E.E Cummings 

Air Date:  10/18/2020 

Back in 2008 we received a CD from a new vocal group named MOSS. Joining two members of the New York Voices - Peter Eldridge and Lauren Kinhan - are Kate McGarry, Luciana Souza, and Theo Bleckmann. One song really stood out to me, for its lyrics, but also for its melodic ingenuity. As it turns out, I Carry Your Heart With Me (I Carry It In), is a poem written by E. E. Cummings. (Note: Mr. Cummings did not always use all lowercase letters.)

The poem and song are both featured during Hour 1 of the Sunday Jazz Brunch. I thought it would be interesting to hear a reading of the poem followed by the song from the MOSS CD. This way, you could listen to the words and think about their meaning, and then enjoy how these words are arranged into a striking vocal piece. Sometimes the words of a song aren't really heard when the listener is wrapped up in an interesting melody.

Interpretations of the poem generally note it as an expression of romantic love, but I feel that a broader interpretation is not only valid, but potentially enriching. Cummings was known to have Transcendentalist leanings, and this cements my view that a philosophical/spiritual/religious perspective is present. I imagine a scientific perspective as also valid, having recently read Biocentrism by Robert Lanza MD.

Ah, but I digress. This is a jazz blog after all!

The Contemplative Morning features some of my favorite mellow jazz, from pianists like Alan Broadbent, Steve Kuhn, Dan Costa, Armagos, and Adam Glaser. You'll hear fine vocals from Kandace Springs, Chiara Civello, and Gregory Porter. In particular, I know that everyone really digs Mr. Porter, and so I continue to showcase his work, including the new CD All Rise.

As you can tell from the playlist below, there is plenty of new material to absorb. The track from Mon David and Josh Nelson is one I haven't played yet, and I'm sure you'll enjoy this tribute to Bill Evans.

Brazil/World Hour features some old favorites, like Celso Fonseca, Flora Purim, and Alfredo Cardim. Noteworthy is the version of Desafinado on a brand new release from Tom Ranier. Listen to the introduction to this track; it is not recognizable as the main melody, but it is delicious in its own right. It made me feel like I was driving a white convertible down the freeway in 1961. This CD will be getting more airplay.

One other item to mention for you Brazilian jazz fans. The song Nada Sera Como Antes I first heard on the new CD from Antonio Adolfo, and I really like it, especially for the horn arrangement. So I did some digging and found a vocal version of the song by Susan Pereira, and I put them together for you toward the end of the hour. Listen to both versions and tell me they don't simultaneously sound the same, but very different! By the way, the composer Milton Nascimento's birthday comes up on October 26.

As for Groove Hour, well it grooves along as always. I managed to slip in an old groove number from Herb Alpert, in his 1996 departure from the Tijuana Brass called Second Wind.

Thanks for reading my blog for this week. I hope you are healthy and safe!

Marty 


HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

  1. Alan Broadbent-Developing Story-02 Movement 2 2917
  2. I Carry Your Heart with Me\Poem by e.e. cummings
  3. Moss-Moss-03 I Carry Your Heart with Me (I Carry It In) 2008
  4. Armagos\The Lonely Piano\5. THE MIRROR 2020
  5. Dan Costa\Skyness\06 Sete Enredos ft. Romero Lubambo
  6. Gregory Porter-All Rise-12 Merry Go Round-2020
  7. Chiara Civello-The Space Between-12 Born to Sail Away 2007
  8. Steve Kuhn-10 The Music That Makes Me Dance (1990)
  9. John Williams-Schindler’s List-14 Theme From Schindler’s List (reprise)-1993
  10. Steven Kirby-Illuminations-04 Beautiful Rain 2016
  11. Adam Glaser Trio-Wide Awake-08 Lullaby for A Littrle Boy-2020
  12. Kandace Springs-The Women Who Raised Me-06 I Can't You Love Me-2020
  13. Nat King Cole-Nat King Cole Sings The George Shearing Plays-10 I'm Lost 1961

HOUR TWO: New and Newer, Plus

  1. Eddie Daniels-Night Kisses-02 Pano de Fundo-2020
  2. Gregory Porter-All Rise-04 If Love Is Overrated-2020
  3. Graciliano Zambonin\Angico\One Seven 2020
  4. Rosana Eckert-Sailing Home-08 Empty Room 2019
  5. Bob Thompson Band\Look Beyond the Rain\FlyHigh 2016
  6. Mon David & Josh Nelson\DNA06 In Praise of Bill Evans - I Remember Bill  Very Early  Waltz For Debby 2020
  7. Gregory Porter-All Rise-05 Faith in Love-2020
  8. Event Horizon Jazz Quartet\Event Horizon\07 Great, There Is No Love 2020
  9. Paulette McWilliams\A Woman's Story\09 - Life Is The Fountain 2020
  10. Steve Kuhn-Remembering Tomorrow-11 Silver 1995

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

  1. Rosa Passos-Amorosa-05 Lobo Bobo 2004
  2. Chiara Civello-Canzoni-02 Io che non vivo senza te 2014
  3. Alfredo Cardim Trio-03 Retrato em Branco e Preto (1995)
  4. Flora Purim-Perpetual Emotion-04 Saudade 2001
  5. Celso Fonseca-Rive Gauche Rio-07 Don De Fluir (2005)
  6. Chico Pinheiro\City Of Dreams\04 Estrada Real 2020
  7. Tom Ranier\This Way\Desafinado 2020
  8. Josie Falbo\You Must Believe In Spring\13 Tristeza 2020
  9. Michael Landin\On A Clear Day\06 Heidi 2020
  10. Susan Pereira\Tudo Azul\Nada Sera Como Antes
  11. Antonio Adolfo - Bruma - Celebrating Milton Nascimento - 02 - Nada Sera Como Antes
  12. Vanderlei Pereira - 05 - O Que Ficou

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

  1. Brian Simpson-Unified-09 Cafe Du Monde 2020
  2. Gregory Porter-All Rise-11 Phoenix-2020
  3. Norman Brown-The Highest Act of Love-02 The King is Here 2019
  4. Chris Standring-10-never-too-late-m
  5. Gregory Porter-Be Good-03-On My Way to Harlem
  6. Herb Alpert-Second Wind-10 Rendezvous 1996
  7. Hiroshima-Little Tokyo-10 Hiro Chill 2007
  8. Leslie Odom Jr.-Mr-01 Stronger Magic 2019
  9. Michael Landin\On A Clear Day\05 What A Wonderful World 2020
  10. Norman Brown\Heart To Heart\01 - Heading Wes 2020
  11. Maysa-Sweet Classic Soul-07 Playing Your Game, Baby 2006
  12. Chuck Loeb-Presence-09 Hangin' with You 2007


 



Comments

juliac said…
OMG...loved, loved NY Voices....saw them many, many times in Boston and even took a train to NY to see them in concert at Jilly's (sp?).....still have about 6 CDs of NY Voices....!
October 18, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Marty Friedman said…
Yes the Voices are really great. Now I will have to add a few of their tracks to an upcoming show!
October 18, 2020 at 7:24 PM
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