Taj makes the banjo sound so cool

And the Kalimba …. awesome

Kids today should see this

I’m lovin SOUL!

I love Taj. This is my favorite material of his – from “the old folks at home” album, all solo. For me, though, this video ends up being mostly about Exuma.

I don’t think there’s any other footage of Exuma – I have looked high and low. I actually saw this very show on television at the time – my God it’s been an eternity ago. I had been begun to spread out from the phenomenal music that dominated my attention at the time – my first rock concert, after a lone adventure across the state at the tender age of 14, was Jimi Hendrix at Red Rocks. I was getting into jazz and world music, but just barely.

Somehow, in my sweet home Pueblo Colorado. I had already absorbed Exuma’s first, self titled album, which I bought for the primitive, wide eyed painting on the cover, which turned out to be by Exuma as well. In those days it seemed like a good cover usually meant a good record.”Exuma” the album which is utterly electrifying,and it thrilled me! Alternately frightening and exultant, it was a formative musical experience I never got over.

I listened to it many times, and I sought out information about Junkanoo music of the Caribbean, I learned the jazz Caribbean-style standard “St Thomas”, Sonny Rollins’ hit, was originally a Junkanoo melody called “Sponger Money”, found on a Folkways “field” recording by Marshall Stearns, Public domain songs were used this way often at the time. Stearns wrote a great tiny book called “The Story of Jazz” which starts with a discussion of music of the islands, and how the interactions of specific African and European cultures, historically unique to each group of islands, resulted in differing musical styles.

So seeing this show, I think by accident, just blew my mind in a way comparable to any of the most intense musical experiences I had at the time, or ever for that matter. Distant powerful memories often seem exaggerated, and sometimes they are, but as I write this, I am stirred by how powerful it still is for me. I realize that it is not a pure presentation of tradition as much as it is an expression of Exuma’s personal power as a musician and messenger. Yes there is a Wikipedia entry and his real name was Macfarlane Gregory Anthony Mackey. But to me as great as any guitar hero, and no less than the embodiment of a god, – not sure which one, but you can see it there before you.

I NEVER thought I would see this again! This is a miracle! Thank you ALL who made this and brought it back for us.

Kenyatta, we emailed a couple of times and I’m sorry we lost touch. You answered some questions about the stories and images Exuma used, and I really enjoyed it! I hope all is well! If you see this, email me at dhf2000@comcast.net and we can catch up.

But this performance, with the plumed, French colonial looking hat, and the range of moods from the tragic Attica to the full blown Junkanoo of “Exuma”, the last song, created an indelible memory. I NEVER ever expected to see this again. I am overwhelmed – yes, it is a great as I remembered! It’s even better!

Trying to find the date that Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi group played on the show, and if that episode is archived…