Jazz

#OnRepeat: Frank Sinatra’s “The Good Life”

May 23, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Frank Sinatra’s “The Good Life” #OnRepeat. I’ve been on a bit of a crooner stint lately, and this is one of the few songs by Sinatra that has always been bittersweet to me.

Frank Sinatra was a singer, producer, and actor from New Jersey who is probably one of the most well- known and influential singers of the Crooner musical genre that you’ve heard of. He got his start with swing band musicians like Tommy Dorsey and his solo career took off later in the 1940s when he signed with Columbia Records. After becoming a residency performer in Las Vegas, he began to be associated with the iconic group, The Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop), going on to win several awards and accolades. Some of his most well-known songs are “My Way,” “Stardust,” “Summer Wind,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” “New York, New York.”

“The Good Life” was a song written by Jack Reardon in 1962 and was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Although the song is more widely known by Tony Bennett’s version, I personally am a huge fan of Sinatra’s interpretation of the song. The lyrics for the song have always held a message both of positivity and sorrow—life is good because you’re free to experience whatever you want, but you are alone in that experience. I always got the impression from this song like the narrator wants love and companionship, but also wants freedom at the same time. Sinatra’s voice conveys so many of the emotions found in this song–the grit and brashness that is found in the fun and care-free appreciation of life’s unknown, and the intimacy and fragileness that is found in the longing for companionship. Sinatra’s voice is the true picture of the crooner style and it is exemplified wonderfully in this song.

Take a listen below:

Do you have any songs you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Funk, Gospel, Jazz, Movies, Music, Pop, Rock

#OnRepeat: Keala Settle’s “This is Me (from The Greatest Showman)”

February 4, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had “This is Me” sung by Keala Settle from musical, The Greatest Showman. I must admit that I haven’t seen the actual movie yet, however, after hearing this song along with the rest of the music from the movie musical, I definitely plan on seeing this movie as soon as I can get my hands on it.

The Greatest Showman is a musical based on the story of P.T. Barnum’s life, the creation of his Barnum & Bailey Circus, and the performers who starred in his show. I have been a huge fan of Hugh Jackman since his performance in the film adaptation of Les Miserables, but I was even more impressed with this musical soundtrack because of the pure physicality of the performers for this musical; especially Keala Settle.

Keala Settle is a singer, actor and performer from Hawaii, who has an extensive theatrical career with several awards and nominations. Her voice is a perfect blend of R&B, Pop, Gospel, Soul and Blues influences, both powerful and subtle at the same time. “This Is Me” is an inspirational song told from the perspective of someone who grew up ashamed of themselves, but finally realizing that, despite what others say or think, you need to embrace who you are no matter what. Her vocal inflections and melodic and stylistic phrasing mirror the angst, desperation, defiance, and inner-strength depicted in the lyrics of the song, “This Is Me.” I’m not sure why I haven’t come across Keala’s music or performances before, but I will definitely be on the look out for her music in the future.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Do you have another favorite song from The Greatest Showman? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Movies, Music

#OnRepeat: Molly Johnson’s “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”

January 13, 2018 No Comments

So this week, I’ve had Molly Johnson’s “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)” #OnRepeat. I came across it randomly (Pandora is something amazing), and I don’t know why I haven’t come across this swanky, funky song sooner.

Molly Johnson is an award-winning Jazz and Pop singer-songwriter and radio host from Ontario, Canada. She began singing at a young age and got her start singing back-up vocals for Rock and Pop bands in Canada, finally releasing her first solo album in 2000. Some of her most well-known songs are “If You Know Love,” “I Must Have Left My Heart,” and “My Oh My.” She currently tours in Canada and France, and is working on a black Canadian history project.

“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”is a song written by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, and Lionel Richie in 1985 for the Steven Spielberg movie The Color Purple. The song–which was nominated for an Academy Award–is written in the Blues and Ragtime style, with lyrics that are sung from the point of view of woman who tells another woman that they are more alike than they think and that she cares and thinks about her all the time. Although this song has been considered, in some circles, to be an anthem for the Black Lesbian community, I like to think that the song represents the kindred spirit that women of all backgrounds tend to (and should) share with each other. Molly Johnson’s smokey, raspy voice adds to the Blues/Ragtime feel and gives that funky flavor to the song that is reminiscent of the original found in the movie.

Take a listen below:

The original from The Color Purple can be found below for reference:

So what do you think? Which version is your favorite? Leave a comment and say why!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Movies, Music, Pop

#OnRepeat: Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell On You”

October 31, 2017 No Comments

This week is the week leading up to Halloween and, therefore, Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell On You” has been #OnRepeat, especially because Bette Midler kills her version of this song in the movie Hocus Pocus (a movie I watch every year during this time).

Nina Simone was a songwriter, pianist, arranger, singer and an activist from North Carolina who was known as a Jazz vocalist, but implemented Gospel, R&B, Blues, Jazz, and Pop music with elements of Classical music. She recorded more than 40 albums and her improvisational technique, musical arranging, stage presence and socially conscious performances made her one of the most influential singers of her time. Some of her most well-known songs are “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “Feeling Good,” “Sinner Man,” and “I Loves You, Porgy.”

“I Put A Spell On You” was originally written by the singer and actor, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956 with a different theme, but–in true Nina Simone fashion–Simone changed around the words and musical arrangement, transforming it into a song about someone madly in love with someone else despite how they mistreat them. Her vocal licks, musical phrasing and her performance of the words made this one of her most well-known songs (it is definitely my favorite). The desperation, angst, and stubbornness conveyed in the lyrics is magnified by Simone’s powerful, deep voice, her use of long straight tones, and intermittent scatting.

Take a listen below:

Here is Bette Midler’s version of this song for reference:

Although I love Simone’s version, I cannot deny that both vocalists perform amazing versions of this classic song, both bringing their own unique interpretation of the lyrics and music.

What do you think? Which version do you like? Leave a comment below!

Discussion, Jazz, Memoirs, Music

Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer – “Skylark Doesn’t Sound Right”

August 9, 2017 No Comments

Late night rehearsals were not her favorite. Especially when just getting through a previous four-hour rehearsal with musicians that didn’t practice, didn’t care, and didn’t want to be there. She was tired, both physically and emotionally, and she definitely needed sleep. It was nights like this that made her question whether she truly could be a singer.

“Hey, let’s run ‘Skylark,’ guys,” she said, adjusting her microphone stand.

Sam was noodling around on the drums while William was playing a pattern on the congas.

She held up the chart. “Can we run through Skylark one time? It’s super late.”

Sam looked over at William’s hands and decided to join in. The piano player heard the pattern that William and Sam were playing and he started playing a montuno on the piano.

She shot Todd, the piano player, a dirty look.

He smiled and played the montuno faster.

I don’t have the patience for this, she thought, rolling her eyes. She sat down and put her chin in her hands.

“Alright guys. Let’s run ‘Skylark’ before Tiffany loses it,” William called to the other band members as he slapped one of the conga heads.

She looked down at the ground and sighed. William loved to jam for hours and hours and was easily distracted, whether they had to get stuff done or not. The level of sarcasm in his voice was more than she liked, but she was grateful William had taken charge and got the band back on track. Who knows how long she would’ve been sitting there.

She had never felt she fit the leadership role very well, being more comfortable with the idea of being a part of and working as a team. That’s why she hated when stage crews placed the microphone out front, far from the rest of the band, isolating her. She loved set-ups where everyone was close together, even if it was uncomfortable, because then she felt part of the group. She could interact with everyone easily and react if something happened unexpectedly.

Todd began to play the intro to the song, interrupting her thoughts. She came in with the first verse, but as she kept singing, she noticed something sounded off with he chords that Todd was playing. She tried to ignore it as she continued on to the second verse, but his chord voicings felt like nails on a chalkboard. She winced. She knew her music theory was poor and that if she said something, Todd would ask for specific keys and fingerings. Something that she honestly couldn’t do. She looked at William and Sam, who both gave her uncertain looks.

Sam put up his hand. “Stop. Let’s run it from the top again.”

Todd played the intro to “Skylark” and she came in with the first verse again, but the same issue was still happening. There was no room, melodically, for her to sing. Todd’s chord voicings sat right on top of her voice. “Something’s not right,” she called out to Todd.

“What do you mean?” Todd stopped playing.

“The chords you’re playing don’t sound right,” she said, making a face.

“Well, what chords? Show me specifically what chords I’m playing wrong. If you can’t point them out, then–”

“I don’t know what exactly you’re playing, Todd, I just know it’s the wrong chords,” she said, feeling herself blush. She knew he would put her on the spot if she spoke up. Just because she couldn’t name every chord Todd was playing without looking, didn’t mean she was wrong. She knew she had a really good ear. Now, though, she felt stupid for saying anything.

Sam got up from behind the drum set and walked over to stand beside Todd. “Let me see what chords you’re playing.”

Todd played the first couple of chords.

“You do know this is in the key of A minor, right?” Sam said, frustrated. He pushed Todd over on the bench so he could sit down and start playing.

“Where on this chart does it say what key it’s in?” Todd said, losing his patience.

“Right there!” Sam pointed to an area on the chart. He started playing the chords of the song. “Tiffany, start from the top. I’ll play along.”

She started singing the first verse while Sam accompanied her. “That feels way more comfortable.”

“Yeah, dude, your voicings were wrong. You’re crowding her too much when you play like that. She’s supposed to sit on top. Not fight to be heard.” Sam got up to go back to the drums.

Todd started running through the chords, playing the voicings that Sam had shown him.

She shook her head. She knew she shouldn’t let it get to her, but being a singer who was severely lacking in music theory was crippling. Musicians already had notions of singers being divas and complainers. Add lack of technical musical knowledge and it would become downright embarrassing whenever any type of issues arose. Moments like the one she just had with Todd would happen more often if she didn’t start studying theory more.

Sam counted off on the drums. She raised her eyes from the floor and started to sing.

Jazz, Music

Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer — “Doubt”

June 15, 2017 No Comments

“Just get up there and sing. It won’t be that hard,” William said, shrugging his shoulders.

“What do you mean, ‘just get up and sing’? What if they don’t know the key that I sing it in?” she said, looking at him incredulously.

“Tiffany, they’re musicians. They’ll know.” He put his hands up as if to almost physically push her towards the small stage.

She hesitated, looking at the musicians playing. This was as good a place as any to get more experience performing. The restaurant was dimly lit and the few people who were there were too busy talking or eating to notice the music being played. From the looks of it, it seemed as though the musicians were too busy to notice her either. She turned around to sit back down.

“Nope. Go!” William whispered loudly, pointing to the stage.

She gave him a dirty look and turned back around, walking over to the elderly man playing piano. She waited until the group stopped playing completely and turned to the piano player. “‘Willow Weep for Me’? In C?” she said hesitantly.

“In C Major?” the piano player asked, taking off his fedora to wipe his bald head with a towel.

“Yes,” she said, smiling.

“No,” the piano player said, immediately shaking his head.

Her smile turned into a frown as she looked over to meet William’s eyes. What did he mean ‘no’? She saw a look of confusion cross over William’s face as he looked at the pianist. That was the key that she knew the song in and the key she felt her voice fit. The fact that this professional, gigging musician, who’d probably been playing for at least two decades was telling her that the key she had practiced for this song was wrong, made her feel uneasy. Was it the right key or did he just not like the song? Or maybe she had approached him in a rude way, but then, how else was she supposed to say it? What was this guy’s deal? “That’s the key I sing the song in,” she said, standing her ground.

The piano player shrugged and nodded at the other musicians, who started to play.

As she sang through the first verse, she could hear some of the notes that the piano player was playing were off. She looked back to see the piano player grimacing and shaking his head. She finished singing and went around to thank all the musicians. After she was done, she sat back down with William.

“I don’t think he was comfortable playing the song in that key,” William said under his breath.

“Well then he should’ve said that. Not just shoot me down,” she said, shaking her head. She had been nervous enough already, walking up to and performing in a situation she wasn’t familiar with; the pianist’s attitude and response had filled her with doubt. “I don’t have much experience performing at jam sessions. You would think he would be a little sympathetic.”

“Quit acting like a victim. You’ve performed before. There’s really not that much difference,” William said as they walked towards the door.

She could tell she was going to get as much sympathy from William as she had from the piano player, so she let it drop. She knew she wasn’t okay with how the musician had talked to her, regardless of how many years of experience he had or how little experience she had. Either way, she didn’t like being treated like that by anyone. This had been a learning experience.

#OnRepeat, A cappella, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: The Manhattan Transfer’s “Java Jive”

March 31, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had The Manhattan Transfer’s “Java Jive” #OnRepeat. While doing some research for the topic, vocalese, I came across this group and this song, which is actually an arrangement that my choir sang back in high school. Even just thinking about the title makes me automatically sing through my second alto part in my head because I love this song so much and there are so many fond memories attached to it.

The Manhattan Transfer is a Jazz vocal group that was founded in 1969. Interestingly enough, the group initially disbanded after their first album had poor commercial success and a bad creative approach that wasn’t well received. Then, in 1972, another version of the group formed and recorded the album, The Manhattan Transfer. The group’s music consists of Jazz standards, A Cappella, Vocalese, Swing, R&B, Pop, and Brazilian Jazz. They have received several Grammy Awards and nominations for their work, and were even inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Some of their most well-known songs are “Tuxedo Junction,” “Route 66,” “Mystery,” and “Sassy.”

“Java Jive” is a song written by Ben Oakland and Milton Drake in 1940. The song was originally performed by The Ink Spots, a Pop vocal group that was popular during the 1930s and 1940s. “Java Jive” is an upbeat song expressing love for coffee that uses common phrases and cultural references from the 1940s. The Manhattan Transfer’s version of this song is the sound you think of when you think of this group: tight, four-part harmony, precise phrasing and Jazz riffs reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s. Each voice alone is bright and strong, but together creates a warm, full sound that you look for in a vocal group with just the right amount of swing.

Take a listen below:

Do you have a singer or group that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

Jazz, Music, musings

Musings-Herbie Hancock

March 25, 2017 No Comments

“Jazz is really about the human experience. It’s about the ability of human beings to take the worst of circumstances and struggles and turn it into something creative and constructive. That’s something that’s built into the fiber of every human being. And I think that’s why people can respond to it. They feel the freedom in it.”–Herbie Hancock

When I read this quote, I automatically replaced the word, “Jazz” with the word, “music,” because Jazz isn’t the only type of music that this statement applies to. All of music is a human experience because you can find instances of people taking their stories and struggles and turn it into some type of creative product across different cultures and in different communities around the world. It is very interesting to see similarities and parallels between different cultures in terms of how music is created, performed and shared. Freedom and progression are two inherently human needs. I believe that this is the element of humanity that Herbie is referring to.

Although music, itself, is mutable, Jazz is one of the few musics that can not only influence, but be influenced by other musics. It relies heavily on improvisation, yet still retains a certain musical format. Decades later, there is still so much freedom and progression in the music that it’s no wonder why people keep turning back to it, responding to it in a positive way. The music is constantly evolving, changing with the times, and yet still retains some of its original quality.

All the while I write this response, I keep thinking that this statement (that Herbie Hancock made) is so Herbie Hancock. He is the epitome of this quote: the type of musician that is able to progress with his music and ideas, staying relevant when so much of the music industry and the world itself has changed. He has been able to become and stay as successful as he has been because he is constantly evolving and adapting, both as a person and as a musician; being part of the human experience.

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Ithmara Koorax’s “Mas Que Nada”

March 19, 2017 1 Comment

This week, I’ve had Ithmara Koorax’s version pf “Mas Que Nada” #OnRepeat. Although I am fairly familiar with some Brazilian music, I haven’t come across Ithmara before, so when I heard this song, it took me by surprise.

Ithmara Koorax is a Pop and Jazz singer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who rose to prominence in the Brazilian Pop and Jazz scene during the 1990s. She started out studying classical music, but became very interested in Pop music, having played with artists such as Luiz Bonfa, Azymuth, Ron Carter, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Her music blends influences of Jazz, Pop, Blues, and traditional and popular Brazilian music. Her vocal timbre and performance style is reminiscent of Elis Regina, especially in her vocalizations. Some of her most well-known songs are “Perdido de Amor,””The Girl From Ipanema,” and “Ligia.”

Ithmara’s version of “Mas Que Nada” is rhythmically and melodically so different from the standard written by Jorge Ben Jor, that the words are your musical anchor, allowing you to sing the song, either out loud or in your head, so you can recognize it. Much of Ithmara’s music is slightly eclectic, bordering on the edge of experimental or what some would call “Free Jazz,” but that’s what makes it so interesting. The timbre of her voice, and how she manipulates it in the song, only adds to the eclectic, ethereal ambience of the music.

Take a listen below:

I don’t know too much about Ithmara Koorax, so if anyone has any interesting information or songs of hers that you think I should listen to, please leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, A cappella, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Lizz Wright’s “Nature Boy”

March 3, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Lizz Wright’s “Nature Boy” #OnRepeat. This song is actually one of the first Jazz standards I ever sang, and I have always loved revisiting this version whenever I try to find new ways to interpret this song. I believe that trying to find different approaches to performing the same song helps you to develop your creative skills and helps you to progress as a musician; so listening to different musicians’ versions of a standard aids in this discovery. Lizz Wright is a beast of a singer, so she is probably one of the best musical resources to tap for this process.

The song, “Nature Boy,” was first recorded by Nat King Cole and was released in 1948. The song was originally written by eden ahbez, a songwriter who lived a vagabond lifestyle that would later inspire the hippie movement of the 1960s. The lyrics in the song supposedly depict the songwriter’s demeanor and lifestyle, with hints of haplessness, mysticism, and wisdom. The lyrics and music give you the impression that ahbez has experienced great loss or pain, and through this had discovered a common, universal truth.

Lizz Wright, who is a Jazz and Gospel singer, captures the eclectic nature of this song perfectly. She takes the melody and rhythm, manipulating both so much that you would have a heard time identifying the original song within her new arrangement (she has completely made the song her own). Her ability to take rhythmic and melodic risks (using or picking notes or melodic phrases that your ear wouldn’t associate with the original tonality of the song) and the confidence she has when taking these risks make her interpretation of “Nature Boy” incredibly unique and poignant.

Take a listen below:

Is there a singer or group that you can’t stop listening to? Let us know in the comments below!

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