Music Diary, Vol. 100
For the rationale behind this mad effort, the initial post is here . The full series of Music Diary posts are here . The full playlist is above, and also here . Week of Dec. 1-7, 2025 LYRICS: Billy Joe Shaver, "Old Five and Dimers Like Me" SONG: Though written by pianist Jon Cowherd, the meditative, hymn-like title track of this great 2014 Brian Blade Fellowship record starts with a searching solo by Chris Thomas on bass, and somehow the whole song feels conceived from within the soul of a bass. ALBUM: Another thing I can thank Kirk Hamilton's great Strong Songs podcast for: pointing me to this essential Roy Hargrove "crossover" record from 2003 . It's a jazz-hip-hop-funk party in a box. LYRICS: Magnetic Fields, "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off" SONG: Orville Peck has made some essential music since he made a splash with this 2019 single , but for me this ode to an unrequited love remains the purest expression of his beautifully lonesome so...
