E. Doctor Smith's Blog

Well, I'll confess. I've always been something of a Silver Age comic book fan. Those classic Marvel comics of the '60s and '70s will always be among my favorites. Captain America had already been around when my Dad was a lad, so I can understand his wry smile when I told him about the return of Captain America with the Avengers in the early '60s. He thought I was talking about John Steed and Emma Peel of course. Today, Cap gets a reboot again, this time on the big screen, after two made-for-TV versions that are among the worst ever made. With Marvel's successful X-Men 1,2,3 and 4, Iron Man 1 &2, Thor, Hulk 1&2, Spiderman 1,2,3 and soon 4, as well as the marginal Fantastic Four 1 & 2, Daredevil and soon Conan, it was only a matter of time before the Star Spangled Avenger would be added to the Marvel/Disney mix. In the original comics, Cap re-emerged in the 1960s from the 1940's. How did this latest reboot of Cap fare, re-emerging in 2010s? Virtua...

"While steeped in jazz, San Francisco seven-string bass master Edo Castro is a versatile player whose lyrical lines have graced a vast array of settings. He joins forces with electronic percussion explorer E. Doctor Smith and special guests for an evening of ambient soundscapes inspired by Brian Eno (shaped partly by Eno's generative software). Smith recorded with Eno in the early 1980s, one of many illustrious artists he's collaborated with, including Madonna, Warren Zevon, Mickey Hart and Jimmy Cliff..." Nice to come across this little piece by Andrew Gilbert in the SF Chronicle's "Essentials" section promoting my recent Royce Gallery show with Edo Castro... Edo played beautifully as he so often does... Here we come up with an improvisational segue into "Blue Moon", a song from my old Feat of Clay days that found its way onto our live CD on Edgetone.

Every summer since 2002, the New Music Summit spends a week in July showcasing some of the most innovative and pioneering new music that is happening in California and beyond. At first a celebration of the eclectic vanguard artists on the DIY Edgetone Records Label, the Summit now features a broad range of artists from across the US, Europe, Australia and Japan. It features world premieres and exclusive debuts, raging free improvisers to microtonal composition to experimental electronics to harsh noise, reflecting an incredible range of genre busting exploration and sonic creativity. The Summit promotes intermedia, fostering cross-pollination between disciplines of music, sound art, visual and media arts. It is committed to bringing highly innovative music and art to a growing audience seeking a new experience. The festival concludes this Friday and Saturday. The Outsound New Music Summit marked its 10th anniversary in 2011 with a night of wildly imaginative vocals backed by experiment...

Recently, I came across the album "Pop-Pop", a collaboration of cellist extraordinaire Joan Jeanrenaud, (formerly of the Kronos Quartet) and one of my favorite percussionists, art-funk percussionist/beatmaker PC Muñoz. Described as "an exhilarating mash-up of contemporary classical/new music sensibilities and future-funk/hip-hop sonic aesthetics, Jeanrenaud's polyrhythmic compositions, rendered on both acoustic and electric celli, are paired with skittering electro-funk beats, eruptive drumkit, cajon drums, Hua Pan Gu (traditional Chinese drum), and other percussive elements, making for a refreshing, culturally diverse 21st century sound." Derk Richardson, Senior Editor of Afar magazine, wrote that "Pop-Pop contains Jeanrenaud’s most playful music to date. There’s a big, implicit grin behind the dance that takes place between the cellist’s percussive bow strikes, pizzicato playing, and swirling arco phrases and the drumming, bleeps, burps, scra...

Brian Eno first came across the work of poet Rick Holland in the late 90’s during the "Map-Making Project"; a series of collaborative works between students of the Royal College, the Guildhall School of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, the National Youth Orchestra and the English National Ballet, among others. In 2003, Eno and Holland made their first music together, although the resulting work does not appear on this album. In the intervening time since that initial session, they have met infrequently to work on new compositions.In early 2011, following the release of ‘Small Craft on a Milk Sea’ (Eno’s debut album for Warp Records), the pair resolved to finish the project. ‘Drums Between the Bells’ is the result. Michael Calore recently wrote about Eno's latest album on Wired magazine's website, "Eno has always found great inspiration working with other big thinkers: His long, influential career as an artist, musician an...

One of the most popular and my personal favorite of the entire "Law & Order" television franchise, "Criminal Intent" comes to a close this Sunday night after a 10 year run; 7 years on NBC and 3 years on the USA network. Starring the incredible Vincent D'Onofrio as the complex Detective Robert "Bobby" Goren and his partner, Detective Alexandra Eames, portrayed by the equally talented Kathryn Erbe, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" chronicled the exploits of the NYPD's "Major Case Squad". Goren's skill as a brilliant criminal profiler, coupled with the snarky wit of Eames and a bevy of great guest stars helped make the show one of the best police dramas ever written for television. Fans of the show fell in love with Goren's idiosyncracies; the way he would bend his body and lean over suspects to interrogate them; his now legendary, long running battle with serial killer Nicole Wallace, played by Olivia D'Abo; his ...

Peter Gabriel has earned a worldwide reputation for his innovative work as a musician, writer and video maker. When at school he co-founded the group Genesis, which he left in 1975. His albums, live performance and videos since then have won him a succession of awards. Tonight, the legendary Gabriel kicks off a new tour at the Greek in Berkeley with his critically acclaimed "New Blood Orchestra and wrapping up on June 29 at the Marcus Amphitheatre in Milwaukee. Following the tour, Gabriel plans to release an album with his New Blood Orchestra, conducted by Ben Foster, featuring his repertoire remixed. Gabriel did a similar thing like this last year, but with all cover tunes. Peter co-founded the group Genesis in 1966 at school; he would go on to make 7 albums with them. He left in 1975, but returned to music a year later, and has subsequently made 11 solo albums. His film soundtrack works include Birdy (1984); The Last Temptation of Christ (1989); Rabbit Proof Fence (2002...