Ursula Rucker

[JSngry]

Remember The Last Poets? Jayne Cortez? Gil Scott-Heron? Well, that spirit of no-nonsense, no-holds barred social commentary that is as intellegent as it is "militant" is alive and quite well today with Philadelphian Ursula Rucker. Unlike those artists, though, Rucker delivers her messages with a decidedly understated delivery, a sexy whisper actually, over electronica/acid-jazz backgrounds that are deserving of attention in and of themselves. She's very much the proverbial "iron fist in a velvet glove". Plus, unlike the aforementioned, I never get the impression that Rucker would "hate" me, a middle-aged white male, upon first meeting. She definitely hates what my "type" has done and is doing now, but she seems to be hip enough to recognize that a lot of "us" hate what "we" are doing just as much as she does. I like to think of this as The New Militancy and I'm all for it.

Rucker has three CDs out on the German K7 label. All are inprint and available for reasonable prices. All three are highly recommended, but for the sheer brillaince of the musical backings, I'd suggest starting with Silver or Lead.

People who dimiss all "electronica", "acid jazz", "techno", or whatever as musically uninteresting repetitive machine music need to hear this. There are more than a few passages that are breathtakingly beautiful, truly startling, and supremely musical. This is true of all three of her albums, but Silver or Lead is above-and-beyond.

For Rucker's poetry, though, all three are strong outings. The languance is blunt, often graphic, and the messages pull no punches, but never is there any sense of it being "over the top". The shit she talks about is totally real, and so is her take on it. You either gotta deal with it or ignore it. Ain't no in-between. And tell you what - "Untitled Flow" (from Silver or Lead) deals with the same issues as the recent Kenny Drew Jr. "what's wrong with Black Music today" screed with what is, afaic, 1000% (at least) more credibility.

Over the last year or so, most (not all, but most) of the truly uplifting new music I've heard has been made under the leadership of women - Jill Scott, Monday Michiru, Geri Allen (that Zodiac Suite thing is DEEP), Carla Bley (ditto for the last LMO album) and now, Ursula Rucker. We live in a time of "masculinity" gone wrong in so many ways (and not just the convinient "White Male" way - 50 Cent & George W. BushCo both have a special place in hell reserved for them, to say nothing of the freaks running Iran and Al Queda and thelistgoeson...). Make of that what you will, but these women and the music they're making are, for me, key ingredients of the current "best hope" for the world to get back on track. The Dead Jazz Men are certainly worthy of our respect and love, but that stuff will only get you so far once you leave the house and the CD player behind. These women are doing it now.

Ignore them if you choose, but don't say nobody ever told you about them.

Edited April 16, 2006 by JSngry

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Thanks. Going on my list. I checked the Amazon UK and DE sites. Looks like they're running low on new copies, though there are lots of bargains used.

MG

[JSngry]

We need this voice now, just don't know if there are enuf folks that'll listen!

All we can do is let people know. This place is as good as any.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Just ordered all three of her albums. Crossing fingers. Cheapo copies from Amazon UK, so should be here next week some time.

MG

[JSngry]

Ursula Rucker live in 1998 with 4hero:

Hell yeah.

Much love, thankx, and props to the new YouTube SuperSleuth Joe G for bringing this to my attention.

[Joe G]

At least someone appreciates all the time I waste on the computer!

I totally missed this thread the first time around, but the statements you make in your opening post are perfectly in line with how I feel about Ursula (including what you said about the "new militancy" vibe) and the others you mention. Exciting, thought-provoking music!

One tune from Ursula's latest that I think is just baaaad as hell is Rant (Hot In Here). You can go to her website (here) and hear a full length version (low quality), as well as reading the lyrics. Love the lyrics, love the delivery.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I'm finding I'm listening to hardly any Hip Hop except Ursula, since getting her albums.

MG

[Chalupa]

Saturday, May 3 | 7pm + 9pm

William Parker's Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield

with

William Parker, bass

Ursula Rucker, poetry

Leena Conquest, voice

Dave Burrell, piano

Lewis Barnes, trumpet

Darryl Foster, tenor saxophone

Sabir Mateen, tenor saxophone

Hamid Drake, drums

The Painted Bride

230 Vine Street

$25 General Admission

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Saturday, May 3 | 7pm + 9pm

William Parker's Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield

with

William Parker, bass

Ursula Rucker, poetry

Leena Conquest, voice

Dave Burrell, piano

Lewis Barnes, trumpet

Darryl Foster, tenor saxophone

Sabir Mateen, tenor saxophone

Hamid Drake, drums

The Painted Bride

230 Vine Street

$25 General Admission

Looks like a Chicago gig... Has she moved from Philadelphia?

MG

[jimi089]

The Painted Bride is in Philadelphia. The only Chicagoan on that list is Hamid Drake.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The Painted Bride is in Philadelphia. The only Chicagoan on that list is Hamid Drake.

Thanks. I thought Sabir Mateen was from thereabouts.

MG

[JSngry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOdYxpj1kiA

[mjazzg]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=MOdYxpj1kiA

Sweet music indeed. Thank you for posting. It's too long since I listened to her. I came across her through West London's finest 4 Hero

Edit: to say, just seen the 4Hero post in the Is Rap Jazz thread. Way to go

Edited September 18, 2010 by mjazzg

[JSngry]

I can also say that this new Incognito album is mostly pretty damn good too. Here's a representatiive sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCKHhSxuvro

[JSngry]