Autumn Stays

Now it is beginning to feel like Fall, looks like it as well.  Sun rises later, sets sooner, and it's tougher (for some) to get moving (alright, for me to get moving).  Here are a number of selections that may get you thinking or set your feet to moving or just settle your nerves.

John Mayer - "Daughters" -  John Mayer, a college drop out and great singer- songwriter (and a native of Bridgeport, CT).... love this song and the wisdom it shares. (B. Rosenbaum)

(Editor's note - A number of contributors to this blog are fathers to daughters (the contributor is a mother to a daughter!) and I would be surprised if this song does not resonate with the men as well.  Rachel, our youngest, is still "my baby" - she just turned 38, is a mother of two children (one daughter), and I struggle to remember her as a child.)



Can't resist adding this Paul Simon song that he wrote for 2002 "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" - he even received an Academy Award nomination!

The Cast of "Wicked: The Musical" - "Defying Gravity" - In honor of my amazing wife, who has overcome some life challenges, I offer "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway musical "Wicked". It’s a song of hope and inspiration when things look bleak. (C Hakala) - (Editor's Note - The voices you hear are those of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth and the recording is the official Broadway soundtrack. There is a movie version coming in 2019 - the picture on the left is the official poster.)

Kaushiki Chakrabarty - "Raga Multani" - Here’s an Indian artist I’m blown away by Kaushiki Chakrabarty. She sings in the Thumri style, which is considered semi-classical by purists. Her pitch accuracy is scary good, and I love how much sheer swagger she has. I’ve chosen what I hope is a fairly accessible performance of shorter length (these performances can last hours), but even abbreviated the ensemble passes through a multitude of different time feels and colors in the exploration of one raga. (K. Saulnier)

Antonio Vivaldi - "Autumn: The Four Seasons" - This week I am going with a classic classical (T. Williams) - Antonio Vivaldi (born in Venice in 1678 and died in Vienna in 1741) created an impressive selection of pieces for his favored instrument, the violin. In fact, 230 of his concerti for solo instrument with string orchestra and harpsichord were composed for violin while the next largest amount was 40 and that was for bassoon!  "The Four Seasons" is his most famous and a delight from start to finish. (RBK)

Our selection today features violinist Fredereike Saeijs and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra from 2014:

The Beatles - "I, Me, Mine" - In these times of government greed I would like to suggest “I, me, mine” composed by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles.

"I Me Mine" wasn't officially recorded during the "Let It Be" sessions for the movie or the "Abbey Road" sessions, but The Beatles recorded it later when it needed to be included in the "Let It Be" film. It was their last song recorded together: on the 3rd of January 1970. (D. Dugre-Martin) 

The lyrics:

All through' the day
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
All through' the night
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Now they're frightened of leaving it
Ev'ryone's weaving it
Coming on strong all the time
All through' the day I me mine

I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine
I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine

All I can hear
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
No-one's frightened of playing it
Ev'ryone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
All through' the day I me mine

I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine
I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine

This version, from The Beatles "Let It Be", features "sweetening" (strings, horns) from co-producer Phil Spector:

Benjamin Boone & Philip Levine - "Soloing" - Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Boone first met poet Philip Levine (1928-2015) when the poet was a visiting professor at California State University/ Fresno where Boone had been teaching since 2000. Levine had a lifelong fascination for jazz, incorporating musicians and songs into his poems throughout his long and varied career.  The poet remains one of my favorite American writers and I use his poem "What Work Is" in my FYS classes whenever I can.  Once, he appeared at Wesleyan University with a vibraphonist. Here, he is backed by Boone's trio with special guest Branford Marsalis on tenor saxophone, performing a poem that harnesses the spirit and vision of John Coltrane plus serves as a remembrance of the relationship Levine had with his mother in her later years.

Here's the trailer that Origin Records released along with the album Boone and Levine recorded titled "The Poetry of Jazz":

Moving Right Along

Looking at my back yard this morning, I noticed that there were leaves on the ground where just two days ago all I saw was green grass.  Yes, the times they are a'changin'.  But, our quest for music is ongoing.

George Harrison - "Got My Mind Set On You" - This song is complete pop by one of the original fab four. it's catchy, upbeat, makes little sense, but is really fun. And, the music still sounds current and could be a hit now if it was on the radio currently. Some might not agree, but I think that it has that feeling of being a bit eternal. (C Hakala) (Editor's note - The original version of the song was released in 1963 and featured vocalist James Ray (see below).

James Ray - "If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" - The afore-mentioned James Ray released three 45s in his short lifetime (1941-1964).  This one came out in late 1962 and is unique for the use of tuba and harmonica and its waltz tempo (shadows of Burt Bacharach).  Over in England, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were listening to American pop and saw all these different possibilities.  Note Lennon's use of harmonica on several of the earlier recordings (for instance, "From Me To You").  But this song, fleeting as it is (2:00), was Ray's biggest hit and has been recorded numerous times (a sped-up version by Freddie & The Dreamers and a dramatic reading by a very young Bonnie Raitt in 1972). (RBK)

The Who - "Magic Bus" - English rock band formed in 1964 known as one of the most popular and influential bands of the 60s and 70s.  They originated Rock Opera and were (sadly) the only rock band I even walked out on...ok, granted I went out to the parking lot with half of the audience and we followed the concert outside.  They were and are still amazingly loud (which might explain why the members are partially deaf).  "Magic Bus" is my choice this week because of the interesting rhythm played on wood blocks (?) or drum sticks. (D. Dugre-Martin)

U2 - "One" - I can’t help but listen to this song many times while driving, relaxing on the deck or doing some cardio exercise at the gym. It gives me hope. In its lyrics, I hear that our fractured world doesn’t have to come together on all fronts and that diversity should not be divisive; instead, it should and must be celebrated so that goodness can exist.

"One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1991 album Achtung Baby and it was released as the record's third single in February 1992. The lyrics, written by lead singer Bono, were inspired by the band members' fractured relationships and the German Reunification. Although the lyrics ostensibly describe "disunity", they have been interpreted in other ways. Bono described the song's theme as such: "It is a song about coming together, but it's not the old hippie idea of 'Let's all live together.' It is, in fact, the opposite. It's saying, “We are one, but we're not the same. It's not saying we even want to get along, but that we have to get along together in this world if it is to survive. It's a reminder that we have no choice".  The Edge, the band’s guitarist, described it…on another level. He suggested that the line "we get to carry each other" introduces "grace" to the song and that the wording "get to" (instead of "got to") is essential, as it suggests that it is a privilege to help one another, not an obligation. (J Gaffney)

Harry Chapin - "Cat's In The Cradle" - As I don't hear from my children very much, nor do I call my mother for weeks at a time, I have had Harry Chapin's 1974 hit on my mind, "Cat's in the Cradle."  (T Williams)  (Editor's note - Those of us who have children knows how much this song resonates. While many of my music "buddies" were listening to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, songs like this were reminding me how much my Father sacrificed to put a roof over our heads. That sacrifice meant we hardly had a relationship until close to the end of his life.)

Chicago Classical Review

Miguel Zenón & Spektral Quartet - "Promesa" - (Editor's note - I had planned to post this but the George Harrison tune led me back to James Ray - and I could not resist).  As many of you know, I have been reviewing music since my college days and continue to do that on my blog Step Tempest.  Earlier this week, I posted a review of "Yo Soy La Tradición", a fascinating new recording by alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger Miguel Zenón.  He's been active on the contemporary jazz scene for nearly two decades and, since the beginning of his career, made it a point to investigate music from his native Puerto Rico.  His quartet has recorded albums with added percussionists, strings, and large horn sections, illustrating how melody and rhythm are tied together the way the Roman Catholic Church and secular music are in Central and Latin America.

Photo: Jimmy Katz

This new recording is a series of compositions based on traditional Puerto Rican folk tunes as well as steeped in particular church rituals.  Zenón write these pieces for his alto saxophone and a string quartet. The blend of rhythmic movement and lengthy melodic lines is so appealing to me.  "Promesa" is based on the tradition of Three Kings Day, celebrated every year on January 6 - in his liner notes, the composer writes that "the celebration of "El Dia de Reyes" supersedes Christmas, both in importance and fervor."  (RBK)



More to follow but, for now, have fun with these pieces.

What We Listened, Thought About, & Played on This Spring Break

Plenty of time indoors this week to contemplate our Spring schedule, the colder weather, the books we have been waiting for enough time to read, and our other jobs we do during the week. Then there is the music we listened to or tried to listen to during the time away (not all of us were off-campus this week).

"1000 Nights" - Frenship - I like the more relaxed feel that it has while still having a lot of different sounds. (Megan Winslow)

" Frenship are an electropop duo hailing from Los Angeles, California. Frenship members James Sunderland and Brett Hite met while working at fitness store Lululemon and became fans of each other's music. This led to the two stoking the creative embers, and they eventually began creating music together." (AllMusic)

"Beware of Darkness" - George Harrison - He gives great advice when I need it. (Betsy Rosenblum)

The Beatles's lead guitarist and resident spiritualist released "All Things Must Pass" as his first post-Fab Four record.  His struggle with wealth and fame are well-known but he also bankrolled Monty Python, toured with the Traveling Wilburys (Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Bob Dylan), and was good buddies with Eric Clapton.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen - Characterized by vocal harmonies and ranging from progressive to hard rock, Queen’s “style” could never be nailed down….If you didn’t know who the group was but thought the incredible voice sounded familiar it was probably Queen. Winning Grammys and Juno awards their songs can still get an audience clapping along.  And who can forget Brian May?  Rocker and astrophysicist? (Daniele Dugre-Martin)

"American Tune" - Kurt Elling - As I stated on an earlier post, Paul Simon is one of my favorite songwriters (ever).  Kurt Elling is a wonderful jazz singer who cut his teeth on the Chicago scene in the 80s and 90s.  Not only can he scat sing with the best of them (Eddie Jefferson, Jon Hendricks) but he also has a poet's ear for lyrics.  He's recorded "American Tune" (as a voice and piano duo) but this orchestrated version moves me to my soul. Composed in 1973 as the US was mired in the Vietnam War and reeling from the Watergate scandal, the song is both pessimistic and optimistic.  Elling's version has similar intent (the video is aimed at the issues with immigration, racism, sexism but there's the promise of "tomorrow's another working day.") - Richard Kamins

"Whisky Lullaby" - Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss - This came from Thomas Williams and I won't even try to speak for him.  The song comes from Paisley's 2003 album "Mud on the Tires" and was composed by Country music legend Bill Anderson and Jon Randall.   Anderson has had a long career with a slew of big hits but also wrote songs for many of his contemporaries. Yet, this song started because Randall was going through a divorce and had started drinking. He met Anderson and they put the song together and gave to Paisley who then shared it with Ms. Krauss. Released as a single in 2004, it won the 2005 Country Music Association Song of the Year.  The accompanying video is set in 1947 and the man is coming home after the long war.  Many people complain that country ballads are corny and unemotional - not this one.  Even without the video, the song has lasting power. Plus, Alison Krauss's voice is so lovely.  (R Kamins)