A Song for You performed by Ray Charles
Written by Leon Russell and performed by many including Russell, Andy Williams, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera. I wish I could find a solo or small combo recording of Ray Charles.
“Sleigh Ride” by Jane Monheit
This is from jazz vocalist Jane Monheit’s “The Season,” one of my favorite holiday albums. I like her light articulations and the overall playful feeling of this track. Happy holidays everyone!
Honeysuckle Rose performed by Sarah Vaughan (1964)
I came across this while doing a female jazz vocalist listening project for my voice lessons. YouTube has been a great resource for this project, though I’d love to know where this video is from. Anybody know what “SWE 1964” is?
According to this PBS biography of Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald called her “the world’s greatest singing talent.” Her parents were amateur musicians and she was an organist and vocal soloist at her church when she was a preteen. After winning first prize for an amateur night at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, she went on to sing with jazz greats Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and many more. Her winning performance at the Apollo Theater was less than 10 years after Ella Fitzgerald came onto the scene in the same venue - sounds kind of like the American Idol of the 30s & 40s, doesn’t it?
“Motherless Child” from John Scofield’s album “Piety Street” (2009).
This album of gospel music reimagined by a great jazz guitarist is a perfect way to unwind from a long day of work! John Cleary on vocals, George Porter, Jr. on bass, and Ricky Fataar on drums.
Exit Music for a Film (Radiohead), covered by the Brad Mehldau Trio.
This video and others are at www.bradmehldau.com under “Media.”
Today is Brad Mehldau’s 39th birthday!
If you don’t know Brad’s music, you are really missing out.
New York By Night by Miles Davis
I was inspired by my fiancé’s birthday tribute post (see below) to dig up some more info about Miles Davis, who would have been 83 today. I was surprised to find that he was a visual artist later in life. Click through the picture to visit his official site and learn more about his artistic endeavors.
Miles Davis from LIFE Magazine Archives
Miles would be 83 today. If you are young and don’t know who Miles was, or have never listened to his music, you need to correct that. Pronto.
This photo was taken May 1958 when Miles was 32 by Robert W. Kelley.
