Last week I got asked a few times what I thought of the Grammy's, and my answer disappointed some: I haven't watched the award show in years. I've got plenty of reasons to miss it (two sons in diapers,
The Wire come to mind,) but for me it hasn't been worth the effort in years, and this years' only proved my point. And now,
you can even catch all the best (relative) bits on the net, skipping all the cringe-worthy moments that fill up the rest of the lengthy broadcast. One moment that's been rehashed many times is
Herbie Hancock's big upset win for best album, and this week he's appearing on both
The View (Tuesday) and
The Tonight Show Friday, no doubt to meet with some questions as to whether he thought he deserved it.
The 67-year old Hancock calls it a 'win for Jazz,' but is it really? The last Jazz album to win was
Getz/Gilberto back in 1964, and that also was a sort of pop/jazz hybrid via Brazilian Bossa Nova -- but
Corinne Bailey Rae is hardly
Astrud Gilberto. Hancock's win for
River: The Joni Letters, seems more like a lifetime achievement award to both him and the legendary
Joni Mitchell, who's songs Hancock covers for the album. So we're aways from calling Jazz the comeback kid, if you ask me. It's a genre that's still going strong niche-wise, but I can't imagine it ever regaining the public's attention like it did back from 1955-1965, when it was the epicenter of all that was hip.
Speaking of hip,
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have worn out these hips with their last album
100 Days 100 Nights, and I anxiously await their appearance on
Letterman tonight. To tie this back to the Grammys and Herbie Hancock, The Dap Kings served as
Amy Winehouse' backup band during her tour here in the states, and would've backed her at the Grammys had she been allowed entry. But while Winehouse's version of soul is retro-chic, Sharon Jones is the real deal -- believe dat.
Elsewhere, don't miss Canadian rockers
Black Mountain blowing some serious smoke on
Conan's stage. Don't be afraid of all the hair.... like medical insurance, it's socialized up North, so everyone gets some. Not really, but shake it if you got it, eh?
Playlist:
Picks for the weekMonday, February 18CBS:
Late Show With David Letterman:
Sharon Jones & The Dap-KingsCBS:
Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson:
Wyclef JeanNBC:
Late Night With Conan O'Brien:
Jim LauderdaleTuesday, February 19ABC:
The View:
Herbie HancockCBS:
Late Show With David Letterman:
Ray DaviesCBS:
Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson:
Andre 3000NBC:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
The HivesSYNDICATION:
The Ellen Degeneres Show:
Raheem DevaughnWednesday, February 20CBS:
Late Show With David Letterman:
Foo FightersCBS:
Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson:
Ziggy MarleyNBC:
Late Night With Conan O'Brien:
The WhigsThursday, February 21CBS:
Late Show With David Letterman:
Steve MartinNBC:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
John FogertyNBC:
Late Night With Conan O'Brien:
Black MountainOVATION:
Live From the Artist's Den:
The Swell Season (
Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova)
SYNDICATION:
The Ellen Degeneres Show:
Willie NelsonFriday, February 22RAVEHD:
Later with Jools Holland:
Paul Weller,
Santana w/
Anthony Hamilton,
Bettye LaVette,
John Cale,
Sheryl Crow,
Sigur RosNBC:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
Herbie HancockSaturday, February 23NBC:
Saturday Night Live:
Carrie Underwood
IFC's Dinner with the Band premiered tonight featuring Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and the kitchen was crowded. The episode featured a lot of tired-looking Dap-Kings standing/sitting and looking on as chef Sam Mason put together the *meal. I was kind of hoping for more energy from somebody on the set, but everyone looked like the morning after pulling an all-night set at The Bowery. 
Music backing the episode was pulled entirely from the Daptone Records catlogue, w/ many songs appearing on their new compilation out today, Daptone Gold. 
