On the 50th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Nov. 8th 1988, Gary Lucas ended his debut solo concert in Europe at the Berlin Jazz Festival with this original composition, which went out live on national German radio WDR
--one of the first musical commentaries on the Holocaust by a NYC Downtown avant-garde musician-- the first utterance of what came to be known as Radical Jewish Culture. The title is a play on Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht". 

After Lucas finished playing, a collective gasp went up from the packed audience--followed by a standing ovation.  The following day Gary received a rave review in the Berlin Morgenpost which commented upon his performance of this piece under the headline "Es ist Lucas!"

On the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, I am posting this historic recording.

Never Forget!

Gary Lucas
Paris
11/8/13

http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/from-the-archive-blog/2013/nov/08/kristallnacht-guardian-archive-1938

"Verklarte Kristallnacht"--Gary Lucas Live at the Berlin JazzFest 11/8/88

The last time I performed with Jeff, it was at his sudden invitation during the Knitting Factory's 10th Anniversary Show 2/4/97,  held at their last iteration in Manhattan on Leonard Street. In the crowd that night were Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Tom Verlaine, Lenny Kaye, Nick Hill, Michael Dorf, a bunch of NYC music critics, other invited FOKF (friends of the Knitting Factory), and a whole bunch of suits from Columbia Records. Jeff's invitation to join him during his show came as a complete surprise to me. In the middle of his solo set I heard him call my name and ask for me to come up there to join him onstage. I made my way through the dense crowd in the Main Space, climbed up onto the stage, and said to Jeff: "What are we gonna do?" Jeff replied: "Why, 'Grace' of course!" --and then he handed me his Telecaster(now owned by the guy in Muse, Matt Bellamy). I launched into my opening guitar riff and we were soaring into the blue empyrean. Our performance brought the house down, really...People came up to me to high-five and say "I've been waiting for years to see you guys play together again!" Feeling elated, I went up to the dressing room after Jeff's set to shake hands and thank him for his kind invitation--and left there thinking, "Damn, I still love this guy! No matter what's gone down between us, we have a very special telepathy. And he knows it too." I exited the club feeling very happy and knew we'd be working together again--and taxi'ed over to the East Village to see my latest protege Daniel Cartier perform in another club. I heard from Jeff's a&r guy a few weeks later:  "You may be getting a call from Jeff to come to Memphis to work with him. As the sessions are not going too well, and he's sent Verlaine and the band home to try and write new songs. And I think is a good idea--.because 'Grace' was a beautiful thing..." I took this all in, and went on with my music, hoping to hear from Jeff, but not putting that much attention on it, as I'd learned the hard way over time. The next call I got though related to Jeff was from Mike Shore at MTV News telling me that Jeff was missing in Memphis, and that his people down there feared the worst...

I never saw Jeff again, but I think about him every day.

Gary Lucas 
3/17/22 
St. Patrick's Day

Fall In Light

"Grace"--Gary Lucas and Jeff Buckley Live at the Knitting Factory's 10th anniversary show 2/4/97

GL--guitars   JB--vocals, harp

Jared Michael Nickerson--bass
Tony Lewis--drums

Words and Music by Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas
Produced by Gary Lucas
Recorded at Krypton Studios NYC August 17, 1991
engineered by Johnny Byrne
special thanks to Murray Weinstock

Read the full story about the making of this track in TOUCHED BY GRACE: MY TIME WITH JEFF BUCKLEY (Jawbone Books) http://garylucas.com/www/tbg

Grace studio demo--Gary Lucas and Jeff Buckley

Music by Richard Wagner, arranged by Gary Lucas and played on his '64 Stratocaster 
Recorded live for national Dutch radio VPRO, absolutely no overdubs
taken from the beginning of Act III of "Die Walküre", 
the second opera in Wagner's 4 part cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen"

www,garylucas.xcom

Street Of Lost Brothers

"Ride Of The Valkyries"--Gary Lucas electric guitar

written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher from the Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds"
arranged by Gary Lucas 
GL--1941 Gibson J-45
recorded on Gary's iPhone 8/30/22
Chez Lucas West Village NYC

God Only Knows--Gary Lucas

written by Edward Farley, Mike Riley, and Red Hodgson (1935)
arr. Lucas

Gary Lucas--1942 Gibson J-45

recorded on Gary's iPhone NYC 4/3/14

photo taken at "Bonnie Lucas: A Retrospective"
Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery NYC
3/21/14

The Music Goes Round and Around--Gary Lucas solo acoustic

Fragments of an aborted recording session at Battery Sound NYC in 1986 which brought together fledgling rapper Mark Sinclair--today better known as the actor Vin Diesel--and avant composer/dance music maven Arthur Russell in a project midwifed by Gary Lucas, who discovered Mark Sinclair rapping and break-dancing on the streets of the West Village, and greenlighted by Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records and Barry Feldman of Upside/Logarhythm records. 

"I'm the Man of Steel" the teenage Sinclair asserts, foreshadowing his stellar ascent as a worldwide action movie hero ("Triple XXX", "Pitch Black", and most recently the #1 box office hit "Fast Five")-- but even Diesel is no match for Arthur's crafty diabolical beats, which keep dropping "the one" out from under him, breaking up Sinclair's delivery and eventually rendering the session useless.

"It's the white part of me fucking it up!"
--Mark Sinclair at the recording session

archival tape courtesy of Gary Lucas
http://garylucas.com/www/bio
http://www.lasercave.biz/2010/01/arthur-russell-hip-hop-producer/


Second Edition--Vin Diesel vs. Arthur Russell

original song by Gary Lucas & Essra Mohawk

Gary Lucas--acoustic guitar
Essra Mohawk--vocal, percusssion

Gary and Essra will be performing together at the Zappanale in Bad Doberan Germany and the Rochefort-En-Accords Festival in France August 2011

recorded in NYC spring 2005

The Devil's Gotta Move Along--Gary Lucas and Essra Mohawk

from their celebrated 2008 album "RISHTE" 

#1 on the World Music Charts Europe

Najma--vocals, lyrics
Gary--acoustic guitar
Nitin Mitta--tabla
Alicia Svigals--violin 

(Akhtar/Lucas)

http://garylucas.com/www/ng

"Naya Dhin"--Gary Lucas & Najma Akhtar

This cover of Bob Dylan's classic song was recorded live at WFMU in East Orange New Jersey on Saturday Nov. 10th 1991 on Nick Hill's "Live at the Music Faucet" show

Gary Lucas--acoustic guitar, fx
Jeff Buckley--vocals, drum, harp

Originally released on WFMU's fundraiser cd
"They Came, They Saw, They Blocked the Driveway" 1992

engineered by Irene Trudel

photo taken at Coney Island by Chris Buck 2/92

Absolutely live, no overdubs

Farewell Angelina--Gods and Monsters (Gary Lucas and Jeff Buckley)

Live in Tokyo at the Volga Club, Roppongi 3/96

Gods and Monsters East:

Gary Lucas--electric guitar
Shu Yamaichi--drums
Lloyd Love--bass
Misako Kano--electric piano


(Trad. arr. Lucas/Freddy King)

from compilation "Operators Are Standing By--Essential Gary Lucas 1988-1996"




"The Volga Boatman/The Stumble"--Gary Lucas Live in Tokyo

recorded by David Lynch specially for Gary Lucas' 
"Beefheart Night at the Knit" 
Captain Beefheart Tribute
at the Knitting Factory NYC
April 9th 2008
special thanks to Dusty Wright

painting: "One Bent One Straight" 
by Don Van Vliet 
oil on canvas

"Pena"--composition by Don Van Vliet read by David Lynch

Nino Rota's theme to Federico Fellini's 1973 "Amarcord" (I Remember) arranged and performed by Gary Lucas on his 1946 Gibson J-45 8/24/2024

"Amarcord"--Gary Lucas Plays Nino Rota

I read the news today oh boy...

recorded on my iPhone on an island off the coast of western France

c in a circle Gary Lucas

"Elegia"--Gary Lucas solo acoustic 9/1/24

Music to my ears: revisiting the inimitable sound of the streets of Mexico City just now with the lonesome sing-song cry of the mobile Buy/Sell Mattress Lady, ready to take those used mattresses off your hands for a song. 

Recorded out my window on Calle Sinaloa to iPhone memo 9/18/24

God is a Shout in the Street a/k/a Mexico City Blues 9/18/24

Drum and bugle procession down Calle Sinaloa in Mexico City as recorded to iPhone out my window 9/20/2024

Trumpet and drum procession along Calle Sinaloa Mexico City 9/20/24

Fantasia on the Overture to The Flying Dutchman

Recorded Live on Austrian Radio Oct. 1944

Bruckner Symphony No. 8 Finale 4th movement --Furtwängler conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra

Recorded live for VPRO Radio Hpolland at the Ein Abend In Wien (A Night in Vienna) Festival in Rotterdam's De Doelen  Aug. 31st 1991. Nick Cave read an excerpt from his recently published book "And the Ass Saw the Angel" accompanied by Gary Lucas on his 1921 National steel bottleneck guitar. The two had met on John Hockenberry's NPR radio show at WNYC FM in NYC a few months earlier and hit it off, with Cave then inviting Lucas to join him in Rotterdam. Other artists performing at the Ein Abend In Wien Festival in Rotterdam included Sonic Youth and the Pixies.
 The track first appeared on Gary Lucas's 2000 retrospective album "Improve the Shining Hour" (Knitting Factory Records).
Cover art by Eric Drooker
www.garylucas.com

"And The Ass Saw The Angel"--Gary Lucas & Nick Cave Live on VPRO Radio Netherlands

A track from the album THE WORLD OF CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (Knitting Factory) featuring Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas--a tribute to the unique world of musical visionary CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (Don Van Vliet) AND THE MAGIC BAND spanning the length and breadth of his entire oeuvre. This is a version of "I'm Glad", a song written by Don Van Vliet which is featured on the very first Captain Beefheart album "Safe as Milk", produced by Richard Perry and Bob Krasnow, which showcases Don's R&B, soul, and doo-wop roots.
Nona Hendryx--vocals
Gary Lucas--guitar
Jesse Krakow--bass
Jordan Shapiro--keyboards
Richard Dworkin--drums
Kiki Hawkins and Keith Fluitt--background vocals
Recorded by Marc Urselli at EastSide Sound NYC


"I'M GLAD"--THE WORLD OF CAPTAIN BEEFHEART FEAT. NONA HENDRYX & GARY LUCAS

"She's a Rainbow" Gary Lucas solo acoustic

Maurice Jones--musc, lyrics guitars, drums, bass, vocals, production

another calipop winner from Maurice Jones (The Same, Purlie)

"You Gotta Love It"--Maurice Jones

recorded 10/8/15 on my iPhone

arr. Lucas and performed on my
1946 Gibson J-45

"Good Old Days" (Little Rascals Theme)--Gary Lucas Plays the Music of Leroy Shield

written by Hoagy Carmichael

arr. by Gary Lucas

GL--1941 Gibson J-45

Recorded live at the Knitting Factory March 1991 by Bob Appel

from the album "Monsters from the Id (Rarities and Verities" (Rare Lumiere)

Comicosmics--Gary Lucas solo acoustic live

from the European animated tv series "Signor Rossi"

Sicura E Trac (German Italian Version)--Signor Rossi (Franco Godi)

The complete soundtrack to one of the greatest cartoons in animation history

recorded in NYC in 1930 at Fleischer Studios, 1600 Broadway Manhattan

Read more about it at Classic Movie Hub: http://bit.ly/29MNY6D

View the original cartoon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usN5QLg-hcY

"Swing You Sinners"--original soundtrack to Max Fleischer's classic 1930 cartoon

Live at The Spitz, London 2006

Gary Lucas--National steel guitar
Rob Spragg a/k/a Larry Love-- vocals
Jake Black a/k/a The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love--vocals

(otherwise known as the Theme from "The Sopranos")

Woke Up This Morning--Gary Lucas and Alabama 3

recorded live at the Czech Embassy in Washington DC 11/14/2003 
on the occasion of the 14th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

commissioned by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the US Hon. Martin Palous

Gary Lucas--1926 National steel guitar

arranged by Gary Lucas

engineered and mastered by Jason Candler

from his new vinyl only album "GARY LUCAS PLAYS BOHEMIAN CLASSICS" (Faust Records) 
available in the Czech Republic and at garylucas.com http://goo.gl/tVx51


Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"--4th Movement (Allegro)

recorded in New Orleans July 2008 at Piety Street Studios

absolutely live, no overdubs

engineered by Mark Bingham

Gary Lucas--acoustic guitar, vocals
Peter Stampfel--mandolin, vocals

trad., arr. Stampfel/Lucas

"Black Bottom Blues"--The Du-Tels (Gary Lucas and Peter Stampfel)

from his 1992 album "Gods and Monsters"

written by Syd Barrett

Gary Lucas--guitars, vocals
Rolo McGinty--lead vocals, keyboards
recorded and mixed by Harold Burgon at Elephant Studios London
photo of Gary Lucas copyright Anton Corbijn, from his book "Star Trak"

Gods and Monsters

"Astronomy Dominé"--Gary Lucas & Rolo McGinty

from the album "Facing You" (1971)

solo piano 

composed and performed by Keith Jarrett

"In Front"--Keith Jarrett

thanks to Prof. Hugh Foley of Rogers State University Oklahoma for turning me on to this beautiful music, possibly the oldest American melting-pot roots music combining Blues, Celtic, and Creek Indian Traditions

Muscogee Creek Indian Congregation--recorded in the field in Oklahoma by Prof. Hugh Foley
Gary Lucas--National steel guitar
Recorded by Craig Leon



"Hesaketvmeset Likes"--Muscogee Creek Indian Congregation w/ Gary Lucas

new instr. arrangement of the Stones anthem

GL--acoustic guitar
David Sisko--keyboard, percussion

David Sisko www.sisko.com
Gary Lucas www.garylucas.com

"The Last Time"--Gary Lucas and David Sisko

music by Don Van Vliet

from the F 'N' B album "Pork Chop Blue Around the Rind" (Cuneiform)

Gary Lucas--guitar, guitar arrangements
Philip Johnston--alto sax, band arrangements
Joe Fiedler--trombone
Rob Henke--trumpet
Dave Sewelson--baritone sax
Jesse Krakow--bass
Richard Dworkin--drums

recorded by Jason Candler at Loho Studios NYC


Suction Prints-Fast 'N' Bulbous featuring Gary Lucas & Phillip Johnston

Live at Merkin Hall NYC 10/6/2005 at a Tribute to Steve Lacy
organized by Roswell Rudd

Gary Lucas--1926 National Steel bottleneck



arr. Lucas

Steve Lacy's "Bone"--Gary Lucas

Part one of a phone interview with Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) conducted by Gary Lucas over Yale's radio station WYBC FM on Jan. 18th 1972, prior to Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's performance at Yale University's Woolsey Hall on Jan. 21st 1972. Lucas was Music Director of WYBC at the time, and had seen Beefheart's first gig in NYC at Ungano's in NYC the year before, a show which changed his life--as after witnessing that concert Lucas vowed that if he ever did anything in music professionally, his number one priority would be to join Beefheart's Magic Band--which he eventually did in 1980. This interview was conducted while Don Van Vliet and his band were on tour in the US and had a day off in Boston, before a swing through the Northeast, which would bring them to play at Woolsey Hall. This was the very first time Gary Lucas had ever spoken with Van Vliet, who he was soon to meet and hang out with when Beefheart and the Magic Band came up to Yale to play 3 days later.

Captain Beefheart Interview with Gary Lucas on WYBC FM 1/18/72 part one

recorded Aug. 16th 1991 Krypton Studios NYC
written by Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas
Gary--guitars
Jeff--voice, lyrics, harmonica
Jared Nickerson--bass
Tony Lewis--drums
engineered by Johnny Byrne
photo by Chris Buck
this version contains the infamous "hardcore coda", which was deemed too radical to include when it came time to record the definitive version for the "Grace" album at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock Fall of '93

"Mojo Pin" Studio Demo --Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas

traditional Georgian song performed by Vocal Ensemble "Gordela"
as featured on the soundtrack of Werner Herzog's 1979 film
"Nosferatu: Phantom Der Nacht"

taken from the 1969 Melodiya album
"Georgian Folk Songs and Dance Ensemble"

Georgian Folk Songs and Dance Ensemble

"Tsintskaro"--Ensemble Gordela

Monsters From the Id (Rarities and Verities)

Woke Up This Morning (Theme from "The Sopranos" (Live) [feat. Alabama 3]

theme from the 1981 film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
starring Hanna Schygulla and Gincarlo Giannini
Music by Peer Raben
song written by Hans Liep and Norbert Schultze

gary@garylucas.com

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