More Ear Candy
I meant to revisit the discussion on listening to music to help your improvising sooner (maybe even monthly … but the best laid plans and all). To sum up: to sing well, you must listen well. Or listen lots … or listen to good music … or listen to lots of good music … (oh, you get the idea.)
Anyway … here’s more music I dig.
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Rachelle Ferrell – funky, jazzy, soulful – I started listening to her album “Individuality (Can I Be Me?)” last October after owning it for several years. (WHAT took me so long?)
The Fairfield Four – I’m ga-ga for this gospel group. I’ve never heard anybody sing lower than their bass Isaac Freeman.
Joni Mitchell – a brilliant, fascinating, quirky songwriter. Everyone covers her stuff.
Aretha Franklin – I like the stuff she did in her early years at Columbia (cuz it’s jazzy).
Sweet Honey in the Rock – love ’em, love ’em, LOVE them! This seven-woman, African American ensemble writes great material – singable, with heart and conscious. My a cappella group can’t stop singing their stuff. (I got to meet Ysaye Barnwell at a workshop she held a few years ago — I was painfully uncool. She was brilliant and majestic.)
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What about you? To whom are you listening? Someone newly discovered? An old favorite? I’d love to know (and listen!). Share your list in the comments section.
In an attempt to document my work as an improvisational vocalist (and to work with a great bassist!), I approached my mentor friend Anthony Cox last summer about getting into the studio together to play. We finally aligned our schedules earlier this month.