(Published by Zocalo Magazine on Sept. 29, 2015.) It’s a nearly universal human phenomenon, an experience that can be a blessing or a curse; educational or irritating; crazy-cool or enough to drive someone crazy. It happens to over 90 percent of us and scientists still don’t really know why. This occurrence is the ubiquitous ear worm – a tune that gets stuck in your head. It spins around ad nauseam, and maybe fades away when more complicated, cerebral tasks come along only to pop up again … [Read more...]
Tapping the Collective Unconscious
(Published by Zocalo Magazine on July 8, 2015.) “He was laying there (in the hospital) and he told me, ‘All the songs are written, we don’t write the songs. We listen and we communicate the songs,’ which is something I’ve always believed.” Singer/songwriter/guitarist Carlos Arzate is speaking with depth and sincerity while relating a conversation he had with dearly departed Tucson musician Cyril Barrett last year, before cancer whisked Barrett’s life from his body. “I’ve always … [Read more...]
KXCI Focuses on the Future
(Published by Zocalo Magazine on April 5, 2015.) It’s mid-morning on a beautiful spring day in late March; I’ve got my car windows down while cruising downtown to KXCI, situated in the historic Armory Park neighborhood. I’m listening to Tucson’s community radio station en route, located on the left end of the dial at 91.3FM. Staff members are in full membership drive mode, pitching away with contagious enthusiasm. “We’ve come a long way in 31 years,” says Traffic Director Melissa Mauzy … [Read more...]
Copper & Congress’ “Fault Line”
(Published by Zocalo Magazine on September 12, 2014.) Vocals by a siren/oracle, a perfect balance of bass and understated drumming comprise Copper and Congress’ sound and the trio of amazing musicians conjure magic on Fault Line. There’s glorious, haunting sparseness – a sparseness that is just one element constituting the album’s many auditory seductions. There’s exquisite, measured tension and release that teeters and edges and splashes and dives into soulful, jazzy bliss. The moody … [Read more...]
Odaiko Sonora’s Taiko Passion
(Published by Zocalo Magazine on May 2, 2014.) In an unassuming, square industrial building on Downtown’s southern edge is a place of creation. It is the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory and during a bright spring morning, Odaiko Sonora’s community taiko group is at practice. Sweating to the beats. Taiko, or “big drum” in Japanese, is ensemble drumming and it is a physically demanding art form. Beating the drums to achieve the resonance that speaks to the heart of us as human beings … [Read more...]
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