Just Another Music Monday

Posted by on May 18 2009 | Listening, Songtaneous

I spent this weekend working on the print program for the upcoming Twin Cities Jazz Festival*. Now that more of my work is musical than not, I don’t spend too many 8-hour days at the computer anymore. (For which my chiropractor thanks me.) Eye fatigue and cramped fingers aside, being camped out my computer gave me an excuse to dig out some treasures from my CD collection.

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Betty Carter – Of course, I know Betty Carter. The album she did with Ray Charles is one of my favorite jazz duet albums ever. So a few years ago, I picked up the album Social Call from a bargain bin at a discount record store (okay, I guess they’re CD stores now. *smile*), but I never listened to it. Bad, Sarah! All this time, I’ve been missing a great CD full of charming, inventive interpretations of some of my favorite jazz tunes.

Erykah Badu’s Baduizm – This jazzy, R&B, hip-hop-ish debut was one of my favorites when it came out. What fun to rediscover it.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Complete Ella in Berlin – One of the premier improvisers of all time! Check out her versions of “Mack the Knife” where she forgets the words (it’s okay, her improvised verses are even better) and “How High the Moon” where she scats her tail off (for over 8 minutes!).

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*For those of you in Midwest, visit www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com to learn more about this great festival of mostly free jazz taking place June 18th -20th at a variety of St. Paul locations.

2 comments for now

2 Responses to “Just Another Music Monday”

  1. # Sparky Firepants

    I love Ella because she’s so… human. Her “mistakes” and improv are inspiration for me as a digital artist. It’s so easy to make things perfect using the computer, but she’s one of the people that remind me to keep it real.

    I saw her scat with Sammy Davis, Jr. on Ed Sullivan (it was a tape, I’m not old enough to have seen it live). She blows me away.

    Now I have to check out Betty Carter.

    19 May 2009 at 8:58 pm

  2. # Sarah M. Greer

    Hi Sparky!

    (Thanks for stopping by my blog. *smile*)

    Ella and Sammy, that must have been something to see — I’ll have to search youtube.

    Yes, yes, check out Betty then you won’t have to feel bad and guilty about not hearing her stuff sooner. (Maybe I’m projecting?)

    I highly recommend the album with Ray Charles I referrenced above (it’s Betty at her youngest and sweetest.)

    singingly,
    sg

    21 May 2009 at 12:24 pm

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