JAMES HILL - "TCAB Studio" (2026)

 

James Hill is an independent musician from California who is a master of the trumpet. The tones he gets from his horn are just amazing. James has been producing his own distinct music for decades, and is now using some AI programs to augment and enhance his sound to make it even bigger and better, but believe me, it's still all his own original music and tone.

 

 

Here's the introduction from his Bandcamp page, and I agree with every single word of it.

"James Hill creates a beautiful and compelling array of musical landscapes—fusing genres, styles, instruments, and rhythms into intensely evocative compositions. He is a brilliant musician and composer."

 

If that's not enough for you, then you can listen to what I'm sure are 100's of his tunes for free from his TCAB Studio at The Internet Archive.

Do yourself a favor and go check out this man's incredible talent!

  Here's just one sample of his awesome jazz styling.

JAMES HILL - "Along Came Betty" 

THE FRIGGS - "Juiced Up" (1995)

 

The Friggs were an all female band from Camden, New Jersey that formed in 1990, and released five singles between then and 1995.

For some silly reason, they never had any chart success and broke up in 2000.

 

In 2007, this CD of singles and unreleased songs titled "Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday," was released, and I recommend it for the hilarious cover if nothing else.

Not only are they funny, they Rock!! 

THE FRIGGS - "Juiced Up" 

COKE ESCOVEDO - "Life Is A Tortured Love Affair" (1975)

 

A few years later, and Linda Tillery was the lead singer in percussionist Coke Escovedo's fine band. Coke is the brother of Pete Escovedo, and the Uncle of Shiela E.

In 1971 and 1972, Linda Tilley recorded with Santana, Boz Scaggs and founding member of the Steve Miller Band, percussionist Tim Davis before joining Coke's band.

Anyway, Linda did not stop in the 70's, and if you've got thirty minutes to kill, here's the link to her whole story in Wikipedia. 

 Unfortunately, at the end of that article it's very clear that her health has not been that great the past few years

Here's to you Linda!! 

I can't think of a more perfect song title!

COKE ESCOVEDO - "Life Is A Tortured Love Affair" 

SWEET LINDA DIVINE - "Good Day Sunshine" (1969)

 

Linda Tillery just turned 78 about a month ago, and I hope she's doing fine. Fifty-seven years ago after her stint with The Loading Zone, she came out with this really fine solo LP called "Sweet Linda Divine."

It was produced by the phenomenal Al Kooper, a real person, that's Al, not AI and it shows. 

Why, at this point in time Linda wasn't a superstar is anybody's guess.

This has got to be the only record by a female vocalist that also has two instrumental songs on it, but Linda is also a drummer, so why not show off her skills? 

Here's a very unique Beatles' cover that shows just how talented this lady is! 

SWEET LINDA DIVINE - "Good Day Sunshine" 

THE LOADING ZONE - "Don't Lose Control (Of Your Soul)" (1968)

 

Let's talk about Linda Tillery aka Sweet Linda Divine, because if you don't know who she is, then you should, and I'm gonna take care of that for you right now, or at least some of it in this, and my next two posts.

Linda has a voice from the heart, and if that ain't enough, she plays the drums too.

Her first gig was with the San Francisco band called The Loading Zone, and they came out with this album in 1968.

I read that when The Loading Zone opened up for Big Brother And The Holding Company one time, after the gig, and because Linda was so awesome, Janis Joplin said she didn't ever want that band opening for them again because Linda's vocals made her look bad.

For a long time, I thought this was one of the strangest album covers I'd ever seen, especially back in 1968. 

THE LOADING ZONE - "Don't Lose Control (Of Your Soul)

CORNERSHOP - "Handcream For A Generation" (2002)

 

I don't exactly know why, but I really like Cornershop and their take on popular music. I will admit sometimes it goes on repetitiously for too long, but other than that, it's full of surprises and it's made to dance to!

Cornershop were from Wolverhampton, UK and formed in 1991 by brothers Tjinder and Avtar Singh. The group is fleshed out by David Chambers and Ben Ayres.

This album titled "Handcream For A Generation" was their fourth, and came out in 2002, and is well worth a listen.

CORNERSHOP - "People Power" 

One Last Swim Before Summer's End - Webb Wilder And The Beatnecks, Poolside (1986)

 

Rich here. And here it is, October already! Living in the Pacific Northwest, I always lament the end of Summer, which is that all-too-short wonderfully beautiful, temperate period before our gray days and rain return.

 

So before the Pacific NW Gloom Descends altogether with Daylight Savings Time, it's a perfect time to remember the best days of our long 70-degree days, tanned bodies in shorts and t-shirts, baseball as it's meant to be played (in the sunshine), and hanging around the pool. 

 

And who better to capture the quirkiness of the best summertime poolside culture than the underknown rock 'n' roll humorist, Webb Wilder, whose music Wikipedia describes as a combination of "straight-ahead rock & roll with the surf guitar of the Ventures and the twang of Duane Eddy, drawing on the feel of blues, R&B, country/rockabilly and film noir . . .(and a) sound incorporating influences from Americana music as well as from the British Invasion." Now, THAT's a great bio that interests me!

 Happy swimming, poolsiders!

WEBB WILDER AND THE BEATNECKS - "Poolside"