathaway, Sharon Jones, Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye and other Christmas standard-bearers are present. Though there are 2021 holiday releases by Bill Will, Nao, Mandisa, José James, Shaggy and others as well. Here’s over thirteen hours of soul, jazz, reggae, gospel, hip hop, and more to for a Christmas musical journey.

Whether you are staying put, or travel far, please do have a wonderful, peaceful, and safe holiday season. It has been a pleasure and honor share music with you all here on Good Black News for another year.

Stay safe, sane, and kind. And I’ll see ya back here in the ‘22!

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: Redemption Songs – Thanksgiving Music for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Redemption Songs – Thanksgiving Music for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 22, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

This week many of us will be with friends and family to give thanks, cherish each other, and delight in good eats. For most of us it will be the first time in two years.

Here’s another Monday Music offering of songs and music to enjoy on our national day to give thanks.

These tracks are spread across various time periods and genres. They are all about grace, redemption, thanks, and yes, good food.

Hope you enjoy this collection with folks you love.

Please take good care, and as always stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Smokin Out The Window” – The Best of 2021 Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Smokin Out The Window” – The Best of 2021 Playlist (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 15, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

As we head into the holidays and a brand new year, this Music Monday we’re taking a look back in the rearview at some of the best soul, jazz, hip hop and reggae releases of 2021.

This playlist offers Silk Sonic, “Apple Crumble” with vocals by Idris Elba, Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Leon Bridges, Drake, Tinashe, Diana Ross, emerging new Isley vocalist Alex Isley, Amber Mark, Jon Batiste, wonderful instrumental and vocal jazz from Ron Carter, Jose James, and others.

Please enjoy. And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Ladies Sing The Blues” – a Playlist of Early and Modern Women Blues Artists (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Ladies Sing The Blues” – a Playlist of Early and Modern Women Blues Artists (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 1, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Throughout history countless women have given the blues their unique stamp. They have fought their way to the front of the testosterone saturated genre, oftentimes with little praise.

Here’s a collection of modern and early masters of the form, including Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie, Koko Taylor, Etta James, Ann Peebles, Odetta, Aretha Franklin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bettye Swann, Bettye LaVette, Irma Thomas, LaVern Baker and so many more.

Please enjoy. And as always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: An Epic, Afroclectic, All-Night-Long Halloween Mix for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: An Epic, Afroclectic, All-Night-Long Halloween Mix for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on October 25, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Monday, good people!

Hope this tiny missive finds you all safe and well. Here’s my last October/Halloween Season offering, and it probably comes as no surprise this one is an eclectic mash-up leveraging off the three I have done so far.

I’ve cast a wide net for this playlist. Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock, Reggae, and film soundtracks are all here in this more than 12 hour dose of music featuring chills, both real and imagined.

Killers, ghosts, vampires, demons, mad scientists, gravediggers, werewolves, and creatures of all ilk are on hand for this musical journey.

Do enjoy. See ya next week with a break from the macabre.

Until then, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Phantom of the Panther” – Black Horror Scores and More (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Phantom of the Panther” – Black Horror Scores and More (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on October 18, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Monday, good listeners!

We’re back with another seasonal playlist, this one just might scare kids off your front porch on the 31st.

“Phantom Of The Panther” is a collection of jazz, classical, and soundtrack music. It features spooky tracks from Blacula by Gene Page and the 2021 remake of Candyman by Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe. There are jazz cuts by Mulatu Astatke and Duke Ellington.

I’ve also included modern classical works by the likes of Pamela Z, Julius Eastman, and others.  And while we usually truck on the works of artists from the African diaspora here at GBN, I’ve included tracks by Phillip Glass from the OG Candyman from 1992 and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ work on HBO’s Watchmen starring Regina King.

And how you gonna not to include a track called “House OF Paincakes” by Marco Beltrami for Wesley Snipes’ Blade II?

Hope you enjoy this stroll through the dark side. Listen with the lights on. Or not.

Until next week, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Mind Playing Tricks” – a Soulful Halloween Collection for 2021 (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Mind Playing Tricks” – a Soulful Halloween Collection for 2021 (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on October 11, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

“I walked forty-seven miles of barbed wire / I got a cobra snake for a necktie / A brand new house on the roadside / and it’s a-made out of rattlesnake hide / Got a brand new chimney put on top / and it’s a-made outta human skull / I’ve got a tombstone hand and a graveyard mind / I’m just twenty-two and I don’t mind dying.”

Just a few lyrics from Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love” that go a long way towards illustrating the nature of the Halloween collection. Of course, there’s Screamin Jay Hawkins and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross vocalizing overt spooky tales.

Though there are many tracks in this collection that simply reference dark imagery to warn of the perils of romantic love, and make social commentary.

Geto Boys, Brittany Howard, Funkadelic, and others all are here to tell of real-world horrors. While Alice Smith is present with an umpteenth version of “I Put A Spell On You,”  and sista manages to transform it into a statement all her own.

There are several versions of  St. Louis true folktale “Stagger Lee.” You can bet there are songs aplenty of about vampires, ghosts, and zombies too. More chills to come next week.

Until such time, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Strange Things” – a Halloween Collection of Reggae (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Strange Things” – a Halloween Collection of Reggae (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy first Monday of October! It’s your friend and selector, Marlon, back with another GBN offering.

‘Tis the season again. Halloween season, that is. Here’s the first of four October offerings. “Strange Things” is a collection of reggae, ska, and calypso hand-picked for this time of year.

This ain’t the collection to scare kids off your porch with. Though it is almost certain to make you (and them) move. Here’s a casket of new and classic reggae trucking in duppies, ghosts, vampires, zombies, and other undead creatures.

It’s scary, just how many reggae tunes there are that fall into this ghoulish category once you start, wait for it… digging.

Dad jokes aside, this playlist gathers tracks dealing with monsters and devils from the earliest ‘60s rocksteady to today’s reggaeton. More Halloween season tunes to follow next week.

Until then, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “Nola Step” – A Collection of New Orleans Jazz (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Nola Step” – A Collection of New Orleans Jazz (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on September 6, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Happy Monday, y’all.

After Ida tore through the northeast of the country, leaving turmoil in its wake, I have been thinking of, and listening, to the beautiful music to emerge from the Crescent City. Here’s a collection of New Orleans Jazz to take you through this week.

From early 20th century figures like Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong to modern masters like Trombone Short and Christian Scott, this collection is full of classic grooves. I couldn’t help but include some fine brass band music too.

Hope you enjoy this eclectic playlist of artist from and/or based in New Orleans.

As always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
MUSIC MONDAY: “One O’Clock Jump” – A Swingin’ Count Basie Collection (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “One O’Clock Jump” – A Swingin’ Count Basie Collection (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on August 23, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

This week are celebrating William James “Count” Basie. He was born 117 years ago on August 21, 1904.

In 1935, Basie formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. He would lead that group for almost 50 years.

Many musicians came to prominence under Basie’s direction, including tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry “Sweets” Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams.

Here’s a solid dose of his half century of artistry. Do enjoy.

And as always, stay safe, sane and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)