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, in English. For those who don’t know the song/words, here they are…in English

Esperanza on double bass and vocals, Leo Genovese on piano, and Otis Brown III on drums.

BodyandSoul.mp3
Enjoy!

Body and Soul

My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven’t you seen it?
I’m all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why
It’s me you’re wronging
I tell you I mean it
I’m all for you body and soul

I can’t believe it
It’s hard to conceive it
That you’d turn away romance
Are you pretending?
Looks like the ending
Unless I could have one more chance to prove
Dear, my life’s a wreck you’re making
You know that I’m yours for just the taking
I’d gladly surrender body and soul

A Nappy Girl

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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.

BothSidesNow.mp3


Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds * that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As ev’ry fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
You leave ‘em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

What a classic!

A Nappy Girl

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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 come what may places
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
To get the feel of life…
From jazz and cocktails.

The girls I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
With distant gay traces
That used to be there you could see where theyd been washed away
By too many through the day…
Twelve oclock tales.

Then you came along with your siren song
To tempt me to madness!
I thought for a while that your poignant smile was tinged with the sadness
Of a great love for me.

Ah yes! I was wrong…
Again,
I was wrong.

Life is lonely again,
And only last year everything seemed so sure.
Now life is awful again,
A trough full of hearts could only be a bore.
A week in Paris will ease the bite of it,
All I care is to smile in spite of it.

I’ll forget you, I will
While yet you are still burning inside my brain.
Romance is mush,
Stifling those who strive.
I’ll live a lush life in some small dive…
And there I’ll be, while I rot
With the rest of those whose lives are lonely, too..

Hmmm….

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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 from somebody, on eBay or Amazon.com.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I…do

A Nappy Girl

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