Body and Soul (Cuerpo y Alma)
Esperanza Spalding is undeniably one of the most talented young artists to enter the game, in a long, long time. I’m mesmerized. This woman got me to actually the jazz standard, Body and Soul, which has NEVAH been a favorite of mine. She sings it in Spanish here, but it sounds just as wonderful live, [...]
Joni Mitchell
Both Sides Now was written, when Joni was 21 years old. I was never a fan of her original version, but her remake often leaves me in tears — it’s almost like she “got it”, the second time around. She’s much older and experienced in life. The music is beautiful and haunting. Rows and flows [...]
Lush Life
Song lyrics just ain’t like they used to be! Billy Stayhorn wrote the lyrics to “Lush Life”, when he was a teenager. WOW! It’s a favorite “jazz standard” of mine. I think Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) nails it! Lush Life – Queen Latifah Lush Life I used to visit all the very gay places Those [...]
Missin’ George Howard
I was thinking about one of my FAVORITE songs, by one of my favorite sax players — George Howard. He passed away, in 1998, from colon cancer. The album, “A Nice Place To Be” is a collector’s item — can’t find it in a store. One day I’m going to spend $40 and buy it [...]
