Famous last words

by SCOTT C

After two long weekends right here at home, I’m happy to say that I’m out. As my good friend Woody would say, I’m gone fishin’. That means I get to chill in the woods at Big Bald Lake for a few days and ponder what’s next. But experience tells me that just because I leave, doesn’t mean that the Montreal summer machine doesn’t stop moving on. Far from it. If anything, there’s too much going on for any one human to digest.

Take for instance the fact that Cinematic Orchestra will be setting up shop at Club Soda tonight, Thursday, July 5, at midnight, as part of the Jazz Festival. I’ve yet to get my hands on a vinyl copy of the new record, Ma Fleur, but Jay Swinscoe and the band remain one of my favourites out there producing music today. Tix are $24.50 and worth every penny.

Then we have the Robert Glasper Trio, playing at the Gesù Centre for Creativity (1200 Bleury) on Friday at 10:30pm. This was probably the one show I didn’t want to miss, considering the respect and admiration I have for this dynamic young pianist. This dude was signed to Blue Note when he was 28, and has been known to trade bars with Roy Hargrove and Q-Tip, not to mention many a live performance with Mos Def. Hip hop alliances aside, you’re probably looking at the next Herbie Hancock or Kenny Garrett right here. Tickets for this show are $32.50, and I wish I could be there to witness the fitness.

It don’t stop there, with a massive hip hop blowout planned for July 18 at Foufounes, with a lineup featuring Masta Ace, Punchline and Wordsworth (famous last words, y’all!), Stricklin and DJ Flo Fader. On the very same bill (yes, the same night), you can catch Souls of Mischief, DJ Lex, Marco Polo and all his people including Torae, Mr. Attic (Grassroots), Moss, Icon the Mic King, Kaze, Zeph and Azeem. Damn! Hometown heroes Velvet Trench Vibes are the only locals on the list, so make sure you bring it to the people, guys! All of this for a measly $12 in advance or $15 at the door, with tix available at Off the Hook (1021 Ste-Catherine W.).

As if that wasn’t enough, all you Law and Order fans can get excited because the one and only Ice T, aka Detective Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola, rolls into Foufs on July 25 for a show with Rugged

Intellect, D-Shade and Skratch Bastid. I would give my first-born child to see Ice T do “I’m Your Pusher” or “High Rollers” live, but something tells me he might have something else up his sleeve. And even though I miss Darlene, I hope he brings his new wife and fairground attraction Nicole “Coco” Austin to Montreal for this very special night. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

It’s like walking bare foot over broken glass... fathead@videotron.ca