Micah already hit up the Dose with the schedje for this weekend’s Providence Sound Session events, but I couldn’t resist posting one of my fave hits by tonights PPAC headliner 112.

Lots going on tonight for Providence Sound Session. In fact, I’m worried to say anything about the Black Rep’s programming tonight because the joint is bananas every Wednesday. As I write this Marc Cary is tearing it up in the lounge at the Xxodus Café, playing his blend of groove-inspired contemporary Jazz. At 9PM resident Latin Jazz & Salsa master, Carlos De Leon, and his UN Band, hit the stage for a special beefed up big-band Sound Session performance. He’s followed by another excellent local Salsa band, Manolo Mairena & Curubande, at 11PM. DJ Papo Campbell is on the new Red Bull DJ table (courtesy of Res Bull and the lovely folks over at The Steel Yard). ($15)

Thankfully there are enough women strumming and pounding the keys at AS220 tonight to balance out the testostertones weighing down the rest of tonight’s festivities (and more to come tomorrow night at The Firehouse). Leah Carlson, Kim Lamothe, Allysen Callery and the Land of Nod, and Alex throw down on Empire St. tonight. ($6)

It smells like a dance party brewing over at The Blackstone. With Spanish Dancer, Spogga and I Am The Dream out of NY on the ticket, how can’t it be? Also featuring Dearastazazel (FL), Devin Lima and The Cadbury Diesel (NY). ($3 - $5)

In the true spirit of the festival the folks of Fatty McGees is mashing up great bar food and games with off-the-chain spoken word. Props to performers Inphynit, S ata “Lady DuBB” Jallah, Spittin’ Images, Tiger Lily, and more. (FREE - $5)

Local 121’s speakeasy hosts Wednesday resident TFO/Tim O’Keefe and The Cozy Collective. Pure unabridged experimentation at its best. That’s what you get with such a talented bunch of musicians though! Speaking of talented musicians, don’t miss Micah Jackson in the speakeasy tomorrow night with The New Lewiss, in hot pants. Oh yeah: (FREE - $5)

George Clinton plays his quarterly performance at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel tonight, in case you have an urge to get down with your bad self and watch the best lil’ be-diapered funk escapade this side of the Woonasquatucket. ($25)

Cape Verdian wunderking of guitar Noah Andrade touches down at Ruth’s Chris. Get your steak on with the best in AfroBeat Roots. (Price of a drink at the bar?)

Mad left-of-center, cerebral folk goin’ down at Tazza: Bassment Forts, Nicky P, John Tierney, Kris Hansen, Christopher Rosenquest, The Rach, and Orcabeat. ($3 - $5)

Classic folk with Providence multi-instrumentalists Low Anthem and blog-beloved Deer Tick happening in the basement of SS’08 sponsor Trinity Beer’s spiritual home, Trinity Brew House. (FREE - $5)

If you missed the great shows at The Blackstone, Tazza, Firehouse 13 and Black Rep last night, it is not too late to start partying. Bachanal has only just begun!

Tonight’s official Sound Session lineup at Black Rep includes local Reggae selectors Red Beard, Mardon Famous and Paul Michael along with Boston-based emcee (DJ if you’re savvy) Mighty Mystic and Brooklyn-based genre-smasher 77Klash. This party will be wild so if you like Dancehall at all, or just like to shake your butt, come on down to Black Rep. ($15)

AS220 presents several left-of-center folk artists who will surprise you with their uncommon cultural referents and non-standard instrumentation. It starts at 10pm: The Blue Hit, Christopher Moon and Michelle Lewis. ($6)

The Blackstone hits it again with Mike Tanaka and Friends (FREE)

Firehouse 13 is presenting an assortment of talented poets from near and far. The night is hosted by Chris Johnson and Prismatic Dreams and features far too many artists to name here, so check this link for the full deets. ($7)

Tazza hosts a bevy of Blues and Rock artists including Sit Down Baby, Tim Taylor Blues Band, Lovewhip, and Metropolis. ($3 - $5)

Okay everybody, so there is a lot going on tonight that discerning listeners will want to take part in.

Of course there is the official SS’08 fare at Black Rep. Soul/R&B/House/Funk singer and songwriter Eric Roberson headlines a night of the Funky (local artists Grow), the sparse and political (multifaceted NYC poet Oveous Maximus) and the Boom Bap (DJ Therion on the ones and twos). Chachi hosts in his weekly stomping ground with a beefed up lineup ($15)

Members of AUREA Ensemble headline tonight at Firehouse 13. AUREA’s concerts combine poetry, drama, epistles, classical and folk music, puppetry, and movement into performances that sweep from intimate chamber settings to major theatrical venues. ($10 at 8pm)

The Blackstone is featuring a night of sweet underground and independent Rock with Buffalo NY’s  Cacahouette local fave Roz Raskin and The Rice Cakes and Troop of Echoes . (FREE)

 At Tazza The Basement Bros will be playing live Jazzy, organic House and Tevallus will be playing something shimmery and sitar-based. ($3)

Local 121 is featuring Soul Psychedelicide in the speakeasy. Its the live project of genius Monday resident, and Prince aficionado, Abstract Soul. (FREE)

SIMULBLOGGED AT RIPEYAMS.COM
Jazz is one of those idioms that doesn’t come easily to everyone. I’m not a Jazz head by any means, but I’ve certainly come around to a little bit of equanimity in my appreciation for Jazz. Where once the ambling solos, indirect melodic focus, rambling uneven tonal patterns and blue note syncopation, drove me up the wall, I’ve found a certain satisfaction with the music through learning its vocabulary and history. One of the things that can be said unequivocally for Jazz vocalists is that she must have an unflinching command of her instrument; its timbre, its range and its pitch must be mastered. Otherwise audiences are unable to transcend the lyrics. When I pump Ella, Sarah Vaughan or Jon Hendricks on my stereo, I try and train myself to hear the voice as if it were just another horn stepping out from the big band. This could be why José James is such a joy for me to listen to - he plays his voice like a horn. New York City, and the history of Jazz born there, shape James’ first release for world-acclaimed DJ Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. The Dreamer is the title track and easily my favorite. Another standout from James’ album is Spirits Up Above, reworked here by Simbad. José James performs for FREE at 5PM on Tuesday, July 8th at The Providence Black Repertory Company as part of Sound Session 08. Tickets for all performances on sale now at Arttixri.com

SIMULBLOGGED FROM RIPEYAMS.COM
There is something inherently theatrical about Black Rock - or maybe just Rock in general. I was reminded of this fact most recently when I had the opportunity to check out the new musical “Passing Strange” at The Belasco theater in NYC.

A seated performance clocking in at over two and one half hours, “ Passing Strange” is not my typical fare (truth be told I cringe during most musicals), but the story was compelling and the guitars were shredding. Lyricist Stew, who undoubtedly cribbed the fanciful tale of bourgeoisie Black Bohemia from his own experience growing up an outsider in LA, pays homage to Jimmy Hendrix, Prince, Little Richard and the like with an untethered brand of Soulful Rock.

Stew is part of a vanguard in Black music bringing the all-important rock fuel back around to popular vernacular. But this isn’t a post about Stew, or Black Rock really for that matter, its a post about genre-defiance and the importance of knowing one’s musical roots. Eric Roberson, a New Jersey-based singer and songwriter who once dabbled in theater himself, is acutely aware of his musical forbearers.

His latest release, 2007’s “ Left” sees him channeling Stevie, The Isley Brothers and the entire back catalog of Stax. The standout track has to be the New Wave anthem “ Man Who Had It All.” And even though “Left” veers away from the House sound that I first recognized Roberson for (check out “ Change For Me“) its a satisfying portrait of an artist, who has made a career of writing stunning music for others, finally stepping into the spotlight. Eric Roberson performs at 11PM on Monday, July 7th at The Providence Black Repertory Company as part of Sound Session 08. Tickets on sale now at Arttixri.com