THE DYLAN JUDAH REPORT: Well, Santa Barbara’s most notorious
dread shaved his dome recently, but his dancehall reggae style is
still in full effect. Says current L.A. resident Dylan Judah, “Big
t’ings are happening, bro!” Those things include Dylan and Sugar
Black — who together are known as Black Judah — signing record
deals with both Scientist’s DubMusic.com label to support the albums they’ve done
under Mountain Paradise Records and a Bay Area upstart company
called Teflon Blood, which Dylan claims is aiming to take Jamaica
by storm. Meanwhile, the Black Judah video “Give It to Me” is
sliding up the Jamaican music vid charts and, thanks to the deals,
Dylan expects to be working with such forces as Capleton, Sizzla,
and Jah Mason in the near future. We get a chance to see him and
Sugar Black do their Black Judah thing at Cooney’s next week, June
20, for yet another Reggae Tuesday explosion. In support will be
Cornerstone, Jah Len, and, of course, Beenie Man. See myspace.com/blackjudah for the latest. — Matt
Kettmann
SILVER-HAIRED TROUBADOUR: Leon Russell has written some of our
most memorable songs. “This Masquerade” was his first song to be
number one on the jazz, pop, and R&B charts. “Delta Lady” was a
defining moment in Joe Cocker’s career. B.B. King covered
“Hummingbird,” Ray Charles covered “A Song for You,” and Eric
Clapton’s hit, “Blues Power,” is Russell’s. He released four gold
albums, and produced and played on sessions with Dylan, Sinatra,
the Stones, the Byrds, and the Beach Boys, among many others. Yet
still, his own versions — with the combo of his plaintive voice and
hauntingly beautiful lyrics — hold special power. Russell is at the
peak of his powers and having him and his new band come to a
relatively small club like SOhO, where he plays on Sunday, June 18,
is an exciting prospect. — Stanley Naftaly
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS: The Song Tree Concert Series brings an
evening of intimate and soulful entertainment to town on Saturday,
June 17, when former resident Penny Nichols — a Grammy Award-winner
who has rocked out on stage with such legendaries as Jackson Browne
and Janis Joplin — performs. Also on the bill are Sloan Wainwright
— a leading contemporary folk singer renowned for her fearless
lyrics — and the witty, award‑winning David Roth. The performance,
which is at Goleta’s Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation,
benefits that church. Before the show, attend a unique event for
Song Tree as Nichols conducts a harmony and singing workshop,
beginning at noon. Tickets (the workshop is $30, the show is just
$15) are available at Jensen’s Guitar and Music, Folk Mote Music,
and at the door. — Sophia Kercher
FRENCH PIANO GIANT: At least for those of us on the West Coast,
Jean-Michel Pilc seems to have appeared fully formed with
incredible chops and his own, very definite and very interesting
ideas. Jazz Times said that Pilc’s 2003 album Cardinal Points
“should be studied in every music school in the galaxy,” and the
Chicago Tribune calls him one of the most accomplished and
stylistically daring jazz pianists working today. His playing is
dense and powerful and his reshaping of standards is surprising and
challenging. It seems clear that he’s destined to be a major force
in jazz. See him Monday, June 19, at SOhO. — SN
¿QUÉ MÁS? Surf music legend Gary Hoey hangs ten into SOhO this
evening, June 15, bringing with him his decades-honed brand of
riffing and jamming. S.B.’s own Kelp opens the show. … Speaking of
our town’s most consistent venue, Reid Spencer, the Kinsella
Brothers, and MaGISTiR land on the SOhO stage this Saturday
evening. … The Wildcat’s ever impressive Thursday DJ nights feature
Richard Humpty Vission tonight, June 15, and continues next
Thursday, June 22, with world-renowned Christopher Lawrence. …
Velvet Jones keeps it rocking with Entoven and Inmind tonight,
Sicker than Others, Code 415, and the Awakend on Friday, and reggae
stars Iration on Saturday. — MK