Sunday Sleep In ~ “I Love Paris” ~ Michel Legrand & His Orchestra.

What more befitting music and album for this particular Sunday, Legrand’s first and a masterpiece.

Sad though it is in homage of the horrific tragedy that took place in France this week.

Today we all walk, mourn and rally with Parisians, anything but silenced.

God Speed to the families of all the victims in both locations and all of France.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Secret Beach” ~ Brad Mehldau Trio

This Mehldau composition was released in 2006 off of his album “Live” recorded at the Village Vanguard over a four night period in Oct.

This pianist has been recording since 1991. In 1995 he finally got signed to Warner Brothers and produced 10 albums through 2002. Then put out another 13 out with Nonesuch. His latest release was in Feb. his 24th. He also can be heard on nine movie soundtracks.

The entire trio excels at preserving Jazz in fine tradition & tune.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Silently” ~ Tim Lapthorn Trio

So nice to see somebody carrying on the tradition of a Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck & Vince Guaraldi.

Transport his third album released in 2012 makes you feel as if it’s the 60s again. Every song shines with harmonies and explosive improvisations you’d expect from the greats of jazz. Swings & Roundabouts is another off this album/CD that shows his talent beyond his years.

This British born pianist excels in everything he’s done thus far.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Ambiance” ~ Marian McPartland

This great lady of jazz who just left us on Aug. 30th at the age of 95. Host of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR from 1978 until 2011. She played everything from Classical to Jazz, Cool jazz, Bebop, Mainstream jazz, Swing, Post bop and Standards.

Marian was undeniably virtuosic hitting those ivory keys with such elegance, her credits musically a mile long whether playing her own compositions or others.

Her “A Delicate Balance” theme of a show she hosted for 14 years on WBAI prior to NPR was so befitting for how she performed, who she interviewed and played with or what she put on a turntable. Whether known or the obscure she never left the very best of music untouched.

Marian shared and gave us a taste of it all.

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ “When A Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry” ~ Erroll Garner

What a beautiful piece by Garner.

He originally did this song in 55′ solo but re-recorded it in 72′ with some other gifted players and all gave it that splendid latin flavour.

Like Art Tatum he too learned and played by ear from the early age of three never learning to read music or having the need to.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Lullaby” ~ Dave Brubeck

First solo after 40 years. He never lost it did he…and never will.

Music for Eternity.

Sunday Synopsis ~ Dave Brubeck

Anybody can read Wiki, Time Magazine or one of a thousand articles on Dave Brubeck and give you more than outline of one fabulous career. Me, all I can do is tell you what his music personally meant to me. I did a blog the evening of his passing and I thought how incomplete. A few pictures and video’s and how I immensely enjoyed hearing him one final time in my life in 2007 at the Detroit Jazz Fest.

I loved music all my life, all genres. Blues my passion. But what I always sought for was the different sound that stood out from all the rest. Music done in different ways to capture an even more inner story of a song and that was Dave Brubeck. That’s what all his different time signatures in essence was really all about.

How to enhance and combine music to draw people into something they thought they were not or ever would be into. Jazz was around prior to Dave’s 59′ Time Out album, but a 5/4 never heard before musical time measure hadn’t and that is why Paul Desmond’s “Take Five” took them all in and the album in-which it came off became Jazz’s first million seller.

Tuesday Time Machine ~ 1963 ~ Gerry Mulligan ~ Night Lights

This album titled song was composed by Gerry Mulligan and this particular piece to me is straight out of the jazz history books. It is a timeless mood for those of us who like the wee hours of the morning and the dark we seem so accustomed to as if 3:00am is the norm.

It reminds me of either driving around or sitting down by Detroit’s riverfront on a hot summer night when it’s still 80 degrees out in the middle of the night.

Thursday Throw Down ~ Henry Mancini ~ Peter Gun

OOOOOOH YEAH!!!

Pete Candoli really gets going on this.

Mellow Monday ~ Here’s To Life ~ Shirley Horn

Written by:
Lyrics – Phyllis Molinary
Muse Composed – Artie Butler
And what an absolutely beautiful arrangement by Johnny Mandel.

A fabulous song sung by a fabulous singer.