Play It Again 

Air Date: 12/27/2020  

Pardon me if I look at Humphrey Bogart and see a man who feels nearly defeated by many things going wrong at once, sort of like what happened for most of the year 2020. So, as we drag ourselves across the finish line of this mostly forgettable year, I thought it appropriate to replay one of the most popular editions of the Sunday Jazz Brunch for you, hoping that it may represent a small dot of light in an otherwise gloomy darkness. This show originally aired on 10/18, with an audience a bit larger than usual. Click here to read the original blog entry from back then.

This show featured a poem by E. E. Cummings. At the time I did not post the poem, but now I direct you to Garrison Keillor's entry in The Writer's Almanac, where you can read the words and get a bit more background on the author. I was and still am thrilled with how it came out, and I urge you to tune in to the start of the show to hear the reading as well as the MOSS song based on the poem. 

There are some things that I did not point out earlier and would like to here. The Contemplative Morning hour is very emotional in a quiet way, which is my goal for this part of the show. 
 
The gentle but powerful feelings are exemplified by the use of strings in the opening track by Alan Broadbent, and a bit later by John Williams' Theme from Schindler's List, a truly haunting melody. Surrounding the Williams track are songs by piano master Steve Kuhn and guitarist Steven Kirby, whose Beautiful Rain is quite evocative.
 
Claude Monet, Windmills Near Zaandam
Claude Monet, Windmills Near Zaandam
 
If you close your eyes during this or any part of the hour, you might feel as if you have somehow entered a quiet scene in an impressionist painting.

There are a few other things I would like to point out, like the guitar work of Romero Lubambo on Dan Costa's Sete Endredos. Mr. Lubambo is an internationally-recognized Brazilian guitarist, and is in much demand. I've got a couple of tracks from the monumentally talented Chiara Civello, one in English and, during Brazil/World hour, one in Italian. I really like the 2020 release from Paulette McWilliams, and I find the song Life is The Fountain to be spiritually rewarding.

During Groove Hour you'll be treated to some fine guitar work from Chris Standring and Norman Brown. The track from Mr. Brown, for example, is an excellent tribute to Wes Montgomery - both the man and his revolutionary style of playing.

Coming up in January I'll have one or more shows highlighting the best jazz released in 2020. See, the year wasn't a total loss! As for just about everything else in the year - well, good riddance!

May you have a wonderful new year.

Marty

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

  1. Alan Broadbent-Developing Story-02 Movement 2 2917
  2. I Carry Your Heart with Me (I Carry It In)\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

 

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