(Part of The Weekly Check In series)
The first Weekly Check In by Kurt Lane.
I met Sharan while in high school and we’ve kept in touch over the years. I called her up when I moved to New York last fall and she immediately gave me a job at a record store that was about to go out of business. It pays (in cash and just above minimum wage) to know people! In addition to her awesomely elaborate listening habits she’s a drummer and composer of note. She also knows more about delicious beers than I could ever hope to. Basically, the perfect person to hang out with.
Lane: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?
Singh: I’m presently working for Waxpoetics on an archiving project of the label Fania (and its subsidiary labels) down in Miami, Florida. It’s been a fascinating excavation of the true gems of Latin music, mostly from the ’60s and ’70s. Uncovering relics like master tapes, test pressings, photos, film, and press kits from musicians I have long admired has been an unbelievable experience.
Lane: Where have you traveled so far this month?
Singh: Well, I’ve been in Miami all month! I miss public transportation…and recycling!!
Lane: What’s your favorite music right now?
Singh: Where to begin…Well in the spirit of the Fania Project I’m working on, I’ve been listening to a fair amount of Latin (particularly Boogaloo). Some current favorites are Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon, and Joe Cuba. Also, Waxpoetics recently re-issued Lyman Woodard’s “Saturday Night Special” which is an office favorite back in Brooklyn.
Apart from that…I’ve been away from home for so long and realized that I didn’t equip myself with enough music to get me through the duration of this stay. However, I made several random mixes before I left of a few favorites namely Ronnie Lane, Throbbing Gristle, Moondog, Silverhead, Hollywood Brats, Mott the Hoople, Wreckless Eric, Kim Fowley, Dwight Twilley, Heptones, Horace Andy, Cecil Taylor, Sonny Sharrock, a mixed bag of releases on Numero and Sublime Frequencies, Roy Harper, Bill Fay, Nick Garrie, Billy Nicholls, Pierced Arrows, Big Boys, Hanoi Rocks, Scratch Acid, and the Jesus Lizard (in celebration of their reunion shows)!
Also…There is a great German Psych label called, World in Sound, who recently released Austin, Texas’ Cold Sun’s 1970 opus “Dark Shadows”. If you like the 13th Floor Elevators, but have never heard Cold Sun, get on it!
I really could go on forever about this subject, but I’ll spare you all!
Lane: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?
Singh: Palacio De Los Jugos has so far been the spot in Miami for delicious Cuban food and fresh fruit juice. Jimbo’s is also a Miami treasure. From what I gather, it’s largely an outdoor biker hang with bocce, cheap cans of beer, smoked fish (too dubious for me to actually sample) and tons of mosquitoes. Bring repellant, or suffer the consequences!
Back home in New York, I love going out for sushi. Zenkichi and Bozu in Williamsburg are both excellent, as is J Pan in Park Slope. Also, every Saturday during the summer, there’s a great Flea Market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with delicious Mexican food and brick-oven pizza. Aside from the food, the flea’s a great way to spend a nice day in Brooklyn.
Lane: Anything else you want to mention?
Singh: Kurt Lane is the coolest!!
Post a comment