BIRD'S LAMENT
"Bird's Lament" is one of Moondog's well known songs. It debuted on his seminal self-titled 1969 album (Columbia Records), composed in 1955 after the death of the saxophonist Charlie Parker, who was nicknamed "Bird" and who Moondog had known in the early 1950s. The two had discussed music and the prospect of performing together.
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This song has been covered by several artists over the years, and most notably sampled in DJ Mr. Scuff's hit recording ‘Get a Move On!’ (1999), which is credited with bringing renewed global attention to Moondog's work.
SATTALITES
The Sattalites, formed in Toronto in 1981, are a seminal Canadian reggae ensemble whose smooth, jazz-inflected sound and socially conscious lyrics helped popularize roots reggae across Canada and beyond; fronted by keyboardist Joe Paquette and singer Freddie McGregor (note: Freddie McGregor is actually Jamaican—if you meant the band's lead vocalist, it’s Jo Jo Bennett), their lineup evolved over decades to include talented horn players and percussionists, blending soulful melodies with syncopated rhythms and tight arrangements that drew from ska, jazz and R&B; celebrated for energetic live performances and enduring tracks such as "Gimme Some Kinda Sign," the Sattalites built a devoted following through community-focused touring and collaborations, leaving a lasting legacy on the Canadian reggae scene.
MOONDOG GOES REGGAE
This song was the starting point of this whole project. During the 2020 COVID lockdowns I had the idea to produce demos for a series of Moondog tracks in reggae. The demo was originally produced with Brazilian musicians and friends Beto Gibbs (drums), Pedro Dantas (bass), and Thiago Duar (guitar), as well as the brass section from the band Bixiga 70. This was by far one of the best arrangements of that series and it sparked the idea for a more broad tribute to Moondog.
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In Toronto, I have performed as a sub keyboardist with the Sattalites a couple of times. It is always an honour to share the stage with this classical Canadian band. In this recording, they delivered their solid groove with a killer brass section, turning it into a seriously heavy reggae hit.
CREDITS
​Daniel Barnes drums
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Bruce Mack bass
Fergus Hambleton guitars
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João Leão piano, organ, rhodes, melodica, percussion
Matt Smith trumpet
Meirion Kelly trombone
Graeme Hambleton tenor sax
Toby Hughes baritone sax