Jazz – Page 2

Musings-Stan Getz

February 12, 2017 No Comments

“You can read all the textbooks and listen to all the records, but you have to play with musicians that are better than you.” —Stan Getz

This quote reminds me of another quote: “You are the company that you keep.” If you aspire to greater things, have goals you want to accomplish, or are even trying to change your state of mind, surround yourself with like-minded, similarly goal-oriented individuals because you will naturally strive to do and be more. This is a great quote that applies to all aspects of your life and can be applied to music as well. Both quotes have the same underlying theme: challenge yourself. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Studying music theory, listening to tons of music, and practicing for hours on end can help you become a better musician (in part). However, performing with musicians who are better than you forces you to be on top of your game, experiment, and push yourself further than you normally would. Also, seasoned musicians tend to teach you things in musical situations that you wouldn’t necessarily learn or experience on your own or with anyone else. Which, in turn, creates a more comfortable environment allowing you to push yourself even more.

Pushing yourself only produces real results (musical and individual growth) in real-life experiences or real musical situations. Playing with heavy musicians or musicians that are better than you is—in my opinion—the only way you really learn. You will make mistakes and you will be embarrassed beyond belief. I know that sounds unappealing (who in their right mind would willingly put themselves into a situation where they will most likely look like an idiot?), but it’s the best type of learning environment. “You learn on the job.” The next time you have an opportunity to play, you wont make the same mistake because you’ll remember how you felt when you were uncomfortable. When you were outside of your comfort zone. It’s in these moments of being challenged and being pushed beyond our comfort zone that we grow, discovering who we are as musicians and discovering ourselves.

Jazz, Music, musings

Musings- Miles Davis

January 31, 2017 No Comments

“When you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that makes it good or bad.” -Miles Davis

I came across this quote while scrolling through social media and it made me think about my undergraduate years at UC San Diego, studying and performing music. Sometimes quotes like these make me think of past experiences and other phrases or thoughts attached to those experiences. The phrase that comes to mind when I read this quote was something that my professor and friend, Kamau Kenyatta, has repeatedly said to myself along with other students: “You’re always a half-step away from the right note.”

Sometimes musicians have a tendency to say that the way in which another musician performed a song or solo was wrong. This usually stems from that individual’s personal experiences (how they learned the music they play, what their ideals are, who taught them how to play their instrument/music, etc.) and should be taken with a grain of salt. They expect to hear things like a particular type of orchestration and certain characteristic licks on instruments, and if they don’t hear these things, they consider the music wrong or lacking, forgetting completely that a lot of work goes into creating that piece of music, whether it is aesthetically pleasing to the ear or not.

Having attended an experimental music program for my undergrad degree, I’ve seen music expressed and performed in all types of ways. Self-expression can be pure and real. Therefore it is hard for me to tell a musician that something that they do is wrong or right. I prefer to offer my own advice and opinion in terms of style and technique, but students (and fellow musical colleagues) are free to take or leave what I have to say.

This way of thinking–being a “half-step away from the right note” and the next note you play determining whether the previous one is the “wrong” note–is a great way to to approach playing and performing music. I agree completely with this way of thinking, and by extension, Miles Davis’ quote, because it enables an open, accepting environment for creating and self-expression. This also leads to more experimentation in music, and thus progression. For me, music is very human. When I say this, I mean that humans tend to naturally evolve and progress, and since music is inherently human, so should music. The only way to do this is by continually hitting those supposed “wrong” notes, potentially “messing up” that Jazz or Latin standard, adding different notes or licks than what people might expect. Create. Experiment. Find what works for you and your audience. In the process of trying to find the “right” note, musicians not only discover who they are musically, but who they are as individuals.

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Chet Baker’s “My Funny Valentine”

January 27, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Chet Baker’s version of “My Funny Valentine” #OnRepeat. I started listening to this song again after I had a conversation with a fellow musician about Chet’s musicality, and I just can’t get enough of his version of this song.

Chet Baker is a Jazz trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and vocalist from Yale, Oklahoma. He gained attention by performing with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, and as a member of Gerry Mulligan’s Quartet. Chet Baker has been associated with West Coast Jazz, BeBop, and the Cool Jazz genres, and his versatility on his instrument, along with his unique vocal sound gained him a lot of recognition throughout his career. Some of his most well-known songs are “Chetty’s Lullaby,” “Il Mio Domani (My Tomorrow),” and “Anticipated Blues.” Had it not been for Baker’s drug addiction issues and subsequent overdose, he most likely would have still been creating and re-creating great music.

Although Chet Baker does have an instrumental version of “My Funny Valentine,” I find the vocal version much more interesting because of how he interprets the words and his delivery of the melody. The lyrics are already intimate enough–loving someone despite all of their little quirks and physical flaws–but when Chet starts to sing the words, you feel as though you’re sitting on the floor of a quiet, dark room with only his voice. Chet has an incredible way of expressing vulnerability and depth at the same time with his performance style. “My Funny Valentine” has and always will be a great standard, but Chet’s performance makes his version of this song the first that comes to mind when you think of this title.

Take a listen below:

Are there any versions of a particular song that you can’t get enough of? Let us know in the comments below!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Cyrille Aimée’s “Young at Heart”

January 20, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Cyrille Aimée’s version of “Young at Heart” #OnRepeat. To be honest, I’ve been revisiting this song frequently over the past three or four months after discovering it on Pandora (a great source for finding new music, by the way), but haven’t been able to get it out of my head for the past week or so.

I’m not too familiar with Cyrille Aimée, but what I have learned so far is that she is a Jazz singer from the city of Samois-Sur-Seine in Fontainebleau, France who is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Cyrille has won several prominent Jazz competitions over the years, including the Montreux Jazz Festival Competition in 2007 and was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition of 2010. Her music blends Jazz, Folk, and French music. Some of her most-well known songs are “It’s A Good Day,” “Smile,” and “Let’s Get Lost.”

“Young at Heart” is a popular standard, lyrics written by Carolyn Leigh and music by Johnny Richards. Frank Sinatra was the first to record and popularize the song in 1953. The song, “Young at Heart,” is one of the few songs whose lyrical themes are timeless and universal–viewing the world with innocence, expecting great things to happen, and having a positive outlook on life can keep you young and happy. The words are simple, yet poignant (if you haven’t already noticed, I dig simplicity and subtlety in music). Cyrille adds her own flare of innocence to the song with her vocal timbre and interpretation of the words. The way she slides up and down in her register between notes and where she chooses to place this in different lyrical phrases adds emphasis to the simplistic nature of the theme and the song itself.

Take a listen below:

Is there any musician or group that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below and let us know!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Gregory Porter’s “But Beautiful”

January 9, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Gregory Porter’s version of the Jazz standard, “But Beautiful” #OnRepeat. If you’ve read previous posts, you’ll find that a lot of these #OnRepeat posts are about Gregory Porter (for good reason), but I can’t get enough of this song.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, Gregory Porter is a singer, songwriter and actor who won a Grammy in 2014 for Best Jazz Vocal Album with his album Liquid Spirit. Some of his most well known songs are “Be Good,” “Liquid Spirit,” and “Don’t Lose Your Steam.”

The music for the Jazz standard,”But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and the lyrics by Johnny Burke for the movie, Road to Rio in 1947. The song has been performed by singers like Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Barbara Streisand. The song talks about both the good and bad aspects of love; despite all of it, it’s still beautiful. You still take the risk and fall, wanting to be with that other person no matter what. The lyrics are simplistic, yet so poignant, filled with emotion and imagery, which is the perfect type of song for Gregory Porter. Porter’s deep, yet bright vocal timbre and soulful/croon-like performance style adds so much more depth to an already musically and lyrically well-rounded song.

Take a listen below:

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

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Lizz Wright’s “Soon As I Get Home”

December 31, 2016 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Lizz Wright’s version of “Soon As I Get Home” #OnRepeat. This is a song that I performed back during my undergrad years and I’m just now starting to listen to it again.

Lizz Wright is a Jazz and Blues singer from Georgia who released her first album, Salt, back in 2003. Her music mixes influences of Jazz, Gospel, Pop, Blues and Folk music. Although her writing and performance style has been compared to Norah Jones, her unique vocal timbre and musical phrasing sets her in a category all her own.

“Soon As I Get Home” is a song from the musical, The Wiz, and is sung by the main character, Dorothy, right before she meets the Scarecrow and heads down the yellow brick road to see the Wizard of Oz. The song lyrics talk about Dorothy’s fear and doubt, being in an unknown land by herself and not knowing what to expect. Lizz Wright’s performance of this song is spot on. Although she perfectly conveys the vulnerability and innocence that is so iconic of Dorothy’s character, Lizz’s deep voice brings out the themes of strength and bravery that are quite often overlooked when listening to this song.

Take a listen below:

Do you guys have any singers or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Etta Jones’ “If I Had You”

December 21, 2016 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Etta Jones’ version of “If I Had You” #OnRepeat. There are plenty of versions of this standard out there, but this one in particular caught my attention because of Jones’ voice.

Etta Jones is a Jazz singer from South Carolina who toured with Jazz pianist Buddy Johnson’s band when she was in her teens. She has several Grammy nominations and some of her most well-known songs were “Don’t Go to Strangers,” “Salty Papa Blues,” and “Long, Long Journey.”

Jazz standards are constantly in danger of becoming stale since they have been performed so much in so many different ways, however, Etta manages to make this version stand out. Jones’ version of “If I Had You” is so enjoyable for me mostly because of her voice. Its rich, warm, deep timbre adds a calm, laid-back feel, yet at the same time, her tone is bright and her enunciation is sharp, showcasing her refined sound, reminiscent of someone like Julie London. Her musical choices for each phrase are contrary to what you think a singer would pick to sing, reminding me of Billie Holiday’s musical taste and make you want to listen to the song repeatedly just to try to figure out her musical lines.

Check it out below:

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

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