What We're Hearing

We're doing some archeology on Louis Armstrong and, of course, it leads us to the precursor of precursors, King Oliver.* Me must observe as we study how much his bigga figga reminds us of Chris Wallace.

* Now is the wrong time to do the whole thing on the impossible archeology of precursors -- the one that takes us through Bunk Johnson and Buddy Bolden. It's a prayer to a loa who lives between the oceans and who tempts us to resurrect the many thousands gone.

What We're Hearing

We were going through the whole RIP anniversary thing and a.) we were impressed at just how thoroughly his is the "master of the crossroads" story and b.) how deeply in the tradition the phrase "that's why you're so broke and he's so paid" is.

This Stuff Goes Back

Way back. Then even further.

When you read the materials, you see 200 years of the same: "Details on Juba's early life are scarce. As a teenager, he began his career in the rough saloons and dance halls of Manhattan's Five Points neighborhood." Might as well be talking about Chris Wallace.

In the mean time:"Many of the songs were adapted to popular melodies in well known operas..." Sounds like the brothers were sampling, to us.