the masks aren't weird for weirds sake--they're a subtle political statement. about the original segregated cotton club of 20s harlem where Black musicians performed like ellingtons orchestra but Black Harlem couldnt attend because of the whites-only policy. The legendary Langston Hughes poem Gary quotes that inspired the song was also written in that period.Bartz is protest-mocking there being a gotdam 'cotton club' in 21st centry tokyo while invoking kabuki and Malcolm X.
Could this also be a reference to another great poem in the African-American canon: Paul Laurence Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask"?
VIProfessor 5 months ago
My childhood would have been much less complete without this album. Thanks for posting this, this is great!
apbainmaine 1 year ago
What a jam !
Mercy me!
Sal1675 2 years ago
the masks aren't weird for weirds sake--they're a subtle political statement. about the original segregated cotton club of 20s harlem where Black musicians performed like ellingtons orchestra but Black Harlem couldnt attend because of the whites-only policy. The legendary Langston Hughes poem Gary quotes that inspired the song was also written in that period.Bartz is protest-mocking there being a gotdam 'cotton club' in 21st centry tokyo while invoking kabuki and Malcolm X.
blackrocknutt 2 years ago 2
this jam touchs me to the bone.
hafeez
claybornwilliams 2 years ago
there are know words for stefon, but sounds,yes.
Fazz Black
claybornwilliams 3 years ago 2
Bartz is out! That's wild. I love it!! But that stiff vibes player wouldn't wear the mask! Very tired. He must be an elite-traditionalist.
videolover61 3 years ago
haha you dont know about stefon harris, man. not a traditionalist...
tmcdona1 2 years ago
Whatever man!! I wrote that eleven months ago!!! That's old news!!!
videolover61 2 years ago
these guys are wierd... great music though. I saw Barney Mcall 7 at Wangaratta Jazz Fest. Amazing...
JacobEvans90 3 years ago