Fascinating interview/review/profile of Wayne Shorter in the NYT this weekend. Among the cryptic nuggets: an earlier assertion that music has "inherent velocity and mystery," and his comment that “The word ‘jazz’ to me only means ‘I dare you.’ ” This is one thoughtful man who has distilled quite a bit into some very clear channels of thought - much like his best compositions. The article is here - 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/arts/music/wayne-shorters-new-album-is-without-a-net.html?hpw

And don't forget to have a listen to this gorgeous recording of "Nefertiti" itself - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcRg-duiWgQ

Justin Fernandez is bassist and secondary vocalist of Chicago's Distractions, an excellent band in their own right whose expert arrangements and vintage production vibe heavily with richly bittersweet, nostalgia-tinged tunes. 

Fernandez also been honing his own sound, however, and on his debut 7" (also the debut release of Chicago's Lake Paradise label), his tune "No Luck" is an instant winner, with a laid-back R&B shuffle and Wurlitzer paving the way for twisting instrumental passages and smart horn lines. It's just barely unplaceable, as if performed by some nonexistent studio wrecking crew during the Carter years. 

Below, check out the video for the equally striking B-side, "Fading Out," a fascinating VHS-grit kaleidoscope of remoteness and isolation. Both video and song transmit the unacknowledged wistfulness linking '60s psychedelia and '70s/'80s pop. 

Watch it here - 

http://vimeo.com/54061055