The Bells for the Fallen

So another new year and another chance to take stock of things while looking ahead to what a new cycle of 365 might bring. Almost certainly there will be some musical monsters for us to get our teeth into. I for one am itching to get into Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, and perhaps even more excited by the prospect of his Kanye West and Pharrell collabo project, Child Rebel Soldier. 9th Wonder drops again, as does Rhymefest, and who knows what will be the summer's bangers, or if Hova will drop another winter wonderland later in the year. Plenty to look ahead to for sure and A Story To Tell will be doing its best to muse on what's current and the best of times past in this musical journey we all seem to have tickets for.

However, as the annual page turns it is always worth looking back at the period just gone and spending a small moment remembering those musicians whose own journey has recently concluded and who didn't make it to see a new year dawn. A recent post spoke of the sad passing of true legend Ike Turner, but other pioneers and stalwarts have also sadly left us. Amongst them were the simply brilliant jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, underground rap superstar Pimp C of UGK, South African reggae legend Lucky Dube, Jazz vocalist Jon Lucien, Motown Funk Brother Joe Hunter, and the brilliant jazz artiste and wife of John, Alice Coltrane. All worthy of their own detailed exploration, and just a few of the goods and the greats who shuffled off the mortal coil in 2007.

Special mention should also go to the self-styled king of Manchester, England, Tony Wilson, founder of the massively important Factory Records and creator of one of the most significant nightclubs in English music history, with Manchester's Hacienda. All sadly missed, but if there is a plus side to the loss of musical favourites it is the knowledge that their output lives on int he recordings they have made, and so raise a glass and enjoy, while getting your 08 dreams on!