“GeorgeFest,” a concert film tribute to George Harrison, will be released on February 26th, one day after what would have been George’s 73rd birthday. The concert was recorded in L.A. in September 2014. Dhani Harrison, George’s son, and his mother, Olivia, continue to keep George’s memory alive in the most classy way. I can’t wait to see this. I hope they have a New York screening. The package will be available in all the usual formats because, sadly, we are indeed living in a material world. PS They included Norah Jones, which is sweet because she’s Ravi Shankar’s daughter. As you know George Harrison loved Ravi Shankar and his music.

Here’s the tracklist:
DISC 1
1. Introduction
2. Old Brown Shoe Conan O’Brien
3. I Me Mine Britt Daniel from Spoon
4. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) Jonathan Bates with Dhani Harrison
5. Something Norah Jones
6. Got My Mind Set On You Brandon Flowers from The Killers
7. If Not For You Heartless Bastards
8. Be Here Now Ian Astbury from The Cult
9. Wah-Wah Nick Valensi from The Strokes
10. If I Needed Someone Jamestown Revival
11. Art of Dying Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
12. Savoy Truffle Dhani Harrison
13. For You Blue Chase Cohl with Weezer’s Brian Bell on guitar
14. Beware Of Darkness Ann Wilson from Heart

DISC 2
1. Let It Down Dhani Harrison
2. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) Ben Harper
3. Here Comes The Sun Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction
4. What Is Life “Weird Al” Yankovic
5. Behind That Locked Door Norah Jones
6. My Sweet Lord Brian Wilson with Al Jardine
7. Isn’t It A Pity The Black Ryder
8. Any Road Butch Walker
9. I’d Have You Anytime Karen Elson
10. Taxman Cold War Kids
11. It’s All Too Much The Flaming Lips
12. Handle With Care Brandon Flowers, Dhani Harrison, Jonathan Bates, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Britt Daniel and Wayne Coyne
13. All Things Must Pass Ann Wilson, Dhani Harrison, Karen Elson and Norah Jones

Big Friday in pop music for January. Where were all these people last fall?
ZAYN MALIK has shot right to #1 with his first solo single, “Pillowtalk.” Zayn left One Direction last year. On March 25th he’ll be the first member of the group to have a solo album, called “Mind of Mine.” He’s no Charlie Puth, but Zayn could pull off some success based on his One Direction fan base. His “Pillow Talk” is not nearly as interesting or sexy as Sylvia Robinson’s famous “Pillow Talk” or even the movie with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. But it’s a start. His “Pillow Talk” is a “Paradise and a Warzone.” He needs MyPillow from Bed Bath and Beyond.

CHARLIE PUTH already has hits and an Oscar nomination. Now he has an album, “Nine Track Mind,” which I think has 12 tracks. Anyway. This kid an Elton and a Billy Joel rolled into one. He’s the child they never had. Only, he needs a producer like the late Phil Ramone. One of his songs, “Left Right Left,” sounds just like CeeLo Green’s “F— You.” Whoops! And “Suffer” is a new version of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s World” via Alicia Keys’ “Fallin.'” But I really love “Dangerously.” And the Selena Gomez duet “We Don’t Talk Anymore” is headed to #1. Puth’s melodies are catchy like crazy, and he has an appealing voice. He also actually plays the piano, I’ve seen it. He may be a keeper.

RIHANNA‘s meshugenah marketing plan continues today with her “Anti” album hitting iTunes after two days of being free — or something– on Tidal. It was also supposed to be free on Samsung phones, but I’ve yet to figure that out. Nothing on “Anti” matches her previous hits, like “The Monster” with Eminem, or “Diamonds.”
ELTON JOHN’s Wonderful Crazy Night shows Sir E. and Bernie Taupin just keep pouring out great music. It’s 45 years since “Your Song.” It’s like a dream. Anyway, “Wonderful Crazy Night,” “Blue Wonderful,” and “Looking Up” are strong hits like the pair’s classics from the old days– I wish radio would just say the hell with it and play one of these tracks. Z100 would be so cool if it mixed in a legacy artist or two with a new record. Elton and Bernie are the template for sophisticated pop compositions. This is a CD worth owning, not just streaming or beaming. It’s out next Friday, February 5th.

Will any of these people unseat Adele? Unlikely. But all good for mid-winter blues.

Paul Kantner was the leader of the San Francisco rock scene in the 60s and piloted (sorry) both Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship.

Their many hits included “Don’t You Want Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” aka “Go Ask Alice.” He was 74 and died of multiple organ failure according to reports.

Younger people are not going to know Jefferson Airplane because their time ended before the Sixties were over, really. They were an amazing group that represented the psychedelic, Haight Asbury hippie world of San Francisco. Grace Slick and Marty Balin, Jorma Kakounen, Spencer Dryden and Jack Casady were the other superstar members of the original group.

Kantner and Slick had more commercial success in the mid 70s to the early 80s with Jefferson Starship, initially with an Airplane like hit called “Miracles” but then with much reviled top 40 stuff like “We Built this City.” (Everyone has to pay bills, right?)

Kantner and Slick’s many musical collaborations weren’t their only one. They also have a daughter, China, who I am shocked to see is 45 years old! (I remember when she was born.) Kantner and Slick never married, but they were together from 1969 to 1975. Kantner has two sons, as well.

To a New York kid, the Jefferson Airplane was the coolest, along with the Mamas and Papas and Hot Tuna, the Airplane’s spin off group. They were from what seemed like a more distant planet than the British Invasion gang. Promoter Bill Graham was their guru and leader. And you read about it in those days in a folding newspaper called Rolling Stone, which came from San Francisco. It’s been moribund for about 30 years. (But I think of my friend, the late Chet Flippo, their great writer.)

Besides the Airplane hits, Paul also co-wrote “Wooden Ships” with David Crosby. The Airplane recorded their version before Crosby, Stills & Nash. He also wrote my favorite Airplane song, “Today,” with Marty Balin.

RIP, Paul Kantner. At this point, the Grammy show is going to be one long In Memoriam.