Ella Fitzgerald - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
I love Ella. For sentimental reasons and others. I'm trying to come up with descriptions for this song, and the only word that pops up is 'perfect'. It absolutely soothes me and fills me with a real tender feeling. It's impossible to pick apart such a performance, but the endnote-harmony is just so lovely it makes the loveliness that came before culminate in tingles and shivers.
Duke Ellington - The Mooche
Recently discovered this version of one of my favourite Ellington-compositions. The definite version may still be on Ellington Uptown, but this version has something that recording hasn't: The fantastic scat-singing by the unknown Baby Cox.
Here's a charming live rendition of the Uptown version:
Hugh Masekela - Sipho
This is a lovely album I once bought for its wonderful cover and that gets me in a right good mood whenever I hear it. Hugh Masekela went on to become a big star both in South Africa and in USA, and eventually branched out from Jazz to play with both the Byrds and Paul Simon...
Miriam Makeba - Kilimanjaro
...and Hugh Masekela was also married with Mama Africa herself for a couple of years. Here she is in brilliant playful form.
Songs: Ohia - Farewell Transmission
And just when I was writing this list up, I found out that Jason Molina died on Saturday from his alcoholism. Very, very sad news. His was a favourite amongst sad voices, and I love his recent stuff as much as I love the classic Songs: Ohia-material. So instead of another tune with Ella Fitzgerald, I pretty much have to finish with this farewell transmission.
Mama here comes midnight
with the dead moon in its jaws
Must be the big star about to fall
Long dark blues
Will o the wisp
The big star is falling
Through the static and distance
A farewell transmission
Listen
And after such a sad ending, it doesn't feel suitable to post the videos I had stored up. But this one seems to respect the mood:
No comments:
Post a Comment