Tag: jazz

531. Frank Sinatra

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(November 2023) Episode 531 is FRANK SINATRA. There’s little I could say about the Chairman of the Board that hasn’t been said by Bruno Kirby in Spinal Tap. If there were a Mt. Rushmore of American Voices, he’d be on it. Sinatra’s music generally falls in two categories: crooning ballads with syrupy strings and swingin’ tunes with boppin’ horns. I enjoy neither. In fact, slogging my way through his big discography, at times I hated it. Undeniably, though, Sinatra’s music evokes an era and a style, and that’s worth something. But it’s not for me. He also gets demerits in my book for not writing his music.

Favorite album: Come Fly With Me

Favorite song: Brazil

Favorite sing-along song: Strangers in the Night

Worst album of covers: Some Nice Things I’ve Missed

Worst cover song (among many): Mrs. Robinson

Worst album art: Only the Lonely

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: I can’t see why you would listen to this other than as a soundtrack for a Mad Men costume party.

515. George Gershwin

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(August 2023) Episode 515 is GEORGE GERSHWIN.  If America had a soundtrack, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Porgy and Bess” would surely be on it. He bridged classical and popular music, creating audience favorites played from living rooms to Broadway, movies and concert halls. The music is indelibly evocative of the Art Deco and the Jazz Age. That said, it’s not my favorite. I’m just not into Broadway musicals and related musical forms.  So I recognize Gershwin’s artistry but don’t tune into it.   

Favorite piece Rhapsody in Blue

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: Essential for any understanding of 20th century American music. If you like Broadway you’re probably into Gershwin, even though I’m not.

511. João Gilberto

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(July 2023) Episode 511 is JOÃO GILBERTO. If you don’t recognize the name, you know him as the man behind the most popular version of “The Girl from Ipanema,” sung by his then-wife Astrud, although the song was written by fellow Brazilian Antônio Carlos Jobim, the other “father” of bossa nova.  Gilberto synthesized bossa nova and jazz into a distinctive style, so cool and suave.  He sang in such a soft voice, in part to let you hear his subtly complex guitar work, which is guaranteed to relax you. His recordings included many collaborations, including the famous and excellent one with saxophonist Stan Getz.

Favorite album: Getz/Gilberto

Favorite song: Águas de março

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: Cool music to relax by or to brighten a social gathering

493. Jelly Roll Morton

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(May 2023) Episode 493 is JELLY ROLL MORTON. As a pianist, composer and bandleader, he was one of the original jazz giants, from an era where recordings were a rare thing. His music is a very period-piece invocation of “old timey jazz,” the New Orleans flavor of ragtime and Dixieland.  The music interests me in a historical context but it’s not something I would sit and listen to.  Later in life he sat for Alan Lomax, and these Library of Congress recordings provide an interesting window into his approach and style.

Favorite song: King Porter Stomp

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: of historical interest, mostly

485. Thelonious Monk

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(April 2023) Episode 485 is THELONIOUS MONK, a monumental figure in the history of jazz.  I concede that I can’t match the depth of appreciation that jazz-o-philes have for his work, but I appreciate the percussive, rhythmic and dissonant innovations that made him a giant on the piano.  He penned so many standards (such as ‘Round Midnight, Straight No Chaser, Well You Needn’t).  It’s classic jazz, but I find it neither challenges me nor provides much of an emotional resonance. 

Favorite album: Monk’s Dream

Favorite late-period album (and great album cover): Underground

Favorite song: Nutty

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: you can’t really go wrong picking out any of his albums out of a hat, although the jazz connoisseurs will have their favorites

428. Django Reinhardt

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(August 2022) Episode 428 is DJANGO REINHARDT. A legendary, if not mystical, figure in the global history of jazz. He created a propulsive style, called hot club jazz by some, that put the guitar out front, or accentuated the melodies of violinist Stephane Grappelli.  His French-Romani background gave it a distinctive European flavor. And the fact he did it with only two fingers on his fret hand adds to the legend.

Favorite song: Brazil

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: an enjoyable ride, if you can stomach the occasional French lyrics

406. Arooj Aftab

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(May 2022)

Episode 406 is AROOJ AFTAB.  Pakistan-born, U.S.-based vocalist and composer whose music is a blend of jazz, minimalism, electronica and neo-Sufi.  She uses her beautiful, mid-range voice as an instrument integrated into the music. The moods are relaxing, contemplative, atmospheric, spacy.

Favorite album: Siren Islands

Favorite song: Mohabbat

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: definitely check her out

361. Les Paul

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(October 2021) Episode 361 is LES PAUL. His primary legacy is as a pioneer of the solid-body electric guitar that still carries his name. But he earns an episode here for his innovative guitar playing, with his fast trills and fancy licks, and invention of multi-layer, variable-speed recording techniques. Any guitar aficionado must revere this. But his pop hits with Mary Ford are not my thing.

Favorite song: Lover

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: mostly for guitar aficionados

336. Sun Ra

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(June 2021) Episode 336 of the “opus project” is SUN RA. Pianist, bandleader, poet, cosmic philosopher, and one of a kind. Mostly accompanied by his Arkestra, he provided a soundtrack to Afrofuturism through almost every kind of jazz — swing, bebop, free, avant-garde, experimental, fusion, solo piano.  I like best the free jazz and space-ness of the late 60s and early 70s.  Extremely prolific too; at 131 albums this was by far the biggest non-classical episode in the project. I wish I had seen him in concert, although I did see members of the Arkestra once.

Favorite album: Astro Black 

Favorite song:  Nuclear War

Compared to expectations: same

320. Art Ensemble of Chicago

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(March 2021) Episode 320 is ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO. Avant-garde jazz at its most avant-gardy.  Prolific free jazz with a whole mix of styles and too-many-to-count instruments and noise makers.  Apparently their stage performances were pretty wild.

Favorite album: Live in Paris

Favorite song: Theme de Yoyo

Compared to expectations: same